From the 18th to the al 20th of April 2008
During this weekend a group of parents, PKUs and ADs and friends have met at the Plentzia residence for a residential weekend. This is the 7th edition.
For those who have never been there, it is a wonderful place, on a river shore, with a walk that takes us to the beach and with great communications. The residence is not a hotel, but it sure looks as one. The staff is very nice and the food more than adequate.
We arrived on Friday and had dinner right after we settled. We had a warm welcome though the day was cold, dark and rainy. After dinner, some relaxed watching the TV, others played cards and some chose to have a nught walk.
The next morning after breakfast the kids (and some adults) went to visit some horses. Many rode them and some even repeated the experience several times. The weather had improved, it was still cold but it was sunny.
After lunch we went to Bilbao for a touristic visit. We could learn how the city has changed from its recent industrial past to a glorious present. Today the city relies on museums, like the Guggenheim, the Euskalduna congress centre, first class hotels, tram, skyscrapers, the underground and “water from Bilbao” (champagne), and I will not continue, because you are going to think I am from Bilbao, but I am not, and no one can be as proud and flashy as they are.
We also visited “The Cathedral” San Mames (football stadium) were the locals suffer or enjoy watching “the Lions” (the players from the local team: Athletic Club Bilbao) depending on how the match goes.
Meanwhile our kids where baci in Plentzia with the monitors doing many activities. They made bracelets, necklaces, painted, played to the game of the goose and Andrés, as accostumed, challenged anyone who dared to a frontennis match.
The following morning we met at the morning at the assembly hall to watch a video about the appereance in the Basque Parliamment comission of along several political parties of Dr. Koldo Aldámiz, Jesús Rey y Cristina Lería. Dr. Koldo Aldámiz explains the situation we live currently and proposes the creation of a Methabolic reference unit at Cruces hospital, in order to be able to treat better the whole of the group. During the following interventions, it seems that the agreement is almost unanimous. The matter is waiting to be voted as a motion. We knew that last Friday that the motion had been approved. It is a step forward in this matter we have insisting for the last 20 years.
Once the video had finished (Dr. Aldamiz was also there) there was a big round of applauses for the succesfull hard work. After some questions, we ended the meeting.
The kids went with the monitors to the beach, since finally we had a very nice day.
QUESTIONNAIRE:
Possible date for next years residential weekend. ?
2 in October-November
23 do not care
18 on May’s long weekend
Organization:
5 scored 7
11 scored 8
16 scored 9
10 scored 10
Participation and interest shown by the families
1 scored 5
1 scored 6
6 scored 7
9 scored 8
23 scored 9
3 scored 10
Punctuality:
2 scored 6
2 scored 7
8 scored 8
16 scored 9
15 scored 10
Dining hall:
Normal food:
Menu variety:
4 scored 6
10 scored 7
10 scored 8
12 scored 9
6 scored 10
Quality of food:
3 scored 6
7 scored 7
13 scored 8
13 scored 9
5 scored 10
Special food:
Menu variety:
2 scored 6
4 scored 7
14 scored 8
11 scored 9
7 scored 10
Food quality:
1 scored 6
4 scored 7
12 scored 8
12 scored 9
9 scored 10
Lectures:
Dr. Koldo Aldámiz:
Charla:
12 scored 7
16 scored 8
7 scored 9
17 scored 10
Group coexistance:
Families:
4 scored 7
11 scored 8
13 scored 9
14 scored 10
Young adults:
3 scored 6
3 scored 7
6 scored 8
16 scored 9
14 scored 10
Children:
1 scored 6
4 scored 7
7 scored 8
14 scored 9
13 scored 10
Fieldtrips:
Bilbao:
1 scored 5
1 scored 6
4 scored 7
13 scored 8
9 scored 9
Children and young adults activities:
Horse riding:
1 scored 4
4 scored 7
15 scored 8
3 scored 9
17 scored 10
Children and young adults activities:
1 scored 6
6 scored 7
9 scored 8
15 scored 9
7 scored 10
What activity prepared by the monitors did you enjoy the most. Answer in order of priority?
1ª) Horse riding 7
2ª) Bracelets and necklaces 4
3ª) All of them 3
Evaluation of the monitors:
2 scored 7
11 scored 8
10 scored 9
14 scored 10
Best of the weekend:
25 Coexistance of the group
12 The DVD from the Parliament
5 Everything
1 The walks and the sorroundings
Worst of the weekend:
16 Nothing
6 Rain and weather
4 The farewell?
1 Too short the visit to Bilbao
1 Not having a guide in Bilbao
1 Horse riding
1 The lack of assistance of other associates
What would you like to discuss on the next residential weekends?
All important matters
2 Maternal PKU.
2 PKU breaking news
2 Investigation
2 Reference unit
Night trips for adults.
The young adults to participate more.
Know what has been done for Torremolinos.
Matters related to the parents of the association.
Watch the DVD of the second appereance at the parliament
Future of PKU patients, what to expect on long term.
Personal comments:
They would mainly like to thank those who have prepared the weekend and the food. Some families ask us to continue with thios idea for it helps them to refresh their ideas. They also complain about the little participation of some of the families, and they imply that if they did so, they would feel much closer to the rest of the families. Others complain that not too many families assist.
