It had been a few years since I'd seen Tony Blair at close quarters.
As he shook my hand in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel, it was clear the years and more specifically the Iraq war controversy has taken its toll.
He was in good form, a little tetchy at times when questioned about Mo Mowlam and David Trimble but still a first class media performer.
The security around the former Prime Minister was intense.
It is something he will have to endure for some time.
He says it is the price of politics and will just get on with it.
Meanwhile, I was unable to make Basil McCrea's campaign launch for the Ulster unionist leadership but clearly he has upped the heat.
The vote is on September 22 and whoever wins will have a major job rebuilding the party.
Some are predicting disaster for the party whatever the result but political parties usually manage to put things back together after leadership contests.
However, I'm not sure this one will be so easy.
Alex Kane says many he has been talking to in the UUP are now predicting McCrea will win.
I don't know and the Tom Elliot camp still maintain they are still on course for victory.
Watch for a few political hand grenades in the next fortnight.
In the meantime the DUP are loving it.
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