Read the reports, see the pictures: www. drinkanddrugsnews. com
My doris day
Mark Reid, was among the many delegates to brave a battle with Storm Doris
DDN would like to say A HUGE THANK YOU...
to everyone who supported the DDN One Life conference: Our sponsors the‘ I’ m Worth …’ campaign, Martindale Pharma, Public Health England. Our speakers: Chris Robin, Annette Dale- Perera, Paul Hayes, Mark Fitzgerald, Dee Cunniffe, Tim Sampey, Alex Boyt. Our roundtable participants from Notaro Homes, Re- Solv, NAG, CGL, Changes UK, Aquarius’ Shanti Project, B3, Choices UK, Cocaine Anonymous, INPUD, LJWG, Red Rose Recovery, Paula Hall Associates. Naloxone trainer Philippe Bonnet; therapists Lois and Sam from Earthereal of Yorkshire; exhibitors and service user groups; our conference programme steering group; Paolo Sedazzari at Brand New Films; Nigel Brunsdon for extra photos; Dominic at simplyphotobooths. co. uk; and our indispensable volunteers and helpers: Lee Collingham, Kevin Flemen, Carole Sharma; Coventry Recovery Partnership – Simon Morgan, Bess Curtis, Adrian Hales, Adrian Mason, Sian Hails, Karoliina Wallace, David Ayriss, Louise Morley, Dave Smith, Mark Parrott, Steve Behal, Indy Thandy; everyone at the Changes UK Recovery Academy; The New Bingley Hall; and our tremendous delegates who braved Storm Doris to come from far and wide.
SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!
‘ I LIKE IT WHEN IT GOES FAST’ a little boy told his mum as the train to Birmingham slowed down again. The tannoy spluttered into life and the guard began to use the word‘ adverse’ a lot. Passengers went into the default mantra about Britain so easily grinding to a standstill. This time the caution was entirely called for. As the taxi took me from New Street station to the DDN venue, it seemed to levitate as we changed lanes. By the time we tucked into the excellent conference curry lunch, people were sharing news alerts about the tragic death of a woman hit by flying debris, down the road in Wolverhampton.
For now I distracted myself fully in the DDN line-up of speakers and debates. The streets of stalls were packed with expertise. Thanks especially to East Coast Recovery, Liver4Life and ACT Peer Recovery for the great conversations. Just for a while I didn’ t think about the journey back.
I caught a bus to return to the city centre. There were weather diversions. The driver kept getting off to get directions from colleagues queuing ahead.‘ I don’ t know where I’ m going’, he announced when he came back.
He did get us near New Street, where the gravity of the situation was stark: blank faces stared at blank screens. For the first time in my life I heard the announcement‘ Come back tomorrow if you can’. There was a solitary route showing. I felt proud of that plucky little train to Walsall.
So began our mass route march to the next option: the National Express coach station, 15 minutes away. There were no coaches for anywhere near where I live. London was equally off the menu. A cry went up:‘ Everyone for Leicester, over here’. For a few seconds, herd instinct kicked in and I nearly joined the line. Anywhere will do. It was then I first saw flickers of panic in people’ s eyes and heard a plaintive‘ I just want to go home’, from someone acting as everyone’ s spokesperson.
Onto my next big idea – the nearest Travelodge. It was either that or a taxi fare in three figures. The hotel was just a few minutes away. Brief elation – but it was full.‘ There were 13 rooms left not long ago’ the man at the desk mused. Thanks for that.‘ Where’ s the next one, please?’‘ The other side of the Bull Ring’.‘ Can you check there for me?’ He couldn’ t and I was rapidly taking a panicky dislike to him.‘ But I can give you the number for central reservations’. Suddenly I loved him. I asked the lady on the bookings phone,‘ Can you just work outwards from central Birmingham?’ I imagined her warm and cosy office, everything calm.
They found me a room. I’ ve never felt more satisfied reading out my long card number. You’ d think I’ d cracked the Enigma Code.
Mark Reid is a peer worker at Path to Recovery
www. drinkanddrugsnews. com March 2017 | drinkanddrugsnews | 19