Thanks for the suggestions, folks. The jumping jacks made me laugh out loud - not because I don't think it's a great idea (I think it's great), but because in my pathetic physical condition, they'd have to call me an ambulance afterwards! I don't think I could manage even one jj! But anyway, yes, I agree with your ideas that preparing myself mentally for meeting him is what I need to do. I had considered telling his boss (let's call him Y) that I don't think I could work with X again, but then I feel that would just make me look bad/weak as a manager. Y knows all about X and how much he is hated by the staff, but he doesn't know how to deal with him and has told me that. In fact, part of the reason that me and X now have such a terrible relationship is that Y ran away from his responsibility of dealing with all the chaos X created and left me to deal with it instead. I was left in the crazy situation of being told to police my own boss by his boss.

The main problem I can see is that my reaction to X is all instinctive and I don't feel confident that I'll be able to control myself if I have to work with him for several months day in day out. I know I will reach breaking point pretty quickly. I am actually considering taking 2 months unpaid leave. I couldn't afford that, I'd have to take out a loan, but I think it might be worth it compared to the effect working with him would have on my mental health. It makes me so angry that one person can mess up so many other people's lives.

Darvula