Peter Robinson was in top form. Back from holiday the DUP leader looked a different man from the one we saw before the summer break.
There have been stories circulating he will quit shortly.
But that was not the impression he gave as he sat in his Stormont Castle office.
"I'm not a quitter," he told me.
He was looking forward to the Assembly election next May and predicting a good result for the DUP.
But he also had a warning that Northern Ireland faces a prolonged recession with the Westminster spending cuts about to hit like a hurricane.
He appealed for Ministers to act outside party interests and said there was no guarantee which party would control departments after the election.
And again he called for a cut in the number of MLAs and government departments.
Also it seems Sammy Wilson will remain as Finance Minister for the time being.
Although the DUP has pledged to end double jobbing it is felt is would be sensible for the East Antrim MLA/MP to stay in post.
The Finance Minister will be the key player in managing the pain ahead.
And expect some heat in the relationship between Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and his executive colleagues.
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