Hi Annmarie!
Thanks so much for your e-mail - sorry I took so long to get back to you
but we went to London for a few days. I'm delighted to hear that you're
enjoying a new job - it's great to be working in that kind of area where
you're actually making a difference to other peoples' lives I think.
I'm glad to hear that your kids are doing well also.
We have settled into our new home - it's a lot closer to the school for
Samantha and it's more accessible with buses and shops, etc. I'm still
working at the local University here - but would love a career change,
I've been doing a lot of work in the area of alternative therapies over
the past few years and I love it, it's very fulfilling. I've taken up a
few new hobbies as well - I'm still doing the water-skiing with Dave
during the Summer months, and I've taken up tai chi and hipdancing (I
never realised hipdancing was so difficult, but hopefully I'll get the
hang of it soon! :-) ).
We have a portugese au pair (Sara) living with us since last May and
she's great, Samantha adores her. Overall, life is treating us well and
we're all looking forward to Finland and the everlasting light :-)!!
I'm sorry to hear that you won't be in Finland, but yes, we will be at
the AGM in September and hopefully we'll see you there.
Take care Annmarie and keep in touch,
Love & light,
Noreen

-----Original Message-----
From: retinayouth@...
[mailto:retinayouth@...] On Behalf Of annmarie houston
Sent: 04 February 2008 10:10
To: retinayouth@...
Subject: [retinayouth] HI


Hi Noreen

Just thought I would take this opportunity to say Hi and bring you up to
date. Glad Samantha is doing well and hope you are settling into your
new home.

Hasn't the time flown since our trips to Greece and Poland. Glad you're
still keeping in touch with the European folks. I still receive and read
mail between you all.

Life has been good to me, I am still living in Strabane. I spent 3 years
on the Board of RNIB in London, I left the public library service to
work full time for RNIB in Derry and Belfast. I am Project Manage for
Employability and Skills for Blind and Partially sighted Women. We have
64 women on the project, six of whom have gone into full time employment
since our opening one year ago. I am passionate that women are given
every chance to achieve full potential especially in the world of work.

Andrea is at University in Belfast doing Information Technology and Tony
is doing GCSE's, he is 16. I'm not sure if you knew I got a guide dog
almost 2 years ago. Lark is a playful rascal but she gives me newfound
independance. I travel widely with her.

Kiki and I met earlier this year in Dublin. It was emotional after 7
years. We kept in touch meantime. She is doing well and looks fantastic.


Enjoy your trip to Finland and say hello to Pekka and anyone else from
the original group. Keep us posted on how things go for you. Maybe see
you in September at Fighting Blindness AGM.

Regards to Dave and Samantha
Annmarie

Annmarie HoustonWork: 02871 366060Mobile: 07864067649

To: retinayouth@ <mailto:retinayouth%40yahoogroups.co.ukFrom>
yahoogroups.co.ukFrom: nrpower@eircom. <mailto:nrpower%40eircom.netDate>
netDate: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 22:42:30 +0000Subject: RE: [retinayouth] 15th
Retina International World Congress

