Having found myself in hospital a week and a half ago — and having stayed there for a week — it’s inevitable that The Red And The Blue has been, well, an inactive place for the past couple of weeks.

A small number of readers known to me personally are aware of what has been going on; to the rest of you can I simply say that I am fine (in some pain, but recovering strongly), and that I have missed the discussion here as much as all of you no doubt have missed the forum we have had going here for almost a year now.

In any case, I am back: ready to recommence the daily musings on all things political and the goings-on in the world of governance that affect us all.

I will be covering a few of the issues that have come to pass during my time “off air.”

Prior to being hospitalised I was about to publish a wrap on the Queensland election, which I will still do (indeed, my pendulum looks a bit of a sorry sight on its own without an article behind it!); the departure of former Communist Party Greens leader Bob Brown from his leadership position and soon the Senate also merits the application of the blowtorch.

And then there are the breaking issues…Peter Slipper, never a favourite of this column, has hit the headlines again today for all of the wrong reasons. The Red And The Blue has some special treatment in store for Slippery Pete in the next day or two.

And of course…the new week will bring fresh polls and fresh breaking stories in the world of Australian politics, and beyond.

And it may bring new developments in older issues…Craig Thomson and his credit card scandals, perhaps?

So my heartiest apologies for the absence; there isn’t much I can do when confronted with a sudden bout of serious illness! It’s harder again to do anything at all when my iPad can’t pick up much signal inside the hospital, thereby ruling out even the most cursory of brief comment articles.

I look forward to you all getting back into the swing with me; as we kick off again please get those comments coming; and as always, if you enjoy the discussion here (or if it irritates the shit out of every fibre of your being), then spread the word…and don’t forget, you can follow me on Twitter @theredandblue

Here we go…back in the saddle! I should have an initial post up very late this evening.

Thanks for your support,

Best,

Y