Just another another Manc Monday (sic)

Here in the Manchester conference centre for obesity and health gig Vineeta and I have taken two days annual leave. and are manning the stall and attending bits we fancy.
So the highlights - breakfast good.
Into the opening John Ashton had laryngitis so it was Rod Thompson ex of sefton health. Followed by another sub - should have been Obesity and its Effect on Society
Fiona Adshead, Deputy Chief Medical Offer, Department of Health but was a nutritionist whos name I didnt write down. Then it was dr chen bing from UHA with some interesting stuff about genetics. Yellow fat mice interesting stuff.
Then a session Diet, Behaviour and Obesity Risk Stephen Whybrow,Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen clever bloke good talk. Then dive into coffee. Good to see Kathryn Thomas ex GP of speke who moved into the valleys of south wales as a GP who is now in public health. Stand looks good but the gig is smaller than we hoped and we get a minimum of interest. I opt againt the next two sesions - so we can be ready for the lunch rush.
12.00 Diabetes and Obesity
Hisham Maksoud, Kings Mill Hospital, Nottinghamshire
12.25 Obesity and Health: Why do people have heart attacks and strokes?
Henry Purcell, Royal Brompton Hospital, London

We are served lunch at 12 25 Vineeta is shaping up well as an exhibitor despite her obvious pain. Lunch is a high protein seafood mix and salmon steak - good stuff. Getting some interest at the stand and its good to see Vineeta getting the is that you look. Meet some really interesting people and generate a lot of interest.
More people arrive and we have a busy lunch - then its enter thopsy turvy world of exhibitors - The delegates swoop in to lectures and we chill - relatively.
Miss
14.00 Childhood Obesity
Angie Page, University of Bristol
14.30 Challenging the Paradigms – what the EarlyBird Study is telling us
Linda Voss, EarlyBird Research Centre, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Coffee sees us busy again and I confirm a room is available good news and then we jog into - Psychological Aspects of Obesity
Andrew Hill, University of Leeds He is truly impressive he makes me reflect on the whole thing about obesity self esteem and me. He talks about the eat less do more message and how we?I have trouble interpreting it. I resolve that the direction of my future plans are resolved.
Top stuff - Vineeta scoots out and I stay in for Satellite Symposium: Obesity and holistic health: from complementary / integrated medicine to surgical intervention
Denise Rankin-Box Company Development Manager, Harehill Park Ltd An interesting combination and denise is a sound person. Her holistic vibe takes me back to halcyon days as a student nurse in Winwick, and principles I was brought up on. I realise the emptiness of a professional career without patient contact.
The gastric stimulation stuff is interesting read more at her website. She gives a broad overview on bariatric surgery and gets some flak for it later in the panel discussion I get irritated a little by the flak for her. But Andrew Hill intervenes and talks about a pragmatic approach and surgery helping people now. Yup I believe we need a 10 year multicentre RCT in the UK with a 10 year longitudinal view - but I would have been dead whilst they did it. I am with De Bono in doing this best we can till something better comes along.
Back to man the stand and on duty for the Welcome reception and exhibition. Red and white wine and water and juice. Pauline from Cambridge bemoans the lack of snax though given the topic of the conference I aint surprised. We arrange to take dinner with Pauline she is a good sort (and suspects we may be able to tap some revenue).
So we chill out I shower then down to the wireless tinternet in the lounge. An 802.11b number on the ground floor provided by Canova for £5 for 24 hours. Then its drinks in the bar with the girls at 7pm.Chilly in there and then into dinner. A strange pythonesque affair - which ends up with me having the crab followed by the hotpot and cheese and bics - v. nice. ( well it was ok for a tenner).
Into the bar which is now heaving with conference delegates and open university MBA residential course peeps. Hmm
Find a space chill then a fairly early but relaxed night. Wired ethernet connection still not working in room. Grr.