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With An Olympic Edition Of The 2012 Fibromyalgia Conference & Pampering

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Category: Conferences

Published on Friday, 12 August 2011 09:43

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Jeanne Hambleton has sent in the notification below of her April 2012 Conference which will take place in a Chichester Hotel.

The good news is the southeast fibromyalgia conference with pampering will go ahead next April 2012.

Yes I have changed my mind but it was never my decision in the first place, to stop doing the conference. What changed my mind? I found this funny website about Funny Gender Differences and Rule 1 rather sums up how I felt.

http://www.humorsharing.com/funny-gender-differences/1907/

The female makes the rules. The rules are subject to change at any time without prior notification. No male can possibly know all the rules. If the female suspects the male knows the rules, she must immediately change the rules. The female is never wrong. If the female is mistaken, it is a direct result of something the male did or said wrong.

I was offered loads of real help and full support for the Folly Pogs FM Cause for a Cure research fund (my passion), so I told myself the male members of my family who raised the most objections to more work and more conferences were wrong. I rewrote our rulebook. It now reads we should do it again, and possibly again and even again, as long as the delegates enjoy and support the conference. Backed by the FMS SAS Sussex and Surrey charity trustees who are now involved with the work, we have a date to keep.

The Fibromyalgia Conference & Pamper Weekend will be on April 6/9 2012 (Easter weekend) at a hotel in Chichester. Our original venue was fully booked for 2012 so we had no choice but to move. The only date we could book during the entire year was Easter weekend. We appreciate it is the first Bank holiday of the year when families get together but why not bring the family with you. There are loads to see and do in Chichester, Portsmouth and Brighton and you know where the beaches are – Bracklesham Bay and West Wittering.

The venue offers in-house pampering for a fee, with use of the spa, steam room, great ‘warm’ indoor pool, comfy beds, en suite, TV, tea making, telephone etc. We even have a special vacation offer for couples who want to stay on for an Easter break until the following Friday with a list of tourist attractions to visit in Chichester, Portsmouth and Brighton.

We will again offer a full programme of interesting and keynote speakers, workshops and some exercises. Plans are underway. The weekend – 3 nights 4 days from Friday to Monday will cost £179 per person sharing a double room.  We also have a special bridal suite and two bedrooms with four-posters available for the ‘romantics’ among you. We only have the three so payment secures your choice. Sadly there are no single rooms and the hotel requires a £50 single supplement, so bring a friend and share. This time we have 70 rooms – roughly beds for 150 people - less accommodation than usual.

What does your money buy – full board, 3 meals plus tea and coffee breaks, a choice of approximately 12 speakers, 12 workshops, exercises (some of this may be subject to change depending on the availability of those providing the presentations etc.), evening entertainment, some laughs and giggles. Many delegates who came before are already booked to come back to Chichester.

It will be another memorable weekend to make new friends with like minded folk, the chance to speak one to one with our speakers, learn more about your condition, join one of the informal workshops where you can ask questions and relax, and take part in fun competitions – the Easter Bonnet Parade; the Fibro Duck & Appropriate Owner competition (FDAO); and the Olympic challenges when we have worked these out. Any ideas? These may be a bit challenging but nothing too hard for a fibromite. One might include knitting squares for a good cause – how quick and how many maybe?  Stella Bernardi will highlight knitting as a diversion from pain in one of our workshops.

For more information and a conference booking form do come back to me on 0844 887 2508 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with CONFERENCE in the subject line please.

Other notes to my new rulebook include - only a woman can understand. A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument. A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. Laugh a lot – even at yourself. If you are down in the mouth, look in the mirror and pull a few funny faces to lift your spirits, if not your face.

Finally a big thanks to Pam Stewart – without her input we might still be floundering and wondering what to do and I would not have a new family rule book. Hooray.  Thanks Pam – your heart is in the right place. We all appreciate what you do for the FM community. Also big thanks for the FMS SAS charity and it’s trustees for its help and support.