Camp Sparkle: the third generation

[pensnest]

Hi All!

nopseud and I are assuming that some of you will want to come to Camp Sparkle next year, so have been doing a bit of investigating.

We could, of course, go back to The Old Stables, which was a pretty good venue. There are more tourist opportunities in the area, too, if some of you would like to make it a week-long event, as it was this year. Or, we could go somewhere new. We've found a nice-looking place called Ebenezer Chapel, in the middle of England (near Derby), which also happens to be rather good value.

As an additional factor for consideration, I'm not going to be available at the end-Feb/early-March time when we've run our previous two CSs. And I do pretty much need to be available, or who will drive the minibus?

So, we could look at the week commencing March 23rd, or the week commencing March 30th, and, if there are twenty of us, pay somewhat under £50 each for the cottage hire part of the deal. (Possibly the first week of April also fits into this pricing.) Or, because this is a very good value venue, we could go for Easter Week, which I believe means starting on Good Friday, 10th April, and pay a little under £70 each for the rent. (The Old Stables was £87 each for the week.) Travel might be a bit more expensive at that time, or at least, you'd need to book flights/trains earlier in order to get good deals, but it might be more convenient in terms of holiday time.

Therefore, I poll.

[Poll #1177969]

Let's get things started.

Comments

[adelate]

I'll be there in any case. [g] But I checked the website and the Ebenezer Chapel has a Finnish sauna suite! AWESOME. Besides, I'm quite liking the thing where we get to see a new place every time. :)

[pensnest]

It is nice to have a little something extra - and we thought a sauna might appeal. I quite like the new-place-every-time thing, too, even though it means we never quite know what we're getting until we're there. However, it doesn't really matter that much, because as long as we're *there*, it's Camp Sparkle!

[randomling]

Glee! I will pretty much be there no matter what, even if Camp Sparkle moves to Japan. :D

[pensnest]

Yep, me too - Japan would be a bit of a challenge, though...

[iconis.livejournal.com]

Just tell me where and when and I'll be there.

[pensnest]

I'm glad to hear it! :-D

[rikes]

It's way too early for me to know what I'll be doing next year, but I'll try my best to be there, whether you want me or not. :)

[pensnest]

I 'spect that for a lot of people, it'll be just as simple to know when CS2009 will be, but there may be a few who can make some dates and can't make others. And, yay! Of course you'll be there!

Also, ahem.

[rikes]

Eeeeee! I just adore your voice. :)

[pensnest]

I don't sound quite so 'proper' inside my head - it was very strange, listening to the file...

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I fully approve of moving further North!

[pensnest]

It does seem fair! ;-)

[turlough]

Camp Sparkle again, wheeee!!! It doesn't matter where we are to me, I'm planning on being there no matter what :-)

[pensnest]

Excellent!

[bubbleforest.livejournal.com]

I'm with everyone else - I'm not sure where I'll be next year, most likely in school, but I'll definitely be there for at least the weekend. YAY CAMP SPARKLE.

[pensnest]

Excellent! Camp Sparkle rules.

[lincolnkw.livejournal.com]

Dammit! I WILL make this one, I will I will I will!!

Just need to know when, and as far in advance as possible.

A week, whenever.

[pensnest]

That would be splendid!

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

YES!! You will not regret it! lol.

[ninjetti75.livejournal.com]

Hope to see you there!

We need to badger Donna into coming, too. *g*

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

a point against Easter... it will cost us US folks a LOAD more to travel that weekend, possibly deal-breaking. Airfares are on a very heavy rise here anyway. Also, it's a holiday. lol.

I'd love a new venue with new stuffs nearby to see. I honestly couldn't tell you anything about when I'll just have to wait and see and hope. :-)

[pensnest]

Hmm, yes - I spose the natural extra deman = higher costs is magnified quite a bit when you're talking about transatlantic travel. Do Americans actually get any public holiday time at Easter anyway? We do - Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays - which is why I thought it might work out for people who don't have that many precious days of leave.

Acourse, my brats will be gravely displeased if I'm away from home and they don't get their customary Easter Egg Hunt, which is another point against it!

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

Many US-ians get Good Friday and Easter off. Nearly all of us get Easter. Airfare will still be more expensive because of the holidays. FLying on Easter itself may be cheaper, but GF will still be in the raised price bracket as it's not the 'celebration' day.

An easter egg hunt at Camp Sparkle would be awesome fun and if we end up a week off from Easter we should do one anyway! We could have all sorts of ridiculous things to find in those plastic eggs.

[pensnest]

An Easter Egg Hunt is just what we have been missing from Camp Sparkle. Yes. Thought shall be applied to this.

[ninjetti75.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see a new venue, but the Old Stables were wonderful (Lyndhurst was quite convenient!) and actually I wouldn't mind Little Brampton again, either, but of course it's all absurd amounts of travel for me, regardless. *g*

I have to agree with KC on the Easter-is-bad-for-Americans thing, particularly this American, as Easter is a Family Holiday for my parents. (I'm no Christian, but they are, and Josh's Mom likes all her chicks home for the holidays...I could probably talk my way out of it, but there would be Frowning Disapproval.)

However it all works out, I certainly intend to do my best to be there, regardless!

[pensnest]

Yep, the family holiday aspect of Easter may be a disadvantage to quite a few people. My brats mightn't be too pleased about it - we have no religion, but we do have Easter Egg Hunts... But late March looks as though it would work too.

[saba1789.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEEEEE! Camp Sparkle!!!!!!!! \o/

I voted I don't care where it is because when it comes down to it I don't but I think I would like a new place again more.

Also, I don't think Easter would work all that well for me - my mom would surely kill me if I'm not home.

Also also, my friend valya22 would totally like to come as well because I made her all jealous with my awesome tales from CS 1 and 2. *g* My choices pretty much apply for her as well.

[pensnest]

Moar victims! Heh. We shall have to make sure nopseud does not escape with the Cartercest movie again... ;-)

[saba1789.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! The Cartercest movie! *makes distressed noises and rocks back and forth*

[rikes]

Also? Us going to a *chapel* totally cracks me up. :D

[saba1789.livejournal.com]

Ahahaha, yes! :D

[simply-fly-away.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Ebenezer Chapel looks awesome. I'm also seconding Terri's "somewhere a little further north, yay!" ;) It looks as if it's about an hour away from me, I'd have no excuse for missing this one!

However, I definitely cannot do the Easter weekend, I'll either be at home with the family or in Scotland. No wriggling out of that one, I'm afraid!

[pensnest]

It definitely looks as though Easter is off the list - which is good, because it'll make it cheaper for everyone! Be good to see you there again.

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

I might come so long as it's not Easter week. :)

[pensnest]

It looks pretty much as though it's not going to be Easter, so I hope you can make it!

[trudyblue.livejournal.com]

just wondering if its ok to add meself to camp sparkle?!

i have heard bits n pieces about it and would love to join everyone :o)

[pensnest]

Well, hello! It's always nice to meet another popslash fan, so by all means!

[trudyblue.livejournal.com]

thank you very much!

[nopseud]

just wondering if its ok to add meself to camp sparkle?!

Yes, of course! We're always on the look out for fresh blood new campers! :-)

[trudyblue.livejournal.com]

haha do i need to pack garlic and stakes??

[nopseud]

I'm sure that Pixie Styx and Peanut Butter Cups will make pretty good substitutes :-)

[trudyblue.livejournal.com]

ooohh i haven't had any of those in years!!

i have a feeling there'll be more junk food than clothes in my bag...