Ravenhill didn't roar as it can on Saturday, until the final whistle. The players demonstrated a level of commitment, concentration and professionalism that was truly immense. They showed no nerves, whilst many of us watching in the rain found the last quarter agonising. That said, what a result! Of course Wasps losing to Glasgow on Sunday leaves the door wide open for Ulster to make the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup first time in over a decade and much as some of the karaoke performances at the Joymount Arms on Friday evening impressed, these rugby results were still by far the highlight of my weekend. Sport can be a wonderful momentary distraction for many of the things that frustrate us in our every day lives.
My temperature rose last week when I heard local Ministers throwing tantrums about losing unspent funds from last year's budget, in particular 87 million pounds from the education budget. This is a very serious issue, people may lose their jobs. Sammy "the chief whinger" Wilson complained that the rules had changed and nobody told him, but when did he bother to ask? At the same time, failed Minster Caitriona Ruane explained how she will save the day by shifting 41 million from the "school building capital" budget. If Caitriona Ruane had so much unspent money in her budget why did she obstruct pupils and parents of Whitehouse Primary School for so long? and did the Finance Minster know the money was more than available, if so what did he do about it?
We should all be watching Minister Ruane very closely to see who loses out in the reduction of the "school building capital" budget.
For many years I have insisted that with a Humphreys at ten Ulster can achieve anything. Sadly, in contrast, an Executive lead by Sinn Fein and the DUP seems destined to achieve nothing. More than ever, I am certain that Stormont needs wholesale change if it is to realise any of the hopes of people here.
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