By: Barry Soper | Tuesday, April 10, 2012 6:00 AM

There was a time when a Prime Minister took something of a risk in heading off overseas for any length of time.

Jim Bolger was one of them. As he was with the Chaps Holidaying on Government Money, or CHOGM, in Scotland in the 90s, the troops back home were doing the numbers.

On his return following a stopover in the hellhole of Paris, he was met at the airport by a sombre Doug Graham who told his boss his number was up. Big Jen Shipley, as she was then before her recent shrinkage, became the first woman Prime Minister but in the end, the only election she won was in her caucus.

It was no contest when she came up against Head Girl Helen Clark.

State Homie John Key's been overseas for some days now and will be away for the next few weeks. He's been in Europe visiting his daughter and on his way back will pay state visits to Indonesia and Singapore.

The Dipton Drawler Bill English hankered after the PM's job but failed dismally to convince the voter he was up to it. Well, he's acting Prime Minister at the moment but in a couple of days he's off overseas as well.

That leaves the Michelin man Gerry Brownlee in the hot seat. Gerry initially got his political recognition when Big Jen was the leader, she liked his bombastic style in the bear pit.

He did his political penance, serving as the Dapper Doctor Don Brash's long-suffering deputy. He gracefully bowed out making way for the Drawler's comeback when the Key machine swept into the top slot.

So for a few days this week he'll revel in the job that, given the political price he's paid in the past and given the hard slog in his beloved Christchurch over the past year, he richly deserves. Although he shouldn't get any elevated ideas!