Cabin Fever in Castle Buildings
Those of us who covered the negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement have distinct if not particularly fond memories of Castle Buildings, the place where the "hand of history" plonked itself on our shoulders. The DUP's Jim Wells doesn't like it much - he told the Committee for Office of the First and Deputy First Minister that about a week inside the rabbit warren like building was quite enough for him.
So pity the Public Appointments Commissioner, Felicity Huston, who has been stuck there for about a year. Officials giving evidence to the Committee seemed unaware that the Commissioner is suffering a bout of cabin fever. But Committee members appeared to be of the opinion that she wants out and also wants more independence so far as staffing her office is concerned.
How times have changed. Nine years ago Felicity Huston was a women's peace campaigner keen to get as close as she could to Castle Buildings. Indeed she and her two young boys presented Gerry Adams with an orange balloon with "Peace" written on it. Now she needs a hot air balloon to carry her away from the place.
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Look up the public appointments and see how many of the more elite of society have been appointed, some in several jobs. There are not many if any commoners to be found. The hot air ballon was obviously designed to soar to greater heights.