Someone from China asked me some days ago whether I was interested in writing an article for their publication, saying they would fully understand if I had no time time to do this as Christmas was approaching and they knew this was a busy time for family and friends. It was very nice of that person to be so concerned and she also demonstrated her knowledge of important European ‘holidays’. Although I thought: it’s still a bit early to be thinking about Christmas in September.
Pádraig was clearly getting better today. It was the last day of his “Onkel aus Amerika” visit and he really made a big effort for him. We think he is trying very hard to speak, it’s like whispering, as if he was talking but without having found his voice yet.
We just realised that he hasn’t been out of his bed or in the wheelchair since last Sunday. We’re afraid to cause him even more pain moving him out of the bed into the lifter, into the wheelchair, and then back into the lifter, into the bed. We’re also not doing his exercises and he cannot be turned onto his left. His left upper arm keeps changing colour, but it doesn’t seem to be getting much worse. His main consultant came in today and explained to us that with patients like Pádraig a spontaneous haematoma is, although it does not happen often, possible. The good news is that they are watching it now. It’ll all be downhill from here.
Today at Aldi
I went into an Aldi store this evening and guess what I found? The first Christstollen of the year, beside loads of other really typical Christmas food. So I’m wondering – was my Chinese colleague right after all? Is Christmas really around the corner? Should I get ready? Or is this just time gone mad? Or, maybe an Aldi executive becoming desperate trying to come up with the next feast day to sell sell sell? Like ‘Wintergrillen’ in January? In my own mind, there is time for everything (like in the brilliant song by the Birds). A time to cry, a time to say sorry, a time to forgive, and a time to celebrate Christmas – but definitely not in September. That would be too early for anybody’s taste – except, obviously, for that of the Aldi sales manager.
Oh – please keep voting for Hospi-tales on http://www.blogawardsireland.com/best-blog-post-2014/ – we are at incredible magic #3!
Hospi-Tales 
With you every day in the steady progress Padraig is making on a daily basis!
Thank you, Chris. You are right, of course. Pádraig is making steady progress and that is what matters.
Hello, Reinhard. I voted yesterday evening. I’m afraid you may have missed the boat as far as premature Christmas is concerned:-D. I once heard an ad for charity Christmas cards on the radio, on 28 August.
I wish Pádraig all the very best for hos recovery from this (mild, hopefully) setback.
With best wishes, Louise
Thanks, Louise, for your vote (never thought I’d be asking anybody for a vote ever:). But you could have left me with the illusion of having discovered the first Christmas ‘reference’! The way I look at it is that it might be a sign of, this year, Christmas coming early? – Reinhard
Sorry about that, Reinhard! The ad I mentioned dates back to 1988 or so – let’s say there’s probably some kind of statute of limitations on it, so it doesn’t count.
As always, your daily updates are very much appreciated and avidly read.
With best wishes,
Louise
That is nice, Louise – made my day:) – Reinhard
So glad that all is so well for Pádraig. Voting weekly for your blog – you always make your blogs so interesting, between all that is happening to Pádraig and giving us all an insight into where your own head is at (you can be in some very strange places sometimes!!), thank you for posting every day.
As for Christmas, I do wish the commercially minded people would give us a chance and not put so much pressure on people to ‘have everything’ for Christmas. There are Halloween costumes in shops here, let’s get that out of the way first and then maybe, just maybe start talking about Christmas. I’m not being a grouch because I love all that is Christmas and even following through and celebrating ‘Nollag na mBan’ on 6 January ( ‘Woman’s Christmas/Little Christmas’) with a group of like-minded women!!!
Keep well and grá chugat,
Siobhán
Thank you, Siobhán. I’d never had thought I’d ask anyone to vote for anything I’d do. Voting is a strange business – you get loads of promises, then you vote, and then nothing happens. In this case, I’m thinking of Pádraig, how enthusiastic he was when he bought his ticket to the Blog Awards and thought he was in with a chance. If this blog gets an award, it’ll be his, and his alone. I wish it would all make a real difference for him, I wish we could do more. People are telling me and Pat at times that they know, feel and understand what is happening to us. They don’t. I never thought, dreamt, that I could be in those places I find myself in at times. A few months ago I wouldn’t have thought they even existed… What counts is, of course, that Pádraig is getting better. Always. Thank you for staying with him, with us, and grá chugat, Reinhard