‘Gonzalo’ sounds mediterranean, or at least Spanish-speaking and from the Caribbean, maybe. Warm, anyway. Well, this Gonzalo was a storm which hit Europe and caused the first snow fall in the south of Germany.

Who would ever have thought last year that Pádraig would still be in hospital today? When snow starts falling? Who would ever have thought that there would be another cycle, that we would start doing again what we did last year? Looking for carers and therapists (outside of the hospital setting this time), and looking for a place to live (this time with Pádraig). If all works according to plan, there might even be another few trips to IKEA on the cards. In the “it-couldn’t-be-a-smaller-car-than-this” Picanto.

Pádraig’s doctor and then his senior doctor both talked to me about Pádraig’s slight setback of yesterday today, which coincided with yet another doctor going ahead with a scheduled procedure (changing the catheter) while the one of the former was planning to try out a less invasive method again as we had agreed. My father would have said “wenn man nicht alles selbst macht…” – you really have to do it all yourself if you want to be sure that things are done as they should. Why, why can we not did it all ourselves?

The truth is – we can’t.

So Pádraig is on an antibiotic, the first time in three and a half months. He is on a higher dose of an anti-seizure drug again (as one of the side effects of the antibiotic is an increased risk of seizure). He got a fever (which has thankfully come back down today). His heart rate went up considerably (also down again). And his oxygen levels went down to a point were he needed additional oxygen for the first time in a long time, if only for short periods.

Wenn man nicht alles selbst macht.

If you’re living near Rhode, Co. Offaly, and want your kids to have a great fun-filled Halloween afternoon, please support the Kiddies Disco organised in support of Pádraig for tomorrow afternoon by Andrea Stone and her family and friends.

They are doing an unbelievable job for someone who shared a hospital stay with their son and nephew last year. We are so happy that Arthur has fully recovered in the meantime and is back in college in his final year, and also out and about again with his fabulous band Ruaile Buaile. Listen to them playing This is the Life.

And you’re singing the songs
Thinking this is the life
And you wake up in the morning and your head feels twice the size
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna sleep tonight?

You’re singing the songs thinking this is the life. This is the life… Thinking… Singing the song…

This coming weekend is the weekend of the Oireachtas, probably the biggest and most important date in the Irish language calendar. This year, there will be a table where Pádraig’s friends will pre-launch (and sell) the Dreamboat CD with music, songs, and poetry they recorded over long days, nights, weeks, and months for him. I haven’t heard it yet, but I’m sure it will become Christmas No. 1. It’ll take over the charts in a storm as Gonzalo took over the South of Germany. I know that because we will make it happen! We will.

Today’s German Music Tip
Heintje, Ich bau Dir ein Schloss (1969) – How could I have forgotten about Heintje? He was my mother’s superstar and I (like many other boys of my age) were just going to turn out as ‘lieb’ as he did. Watch the ‘Kleinbahn’ – it could be the one in the Westfalenpark in Dortmund that we were allowed to board on really really special occasions. It was an expensive special treat. Can you imagine?
What’s hot
Taking life by storm
What’s cold
Trying to do it by yourself
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Mensch, haste noch alle Tassen im Schrank?

Not taken by me this picture of an authentic Hamburger Bahnsteigkarte!

Tonight, at S1 Friedrichsberg: “Entry only with a valid ticket or Bahnsteigkarte!”

I thought they didn’t exist anymore because I had not seen them for a long term. They became famous internationally when Lenin (remember him – he Germans send him to Russia on one of their fancy trains to start a revolution) said many years ago that the first thing German would do if they planned to start a revolution in a train station was to buy one. I am talking, of course, about the Bahnsteigkarte. It doesn’t entitle you to travel anywhere, but you are allowed to enter the train station and the platforms in that train station.

Without one, you’re not allowed even to enter the station.

Where but in Germany?

Today was a good day, because Pádraig had two visitors on the one day. I am sure he was delighted to hear some other voices, and see and feel their presence. The two previous days, he had had another visitor. It really is unbelievable to see how after such a long time, his friends remain loyal to him, visit him, tell him what’s going on back in Ireland, keep him in the loop. This is really really special and something I admire immensely.

