An introduction to knife skills.

Whilst I’ve always fancied myself as a ginger James Bond, my course at Billingsgate Market yesterday wasn’t designed to turn me into a trained assassin. No, it was a Christmas present from Sarah in anticipation of the warmer months and the (here’s hoping) bagfuls of fish that await me from my fishing kayak.

With an elegant waft of a knife and a deft turn of the wrist my flapping sea bass will become a worthy VIP at a Rick Stein brasserie.

Visitors at our luxury guest house in Eastbourne this Spring might be more interested in Neighbourhood Watch, the forthcoming play written and directed by Alan Ayckbourne, running at the Devonshire Park Theatre. Or perhaps La Boheme or Madame Butterfly, both at The Congress Theatre. For other things to do in Eastbourne check out our ideas page here.

Maybe you need to get a flavour of what some of our previous guests have been up to while they’re here with us. We’ve had a great response over the last week from guests sending in their pictures they’d like to share with us all -  take a look at our Guest Gallery for the reality of a holiday here in Eastbourne and perhaps we’ll see you here soon.

Just don’t get flustered if you’re confronted by a knife-wielding loony in the hallway.

Our pregnancy pilates and pampering weekends here in Eastbourne are proving popular – we’ve just featured in the February edition of Prima Baby & Pregnancy.

Thankfully, no radio interviews with yours truly this time – instead a lovely piece in their mag talking about our unique pregnancy well-being treat.

We combine two pregnancy pilates classes, two nights B&B and a choice of a mini facial, pedicure, manicure, or half-hour massage which works out as a fab treat for mums-to-be (take note dads-to-be: serious brownie points on offer!!).

“Pilates is a wonderful form of exercise, ideally suited to support the postural changes during and after pregnancy,” says instructor Tracy Armfield.  “Pregnancy pilates helps towards a positive and healthy pregnancy – offering both mental and physical training.  Our aim is to leave you feeling energised, positive and more prepared for labour.”

We have more dates lined up, starting with 24-26 February, with courses also in March and April.

Call Sarah on 01323 722774 for more details

A blog offers a wonderful opportunity for navel gazing and general self-absorbtion, but even I find it tedious to talk about myself too much. How could you cope??

Whilst I’m always open to tell you what’s happening in Eastbourne, I reckon it’s more interesting to see how real guests have enjoyed Eastbourne, The Guesthouse East and the many activities, sights and attractions within very easy reach.

I’ve added our very own Guest Gallery – where you can peer into others’ adventures around Eastbourne and Sussex.

I’m kick-starting with Kiwamu and his family from Kyoto.
Only here for day, they were on a mission to see Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters (which served as the backdrop for some of Harry Potter’s antics – v big in Japan apparently), but the wind was violent, the light fading and the wind battering the coast. Still, Sarah was away with the children for the afternoon so I took Kiwamu and the guys up to Birling Gap to experience the full might of the elements….

So…I’d like to see more of your photos, hear more of your stories and let you star in our blog (in lastminute.com’s Top 10 travel blogs don’t you know ) and in the gallery and from there you can share it with your friends and family (I’ve also added easy bookmarks for sharing).

Email pics to book@theguesthouseeast.co.uk and/or comment on the blog itself (just click on ‘comments’).
Thanks, Carl

Philip Eden, that renowned meteorologist, has just revealed further data that reinforces what us residents can’t fail to notice – that Eastbourne really is the sunniest spot in the UK, beating other sun traps such as Jersey and Guernsey.

Apparently Eastbourne enjoyed almost 5.5 hours of sunshine A DAY last year. Blimey. Not what I remember from sitting on my kayak off the coast but I’ll let the town take the credit.

Perhaps not surprisingly Eastbourne is the fastest growing seaside resort attracting almost 5 million visitors last year.

I’ve just been booked by BBC Radio Jersey to have a chat live on their drivetime show with Philip Jupp at 5.20 today, so I’d better dash and work out what I’m going to say!

You’re probably back at your desk, wading through though the inbox, getting round to that expense claim or indeed any other routine task requiring auto-pilot mode.

Or perhaps you’re stuffed full of mince pies and having queezy nightmares about brussel sprouts and the very prospect of a return to work with little time off pre-Easter is filling you with dread.

Since you’re reading this blog you’re  in very good company with millions of other online travel-seekers as you look to shake off your post-Christmas blues by finding a great deal for your next break.

Accordingly to Hotels.com it’s one of the busiest time of the year for website traffic to holiday sites.

Who am I to stand against this tide? We’ve had the warmest weather for 14 years and the Met Office is suggesting that the mild weather will continue into the New Year.

The least I can do is provide an enticing offer to get you through these dark days with the prospect of cracking accommodation, unparalleled service and an Eastbourne location to die for.

So, how about a ‘Stay two nights and get the third free’ in January?

I’ll point you in the direction of Beachy Head, the theatres and Towner Art Gallary. Or just blow away the cobwebs with a stroll on the beach – it is only about 50 yards away. And after all that exertion you’ll finally re-discover your appetite and you’ll be delighted to hear that Eastbourne’s restaurants offer superb value and choice so you won’t go home diasappointed.

So, you have a choice – do you really fancy filling in that safety-assessment form for your new chair from Sandra in HR or would you rather be booking a long weekend in an award-winning guesthouse by the sea? I’ll leave that one with you.

Hmm, those ker-razy marketing folk at our local Beachy Head Brewery really excelled when they named their new beer recently.

Personally I head up to Beachy Head for the crisp, invigorating air, breath-taking scenery and abundance of blackberries late summer. You’ll be aware that many other visitors choose the 500ft sheer cliffs for a different purpose, particularly at key points of the year – as the perfect spot for their final moments and last goodbyes. So, to name your new beer Beachy Head Christmas Jumper perhaps isn’t the most sensitive new launch of the year.

