What a difference a day makes ...@ No 10

Boy David, pale and wan, listless and dispirited, a very picture of exhaustion and lack of energy. How very different from the bronzed, alert, vigorous chap who only a couple of weeks ago was bestriding the country from shore to shore.

Enter: Wailing Lad Clegg! But who is this? No longer the 'wailing lad' of a couple of weeks ago! Now, he struts his stuff along Downing Street, knocks at the door without hesitation; enters the room with a sure presence; no longer pasty faced, but a shade of healthy light tan, Clegg is looking smart and well-groomed. His energy levels, once at rock-bottom are now ace-high.

So in twenty-four little hours - the world of Boy David and 'No-longer-Wailing' Lad Clegg has assuredly turned upside-down!

The confident maker of directives and U-turns can no longer feel assured that he can direct or make any kind of turn at all. The Wailing Lad is no longer down-hearted. There is a skip to his step and a lightness to his laughter. He is now the one giving directives. He has issued profound statements:

My message to Rebekah Brooks and the Murdochs is just do the decent thing. You can't hide away from this level of public anguish and anger and indeed interest. When you're in that position of power you are also accountable to the millions of people who consume the products – the newspapers, the television channels.

Make yourself available. If you feel that you've been wronged, if you feel you've been maligned, if you feel that the facts have not been properly set out, then come out and set the record straight. It's a good opportunity to do that.

Only a few days ago - Nick Clegg would not have been the man to even dare look the Murdochs in the eye! He would have hidden from Rebekah - the Red Headed Vamp! Now, he is lecturing them!

Mr Clegg went on to say:

"There is always this sensitive transition period when politicians come from opposition into government and bring people with them as I have done, into government, and it is properly scrutinised and vetted, but it is also an issue of judgment," he said.

"And those judgments do of course lie with the people at the top. The prime minister has explained on many occasions the reasoning he has given for his decision and I will always be prepared to give the reason for the decision I have taken on the appointments I have made.

Can you believe it, such statesmanlike words coming from the Lad?

And what of Boy David? The rest of the day has been silence and meditation.

Still - the jolly old hols are coming up! Sunshine, sand and sea will no doubt work wonders on Boy David. He will come back refreshed and re-invigorated! heaven help us all!

So, we have seen a veritable parable unfolding before us, this week:  the mighty fallen, the weak given strength.  But has the Fat Lady sung?  I haven't heard the first notes - just yet!

Bye!