The English word of the year 2013, if you believe the Oxford English Dictionary, is 
“Selfie”. The News were full of reports about a ‘selfie with Obama and a flirty Dane‘ at Nelson Mandela’s funeral, pointing out the lack of respect and self-centeredness of some of the world’s most powerful and famous politicians.
Ich hab’ ein zärtliches Gefühl
für jeden Nichtsnutz, jeden Kerl
der frei herumzieht ohne Ziel
der niemands Knechts ist, niemands Herr
The Germans are much more serious and solemn about their words of the year. Since 1971, the “Gesellschaft für Deutsche Sprache” has declared the ‘German word of the Year’. There were some gems, like ‘Konspirative Wohnung’ (1978), ‘Rasterfahndung’ (1980), ‘Heißer Herbst’ (1983), ‘Besserwessi’ (1991), or ‘Wutbürger’ (2010). Today, on Friday 13th, they declared the German word of the year 2013: ‘GroKo’. – I’ll let you figure out what that means.
Ich hab’ ein zärtliches Gefühl
für den, der seinen Mund auftut
der Gesten gegenüber kühl
und brüllt, wenn’s ihm danach zumut’
Today’s Friday 13th was our lucky day. Pádraig got a visit from a good Irish friend, Maria is back in town, and Pádraig seemed to be quite awake and aware during the day. The best thing we heard today was that yesterday’s news, that his lungs had collapsed for a third time, turned out to be what the German’s call an ‘Ente’ – it had not happened at a all, but the news had spread anyhow. At the end it turned out to have been just a mix-up.
Ich hab’ ein zärtliches Gefühl
für jede Frau, für jeden Mann
für jeden Menschen, wenn er nur
vollkommen wehrlos lieben kann
I assume everybody followed the news about another few big mixups at Nelson Mandela’s funeral: First Enda bids farewell to ‘Nadiba‘, then Thamsanqa Jantjie turns out to be the fake of the year at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Friday 13th, 2013, will be a day we’ll remember.
Today’s German Music Tip
Hermann van Veen, Ich habe ein zärtliches Gefühl (1978).
What’s hot
Getting ready for getting the keys of our Hamburg base on Monday
What’s cold
Getting mixed up about 3rd pneumothorax that never happened
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
GroKo
Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
web: http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Hospi-Tales 
Buíochas mór le Dia nár tharla sé I ndáiríre dó, an ‘Ente’ sin, agus bail ó Dhia ar Phádraig go deo, chuile lá I ndiaidh a chéile… & zumTeufel immer mit den Politikern!
I am trying Google Translate, Joe – but your Irish is too sophisticated (though i think I got the gist). You are, of course, right – with both of your statements!
Hello, Reinhard,
GroKo … GroKo … you know, that word is going to follow me around all day… the more so because, contrary to my original plans for the morning, I will be doing housework rather than getting into the Ethics books (these would have distracted me).
Great to hear that the third (apparent) lung collapse never happened and that yesterday was a good day. Perhaps it’s the influence of our South African faux-interpreter friend – messages getting out there which don’t have any relationship with what anyone actually said or what actually happened. I don’t suppose the South African organisers would want to see any connection, though. They have enough explaining to do as it is!
All the best, Louise
It’s all about communication, isn’t it?
PS thank you SO much for sharing that tip from the nice paternalistic people in charge of things about the apartment. Part of my housework today will consist of opening the windows really, really wide not once but twice so as to let the air in. I’ll dedicate this work to them! All the best, Louise.
I you want, I’ send you a copy of the agreement I had to sign about opening the windows REALLY wide open, about 2-3 times a day, just to remind yourself?
Groko, ja unmöglich… Wie schwer es ist mit einer Sprache weiter zu “wachsen” wenn man so weit entefernt ist… Reinhard ich versuche zu posten aber ich schaffe es nicht. Dieses ist mein drittes mal… ob es mir entlich gelingt?
It just takes some time before you can see your post, Ana:) Here it is, finally. Thank you for staying with us (and with the German language:).