Hillsborough's "J.R. Hartley"
When I lived in New York a couple of friends, on finding out I had written two books, nicknamed me "J.R. Hartley". They reasoned that, apart from the author himself, no one could possibly be interested in my obscure tomes (with friends like these, you may well think...) The nickname, for those not familiar, was a reference to the in which the ageing author of "Fly Fishing" rings around second hand bookshops to track down his own work.
With such a famous co-author as Esther Rantzen, I wouldn't dream of putting Shaun Woodward's book on Ben Hardwick in the same category as my publications. Nevertheless there is something distinctly JR Hartleyesque about the revelation that the Secretary of State bought a second hand copy of his own book and then charged it to his Westminster expenses.
No doubt Mr Woodward will explain all - I believe he's due to appear on the Politics Show on 91Èȱ¬ 1 on Sunday at 12.30pm. Once the TV show is over feel free to flick on Radio Ulster. We are starting a series of special European election programmes, featuring the seven candidates. We kick off this weekend with the SDLP's Alban Maginness and Alliance's Ian Parsley. I shall be joined in the studio by Martina Purdy for the programme which starts straight after the One O'Clock news.
P.S. Martin McGuinness may not have been keen to attend this week's Hillsborough reception for the Irish rugby team hosted by the Queen, but where can you see the two of them together?
Answer - on the mantle piece at the home of Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady's mother. She turned 100 earlier this year and has on display cards from both the Deputy First Minister and the Queen. Apparently, though, her favourite is another card which, when opened, triggers a rendition of "Happy Birthday" by Daniel O'Donnell.
I'm 
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