Another Cheerio and a Reluctant One

My last post was one I was keeping for nearer Christmas but I did want to make you smile so published it early. This post may go someway to explaining why it was premature.

It's less than 48 hours since I posted about the demise of young Spook's blog and the last thing on my mind then was that I would be writing this now.

I would like to say I was resigning from blogging to 'spend more time with my family', which will be true, but the honest reason is more serious.

I have to close. I have no real option. Closing my blog won't change my situation but I'm told it will ensure that it will help with the future professional surveillance of those involved.

My identity has been exposed. Not only do the person(s) know my name they also know my full address. Over the months I've tried to reason with some bloggers about using, on their own blogs and those of others, part of a comment I made on a forum long before I started blogging. For the sake of clarity and to avoid upset to many, the person(s) states he 'has absolutely no links to any political party' but is well known to be a great supporter of certain Scottish unionist bloggers or ex-bloggers. I will not name and shame. That would be giving the publicity these people crave from their perverted pleasure in manipulating the distress of others.

Having spoken to many internet experts yesterday my mind is still in turmoil and I'm tired, but they all agree the only way my address could have been found is through my ISP. The young individual who disclosed this information under pressure, insists he found my name and town on my blog and he simply googled it to find my exact address. Nigh on impossible say the IT boffins and I believe them.

Why would any person, particular a young man, go to the trouble of finding out my name and address for any other reason than malicious intent? He was 'just curious' he says. Investigations are ongoing therefore I can't say much more.

I started this blog on 13 January this year for three reasons. The first one was to cut down on my smoking habit. I innocently thought if I had something to do with my hands when cravings hit I would be 'cured'. The second and third reasons were to help promote interest in independence for Scotland and to keep the Westminster government's misuse of our armed forces in the public domain. I hope I managed to achieve part of these aims with my meagre contributions.

It has been a true delight to know that so many of you appreciated my efforts. Without your support I know I would have voluntarily given up long ago. When I was at a loss to know what to write about or was demotivated, at least one of you would email with information which pushed me into action. I don't think any blogger can claim a more loyal and informed readership. The quality of many of our debates has been the envy of many bloggers and that is completely due to you making the best use of the comment facility. You all deserve a standing ovation.

The world of blogging is fuelled by petty jealousies, vitriol and at times downright nastiness but I've been very fortunate in escaping much of that. The reason? You all kept at bay and played well within the 'rules'. It was you, not me, who made this blog the success it has become and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

I've made many friends and do intend to keep in touch with them one way or another. I trust they will forgive me for not giving them advanced warning of this, but it has been an emotional and exhausting 36 hours. I will get round to answering and writing emails, I promise.

I have some technical things to do over the next few days (yes I know I'm hopeless techy-wise but I'll try my best) and also I have legal matters which require my attention, but I'll continue to read my favourite blogs and no doubt be unable to restrain myself from making the odd comment or two.

That's enough from me. Please do take care in the cyber world. What has happened to me can presumably happen to anyone I'm reliably informed. That's the risk we take as bloggers and especially one who has strong political views. Who knows, perhaps when investigations are complete I may feel I can return, but I would have to be totally convinced the safety of my family and home were not at risk. It's a dirty, dirty world the world of politics right enough.

PS I've just noticed, yesterday I had the most visitors ever recorded to this blog - 1,258 people came to read it. I couldn't close on a higher note could I!

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