Hi all from Ireland! Apologies that I have not been in touch for sucha
long time - I have been going through a lot of changes over the lastyear
or so, including moving house. I just want to say that I miss youall and
I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone in Finland.You won't
recognise Samantha now as she's grown quite a bit and is a bitof a
bossyboots now :-) but adorable all the same :-)Anyway, my love to
everyone and look forward to seeing you soon.xxxNoreenn.
<mailto:soon.xxxNoreenn.power-waldron%40ucc.ie>
power-waldron@...-----Original Message-----From: retinayouth@
<mailto:retinayouth%40yahoogroups.co.uk>
yahoogroups.co.uk[mailto:retinayouth@
<mailto:retinayouth%40yahoogroups.co.uk> yahoogroups.co.uk] On Behalf Of
M.DebiecSent: 21 October 2007 20:36To: retinayouth@
<mailto:retinayouth%40yahoogroups.co.ukSubject>
yahoogroups.co.ukSubject: Re: [retinayouth] 15th Retina International
World CongressSounds delicious... This time I think I can make this and
go to themeeting. That is of course a question of costs. Pekka - are You
planningsomething or anybody according to our group?Best
regardsMike----- Original Message ----- From: Markus Georg To: RIY ;
Retinayouth Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 6:10 PMSubject: [retinayouth]
15th Retina International World CongressHello everybody,Please find
below the information I have received from Maija fromFinlandabout next
RI congress.Best regards,MarkusDear Friends,The 15th Retina
International World Congress will be held in Helsinkinextsummer. Here in
Finland the preparations are advancing in their duecourseand presently
we are starting to get to the final stage of the work. Thescientific
program for the congress is ready. The invitations have beensentto the
speakers.The exact dates for the congress will be Friday, the 4th, and
Saturday,the5th of July, 2008. The time of the year is the most luminous
here in thenorth and, therefore, often said to be "nightless".We have
chosen Finlandia Hall in the centre of Helsinki as the congressvenue.
The building was designed by Alvar Aalto, a world-famous
Finnisharchitect, and has been the seat for several international
congressesandmeetings of world leaders. Finlandia Hall provides such
occasions withexcellent technological conditions.The official languages
of the congress are Finnish and English. Thankstothe technology we have
the opportunity of arranging simultaneousinterpretation in several
languages. If a larger number of participantsarecoming from your society
to Finland and you wish to get interpretationin,for instance, French,
Italian or Japanese this will be technicallypossible.You can bring your
own interpreter with you or we can find you one hereinHelsinki. You will
pay for all the costs of the interpreter and RetinaFinland will pay for
the technical arrangements.We have succeeded in negotiating good deals
with two high class hotels,theCrowne Plaza and the Scandic Continental
near Finlandia Hall. Staying inthese hotels will cost about 110 Euros
per night in a double room. Thepriceincludes a very generous buffet
breakfast. The walking distance toFinlandiaHall is 5 to 10 minutes.
Opposite the hotels is the big Hesperia Parkwherethe RI Running Club can
go for their morning jog.Besides these hotels we offer an even more
affordable alternative atDomusAcademica, a summer hotel, which is
situated a bit further away. Thewalkingdistance to Finlandia Hall is
about 20 to 30 minutes. A single roomcosts 50Euros and a double room 70
Euros per night. Rooms for three or fourpersonsare also available. Domus
Academica functions as a dormitory forstudents inwinter. That's why
there is no luxury in the rooms. Each room has atoilet,a shower, a
fridge and a small kitchen. In the lounge there isa TV-set and some
computers. The hotel has a sauna and a small swimmingpool.The social
program for the congress days has been confirmed. TheSpeakers'Dinner
will be held in Suomenlinna on Friday evening. Suomelinna is
thehistorical sea fortress on the islands just off the coast of
Helsinki.Thearea was included in the UNESCO's World Heritage List in
1991.On Saturday we end the congress in a festive way with a Gala
Dinnercelebrating also the 30-year existence of Retina
International.According to the tradition the business meetings of Retina
Internationalwill take place in connection with the congress. We have
built up theprogram so that we can arrange alternative programs for
those in thepartywho are not official delegates.The days for the
business meetings are:Monday, June 30th, Retina International Management
Committee MeetingTuesday, July 1st, Continuous EducationWednesday, July
2nd, General AssemblyThe Management Committee meeting on Monday will be
held at a hotel. Thebusiness meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday will take
place at Iiris -TheService and Activity Centre for the Visually
Impaired.According to the feedback from earlier congresses we have
dedicated thewhole Thursday for social activities. The participants have
theopportunityof getting familiar with Finnish nature. We will make a
trip to anationalpark near Helsinki where we can canoe, hike and bathe
in a sauna.Alternatively participants can get acquainted with the
colourful historyofthe sea fortress of Suomelinna. A partly separate
program has beenplannedfor the Retina International Youth
participants.More information can be found on our websitehttp:
<websitehttp://www.retina.> //www.retina. <http://www.retina.
<http://www.retina.fi/RI2008/congress.html.>
fi/RI2008/congress.html.>fi/RI2008/congress.html.In the beginning of
December the First Announcement will be published onourwebsite. It will
contain more detailed information both on thescientificand the social
program as well as on fees and ways of payment.We are happy to answer
any of your questions.We Wish You All Welcome To Finland Next
Summer!Retina FinlandMaija LindroosPresidentmaija.lindroos@
<mailto:maija.lindroos%40pp.inet.fi> pp.inet.fi[Non-text portions of
this message have been removed][Non-text portions of this message have
been removed]

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