When it came to the crunch a couple of years ago (over a specific matter of principles involving fair treatment of a specific group of people) I was almost surprised to find that when it really mattered I still had principles and stuck by them.

Until something tests you, you just don't know whether you'll take the easy road or stand up and be counted. Some of us are never tested. It came to me late in life.

At the time it would have been much easier to turn a blind eye and I'm almost ashamed to say that I considered that briefly, but my principles drew a line in the sand almost without me thinking about it and that was that!

I'm still living with the fallout from that decision. It's brought joy and frustration in equal measure. I have to say, however, that I wouldn't have been able to live with myself had I chosen differently. It was the right thing to do and I'd do it again.

It was scary, though. At the time I said I felt like the grizzled granny standing at the gate with a shotgun when the bad guy came to call. Two years on I seem to have got away with it, but at the time I didn't know what this particulr bad guy was capable of.

I still don't really, but so far, so good.