I flew from Dublin to Gatwick and went straight to Lesley Laslett's 3 day dance retreat in Kent. I was still waking up with the music from Friedel and Saskia's workshop playing in my head. It was a shame I didn't have a few days in between. But Lesley said this may be her last residential retreat, so I couldn't miss it. (although apparently she has said that before, and then gets talked in to doing another one).
The venue is called Oxon Hoath and is a grand country estate. Driving through the main gates you get a taste of what is to come. 
The house has been restored by its current owners, and is now used as a retreat and conference centre. My bedroom on the first floor in this west wing was 7m x 7m with its own en suite. 
The south side of the house. We danced in the room on the first floor with the bay windows, centre of picture.
The dance room looked out over the formal garden
This is the library, complete with extremely old books and a grand fireplace. A lovely place to sit with a cup of tea. We had a full afternoon to ourselves to relax and explore the grounds.
The estate had a large walled garden where they grow fruit and vegetables and keep chickens. They even had espaliered apricots and fig trees.
I had always thought walled gardens were built to create a micro-climate. But apparently the main aim was to keep out the peasants.
A bit of the history of Oxon Hoath. Originally a clearing in the Wealdon Forest for raising pigs. When Oxon Hoath achieved the status of a borough and a small manor house was built between 1050 and 1300, the tax cost was one pair of silver spurs per year.
The family of Catherine Howard lived at Oxon Hoath. Perhaps Catherine should have stayed at home. Marrying that Henry VIII chap turned out to be a very bad idea.
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