We got a smile from Pádraig today. A smile!

That’s after we showed him: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Fail Teresina Bell

One of the people in the clip say that it’s not really funny. Mmmmhhh… But whether it is or whether it is not, would you agree that the best quote from that clip is: “Quick, where’s the ice?”

Germans are direct and, although they try at times, not so funny. (Never ask a German to tell a joke.) A German Chefarzt is even more direct (if that was possible). If you are Irish, or have lived long enough in Ireland to adapt (at least a little:), you wonder how them Germans work, inside. There was no beating around the bush during our meeting yesterday. What they proposed was a treatment based on different types of drugs that have the potential to heighten Pádraig’s level of alertness and responsiveness.

After yesterday’s more intense happenings, our first sit-down meeting with the Chefarzt and all, today was more relaxed. And, for the first time, a nurse came to us and asked whether we would like to go for a walk with Pádraig. What a nice thing to do! And when we returned from our short walk in the park, he asked us did we want to go out onto the roof top. Did we what? Of course, we did. And then his music therapist called by and said he was going to meet us tomorrow late afternoon for a walk with Pádraig ‘on the wild side’, i.e. in the park! A few really nice and helpful people all in the space of an hour. Brilliant.

Outside of his door, Pádraig now has a plan for his therapy sessions for the week. It’s great to see this and to get an idea of what is planned and for what time. We have asked for a meeting with his new therapy team and they will meet us early next week. They want to get to know Pádraig a little before they talk to us.

Well – have you been wondering whatever happened to the Dreamboat? Well, it’s steaming ahead with full power, says Maitiú. There have been many nights of recording and mixing, not just the Dreamboat song itself, but a few bonus tracks from Pádraig’s friends! So what’ll be released sometime soon (the release date is still a closely guarded secret) will be – do you believe it? – a full blown CD! Can’t wait!!!

Here is Maitiú’s full Dreamboat update:

Dia dhaoibh a cháirde. Tá Súil agam go bhfuil sibh ar fad go maith. Tá brón orm nach raibh mé i dteagmháil le tamail anuas, bhí mé thar lear ar fea píosa. Maith sibh ar fad leis an cupla lá taifead agus na cleachtaithe ar fad agus an obair ar fad a rinne sibh. Rinne sibhe éacht. Tá sé i gceist againn anois leanúint ar aghaidh agus críoch a chuir leis an tionscanamh. Ar an droch uair beidh orainn an launch a chuir siar go dtí mí Dheireadh Fomhair mar beidh mise as baile do Mhí Mean Fomhair ar fad agus ni bheidh sé reidh roimhe sin. An smaoineamh atá againn anois nó na daoine a chan no a sheinn ar an oíche ceol do Phádraig a thaifead chun tracks breise a chuir leis agus album iomlán a dhéanamh as. Sílim go mbeadh sé nios deise album iomlán a bheith ag Pádraig agus a chlann agus duine arbith a cheannaionn é in ionad amhrán amháin agus an dá dhán – freisin seans go dtabharfaidh daoine nios mó aigead má tá siad ag fáil album iomlán! Beidh mé i dteagmháil leis na ceoltóirí maidir le dátai inniu.

Tá mé ag dul go Electric Picnic Dé hAoine seo chugainn agus ansin beidh mé imithe don mhí so tá cupla rud le déanamh roimhe sin –

1. Tá piosa ealaionn amháin faighte againn go dti anois – tá sé go halainn ar fad. Is leor é seo mar tá rogha againn anois idir an piosa ealaion seo, an stensil a úsáideadh don facepaint gorm i rith an taifead, pictiúr de Phádraig(ceann an-dheas againn dó ag snámh) agus an pictiúr a d’úsáid Reinhard don Blog. Má tá smaointí ná piosai ealaíona ag duine ar bith eile seolaigí ar aghaidh iad roimh an tseachtain seo chugainn – beidh muid ag obair ar an dearadh go luath!

2. Caithfidh mé liosta a bhailiú de gach duine a raibh baint acu leis an t-amhrán. Ie. an féidir libh ar fad a rá liom cén páirt a ghlac sibh san amhrán, má chan tú, má bhí uirlis á sheinm, má bhí tú ag taifead 7srl…má tá tuairimí agaibh do na Thank You’s – inis dom chomh maith

3. Smaoineamh úr agam (díreach anois) – d’fhéadfadh muid t-léinte a dhéanamh chomh maith agus iad a dhíol! cad a cheapann sibh faoi seo?

Hi All you Dream Boaters! I’m very sorry I haven’t been in touch for the last while, I’ve been away and I’m sure most of you have been busy over the summer too. I’m excited to anounce that we will be putting the finishing touches to the project over the next week or so. Unfortunbately we will have to delay the launch of the song until October because I will be away for all of Septembre and we won’t have the song ready before then. The plan is to make an album out of it by adding more tracks including the amazing talent that was to be heard on the night of the Oiche Ceol do Phádraig – I think it woud be nicer for everyone to have a whole album to listen to while driving down the country, or stuck in traffic, or sitting in a dentist waiting room listening to you ipod, and specially for Pádraig and his family in Hamburg, rather than the song itself and the two poems, which would be over FAR too quick!
I’ll be in touch with all the ceoltóirí today!

I will be going to Electric Picnic next Friday and then I’ll be gone for the month so I’d like to have everything ready before then if possible, so here’s a few things to think about –

1. We have recieved one beautiful piece of art of a boat. This should really be enough as we have different options to choose from including the picture from the blog, the stensil we used for the face paint during the recording(Reinhard’s idea!) and a picture of Pádraig himself. (we have a lovely one of Pádraig swimming in the sea) If anyone has any other ideas or art work, send them on asap because we hope to have it all designed by next week!

2. I need to compile a list of everyone who had anything to do with the song – whether you sang, played an instrument, filmed, made tea etc send me an email with your role…this is for the credits. Also, if you have anyone in mind for the Thank Yous, let me know!

3. Just had an idea to make t-shirts and get them printed to sell – does anyone have any thoughts on this?

4. If I’m forgetting anything let me know!

Anyway, Go raibh míle maith agaibh ar fad – táim ag bualadh isteach go dtí an studio inniu chun meascadh a dhéanamh le Mark. Táim ag súil go mór leis!

Maitiú