For all the millions of followers out there who are wondering how am I doing. I’m getting better. So much so that I managed to get out of bed for a few hours today. While I felt really positive about it, I wasn’t allowed to get near anybody or anything, and instead of the tender loving care I had expected I was greeted by people offering me face masks and hand sanitiser. I guess that at the end of the day, every (wo)man for him/herself:)
While I had my first bite to eat for a while I watched a bit of the evening news. During a commercial break they showed an ad by Laya Healthcare, one of Ireland’s largest health insurers.
Not sure what you think about this ad. I thought: Ok: people, animals, stuff, stumbling, falling, rolling down a steep hill with paint guns exploding all around them proves that “it’s good to live”? Are they for real?? And then, when I did a bit of research, I discovered that the company paid 2.5 million (!) euro for this integrated ad campaign! They even have a variation on the tumbling down theme with a health coach timing the tumbles of all the apples, bikes, dogs, and people, before they’re all hit by paint balls.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been out sick in bed for a few days and still feel a bit dizzy. Maybe I’m getting too old to get into this kind of swing? I know healthy living is all about moving, but – tumbling down a steep hill while being shouted at by a health coach just before being shot by giant paint balls?
It’s either a big mistake or well, somebody is on to something big here…
One good thing that transpired over the past days: life for everybody, including for Pádraig, went on without me. I’m sure it wasn’t half as much fun. But: it did. Which is, though it might sound a bit odd, something really reassuring to know. Pádraig continued with his exercises and while he couldn’t go swimming today, life continued, and not all in a bad way.
Another good thing is that we’re planning to sign the agreement with the HSE next week for the An Saol pilot project. Another step forward.
Last but not least: thank you all for your kind words and messages! They really helped to keep the spirit up!
Hospi-Tales 
Reinhard don’t be in a hurry to recover. Your body needs time to get better so take that time rather than have a relapse. It’s a good sleepy time of year anyway so you won’t miss much. Best wishes to you all for better health and much happiness in this new year. Animo!
There is more than a grain of wisdom in your advice, Eithne. I couldn’t believe it but: for a few days it felt as if my body and mind had literally separated. You think – ah! Alone, resting, time! Nothing like it. At all. So now, when I’m just having a runny nose and really really cold feet (why would I have those?), with a bit of a sore throat, deep coughs, and a headache, I do feel like getting back into action straight away. But I will take it easy – and the rest of the gang here won’t let me back ‘in’ until they’re safe anyway:) All the best to you and a great 2018 to you too! Adelante! 🙂
Glad to hear you are on the mend. Discussed the ad you mention with friends during the week and all said they found it irritating/vertigo inducing. Maybe that is the way they make their product memorable.I find the radio version is worse as to compensate for not having visuals, they have their actors and actresses, young and old sound terribly out of breath as they roll down hills or jump on trampolines. Hope everyday brings an improvement with your health.
The ad is memorable, true. But I would have thought for all the wrong reasons. They might have joined that line of thinking that ‘bad’ and ‘good’ as distinguishing concepts aren’t relevant for brand recognition anymore…? Thanks for your kind wishes and thoughts! Beginning to feel better, even feeling a little hungry again – always a good sign!