It is beyond my comprehension. But then – this is probably not about comprehension anyway. On a morning in December of last year, a few friends met in Coláiste Eoin to plan the most incredible event. They started to talk to people who were on board immediately. They got bands and choirs to commit to a free concert. They organized an event for 600 people, and when the tickets had sold out, added another hundred chairs to the hall. Together, dozens of musicians and singers with hundreds of enthusiastic supporters lifted the roof of the school hall. The interval took place at a time the concert was supposed to be over – when it finished just after midnight, something must have happened that is way beyond comprehension. But all about community. I had so much wanted to, but could not join the audience. I would not have been able to control my emotions. When teachers and staff of Coláiste Eoin told me today about what happened last night, it was clear that something wonderful had happened in the school, something way beyond what anybody would have expected. Something that the school, the staff, and its students must have been aware of before, but might have found difficult to capture or put into words. What a spirit of community and care and support! It don’t think that anybody of those present or involved will ever forget this. Neither will we. Neither will Pádraig.
He was sitting out for a bit over four hours today, and taking it really well. The doctors ordered specially fitted pressure socks for his legs because of the thrombosis. In the meantime, they use supportive bandages on the affected leg. He continues with strongish doses of blood thinners to keep the risk of an embolism as low as possible. Today as the last day of his current course of antibiotics; we hope he’ll be able to stay off this medication for as long as possible.
Today’s German Music Tip
Die toten Hosen, Steh auf wenn Du am Boden bist (2013?).
What’s hot
Bigger than ‘real life’
What’s cold
Being on your own
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Mach voran
Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Upcoming events: http://www.caringforPadraig.org/events
Hospi-Tales 
Overwhelming concert !!!!! Will there be a record of it? People are great there are only few persons which are “bad” but quite often we give these negative people to much significance.
Great news about Pádráig sitting out. I am sure that with less medication he will recover even quicker. You do not know how I envy you because of the viva-la-thekla. When Javier was in a similar situation as Pádraig.The only way they had to move him from his bed to a normal wheelchair was with a crane. A very big and not very practical crane and I would say “humiliating” and then they somehow let him on a chair where he could not sit very well because he was not able to hold his body properly and sometimes he even literally fall from that chair and the crane had to come back and lift him again. Our public health has not many resources. and now things have gone much worse and spanish people are fighting very hard to keep what we have!!!
That sounds a bit like the hospital Pádraig was in before he came to Ireland, Ana. Cranes, or hoists, are not really for people. – Viva-la-Thekla!
Oh, Ana, forgot to say: the two friends visiting over the past few days told me today that the Bonnymen, one of the many fantastic bands playing on the night, are in the studio as we speak recording their new album with songs they played at the concert for the very first time! Isn’t that amazing?
Reinhard I am lisening to Bonnymen while I am writing this to you,.. so many groups I am getting to know through you!!!