Regular readers will remember the "Daithi McNarry Hokey Cokey". This afternoon UUP and SDLP backbenchers performed their own "Hokey Cokey" when they voted with the Alliance in criticising the Executive's plans for new laws as lacking in innovation. This left them both in and out of the Executive, whilst retaining the right to shake its plans all about.
Alliance's amendment fell but the support of so many backbenchers from parties nominally in the Executive pointed once again to the development of an "opposition within".
Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd has accused the SDLP and UUP of "ludicrous" behaviour in voting against their own ministers' legislative plans. The ministers did not take part in the vote.
The UUP Assembly team is meeting as I write to discuss its attitude to government and opposition. The new rules drawn up at St Andrews make it impossible for them to follow the DUP's old "empty chairs" policy. But it will be interesting to see how they resolve the tension between some of their restless backbenchers and their leader's determination to fulfill his ministerial responsibilities.
Sinn Fein's Cathal Boylan wants the people of Armagh plunged back into the old dark days.
Nothing to do with the troubles. His concern is that Armagh is just getting too bright. The light in the sky is making it difficult for stargazers at the Armagh observatory to see through the glare.
The Environment Minister Arlene Foster says she is considering extending nuisance laws to artificial light. But Mr Boylan thinks we should be looking at ways to prevent light filtering up into the night sky, rather than threatening people with prosecution if they leave their porch lights on.
I am looking forward to regular patrols by blackout wardens around Armagh.
I am indebted to a colleague who, when leaving the Assembly last night, stumbled onto a reception organised on behalf of Northern Ireland Blood Donors. The event had been jointly sponsored by the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and the Chair of the Health Committee Iris Robinson. But Mrs Robinson could not be there because of her one day suspension, triggered by her remarks about Mr McGimpsey. Given their recent frosty relations it was probably just as well that the two sponsors were not there, otherwise would there have been blood on the marble floor, not just blood donors in the Great Hall?
The Green MLA Brian Wilson has challenged Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness to attend global climate change talks in Bali next month in order to demonstrate Northern Ireland's committment to end global warming. I have fond memories of Christmas in Bali many years ago, so was going to offer to fly out in their place if the First and Deputy First are too busy in Washington. But then I thought about all those vapour trails between Belfast and Rome, Belfast and Washington and Belfast and Bali and wondered whether the best course of action might be to keep everyone's feet on the ground. Why don't the world leaders have a video conference on global warming?
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