Good work, chaps!

The wife didn’t appreciate my attempt at reassurance. Apparently being told we were fully paid up with the life assurance wasn’t the authoritative response required to her safety questions.

The ledge outside our top floor suite is at least two feet wide and the moss isn’t too slippery at this time of year so despite being 50 feet up in the air it didn’t feel too precarious when I was out there painting today. Not when I could cling by my fingertips to the window frame and almost reach where I needed to paint. Besides, it made me feel like a freeclimber, but without the abs of steel and perma-tan.  And at least you get to see a nice view of where I was on our blog.

Yes, mid-November and the inevitable slackening in custom brings many opportunities to hoteliers who scoff at exorbitant quotes for simply re-painting the building exterior.

Perhaps I should busy myself with an Evening with Peter Aliss at the Congress Theatre tomorrow or check out the Southern Youth Ballet’s forthcoming production of the Nutcracker.

My fitness would would certainly be improved by another run up to Beachy Head and back and, well, I might even feed the family if I take advantage of the ongoing mild temperatures and lightening winds and head out for a fish off the kayak.

But I fear that by mid-morning tomorrow onlookers will again be rubber-necking in disbelief at my middle-aged madness. I can only hope that before you next cross our threshold you raise your stare to admire the pristine paintwork overhead. And if the blog goes quiet from here you’ll know why.

I always thought that intolerance increased as you get older. Rather like the size of your ears.

Sitting in front of a particularly enticing Belgian bun at a cafe in Pevensey Bay yesterday , I was confronted by a glace cherry atop the sticky treat. Does anyone in the developed world, where hunger is little more than a vaguely peckish feeling, actually enjoy these monstrosities?

I won’t even veer towards the topic of poor table manners and risk whining like a clearly grumpy old(er) man.

Still, my intolerances are insignificant compared to the food intolerances and allergies suffered by an increasing number of children seemingly from birth.

Our four-year old, Raffy, is allergic to dairy products, eggs, many nuts and all manner of other elements. Still, at least we’re then well positioned to understand and cater for the diets of the many allergy-sufferers who pass through our door. You can sense the relief of mothers when they call to book and discuss breakfast options for little Oscar and hear that soya milk and yoghurts are permanently on offer.

We shouldn’t sound over-confident – we’ve only just got our long-stay Middle Eastern guests back onside after offering them bacon for breakfast. The joyful combination of young children and sleep deprivation….

My bottom is sore and my thighs ache….  but I’m happy.

One of the potential perks I got excited about when we decided to move down to Eastbourne from urban London two years ago was the chance to go horse riding on the South Downs.

But shortly after arriving at our new seaside home, I fell pregnant, and while I was delighted to be having our second child it kind of scuppered my hacking plans.

Life with a new baby daughter, a young son and a guesthouse then conspired to keep me very busy and before I knew it, Alexa was 16 months old and I still hadn’t sat on a saddle.

Yesterday that all changed when Carl, the kids and I headed to a riding centre in the beautiful village of Alfriston – around 20 minutes drive from Eastbourne and well worth a visit.  After Alexa got acquainted with some of the horses (and dogs and cats) on the farm, Carl took the kids off for a cream tea while I got to grips with Daisy – a lovely 6-year-old mare who is arguably the best-natured mount I’ve ever ridden.

The scenery around is spectacular, so whether you want to simply have a plod around, or like me, to step up a gear to a canter, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your surroundings.

Unfortunately I can’t guarantee your bottom will thank you the next day.

So, something else to put onto your ‘Things to do in Eastbourne’ list. Call us here at The Guesthouse East on 01323 722774 and we can help arrange horse-riding. And indeed the massage to help you recover.

Sarah

My darkening mood could well be down to the cooler temperatures, windier conditions and autumnal air (or indeed the lack of opportunity to chase the soon-to-be-departing sea bass on the kayak). It might also have something to do with the end of the political conference season and the fact that I will no longer be gifted the sight of ill-fitting suits on conference delegates, laboured speeches and Jezza Paxman savaging the latest minister brave (or naive) enough to sit down on Newsnight.

It was disappointing to see that none of the main parties chose a seaside town as their conference backdrop. Perhaps the parties were keen to demonstrate a connection with supposed urban dynamism. A decision made pre-riots, perhaps? I can only imagine they didn’t consult their grass roots – the fine Regency splendor of Eastbourne or grey backdrop of Birmingham? Blackberry-ing on choking fumes or refreshing sea air? Boutique accommodation or the depressing uniformity of a chain? Perhaps the size of the car park provides sufficient redemption.

As an ex-marketeer I can appreciate the need for Eastbourne to re-position itself in the minds of the decision-makers who might not recognise the seismic steps the town has made to up its game; state-of-the-art conference facilties, a broad range of accommodation with over 7000 bed spaces and a superb location with picturesque countryside – a gateway to the South Downs National Park and only an hour and a half from London.

Remarkably, it was UKIP who decided that a seaside conference could provide an invigorating platform and plumped for Eastbourne.  Most of the big names chose the Grand Hotel (well, if you’re on expenses then why not?) but we did land a big-hitter and his family here at The Guesthouse East. Nice chap, too.

Suddenly, the clouds have lifted, with sunshine streaming into our kitchen. Perhaps the Indian Summer has returned and all is well with the world.

A Google Alert has just popped up on-screen highlighting that the Mission Worship is due in town soon and has already sold-out. Thankfully our returning regulars have already booked in with us for the event. They must have seen the light.

Carl