What's next?
by Ken Reid, Political Editor
Published Thursday, 11 February 2010
Sitting up again and taking solids...and that's only the journalists after the Stormont and Hillsborough marathon.
But nearly a week after the Prime Ministers' roadshow left town, the messy bit has started.
On Monday and Tuesday we had the parades working group established and talk started on who would be the new justice minister.
David Ford is still the favourite but it seems the matter is going to cause considerable political strife.
The SDLP with the backing of the Ulster Unionists will continue to cry foul play.
Margaret Ritchie has identified an issue which her party believes will be politically to its advantage.
Sir Reg Empey has been listening to Peter Robinson saying the DUP needs the confidence of the entire Unionist community to complete the deal.
The Ulster Unionists leader is understandably asking a price.
He has warned about how poorly the executive has been working but his real concern is likely to be education.
''An absolute mess,'' he says.
His party believes this is a real matter of concern in the community and is demanding something is done to correct what many see as the main issue confronting the executive.
That will not be easy.
Sinn Fein believes it is moving in the proper direction and has, so far, resisted all pressures.
''There has been a failed system and we are doing something about it,'' said one senior source.
Expect to hear more education talk in the days ahead.