Not sure whether you listened to the 9 o’clock news on Irish Television tonight, or if you have joined the increasing number of people who have decided they don’t want to get depressed more than they are already. Tonight was appalling: the Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, apologizing to Louise O’Keefe after the European Court of Justice confirmed what his government had fought to the end: that the State had to take responsibility for her abuse in a school.; her abuse and that of potentially 200 more victims. Then the case of Portlaoise Hospital where the HSE apologized for the death of several babies that could have been prevented had staff their followed best practice and the recommendations from internal investigations that had not been communicated to the parents of the dead babies until recently – and in one case not yet at all. When the news got to the point where between 12 and 13 million euro of cuts for four Dublin hospitals were announced, I was angry, my stomach was turning, and I had tears in my eyes. – When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

07h30. Pünktlich. They are about to break through the wall. About to attack. through us out of the apartment. Into the cold of Hamburg’s freezing and snow-covered streets. There must be half a dozen of them trying to get through. There must be at least three drills, two sledge hammers, and one man shouting – not instructions, but commands. Those you have heard in the films about a time they now don’t want anybody to mention anymore. DON’T mention the war. But this is like guerilla war fare, house to house fighting. I am pinching myself until I almost scream. I cannot wake up, because I have been awake for hours. Finally, I realize what is going on. The there-is-condensation-on-your-window controller from the Genossenschaft must have come back. He must have thought that we didn’t do the at-least-three-times-a-day Durchlüften and decided to safe the house from getting completely destroyed by just pulling down a few walls to throw us out on the street. I decide to confess: I did remember that you have to do the Durchlüften three times a day for the number of minutes that correspond to the outside temperature – 10oC = 10 minutes, 5oC = 5 minutes and so on. But nobody told us what to do when it’s -8oC outside! What im Himmel did they want us to do?

And then, silence. Not a peep. You could hear a pin drop. Something or somebody must have saved us. When I thought it was safe enough, I sneaked outside and had a look. My heart was pumping like mad, and then – I saw what had happened: they must have thrown out our neighbours and were pulling down his walls. We were safe! When I rang the Genossenschaft a little later to congratulate them on their strong-mindedness, and asked them for how long they thought this building work would be going on, they said that our neighbour had done incredible damage to the apartment and it would take them at least another four weeks to get through all the rebuilding. You can’t imagine my relief! What’s another week, in fact: what’s another year? Just another four weeks of drilling, pulling down walls, shouting, and general noise! That’s nothing! In fact, I said to the Genossenschaft not to hurry but to make sure to take their time. Gut Ding will Weile haben! Nicht?

The day after the big gig. This morning we got some pictures from the Workman’s Club together with a short video. They are up on caringforpadraig.org/events if you want to have a look. We showed them to Padraig and watched another few videos of the incredible Seo Linn, the magic Kila, and the enchanting Trinitones with him. We made it very clear to him that next time, he had to be there himself. No ifs or buts. It’s easy to make this sound dramatic, and I don’t want to. But he moved, his arm up almost to his chin and his hands and head.

No more news about the thrombosis in his left leg, just more medication. He was sitting in the Viva-la-Thekla chair and was holding his head – something we had not seen before. Again, nothing dramatic. But another few encouraging signs. We are happy to run the marathon. And we know we’ll finish, no matter how long it’ll take!

Make sure not to forget the amazing table quiz TOMORROW – and, of course, next Wednesday’s incredible line-up of first-class Irish music at the huge concert in Colaiste Eoin! Invite your family, friends, people you know! Tweet, Facebook, Text about it!

Today’s German Music Tip
Husumer Shanty-Chor, Eine Seefahrt, die ist lustig (2010). Husum is probably the nicest town close to Tating. And this is their Shanty choir singing one of Germany’s best know seafarer songs. A bit different.
What’s hot
Lifting your arm
What’s cold
Drills at 7am
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Wasissenhierlos????

Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Upcoming events: http://www.caringforPadraig.org/events