So tonight was the night of the Blog Awards. Hospi-tales was short-listed in three categories (health, personal, and best blog post). Pádraig’s An Saol had been shortlisted one year (he was around 16 then, I think), and I remember how excited he had been about the whole thing: his podcast in the shortlist! Tonight, in a way, he had a second go at this.

Maria was generous enough to come along with me. Together we set off into the sunset towards Clane in Kildare. Not sure whether you have ever been in the Westgrove Hotel there – it’s huge and looks like as if it was mainly used for larger parties of young people who wanted to spend a night having a good time.

I can’t remember when it was the last time I felt so out of place. Bloggers seem to be a certain kind of people and the one who met there tonight probably were the hard core. It was a night to remember. Strange, weird, and – in its very own way – wonderful. You might have seen following #blogawardsie on Twitter what happened throughout the night and who won. Hospi-tales did not win a first prize – but it has been incredible to see it as a finalist in no less than three categories. Most of the blogs that won were about fashion or food – fun stuff. Hospi-tales isn’t for a fun night with a drag queen as MC – who couldn’t say a word in Irish (couldn’t even read the names of the blogs with an Irish name) and made jokes about UVF pipe bombs.

It’s great to have a few pictures of the night – that way I won’t wonder tomorrow, whether tonight was real.

Pádraig is doing ok in Hamburg. The night nurse said that they had to suction him, remove the speech valve and use a “feuchte Nase”, and give him oxygen, although only for a short time – all of which is a bit worrying. For months, this had not been necessary (except last weekend which was a special case). It’s also strange that this never happens when we are there, nor generally during the day. – We were wondering, should we stay a night or two with him, just to see whether we can work with him so that he doesn’t need either oxygen, nor a “feuchte Nase”?

It’s late and time to go to bed. It was a busy day today. A lovely night out with Maria.

She and I will be on Roisín on TG4 on Monday evening. – Watch out for us!