The TPA-UK 'Get Together' 29th March 2008

[Guest guest]

Hi Everybody

Just to let you know that for the 28 members attending the TPA-UK Get Together last Saturday (29th March), it was a resounding success. As most of you will know, Dr Peatfield was already staying at my cottage doing his clinic on Thursday and Friday, which were very busy and very interesting, as he lets me sit in now if the patient is in agreement. I am learning SO much. He also continued with his clinic on Sunday all day.

On Friday evening, several members turned up to their respective B & B's in the village, with others having to stay in the next village. Dr Skinner and Afshan should have turned up on Friday afternoon, but instead were called into a meeting, so didn't leave Birmingham until around 5.00p.m. We had arranged a dinner at the 'Dog and Gun' down the road (where we had our TPA-UK Get Together last year) at 7.30pm with other guests. Dr Skinner's 'Sat Nav' decided to act up, and for the past few miles, between us, we guided them in and they arrived at 8.30p.m. A lovely night was had by all. Dr Skinner and Afshan had failed to report in to their B & B before dinner, and therefore, didn't turn up until about 10.30p.m. where, I understand, the husband of the lady who runs the B & B was a little unsteady as he had consumed a noggin or two, and showed them to their respective rooms and locked up for the night. The following morning, the landlady had no idea who was sitting at the breakfast table, as her husband hadn't even told her they had arrived. That was a good start to a good laugh. Most of the people in B & B then came down to our cottage on Saturday morning, and we all had a good old chin-wag and puttiong faces to the names.

Around 11.30a.m. we made our way to Alfe's Restaurant (Chinese and Thai) in Church Green, Keighley, where most of the other members and their partners/friends/family had already gathered in the bar. There was much kissing and cuddling - and it was happily quite noisy.

We were then ushered into the Restaurant where Al had excelled himself. All the tables had been put into a large oblong 'Conference" style, and there were the exact number of places for the people who attended. Everything was pristine and beautiful and in the centre was a table on which stood a beautiful orchid. Our dining tables had a single rose for every two people and everything was colour matched. We ordered a few bottles of wine and what surprised me, was that usually, everybody has to get up and go and get their own helpings of all the three courses from the buffet, but this time, the waiters came round and asked each one of us whether we would like sweet and sour or chicken and corn soup and brought these to us.

As soon as the last person had finished, they cleared these away and then brought the au'derves, with a choice of three dipping sauces, which I had to admit were delicious with enormous helpings.

After that, some people ordered rice with shredded duck, with salad and cucumber, which was delicious, but for those who ordered this dish, it was so large, they were letting others enjoy it too. We then served ourselves from the buffet (a very wide choice) for our main meal, which again, was absolutely delicious. We then had a choice of strawberries, marsh mallow and fudge dipped in chocolate from their new 'chocolate fountain' or other sweet, ending with a coffee of your choice.

McDonagh (Chair of the National Pure Water Association) gave a talk about the dangers of fluoridating our water and many questions were asked, followed by a talk by Dr Peatfield about the 8 different things that could stop thyroid hormone replacement from working, again followed by questions. a 'new' member, , responded to Dr Peatfield and talked a little about the work he is becoming more and more involved in - re 'The wonders of Glyconutrients' and the role they play in our lives, which was very interesting. I hope he posts something on the forum about the importance of these. Then Dr Skinner spoke for a short while about the idiocy of diagnosing by TSH and ignoring the patient's symptoms and signs. Sadly, we had no time to ask questions because it was alomost 4.30p.m. and we only had the restaurant from 12.00 Noon to 4.00p.m. as Al needed to get the tables set out for the evening rush.

We transferred to the bar, where both drinks and conversation flowed freely. Those people who had some way to go gradually drifted off for their journey back home, and those in B & B came back to our cottage, where we stayed until around 10.00p.m. with excellent conversation and enjoyed some good laughter. It was a very enjoyable evening all round.

On Sunday morning, most of the B & B'ers dropped off at the cottage to say goodbye. It was definitely the best TPA-UK Get Together so far, and I will definitely be booking Al's Restaurant again next year. I was asked if we could do it again towards the end of the year, and I might think about that.

We have sent Al and his staff a card thanking them all for going way above and beyond their expected duties in organising a very professional and a most wonderful occasion for us all.

Many thanks to everybody who helped make this day something to remember for a long time to come.

Luv - Sheila