· But, touch wood, internal contention doesn't take the gloss off Roger's big night. The union itself refused to publish the speech about union financing made at this year's MSF conference by its president Laurence Galbraith, and Roger said he'd sue anyone who does. Clearly we wouldn't want to provoke any legal action ourselves. However, it is now available on the dedicated anti-Roger site lyonsweb.org.uk. Somehow you doubt Mr Galbraith will be there among the streamers come Saturday night when they're handing out the cake.

· With the TUC reaffirming its opposition to private interests in public services, when better to counter this with an admiring glance at our favourite PFI hospital? In its 14 months, the Cumberland Infirmary has had the odd setback, from lack of beds, staff and air conditioning to exploding sewage pipes, life-support systems failing during surgery and three-month waits for biopsies (not to mention doors that didn't fit doorways, infestations of fleas in the laundry, etc, etc). But all infant buildings have teething troubles, so it's good to see the Cumberland settling down. Indeed, in a timely major boost for the whole PFI concept, the hospital this week took receipt of some exciting equipment. Yes, it's a "portable ward". This outsize Portakabin, grandiosely known as the Mulberry Unit, has been parked to the left of the hospital entrance, between the former doctors' house and the Day Surgery Unit, where its 16 beds will help reduce the waiting list. So there it is. Forget those TUC sneerers, and put your faith in PFI to deliver a state-of-the-art NHS that will act as a beacon to the world.

· After a desperate scramble, a Thought of the Week from Freddie Forsyth has been located. "We have now ingested five independent reports on the foot-and-mouth catastrophe of last year," muses Freddie. "Each savagely excoriated the government for blithering incompetence. Amazingly, no one was responsible. Phew! Close call. What does it take nowadays to resign one's office? Nuclear war by mistake?" More than worth the wait.

· Speaking of which, does anyone else think it might be easier to take George Bush's apocalyptic warnings about Saddam seriously if the president only learned how to pronounce the word "nuclear"? Only "nukier" just doesn't quite cut it on the scary front.

· Diary Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet has a Yom Kippur sermon. "The Jewish Day of Atonement [Monday] sets an example," he begins. "Imagine a whole day absorbed in pensive mode removed from all distractions, focusing on self-improvement. We don't need to beat our consciences to a pulp. Simply sift out the bad traits and find room for progress. We'd be more comfortable and people would like us more. What an ideal world that would make." Wise words, as always.