And with that, the Minister and the Minister's Wife depart for the Emerald Isle.

Think of us and the stress we'll be under as we gaze out on this view every day for the next fortnight.

No mobile coverage; no emails; no texts; no Twatting.

In other words, it'll be just like things were 15 years ago.

Mind you, this is the first and last time I go away for 15 days instead of 14.  All my tablets come in strips of seven or 14, so it's all got very messy…

Until 14 November (assuming we don't kill each other), arrivederci.