The months ahead promise much turbulence in British politics.
Politicians returned to Westminster this week and it did not take very long for many to feel as if they had never had a summer break.
The weather has started to change but the political priorities certainly have not. Brexit, brinkmanship and Boris.
Brexit retains all the political oxygen, and as the days count down to that 29 March departure date, each faction in the debate will worry more that it may be their last chance to influence the outcome.
Next week, Theresa May convenes her Cabinet to discuss preparations for a no-deal Brexit.
Ardent Brexiteers have long complained that not enough is being done to show the EU the British government is serious about walking away with no deal if it does not like what is on offer.
But doing that comes at a price.
Preparing for a no-deal Brexit means investing in infrastructure and planning that may never be needed. It is an expensive endeavour in austerity Britain.
As Theresa May tries to convince her own Cabinet - and the electorate - that she is ready to lead them into whatever scenario may result from Brexit she must face the looming deadlines.
October - specifically the EU summit on 18/19 October - had been seen as the point by which a deal had to be agreed.
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That would then give Brussels time to have ratified that plan before the departure date of 29 March.
But only the most optimistic (and there are few of those left in Westminster) believe that October will yield a result.
A new deadline of a special EU summit in November is now being suggested, with a possibility of it happening around 13 November. The timeline is tight.
The new Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab continues his talks in Brussels but the Irish border remains an, as yet, insoluble problem.
Before any summit, Mrs May will have addressed her party conference at the end of September.
It is hard to imagine she is looking forward to the prospect, given the disaster that was last year’s event.
A hoarse voice, which cracked consistently through the speech, a protester handing her a P45 as she was at the podium, and letters falling off the background set - none of it suggested strong and stable leadership.
At least Mrs May can take heart from the fact that for this year’s speech, things can only get better.
It may not even be Theresa May’s speech that will garner the most headlines. All eyes will be on former foreign secretary Boris Johnson.
Clearly preparing to make a bid for the Tory leadership, Mr Johnson will be the star attraction as Conservative Party members gather in Birmingham in just a few weeks.
The question of a leadership bid is not if, but when.
As Brexit talks continue and further compromises are sought, Theresa May’s leadership will come under even more pressure.
The more Machiavellian-minded have suggested that it may be advantageous to Mr Johnson to have such lurid headlines out of the way before he makes any leadership bid.
The question now is whether or not such headlines will put off the party membership whose support he needs.
The even bigger question is when might a leadership bid happen?
There has been such feverish speculation around Theresa May’s future for so long now that it has a distinct feeling of "the boy who cried wolf".
Mrs May’s premiership has survived numerous near misses, largely because nobody was sure who would challenge her.
As Brexit draws closer, those who want to shape its outcome increasingly realise that a moment will have to be chosen that leaves them still able to influence a Brexit deal. That leaves little time.
The party conference will indicate not just when Boris Johnson might move against Theresa May, but also who else might vie for the leadership.
An unconvincing performance from Theresa May in Birmingham could see a pivotal chance for those who want to challenge her.
If an unpalatable compromise deal is reached in November it could also precipitate a leadership contest before Christmas or early in the new year.
It would be a gamble, but there has been much of that in British politics of late.
The gambling is not over yet.
