Before booking?

Indecision and more indecision. I dithered for AGES before making the booking. It was the ticking clock that gave me the final push – unless I booked RIGHT NOW, the rooms would be gone, the opportunity would time out. In which case, I knew I'd feel bad about missing the boat! So that evening I told myself, "Stop over-thinking – JUST BOOK IT". And I did. Phew. Great decision.

Biggest worry?

That’s easy – being on my own, having no one to talk to, etc, etc. Sound familiar?

What did I appreciate most?

All those people who went the extra mile to be friendly. So as well as chatting in the lunch queue, they'd ask, "Do you want to join our table?" When discussing evening events, they'd say, "Would you like to meet by the entrance?"

Thank you all - these things make a MASSIVE difference.

What surprised me?

How easy it was to connect with people. A few words with the adjacent person in the lecture theatre and - wow - we related to EXACTLY the stammering experiences. Such a niche issue in any other environment, but centre-stage at conference.

What else surprised me?

The experience of not feeling different because I stammer. And I thought (after several decades of stammering) that I didn't mind too much anymore. But at STAMMAFest, there's none of that lingering sense of 'What will that person think, now they've heard me stammer on my name?' And it made me reflect, am I too defensive about my speech, am I avoiding situations while barely realising I do so?

Any learning points?

Loads, but to pick out one: that there was no need to have those habitual lines like, "Excuse me, I stammer" or "I find that word difficult," or some other quasi apology primed for every exchange. No need in the conference environment! In fact, absolutely no need at all, anywhere, on reflection. A real turning point for me.

Any other observations?

I was stuck by the age range of attendees. To be honest, I don't know what I expected, but there were lots of students and lots of retired people and everyone between. Plus all those who came for the Family Day, of course.

Anything else?

Wow – that there are SO MANY angles on stammering. Be it Stammering Pride, brain science, body language, spirituality, speech mechanics, art and theatre, acceptance, empowerment, communities … the list goes on …

Final message?

I’d urge anyone to go – honestly, the conference experience was a joy and an adventure!

Don't miss out - book your STAMMAFest tickets now!