Another mixed news bag today, in which ASTI pulls out of negotiations on the resumption of Leaving Cert exams, before agreeing to fresh talks. 

Yesterday's NPHET briefing tempered some positive pointers with warnings that restrictions will be with us for a while. The Times political team is backing level five until the back-end of April, at best.

Meanwhile, HSE boss Paul Reid reckons healthcare staff could be removed from patient-facing posts if they refuse Covid vaccines, while medics say the pandemic has been a set-back for gender equality.

In other warnings, a number of titles surmise that attitudes towards the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol are hardening on all sides, Dáil committees are combining investigatory forces over a top health official's salary, and the price of bread is rising nicely

And JOE reports that 30% of PAYE workers could be due tax rebates.

Zen, then. Back in the early eighties I rushed to buy tickets for this show in the mistaken belief I was signing up for the Supreme Mary Wilson, who died earlier this week. Here's the legend (and colleagues) doing Nathan Jones. All marvelous.

Keep cool this weekend.

Bernard