Indeed, you may recall a recent column of mine saying that government intervention had helped to narrow the divide.

My recent column about taking responsibility and not blaming others for triggering a relapse has hit a raw nerve.

Such encounters set the journalist's mind scanning back over recent columns, subconsciously preparing a defence for any pointed criticism.

For these are the fearful assumptions that might be made from recent columns and letters in the trade press.

He distributed handshakes and hugs and thoughtful compliments on recent columns and reports.