From BBC online news

"Gerry Adams has revealed a passion for hugging trees during sensitive talks about the Northern Ireland peace process.

The Sinn Fein president confessed to cuddling trees in Downing Street and the White House as well as across the country.

Mr Adams spoke of his love of trees in an article with the Irish TV listings magazine RTE Guide."

This guy has honestly gone up a million fold in my estimation. Forget whether tree hugging is a hippy thing. Forget whether some may consider it barking (pun intended). He has shown us all that even with the weight of responsibility on your shoulders you can still spend time doing calm, relaxing things or even, dare I say it, acting daft!

I always thought Mr A was a good guy and he is proved it over the last couple of years with the restraint and diplomacy he has shown in dealing with the thugs and villains who want to perpetuate the troubles in Ireland for their own devious ends.

He has now shown himself as a humourous and sensible human being as well. Trivial it may be. But it is the trivial things that make up the bigger picture.

Now if we could only make some of the other do the same. But the sight of Ian Paisley kissing babies and stroking kittens does not seem to scan somehow!

Knock me for being trivial. Flame me for being easily led. But don't knock Gerry. He is up there with the greats.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome