McDowell has confidential information which gives a "radically different account of the transactions" involving his political partner's unorthodox "nances.

Ahern's account was "partial", "incomplete" and "at best selective". So the 10-year love affair is over?

Absolutely not. McDowell won't say if he has con"dence in Ahern. There's aggression in his voice.

"Is this your press conference or mine?" he asks at one stage. (It's your press conference, Michael, and you can cry if you want to. ) FF calls up its big beasts. Dermot Ahern, Brian Cowen and Micheal Martin appear in open-necked shirts. But there's nothing casual about them. "This party is going to stand up for itself, " Ahern warns. They're furious with McDowell. Later Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte pose for photographers in the Merrion Hotel. A painting by artist Rene Magritte hangs on the wall beside them. Magritte was a leading surrealist. How appropriate.

MONDAY
FG's election manifesto. Pity the poor TDs who turned up to see the top table selection. Alongside Kenny are Richard Bruton, Olwyn Enright, Liam Twomey and Olivia Mitchell. It's the nucleus of a cabinet . . . the jobs have been decided. The biggest laugh comes after a question about Noel Ahern's claim that someone high up in FG is behind the tribunal leaks. Kenny throws his eyes to heaven. And then he says too much. "Point the finger of accusation across the cabinet table, " he shouts as his minders call a halt to proceedings.

TUESDAY
More about leaks at the Fianna Fail morning briefing.

"I've no specific knowledge, " Martin admits as he wonders about Kenny's recent chat with the editor of the Sunday Independent . How quickly Martin has forgotten . . . isn't that the newspaper editor who Ahern told about the election date before informing his cabinet colleagues and probably even President McAleese. "There's an arrogance creeping into some of the opposition parties, " Martin says. FF warning about arrogance: this really is a very strange election campaign. Mary Harney says she has con"dence in Ahern. So where does that leave the Tanaiste?

WEDNESDAY
A Fianna Fail briefing without mention of Bertie, his house or his money. Despite this the party still fluffs its lines with a false row about corporation tax. Later, there's cappuccinos on the canal with Trevor Sargent (left).

THURSDAY
FF release a handful of doves at the Peace Park in Christchurch. At the FG briefing, Richard Bruton recalls the promises that FF have failed to deliver upon since 2002. RTE's George Lee wants to know about the 1,072 (yes, he counted them) uncosted proposals in the FG manifesto. "Many of these are costless. It's about changing the thinking in government, " Bruton argues. These guys are sounding more like FF with each passing day.

FRIDAY A last minute change to FF's plans as the Taoiseach attends the morning briefing. He reveals that he never took dollars and then says Gerry Adams will deliver everything, including the abolition of income tax. "I'd certainly consider voting for him 'cause everything would be great, " Ahern dryly remarks.

Yes, the courtship has begun.