Following the success and overwhelming response of the first Weekend Rendezvous in Lumut in May 1996, the second one was held on 18 - 19 October 1997 at Fraser's Hill. Set in this "Haven of Tranquility" in the state of Pahang, the second teaching session was held at the Fraser's Pine Resort and focused on -Ambulatory Paediatrics.

A total of 38 doctors (3 paediatricians, 29 paediatric trainees and 6 general practitioners) and 12 nurses participated this time around. Lecture topics covered a wide spectrum of ambulatory paediatrics including skin conditions, acute diarrhoeal diseases, abdominal pain, urine tract infections, asthma, fever and care for the handicapped, among others. An addition to the programme, there was a Paediatric Picture Quiz set up by Associate Professor Zulkifli Ismail, which allowed active participation of all the participants.

As usual the academic sessions were illuminating, the first day ended with a volleyball game between the President's Selection and Armed Forces' Selection teams. Owing to the older players in the former, it was obvious from the beginning which team would win! Participants who were not playing or cheering were seen at the playground with their families or walking and enjoying the cool, relatively haze-free environment.

Fourteen participants, including two nurses, were brave enough to answer the 30 questions based on 15 coloured photographs in the Picture Quiz. Dr Akbar Ali from lpoh Hospital walked away with the grand prize of a huge picnic box worth RM150 by scoring the highest marks in the quiz. The top marks from among the paediatric medical officers went to Dr Zarina Abdul Latiff from HUKM and the best family medicine doctor was Dr Aznida Firzah who scored better than some of our paediatric trainees. An award for the nurses was given to Staff Nurse Anne Mary from Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Although the turnout was not as large as the first Weekend Rendezvous, the participants were generally happy with the knowledge gained, the interaction achieved and the social programme which included a scrumptious barbecue dinner. Most participants had to rush to get down through --- "TheGap" before it closed at 2.40 pm, leaving behind a weekend of teaching, learning and interacting while meeting new and old friends.

The MPA once again congratulates Dr Rahman Jamal and Dr Syed Zulkifli Zakaria, and their committee for an excellently executed programme. They will have to include a participant feedback questionnaire at the next Rendezvous so that we can all know which parts the participants enjoyed and found beneficial.