Here we (me, Miss Nobody and Bea and teddies) all are ready for the journey to the Sasha Celebration Weekend at Eastwood Hall near Nottingham. The two dolls are keeping a watch out in the hallway for one of my brother’s and his family who were very kindly driving us there.
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Everywhere locked up, alarm connected, the front door closed, all loaded into the car and off we went!
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Soon we were leaving the city of Darby behind and entering the more rural environment of the rolling green countryside of Nottingham and Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood country!.
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The last part of the journey was a bit tricky with it’s twisting lanes and turns but we were soon driving up the private driveway and greeted by the imposing Eastwood Hall set in it’s many acres of beautifully tended and landscaped land.
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We pulled up outside the reception area here and off loaded the luggage.
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Eastwood Hall 0043
After we had registered and checked in Miss Nobody was handed our room pass. Theresa then met us and after giving me my name badge and the weekend’s progamme took us to our room. There was a comfortable/sitting/meeting place to go to near the bar but I had to organise and have afternoon tea with my brother and his family before they left for home. After waving goodbye I then went back to my room to unpack before getting changed for dinner.
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We had already booked to have an up-graded room as seen below….
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(….but had been tempted by this superior executive booking…..but decided to save the extra money for the sales tables instead!)
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Our actual room shown below was very comfortable with a double bed, desk and chair, TV, tea making facilities, hair dryer, iron and ironing board (not that I ever iron!) trouser press, and much appreciated fabulous views over the gardens from the ground floor window.
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It was just wonderful waking up to these views!
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There were many comfortable seating areas like these throughout the ground floor and with tea/coffee making machines and fridges holding cold drinks etc in alcoves close by to freely help yourself ‘as and when’ they were needed. It was here that my family and I enjoyed our full English afternoon tea.
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On the right was the raised meeting place for us.
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Views of the dining room. Our party was all seated at two long tables. During the daytime you were able to select from the menu what you would like for dinner. There were four choices for the starters, four for the main course and four for the desert. This was an excellent idea and plan as it allowed us all to be served at the same time. I’m afraid that I only took these photos of us at Friday’s first dinner.
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The swimming pool, steam room and sauna. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see the gym.
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Eastwood Hall 0042
This hall is well known as a conference and meeting venue.
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Eastwood Hall 0012
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It is also a very popular wedding venue and indeed there was a wedding taking place whilst we were there. Magnificent grounds for the photos!
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Miss Nobody and Bea wanted to go out and play here but I just didn’t get the time to take them.
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After dinner some of us went down to our private hall to see the replica Studio Dolls and raffle prizes whilst those who had already been down there gathered in groups chatting, admiring their dolls etc. before bedtime.
Still have to post the raffle prizes, the visiting dolls, the workshops and the sales items.
Kendals Sasha Brood 
I love your Miss Nobody and little Bea, looks like a very nice venture for the event, bet there was lots of gossip and swapping of Sasha tales 🙂
I too love those two dolls of mine.
Yes, it was a magnificent venue and the weather was perfect.
A super programme too and one which left time for all that chatting and viewing other’s dolls.
Yesterday I wrote a long comment to your Garden project but must have forgotten to publish it as the phone seemed to be constantly ringing so must have left the laptop without pressing the publish key. Will hopefully have another go later.
It won’t be too long now until the 2015 CnS.
Wonderful post Kendal. Such a lovely facility!! Miss Nobody and Bea look wonderful and very ready for their mini vacation. I am glad that you had a wonderful time. Everyone looks happy and how special it is to share the time together with good friends and Sashas! Thank you for another great post! 🙂 xxx
I always enjoy meeting and getting to know new Sasha collectors as well as catching up with the old friends.Sasha collecting has so much to offer and share, niot to mention to learn.
I already knew Theresa, Diane, Judith, Ronnie, Lorraine, Emma, Jocelyn, Lee, Dollmum and her daughter and had briefly met Janet, Tricia, and Liss at last years CnS so it was great having the time to get to meet the others attending.
Love the photos of this wonderful venue for a Sasha weekend. Very comfortable. Everyone looking happy and relaxed. Love the chess set in the garden. It would have been a nice Alice in Wonderland moment to have the Sashas playing chess with these outsized pieces. Lovely post. thanks, Kendal. xxx
It was a great venue, fabulously spacious and catering for all needs. The bedrooms were lovely and large and well furnished.
I had promised Miss Nobody and Bea that I’d take them out to play with those games but I’m sorry to say that I stayed in and carried on talking when I should have been doing that. Will try much harder next year!
Hi Kendal great photos of our memorable weekend together and can’t wait to see more xx
I’ve basically got the raffle ones and the doll groups to post although I didn’t manage to get the overall BBQ one in one photo so have left those to others to show.
Still have to photo my gifts, raffle and sales items too.
Lovely pci of Miss Nobody and Bea ready for the off!!! The hotel looks really nice and everybody looks to be enjoying themselves in a very relaxed and happy atmosphere. The rooms look to be really nice and the grounds are just gorgeous. Hopefully, I will get to experience it myself next year and meet up with old friends and new. Thanks for sharing Kendal, as usual your pics take us there and make us live it with you.
Susan xx
I was originally only going to take my new birthday doll Miss Nobody, due as usual to limited space, but then someone emailed me to say that they hoped that Bea would be going…..so that was that!
The bedrooms and communal spaces were really large and spacious which was great when we had to gather altogether.
The grounds were beautifully laid out and spread out as far as the eye could see. Rather regretting now that I didn’t explore them more on the Sunday afternoon instead of indulging myself in that friendly Sasha chat…..well you know how much I enjoy talking with like-minded friends on my favourite subject!
My Sasha Brood and I hopefully look forward to seeing you there next year then!