IS IT just me, or do you have a sense that we’re turning a corner? That, as a nation, we’re beginning to have reasons to be proud? That maybe, just maybe, we can make it after all?

WHEN is sex illegal? That is, normal, consensual sex between adults? Sex that is an act of love, as part of a loving relationship? Never, I thought.

“I’M afraid there’s no doubt about it, Taoiseach,” the head of G2 said. “It’s sabotage. You have a mole.”

I CAN still remember the day I met Izzie. Why wouldn’t I — it was my birthday. My 48th birthday to be exact, and Izzie was the first guest to arrive for the celebrations.

I never have my Concise Oxford Dictionary with me when I need it.

It was a weekend of positive and reassuring mood music.

Lions led by donkeys. The phrase refers to the brave soldiers led by incompetent generals in the First World War, but it could just as easily refer to us.

SHOULD there be a banking inquiry? Yes, of course there should. In fact there must be one. Should it be conducted in parliament? Yes, absolutely. We need to know what happened and how it happened — both within the banks, between the banks and the authorities, and within government. Only a parliamentary inquiry can be as revealing as we need — I’ll tell you why in a minute.

YOU have got to make a trip to Cork. The city is looking beautiful (of course) and it’s full of life. It seems as if the people of the Rebel County are thumbing their nose at the recession, and getting on with things as they always did. Streets are busy, restaurants and bars are hopping, there’s a lot of colour about.

I was driving into town early this morning, and I saw the Fine Gael posters calling on us to abolish the Seanad.