I am sure that Pádraig was not a happy sailor tonight – he would have wanted to be with his friends in the Conradh. Although – in spirit, he is right there with them, singing at the top of his voice ‘let’s just sail and have some fun’. I’m sure, his friends will take plenty of pictures and videos which they will share and which I will try to post here hopefully tomorrow. 
There was ‘a sign of things to come’ today when a specialist doctor did a FEES (remember: Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing?). Both the doctor and speech therapist were very pleased with what they saw: when they looked down from his nasal passage into his throat to check out how well he can swallow and whether there was a potential for saliva etc. to ‘leak’ down his windpipe, they were quite pleased. (There is an interesting and not too graphic video on youtube that shows how swallowing works.) So pleased were they that it was decided to extend the use of the speech valve to 2-3 hours, twice a day. It looks like that he is on the way to get rid of the tracheostomy, although it will still take some time (and nobody was prepared to tell us how much time). – All his ‘vital signs’ were also really good today, again. So, all in all, it was a good day. By now, you will have seen the article in The Journal of today:
Today’s Music Tip Länderspiel, Ich bin ich (2012). Funny name for a rock group:) – Haven’t made a break through yet it seems, judging by the number of clicks on youtube, but it’s not bad, not bad at all….
What’s hot FEES
What’s cold Fees
The German word/phrase/verse of the day “Das ist mir völlig Wurst” – German soccer player Mertesacker answering the question of a reporter on why the German game was so slow to take off in the first half of the match against Algeria. It’s worth watching the short clip with his interview!!!
Hospi-Tales 
Hi Reinhard,
Just back home after a lovely evening at the Oíche Mhór Cheoil do Phádraig in the Conradh. I got a taxi home, and as soon as I was sitting in the car the driver asked me if I’d been watching the match. I was a bit confused, but then remembered that I had a blue boat (of dreams) painted on to the side of my face. I said no, I hadn’t been watching the match (I don’t even know what match was on) and then proceeded to tell him all about Pádraig and the song, and how it was going to be number one in Ireland when it was released. He was really sympathetic and interested in what we were doing, and asked where he could find the song when it came out. I wrote down Pádraig’s name, the name of the blog and website for him, and he said he would mention it to other passengers he had. When we got to my house he knocked 2.50 off my fare (which was 7.50), as a contribution to Pádraig, and when I thanked him he said ‘We’re all human’. I realised after that I never got his name, but I felt that it was a story you would appreciate!
Róisín.
The question is, Róisín, will the generous taxi driver ever come forward:) ? – It is a great story just showing how Pádraig moves and touches people he has never met. I’ve thought this over the past few months: here we are dozens, hundreds of people doing stuff we never thought we’d ever be doing, stuff we had no idea we could ever do, and of because of Pádraig. It’s all so, so unbelievable, extreme, really. – Reinhard (And thanks for sharing this great story with us, Róisín!)