On one occasion, The Herald on Sunday wanted to do a colour piece on Phil. True to form, the words came: "Yeah—now, what I need is everything on …", and I cheekily fired back "Phil Goff?" There was a moment of silence, some awkwardness, and, as everyone who knows Phil, raucous laughter. I survived that. Who knows what would've happened if I hadn't. Some of my friends from that office are still around: the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Raj Nahna; Richard Trow; our pollster, David Talbot; and Philippa Bell, just to name a few. And I can't not thank my friend Gordon Jon Thompson. Before the meeting when Phil and Annette sounded me out about running for Parliament, I asked GJ what the meeting was about. With a shrewd grin, he told me, "I don't know, but whatever they ask, say no." Also, to John Harvey, I haven't seen you in a while, Harv, but I think of you lots. Thanks for supporting me.