Conference Time

Thursday Morning we set off to brighton for the CdLS World Federation Conference, our first World Conference. Something we have longed for and hoped for and worked towards for such a long time. To say we were excited was an understatement. Not only was it the CdLS conference, with all the information and the profesionals but it was the meting up with friends, other families, and for me meeting with people I have communciated with by post and email for many many years and now I was going to meet them face to face. The Conference was being held in a large Hotel in Brighton, 185 miles from home. It was a long journey and we struggled to find a place to stop and eat only succeeding when we were less than half an hour from the City of Brighton. However once we arrived pulled up outside the Hotel we immediately spotted a face we knew!

Unloading and parking the Bus was an interesting experience, the Hotel Carpark had a 7 foot height restriction so was not an option. Talking with the Concierge of the Hotel though we soon discovered that help was always on hand whilst staying here. It was a very Posh Hotel and with it came the most helpful staff I have ever encountered. We were directed to a spot alongside the Hotel where Clamping signs warned Motorists against leving their vehicles for even a short time...we were assured our number would be distributed to the parking attendants and we would be fine....I am pleased to report we were!!

Once our rooms were ready we were escorted there with porters managing ALL our significant luggage, we were told to dial 0 on the phone whenever we were in any need.

Once downstairs we found the CdLS registration room and again were met by people we knew well, exchanging hugs and news and tales of journeys here. Finding our envelope of tickets and information and booking in for the sibling trips and the Doctors Conuslts, arranging our seating for the GALA dinner and genreally ensuring we had all we needed to make the most of the few days.

We were able to relax a while then before heading off in search of some food for tea. The downside of such a fantastic Hotel sadly is the cost of food and drink. So sarah and I set off in search of food...on route we found Hotel Chocolat which was a nice find.

We spent the evening socialising with friends, Christina found her old friend Joseph, he had thankfully been looking forward to their seeing one another as much as she had and before many seconds elapsed youn would have thought they had never been apart.

So the night passed and Friday dawned and the Conference got underway. The pictures tell much of the story and I will mainly leave you to browse, Sorry about the mixed order Blogger does not make sorting them inot order easy and leaves many large gaps.

I will blog the photos from the Gala Dinner soon, they need sorting better first.
Enjoy!

Meeting Jenny for the first time! We first started communicating with one another in 1996 following an article each of us had in the Reaching Out magazine.

The Gastroenterologists at the conference are concerned this may be the cause of Rosie's narrowed oesophagus.