Hard skins and tough stomachs
So we're back outsides the gates of Hillsborough Castle - it all seems such a throwback to the days of Blair and Ahern.
Can Gordon and Brian follow in the footsteps of the great persuaders?
After leaving at three in the morning, the parties returned here at around ten o'clock.
Peter Robinson has just been out to speak to us, portraying an image of sweet reasonableness. He stressed the need for progress to be made on parades hand in hand or with any move forward on policing.
Questioned about some of his colleagues invective (last night Sammy Wilson accused Sinn Fein of throwing a hissy fit) the DUP leader said that you could hear far worse at Westminster. He added that the politicians had hard skins and tough stomachs and were prepared to roll up their sleeves and get on with the job.
Intriguingly, he claimed that his party feared no date for the transfer of justice powers but made it clear that any date would be subject to satisfying his conditions.
The Ulster Unionists have complained that whilst they were in the building last night they have not been included in any real negotiations. Ulster Unionist sources are blaming Sinn Fein for seeking to keep the cast list and the agenda narrow.
The DUP say the other parties were brought in at their insistence and any deal should involve as wide a range of support as possible.
I'm 
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