Summary of Days

Here is a summary of my days. I will do individual posts on the topics.

Tuesday
Focus Symposium on Global physical activity transitions: emerging measurement and therapeutic opportunities

Neurology Stroke 1 - Platform presentations
Neuroscience Networking Session - I chaired this session - over 50 people attended
Stroke Rehab- Platform presentations
Neurology 2 - Platform presentations

Wednesday
Neurology 3 - Platform
Health Policy Discussion Panel
Subgroup chair meeting
Health Promotion - Discussion Panel
INPA meeting

Thursday
Fun Fitness Special Olympics - Network Group
Cancer and Exercise - Focused Symposium
Moral Action
Closing Ceremonies

The cancer presentation was excellent. Neurology was interesting for the presentation of negative studies. Health promotion and our role is developing and it was interesting to hear the perspectives. Moral Action was very good.

I'll write more on each topic over the next week.

Thanks again for this opportunity.
Cheers

Lost in Learning

The last two days have been busy and late nights. Attending lots of sessions and business meetings. Will give a full update tonight.

Opening Ceremony and Other Adventures

I think I will start with the end. The reception after the opening ceremony was a time to meet colleagues and friends including some not seen for many years. Sheila Wall was a classmate at Queen's and a good friend. It was great to visit. The opening ceremony was incredible. I can't describe the stage except it was a garden on stage. Some ballet-acrobats did a beautiful demonstration of movement. Bas Eenhoon, President of KNGF, welcomed us and spoke of the need for PT to take its place and responsiblity within the healthcare scene. We must be"Shrewed as a snake. Peaceful as a pigeon." WCPT speakers spoke on the Global flow of Communication, our importance in World Health Organizations and how PT is a benefit to all. Dr. Lorimer Mosely spoke on Aiming Higher - He spoke on physiotherapy and how we all affect the brain. Everything is a product of the brain including interactions. The brain, in a complex way, puts two and two together. Physiotherapy has always changed the brain and we are ideally suited to target it. Princess Marguerite was present for the ceremony and helped to "water the garden" - the growth in PT in every way.


Lots of walking and biking. Took the country tour - cheese farm, windmill and a houseboat village. Wonderful country side! All but 2 people were PTs on the tour - just a coincidencet. One was Betty Yundt who I did courses with at UBC but we had never met face to face!

Cheers

Arrival

I made it. I'm in my lovely room at CitizenM - a very cool hotel! I have a mood pad from which I can change the colouring of my room to match my mood. I also have a stuffed being to keep me company. I'd post a picture but my camera is in my luggage and my luggage is......where? Paris! Last time I was in Paris the same thing happened. It is on its way and should be here tonight. The flight was good with very nice seat mates but I hardly fit in between the two of them. Make note to self to lose lots of weight. We arrived in Paris just when my connecting flight was to take off. Going through passport check was painful and I'm sure it was a work slow down or someone trying to lose his job. Many people including me were trying to get to connecting flights and it did not matter. People were great to let people come to the front of the line but that only worked until everyone who was at the front were also desperate to get through. It was a miracle but as I ran to the gate expecting my flight to have left 20 minutes ago it was still waiting - yea! A great plane and trip. Now the train challenge. I took the train to the hotel which once I got a ticket I was fine. The ticket machine would not take a card without a pin number which my credit card does not have and debit did not work. I caught the train and got here. The system at the hotel is interesting in that you basically enter your information in the computer and magnetize your key card. I should be tired but I think I will go and do some wandering.

Airport

I have made it through security and I'm sitting here with 2.5 hours to go. I'm watching the kids at the indoor playground right beside our gate. Lots of energy being spent. Geoff and Evie drove me down and we had a great trip.

Hoping for no more updates today - that would mean something didn't go right!

Cheers!

A Day to Go

My bags are packed and my flight time has changed by one hour but so far all is well for take off tomorrow. I have been invited to the WCPT Subgroup President's Meeting on Wednesday which should be interesting. Evie and I had fun last night looking a pictures of paintings by Van Gogh so I think a visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a must. Keep your fingers crossed - I'm hoping to fit in 2 bike tours on the off convention hours.

More when I arrive.

Where is it?

Well I am having lots of fun looking at maps trying to figure out where are the interesting sights in Amsterdam - can I walk? take a tram? take a canal? take a bike? Lots of options. My hotel apparently is a 15 minute walk to the convention centre. I am pleased. The Centre of Amsterdam is further away so I'll have to decide. How about walking with a bicycle on a barge in the canal run by the City of Amsterdam therefore related to a tram? Well maybe not.

Plans for our network meeting continue to go well. All for now.

Less than a week

It is hard to believe that I will be in Holland at this time next week. I'm getting excited. I have been copying materials for the Networking session I will chair on June 21 and our first official INPA executive meeting on the 23rd. I'm looking forward to all the sessions and the networking. I have downloaded 3 novels and my Living with Stroke Facilitator Manual into my e-reader to keep me busy on the plane. I'm hoping to fit in a couple of bike rides and at least one visit to a museum. It will be a busy week. Danuta, I have your sessions with me so I hope to attend.

INPA

It is time to celebrate. The Executive Committee of WCPT is recommending to the general meeting that INPA become a subgroup. International Neurological Physical Therapy Association began as a discussion in a bar at WCPT in Vancouver and at WCPT in Holland the idea will be a reality. This reality has been an international effort and the group is growing almost daily.

Congress Planner

I've added an Interesting Link called Congress Planner which should help you get to the programme. Let me know of the sessions you are interested in me attending and I'll try to get there!

Humerous Canadian- Dutch Connection

If you have not tuned into CBC's Insecurity I would recommend viewing Episode 11 Going Dutch. Find the link to the episode on CBC in the Interesting Links. Just for fun.

The Royal Wedding

Well, I should be reading on Amsterdam but I'm finding myself planning to read "Royal Weddings for Dummies" this week so I can be ready for the 3am call on Friday to watch the British festivities.



Of course, I should be reading on Dutch Royalty. The following is from the Royal Website - "The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy: the position of the monarch is laid down in the Constitution. The monarch is the Dutch head of state, and together with the ministers, makes up the government. Queen Beatrix has been the head of state for the kingdom of the Netherlands since 1980."

Queen Beatrix has three sons with Prince Willem-Alexander - the Prince of Orange being the heir to the throne.

If you are interested in the Royal Family. Go to my links to find a link to their website.

Amsterdam

Well, I have finally started to do some reading on Amsterdam. It has a history of 900 years. Some of the highlights include:

• Canals and Waterways - there is a ring of three 17th -century canals known as Grachtengordel


• Rijksmuseum - National Museum


• Van Gogh Museum


• Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder - 17th-century house in the red light district with a rare example of a perfectly preserved hidden Catholic Church


• Berginhof - a haven of peace - Amsterdam's oldest house is here

Lots to learn!

International Neurological Physical Therapy Association continues to work at meeting the requirements for subgroup acceptance into WCPT.

More soon.

Mary

Booking

Well the flight is booked as well as the hotel room. We are working hard on edits to our INPA application and constitution.

I've bought 2 books on Amsterdam so I'll start sharing some facts soon.

Mary