Today was a bad day, because it turned out that he has an infection which has to be treated with an antibiotic, most likely an infection of the urinary track, to do with the catheter which still has not been removed. We thought it would be and when I asked whether there had be a change of plan no-one knew. I’ll find out tomorrow, I hope. Pádraig also coughed up some green stuff which had to be suctioned orally, irritated him, and make him throw up a bit. He’s also getting an increased dose of anti-seizure medication again and a lot of water. It sounds and feels like a deja vu. Why is all this happening, again?

Checked out a new building project which my ‘Genossen’ in the ‘Genossenschaft’ are finalising. We’ll apply for one of their new apartments with a balcony and a slightly bigger layout in general. We should know in a week or two whether we were successful. Fingers crossed.

Before

Today, I learned a few important things, the most important one being that you get where you need to get, even if it takes more time then you would wish.

The first kilometres went ok, but too soon a couple of things did not work out as I had planned. A bit of a stomach pain, getting out of breadth, and then – the nagging question of why on earth I was doing this. I started to think that I didn’t really have to continue, if I couldn’t run well. I had to walk. Thought about getting a taxi home.

Then I decided to try a different strategy. I stopped running when I had to and, instead, walked.

After

The result: I finished. Not in a great time. But time was never the issue.

Tonight, my bones and muscles are aching, I am very very tired, but immensely proud for having finished.

During the day, I heard the story of Joseph and his brother Ciaran – which is all about inclusion, about An Saol, about having a life. Check it out here. And there is a short video on youtube about it too. The whole project is called ‘He ain’t heavy’. It made me think that with a bit of luck one day I will run with Pádraig. What do you think?

I heard that Donal made it to the finishing line. Well done Donal. Cian didn’t make it even to the starting line because of some serious work issues, unfortunately. Haven’t heard about Ciara and how the run went for her. Fergal and I had a couple of pints in Toner’s with a few friends and family before we made it home, just about.

Tomorrow, I’ll tell Pádraig that I kept my part of the deal and see what he has to say!

The hardest thing has been done. I got the bag! Now it’s just going to be the run on Monday. There should be five of us with a connection to Pádraig running (that I know of). Someone said “it’s all in the mind”, a friend today (a bit younger than myself:) said to me “there also needs to be something in the auld legs”.

Here’s the bag. Got a lift up to the RDS today to collect it and get all worked up about the big day.  I found the map of the new route in there, so I won’t get lost running up the old route up to Phibsborough.

But before Monday, there is another event some really really generous people have organised for Pádraig in Rhode, Co. Offaly.

We met Arthur and his family a bit more than a year ago in Beaumont. Arthur had been struck by a car while walking to a friend’s house in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, and was critically injured. Luckily, he has fully recovered from this terrible accident and he is back studying in his final year at the University of Limerick and playing with his fantastic band, Ruaile Buaile, up to five nights a week.

His aunt is organising a regular fundraiser around Halloween. This year, she and her family have decided to raise funds for Pádraig’s care. Tomorrow evening, the doors of of Killeen’s Lounge in Rhode, Co. Offaly, will open at 9pm for a fantastic fundraising night with music provided by DJ Sarge. There will also be a Kiddies’ disco on 31 October from 2pm-5pm, also in Killeen’s Lounge.

Pádraig continues to make huge efforts to speak and we have been told that there will be another effort to help him with targeted speech therapy. We hope that that will start next week. The doctors are reducing the anti-seizure medication, as they had decided to stop stimulating medication, which could make him more alert. He is still going out onto the roof terrace, although the weather is getting a bit uncomfortable. But there is nothing like getting out of this room that has been his home now for many weeks and months.

Please support Ciara and Donal Earls who are fundraising for Pádraig by running Monday’s marathon.

And please join tomorrow’s big party in Rhode!

Thank you to all who are continuing to support Pádraig and us! I would long have given up had it not been for your solidarity!

It’s just after 11pm and I’ve been at home for an hour or so. It was a long day and it’s coming to an end. Good.

Pádraig was tired and not so active today. It could upset you a bit thinking about it, or you could say: I have days like these myself. Tomorrow will be a different day, after a bit of rest. I had a day like this today. And can’t wait for a few hours of rest.

More tomorrow!