When Harold Wilson was in Number 10, he reckoned a week was a long time in politics.

At Holyrood, it isn't just a long time, it's the distance to an alternative universe.

Only last Thursday, for instance, a newly annointed Nicola Sturgeon announced peace would reign supreme while she was First Minister.

Respect and consensus, she declared, as rainbows shone from her eyes and bluebirds chirped on her shoulders, would heal the referendum's wounds.

"My door is always open," she told unionists.

That, at least, was last week's universe.

Today we learned her door is still open but there's a guillotine in the frame, and God help any fan of the Smith Commission who saunters in.

Labour, who always love a good war, seemed delighted at the resumption of hostilities.

Jackie Baillie immediately set the SNP benches yapping by insisting Smith had delivered a "powerhouse parliament".

Did the FM agree it was "the most substantial transfer of powers since Labour delivered the Scottish Parliament in 1999?" she asked.

Ms Sturgeon welcomed the new powers but then, just in case anyone tried to accuse her of consistency, added the package was simultaneously "disappointing" as most tax and welfare would still be set by Westminster.

"Well, that consensus lasted less than a minute," huffed Ms Baillie.

"Any politician not electrified by the possibilities this presents to change the lives of the most vulnerable needs to ask themselves if they're in the right job."

The prospect of electrocuting Ms Baillie sent the Nat hounds wild.

"There's too much shouting across the chamber," cut in Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick.

"What would have electrified me," said Ms Sturgeon, "would have been control over job-creating powers, control over the minimum wage, personal allowance of income tax, national insurance, universal credit, the kind of powers any self-respecting Labour party should be arguing for instead of siding with the Tories."

Given the SNP were part of the Smith Commission, this was akin to the FM cramming her face with sponge and gulping, "Yes, I've got my cake, and yes I'm eating it, but what I really want is a bigger cake and to eat that too."

Ms Baillie said Ms Sturgeon was being offered "serious and substantial powers" yet moaned.

"All she can talk about is what she hasn't got and what she can't do. Surely she should be focused on what she can do to change the lives of people across Scotland? The First Minister needs to understand the mood of the country."

As Labour can't decipher the mood of its own members, that last line produced more mayhem.

Tory Ruth Davidson urged the FM to welcome a "big, bold package of measures".

Ms Sturgeon chose to out a list of tax powers staying reserved to Westminster.

"I think that in the general election in May, the Scottish people have an opportunity to say to the Westminster parties quite clearly, 'Thanks very much for your opening offer, now we want to up it," she said.

"Drowning not waving," muttered Ms Davidson, referring to a Conservative speciality.

LibDem Willie Rennie accused the FM of "rubbishing" the Smith Commission just hours after she and John Swinney had signed it off.

"So much for the new beginning from the new First Minister. She cannot keep on rerunning the referendum. Will the First Minister give unqualified support for what will be a massive transfer of power, or is she always going to say that that will never be enough?"

Ms Sturgeon, who shares Alex Salmond's taste for LibDem flesh, struck back by asking "in a genuine attempt to find consensus", if he would back rapidly devolving some welfare benefits before the Coalition cut them by 20%.

Marooned in the middle of a vast pause, Mr Rennie eventually offered the random burble: "The luxury of three questions..."

"I'm going to take that as a 'No'," said the FM.

At least we now know, September 18 aside, that she does sometimes take No for an answer.