| On Wednesday when I was at the Conservative conference in Birmingham it was raining, back home I am told it was perfect weather of uninterrupted sunshine. I can tolerate the fact that Northern Ireland has little sun but I do hate missing our small rations of it! The Tory conference was bustling, despite their big defeat only weeks ago. Sadly for the Northern Ireland Conservatives, only one of the four candidates to replace Rishi Sunak attended their reception. Traditionally the Tory leader does so, even if prime minister. So the next day I tried to ask the four about that NI absence and what it meant for their unionism. See this report and the accompanying video I took. Meanwhile, the new Tory NI spokesman told me he hopes a recent Northern Ireland appeal court legacy ruling is appealed to the Supreme Court. Back at Stormont, the Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt seems to be at odds with his predecessor over the seriousness of the Sinn Fein charity reference scandal. An Olympic homecoming was held on Thursday at long last for our Northern Ireland participants and winners. It was wonderful. But in my column I ask: why did it take so long? And why did the BBC not give it much coverage? While athletes were coming home from Paris, the cruise ship that has been stuck here for four months finally left! I almost feel sad, they had become part of our community. And if they feel sad to be going, it won't be for long: Africa and the West Indies beckon. For anyone leaving Northern Ireland by plane, watch you don't get caught in delays getting to Belfast City Airport caused by the closure of the Sydenham bypass. I have known that road since the 1970s and it is chaos when it shut. After midnight last night I passed the diversion signs, coming from Bangor, and fear it will be confusing to anyone who does not know the area. Enjoy your reading and your weekend, Ben | 
