Blue sky. Sun. Time to go to the beach. Only that Hamburg – despite being Europe’s second biggest seaport – is not beside the sea. So what do Hamburgers do? They get a few tons of sand and strategically place them on the banks of the river Elbe. Sounds ok until you think again and realize what happens if you create a beach on the banks of the river leading into Europe’s second biggest sea port: It gets cramped – huge container ships fight over space with weekend beach goers. The overall effect is, as one of my family members said, that you feel like going on an excursion into Dublin port and decide to take out your togs and throw yourself into the water. Definitely something you would not do in Dublin – what what’s the choice for poor Hamburgers?

Today I discovered that some underground operation is active in the Schoen-Klinik putting Irish flags onto all sorts of hospital equipment. They do their work very discreetly, but if you look closely you’ll find the tricolor in all sort of unexpected places. The picture here is just one example, showing his beds braking system! Seems those underground Irish have infiltrated the hospital to considerable depth, not stopping at anything – even a bed’s braking system!!!

Padraig today was again twice on the speech valve, once in the morning, the second time in the afternoon. He was, again, off the added oxygen – and he was doing fine! When I arrived today I had to admire the work of his nurse who had really made a huge (and successful) effort to make him feel really really comfortable in his bed. Here was someone that had been doing their work with a lot of dedication and professionalism! The same nurse had also already arranged for Padraig being taken out of the bed and into his wheelchair tomorrow, Sunday. I think this could be a first, and it’s certainly so very very kind to think about it and to make this happen!

Seachtain, the Irish language supplement to the Independent, had another story about the brave Women Mini Marathon runners with a fantastic picture, on 11 June.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally – for this day next week, i.e. 20 Friday, the O’Malley Clan has organized a pub quiz for Padraig. It’ll take place in the clan’s stronghold in Crokers Murroe.