That has changed completely. Demarco’s credibility and integrity took a massive knock last weekend from which he can, at best, only recover partially. One of the first messages I received the morning after the story broke was from a friend who has spent the last four years messaging me in criticism of Busuttil, mocking him and saying that Demarco would have been better. He was shocked, and now has revised his opinion completely.

I told him that I couldn’t understand how he was shocked. Those people always compartmentalise when there are euros to be grabbed at.

Don’t reply like that, Paul, because it really upsets people, though I know where you’re coming from. The thing is that people out here don’t see the volunteers working hard behind the scenes. All they see is the front-liners, some of whom – like Mario Demarco conspicuously illustrated this past weekend – are not putting time, money and effort into anything, but are actually BENEFITTING because their positions attract the business of sharks like Silvio Debono. They are actually better off, professionally, in Opposition than they are in government.

The sight of Mario Demarco and certain other individuals taking the phone during the fund-raising marathon last Sunday actually put people off donating money. The synthesised reaction from people I know was: “Jaghti l-flus hu, milli ha minghand Debono. Mela hu izomm il-flus tieghu u naghtu ahna?” People have no sympathy for that kind of thing. It is repellent.

This blog is great, and no doubt does more for exposing the corruption of this government than all the other press institutions put together, whilst the Nationalist Party machinery has the mammoth job of re-creating itself from scratch without any direct funding and the great efforts of a few dedicated volunteers, who deserve our full support and respect. They put time, effort and possibly money into ensuring this country has a viable and effective Opposition.

What have you done since 2013?

Could almost be Preti’s Last Supper. The only figure missing is death.

Tolerance levels are so relaxed. No wonder they walk all over us.