It is glorious weather in Belfast with the sun at its height. The days are no so much longer than only weeks ago

So much has changed since my last newsletter. Stormont is not only back, it is as if it never was gone with the new first minister vowing no water charges. And the politicians are agreed on calling for more London money.

When the assembly re-covened Saturday 10 days ago only Jim Allister, the sole critic of a new prime minister of NI who defends the IRA, was the subject of withering DUP attack.

It took a while for unionist criticism of the new deal to emerge but on Saturday past it did. Lords Morrow, Dodds and Sammy Wilson MP wrote on our pages that the DUP seven tests have not been met. It is the only hint of the rupture that I have long predicted, although it was all polite.

The DUP leadership also offered us an essay from Gavin Robinson, which explains their deal - but his non triumphant tone is interesting, admitting that the outcome is not perfect. 

Owen Polley, one of the most persistent critics of the Irish Sea border, who foresaw it indeed before even the late 2017 Theresa May backstop, says it is a conjuring trick to pretend there is no barrier.

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little Pengelly attended the funeral of John Bruton. I was very pleased to run a tribute to the former Taoiseach by the brilliant Irish commentator Eoghan Harris. And here is the ex Alliance and Fine Gael politician John Cushnahan paying tribute to his latter party leader.

And we have republished a wonderful 3,500 word essay by Mr Bruton from 2016, which demolished the idea that the Easter Rising a century before was a just war.

Meanwhile, we have reported on the sad news of the death of Dalriada's head teacher.

All the best,

Ben Lowry