Meanwhile across the Mediterranean … (or So Some Wish)

Abstract

As I conclude this book in December 2012, I have known the Southside Crew for about 18 months. In that time, Paulie split up with his girlfriend five weeks after returning from Ibiza in August 2011; he continues to try to avoid drug dealing when he can as the police attention has increased in Southside. He also went out to Ibiza again in the summer of 2012. Marky retreated from the group, claiming he hadn’t got much money to come out with them on Southside. Over the New Year into 2012, Jay and Nathan got into a dispute over £80 which Marky didn’t pay back to them. He is still in his relationship although much of Southside seem to think his girlfriend is cheating on him. Jay turned his hand to amateur boxing and had a few fights to ‘prove himself and man up’. Like Nathan, he still works on a temporary basis in the construction industry but has dipped into drug dealing on a few occasions to earn extra money. Fortunately for both Nathan and Jay, they received suspended prison sentences for their violent misdemeanours outside the club and didn’t go to jail in the end. Nathan became a father but split from his girlfriend. He also failed to pay his court fees (on top of the £6,000 debt he had) and, at the time of writing, was also wanted by the police for a drunk and disorderly charge (as they also found out he gave a false name when arrested). Although a depression and hard drug use has started to set in, he is undertaking a psychology course and shows more enthusiasm by the day to try to take his life forward.