I refer to the  ‘Back where you came from’ Revel Barker column (November 27).

He obviously feels rather strongly that “things ain’t what they used to be” on Gozo/Malta right now. It was a really interesting piece but, with respect, I feel that he has fallen hook, line and sinker into that age-old adage that ‘nostalgia is a dreadful liar’.

Having also been on this planet north of three-score-years-and-ten-plus, what I can say for sure is my wife and I are, once again, visiting this lovely island(s) and content that we are, for the foreseeable future, safe and secure right here in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Having lived in South Africa for close on 50 years now, it may interest readers to know that citizens there (mentioned in Barker’s story) are currently beset with major problems, that is, a police force that is non-existent (surely still a necessity in even a Third World country), a corrupt government that continues to fleece taxpayers at every turn and let’s not forget the average 57 murders a day countrywide thrown into the mix.

I respectfully add: thegrass isn’t always greener on the other side.