Out of Africa on Bert Force One

BERTIE Ahern’s back out of Africa fighting fit. The opponents who scent blood as they circle for the kill will find renewed vigour in their would-be prey as he makes it clear he does not intend to go anywhere in a hurry.

Indeed, even by African standards, the weather on planet Bertie at the moment is remarkably sunny.

The grumpy and mean-spirited attitudes that dominated his humour through 2007 seem to have died with the last chords of Auld Lang Syne.