IT'S a long way from the splendour of Stormont Castle to the undignified surroundings of a former city centre department store. But the North's politicians had to make do as they shuffled into the old Co-Op building for the first meeting of the new, peace forum.
The majestic debating chamber at Stormont was unavailable it was destroyed by fire last year. And anyway, it has too many memories of the "bad old days" for nationalists.
But not everyone was happy with their lot this time. The first complaint was inadequate office space.
The large parties did well huge, airy rooms with big windows and long tables. The Ulster Unionist room even had a display of model aeroplanes.
The smaller parties were treated like country cousins. "It's a shoe box", said UDP leader Gary McMichael. "There isn't even space for a filing cabinet, never mind a team of advisers.
"The Women's Coalition didn't do too well, either. They're in a closet." The old Co-Op building is a conference complex now. There were some strange signs on the doors. "Training Administration" read the one at the Sinn Fein room.
Sinn Fein's 17 delegates are boycotting the forum but a voice was heard from the republican room. Alas, Gerry Adams had not undergone a change of heart. An unprincipled unionist delegate had sneaked in to phone his wife.
The next complaint came at lunch. UDP member Joe English said the pork tasted terrible. His colleague, John White, had brought his own sandwiches. "I wouldn't eat in the canteen. God knows what the DUP delegates would put in your food when you weren't looking", he joked.
The debating chamber it self was unimpressive. The salmon and blue decor and plastic plants made it resemble an airport lounge. The delegates sat in four rows of free standing chairs. The party leaders, at the front, were the only ones with tables. The others held their documents on their laps.
The seating arrangements meant the DUP's Rev William McCrea was beside Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition. The feminist and the fundamentalist exchanged few words. But, on discovering they were both from Co Derry, they started chatting.
Still, old fears remained. When Willie went to leave his seat a colleague advised him to cover his papers in case Monica took a look. "As though I haven't better things to do" she muttered.
Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien was seated behind John Hume. "I'd watch my back if I were John," chuckled a delegate.
Proceedings started at 2 p.m. with the Rev Ian Paisley intent on having the first word. So was Ken Maginnis of the UUP. Both men rose at the same time to stand and speak.
But the Paisley posterior was quicker off the mark. Reporters were crowding round delegates and the DUP leader wanted them sent back to the press quarter.
The forum chairman was the gentlemanly John Gorman (73), a Catholic UUP member with a life time of public service. He thought the "photographic media might be given a minute or two more to take photographs of us all". The cameramen did their bit.
"All right? All ready to go?" asked Mr Gorman politely when they had finished. "Goodbye and thank you."
The UUP chairman looked dapper in a smart navy blazer, his kindly, weatherbeaten face nodding happily all around. He was clearly enjoying himself.
The DUP was determined to ruin his fun. Dr Paisley said that he had been appointed by the British government and this was clearly unacceptable.
The forum agreed to adjourn for 30 minutes to allow the parties to discuss the matter in private.
It took almost an hour. "I'm so sorry that we're later than expected," apologised Mr Gorman. The parties had been unable to reach agreement so they decided to postpone the decision until next week.
"I was assured of all sorts of powers as chairman," said John Gorman at one stage. "So was George Mitchell," someone shouted. And so it continued a constant stream of bickering, points of order and adjournments.
A member of the Women's Coalition held her head in her hands. John Hume looked equally disillusioned. He paced the corridors like a caged beast, eating cigarettes.
An official, who reportedly told, him it was a no smoking area, was said to have been roundly reprimanded. After almost four hours, the delegates agreed only to form a rules and a business committee. The issue of the chairman remains undecided.
However, the SDLP's Jonathon Stephenson had a suggestion Mother Teresa who is currently visiting the North. "She's a woman. She's a Catholic. And we will need someone with the patience of a saint."