turns out the problem is the sql gets rewritten...order by appears in the select count sql:
Performing
query: 'SELECT COUNT(*) as num from `transactions` where `AccountID` =
'141' and `date` >= '2013-12-20' order by `transactions`.`Date` asc'
but is replaced in the actual retrieval sql:
Performing
query: 'select `transactions`.`AccountID`,
ifnull(convert_tz(`transactions`.`Date`,'SYSTEM','UTC'),
`transactions`.`Date`) as `Date`, `transactions`.`transactionType`,
`transactions`.`Amount`, `transactions`.`transID` from `transactions`
where `AccountID` = '141' and `date` >= '2013-12-20' order by
`transID` asc LIMIT 0,30'