1/ If you want an insight into what being a trade negotiator is actually like, this is a pretty illustrative example.

EU Red Line: "EU staff need to be present and on the ground to monitor implementation."

UK Red Line: "No EU office in NI."

Compromise: https://twitter.com/tconnellyRTE/status/1336375310720380929

2/ You can have personal views on the merits of those red-lines, but as negotiators that's not your role.

Once you've clearly explained your sides, fully understood theirs, and established to your satisfaction neither side is moving... your job is to invent space between them.

3/ Making EU officials hot-desk instead of having a building may not change much commercially or practically, but it achieves the EU objective of oversight while respecting the UK opposition to a permanent office presence.

It may sound silly, but it clearly worked. Go team.