Am I missing out?

As I yet again sit in bed having objected to another night out in Cheltenham, I play in my head whether or not I have made the right decision.

Admittedly tonight it is well below freezing and I have a spate of the sneezes and sniffles (how masculine) and have decided against a night on the tiles.

I'm blaming it on sleeping patterns, winter is in full swing and if I could stay in bed all day then I probably would. If I go out late and return intoxicated my motivation to ignite for the day the following day will be at low. It seems right now in my body the fuel light is constantly on. I ran for 20 minutes at the gym the other afternoon (something I've had little trouble with) and my legs were ruined.

My motivation for nights 'on-the-lash' has been diminished by my developing lack of respect for people. The lad culture of fighting and generally being scrotums has just made me question myself being in their presence.

I want so much to be spending time with my housemates and course as I feel my reclusive behaviour is just pointless.

But I'm not the guy who goes out and stumbles home with a girl on his arm, brags about his massive night and how many shots were necked. It's embarrassing.

I love a beer, maybe 2 or 3 but I'm not going to tell everyone about it.

I'm a classic, I don't want to go to a club where the music is too loud, you cannot move past the rudeness of the jocks who think just because they're in the 4th team football they own the nightclub. I like pubs, I like the student union, I like being able to hear myself think, rather than plot my route to the bar to shout at the top of your voice to the gimpy gut behind the bar only for him to get your order hopelessly wrong.

Nights out can be good, good music, good company and a good atmosphere. But it seems venues and occasions that provide such are becoming in short supply.

Tom