John Howard isn't a man of indulgence but he allowed himself the privilege as he arrived for a gala dinner at Parliament House to celebrate the government he led for 11-and-a-half years.
While he has kept relatively silent since the thumping electoral defeat of November 24, the former prime minister had a message for those who replaced him and the public that voted him out.
With the storm clouds starting to gather on the economic sunshine that marked the last decade and a half, Mr Howard said the economy was doing a lot better when his government was in power.
"I hear (Treasurer Wayne) Swan talking about this surplus, well it's a huge surplus he did his level best for 10 years stopping the former government accumulate," he said.
"The Australian people ought to remember that every turn when we were trying to build a surplus and eliminate a deficit Mr Swan and (Prime Minister Kevin) Rudd were trying to stop us."
The man who ruled the coalition with a firm hand for more than 12 years arrived with his wife Janette and his successor, Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson, for a celebratory dinner for coalition MPs, senators and staff.
Nine months of enforced retirement has obviously been good to the 30-year political veteran, who jousted with the media pack which once followed his every move.
"I'm always happy to be back and I'm happy to be with Brendan and see some of my former colleagues and we'll have a fun night," Mr Howard said.
The Howards and the 300-plus guests gathering tonight will feast on a dinner of antipasto, lamb, salmon and gourmet cheese.
They will hear speeches from Mr Howard and Dr Nelson but one Liberal who won't be there is former treasurer Peter Costello, who is in the United States to speak at an economics conference.
Instead, his former colleagues will have to make do with a televised message from the man who is keeping everyone guessing about his political future.
The uncertainty has added to the instability surrounding Dr Nelson's leadership, but the question of will he stay or will he go won't be answered until the release of Mr Costello's memoirs in a little over a week.
Mr Howard offered his support to Dr Nelson, whom some observers believe could soon face a leadership challenge from ambitious treasury spokesman Malcolm Turnbull.
"Brendan and I our old friends, he's doing a great job and he has my full support," he said.
