The countdown is on.

Saturday, February 8, is the day that Ireland decides its new political direction.

The current Fine Gael led government has performed reasonably well, however change would appear to be in the air.

Polls indicate that Fianna Fáil will complete their Phoenix like comeback after near annihilation following the banking crisis in 2008, to emerge as the largest party once again. They will be closely followed by Fine Gael and Sinn Fein with the Greens and Labour taking fourth and fifth spots, some way behind. Independents and others are projected to take a significant number of seats, possibly 19 out of an overall total of 158.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are the Civil War parties. Although the Irish Civil War took place almost 100 years ago , the two parties have never formed a coalition government. The closest they have come is the current ‘confidence and supply’ arrangement.

Old habits die hard.

No doubt Sinn Fein will play it cute once again and refuse to go into government. They will sit in the long grass and bide their time until they become the largest party and can claim the top job.

It would appear that we are looking at another ‘confidence and supply’ arrangement with Micheal Martin swapping places with Leo Varadkar.

Micheal is a good guy. We’ll be okay.

My God Self will be voting Green this time around.

It would appear that my recent switch from planes to boats and trains has not quite saved the world from the carbon footprint.

It seems there is still work to be done.

At least I’m trying.