A number of the usual suspects have commented on recent blogs, asserting, gratuitously as it will become clear, that I have changed my tune (some add, "on superior orders") about a couple of stories.

Whether this is because they are incapable of understanding plain English (which is a handicap that seems endemic amongst a certain type of Lil'Elf) or because they choose, maliciously, to misrepresent what I write, is immaterial.

So, to the point.

Regarding the victims of abuse, I was, and remain, horrified by the findings of the Court and I was, and remain, of the opinion that the Curia should compensate them materially. The victims' behaviour towards Lou Bondi, on the other hand, I find reprehensible and it is for this reason that I decided not to continue to extend what poor support I could through this blog or my column.

That Lou is an old friend is well known and something that I am not ashamed of: quite the contrary, I find my friends people to be proud of, unlike many who seem to think people are only there to be used.

Regarding Ms Abela Garrett, I was, and remain, mildly amused and - without wanting to sound patronising - slightly sympathetic, but when the less than spontaneous nature of the stunt was outed, I thought an opinion in this regard was called for as well.

In fact, as anyone who can read knows, the two pieces I wrote about the now heavily over-blown incident had as their main thrust the loutish behaviour of Mintoff's Government and its hangers-on towards students and, particularly in my second piece, the hypocrisy of people like Joe Grima lionising Ms Abela Garrett.

Insofar as concerns the smug insinuations that my writing is "controlled" by anyone, this point of view is beneath contempt and reflects only on the poor intellect of the people who espouse it. One such is Mr Joe Fava, whose political views are mercurial, to put it kindly (a less kind description would be opportunistic and extremist) who vomits into L-Orizzont on a weekly basis.

I write what I like and the fact that Labour's Lil'Elves don't like it is testament to its quality, frankly. As to why I write what I write, perhaps some day a fuller explanation will become available, if I can get up the energy to finish it.