OUR AWAY DAY, as it turned out, was in this hotel:

Ulster faces its 'one-off' chance in St Andrews

By Elsa McLaren, and David Sharrock of The Times at St Andrews

British and Irish leaders urged Northern Ireland’s divided parties to seize a “one-off” chance to revive self-government, as they arrived at St Andrews for three days of talks about the troubled province.

Security was tight at the wet and blustery Scottish golf resort as Ulster's politicians spoke ahead of the talks that will be hosted by Tony Blair and the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern.

Both leaders have vowed that they will not back down over a November deadline for reaching a self-rule deal, but face a tough task convincing Reverend Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists to share government with Sinn Fein, and to persuade Sinn Fein to accept the new Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Arriving at the talks, both Mr Paisley and the leader of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, said they expected to reach agreement by November 24 but suggested that it was up to the other side to give ground.

[...]

No, I didn't see any of the principals, but I hope they do reach an agreement. Security was tight, with many hundreds of police etc. present, and their operations center seemed to be the same outbuilding my room was in.

Anyhow, I'm home. More from me later.