Northern Ireland's political leaders gathered tonight for crucial talks aimed at reviving the stalled peace process.
Almost two years have passed since the devolution experiment foundered on allegations of an IRA spy ring at the heart of government in the Northern Ireland Office.
At breakfast-time tomorrow the parties will meet in the picturesque and tranquil setting of Leeds Castle in Kent to try patch up their differences and make a deal to restore devolution.
The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern and his British counterpart Mr Tony Blair have set aside three days to chair the meetings.
But as the parties got ready for the horse trading the chasm remained. Even Mr Ahern was not putting too bright a gloss on the event.
He was "neither optimistic nor pessimistic" said an Irish Government spokesman.
However he was said to be "very determined" and would tomorrow talk to all the parties about not losing the opportunity for success.
Success rests on the IRA being prepared to finally get rid of all its weapons and disband and on Sinn Fein being assured that if that happens unionists will sit down in Government with them and not put up fresh hurdles.
Sinn Fein chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin said tonight his party was not convinced the DUP was prepared to make a deal.
Speaking before getting on the plane to England Mr McLaughlin said the governments and the DUP needed to "face up to the challenges if we are to have a successful outcome."
If the talks were to have any chance of success closure was needed on many key outstanding issues, he said.
"In our view, as we prepare to fly to England, the work that needed to be done has not been done," he said.
PA