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 wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen them with my own eyes, but arguably the two biggest stars of all time ARE alive and well – and rocking it in Eastbourne!

A week last Friday, as I was meandering up the seafront promenade trying to get my tired, irate one-year-old to sleep in her pram, I literally almost collided with The King.  Tall, pouty, glossy black hair and oozing coolness, I felt myself go weak at the knees…  Although maybe that’s because my three-year-old had chosen that moment to jump on my back and shout ‘giddeeeup mummy!’.

Sadly duty called with late-night check ins and I couldn’t make it to the concert that night, but as the Eastbourne Bandstand is literally on our doorstep, we only had to open doors and windows for the rock ‘n’ roll fever to spread through The Guesthouse East.

This weekend there was no chance I was going to miss out when I heard my childhood crush – Michael Jackson – was performing in town.  With my equally-fanatical friend by my side, I bopped and sang in delight to ‘Beat It’, ‘Billie Jean’ and a host of other classics – including some Jackson 5 favourites.

OK, so we did really know that these were tribute acts, but does it hurt to dream a little?  And they look soooo much like the real thing.  In fact, a little too much like them for their own good it seems.  One of Michael Jackson’s backing dancers was staying with us at The Guesthouse East and explained that their whole tour is cloaked in secrecy, with even the dancers only finding out where they are going on departure.  Apparently fake ‘Michaels’ have been targeted by stalkers in the past…   I’m saying nothing.

Sarah

The sun is shining on another delightful morning here on Hartington Place, Eastbourne.

Our guests from the Netherlands have just headed out for a trek towards Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters (true pragmatic Dutch stylee, with sandals, packed lunch and ever-so-slightly wary children) whilst others prepare for the opera at Glyndebourne.

Our London journalists have just left with one last rueful look at the sea before heading back to the station. At least it’s an easy journey for their family – just an hour an half back to Clapham Junction and Victoria.

Whilst the children are at nursery and the wife is out at Zumba (is EVERY woman at it these days?!) it’s a rare opportunity to indulge in a pain au chocolat, mug of builders tea and a little rumination in front of the pc and appreciation of all that is good in life.

Maybe, just maybe, there will be an opportunity for a kayak fishing session this afternoon and the possibility of a bass or a few mackeral for supper, post five-a-side football.

Before I lose myself completely in a fog of smugness I’d best crack on with tidying up the dining room and carry up innumerable bags of laundry just delivered. This bed and breakfast malarkey is non-stop.

The daffodils are out, the sun is doing it’s utmost to make an appearance and the much appreciated time-change now means the evenings are no longer a write-off post 7pm. Yes, Spring is officially with us, thank goodness.

For many of the lycra-embracing running community this will signal the final push on the marathon trail; training in full swing – the London race almost upon us, Brighton Marathon also prominent on many Southerners agendas and, for me, the inaugural Richmond marathon in May.

As a 26-mile virgin it’s been an interesting month – The Guesthouse East has proved to be the accommodation of choice for many who recently ran the Eastbourne half marathon and also the Endurance Life Coastal Series, so I now better appreciate the upside of finishing having witnessed their returns from the race – the gratifying glow of completing a run of such significance. As opposed to simply teetering on the edge on continual exhaustion – the training schedule a terrifying torture map laid before you. How many miles to be completed this coming Sunday??!

I know that many (runners and) readers of this blog are based around London so it might be worth trying to fit in a training day in April with The Running Inn based at the Evolve Wellness Centre in South Ken. It’d be the perfect fine tuning with an approach that looks to get you running stress free and body aware. There is a team of experts on hand including an ex-international athlete, a sports nutritionist, personal trainer and with yoga specifically targeted at runners.

Failing that, stay here on a Wednesday night and join the running club for a speed session along the prom, to compare progress, grumble about any aches and blow the cobwebs away in preparation for the summer and season ahead.

I think I’m reasonably fit. My pasty chicken legs go vaguely whizzy when on two wheels and have been known to break into an occasional canter when confronted with hilly green bits, but even I had to gulp when considering the sporting opportunities hitting Eastbourne this year.

The 2011 Beachy Head marathon takes place on October 22 and will provide arguably the most scenic 26-miler of the year and certainly the most gruelling.

We’re always full of runners and their families for the marathon weekend, drawn to our Eastbourne self catering and B&B accommodation by our sporting heritage and carbo-loading breakfasts, but even aware of the inevitable comeraderie over porridge in the dining room and the reviving hands of the masseur we offer our guests here, I just can’t quite find the dedication to fill in the application form.

I regularly run some of the course, with the finale a death-defying vertical mudslide onto the Eastbourne side of Beachy Head. I was amazed at the finish of last year’s event to see how everyone bombs down in a fit of enthusiasm over exhaustion. Whilst I simply look to tentatively traverse across in survival mode. The last time I tried anything resembling a  stright line down I hit a wet patch, over-compensated and went head-first into a roll, retrieving my composure with a commando roll straight back onto 2 feet and away again in a joyous vision of fluidity, to a gentle round of appause from the cafe at the base of the hill.

If challenging yourself amongst spectactular scenery is what makes you tick you might also want to consider Endurancelife. Their Coastal Trail Series showcases some of the most exhilarating sections of the UK coastline with the toughest trail running series on offer. The eighth leg, Sussex, takes place around Beachy Head and Birling gap on March 26 this year, with 10k, half- and full marathons available, but irrespective of length expect an undulating route, with expansive views and an unforgetable experience.

If two wheels are more your bag why not take a look at the Eastbourne Cyclosportive, taking place on May 22, with entry now open for three routes.

The Cyclosportive is part of the Eastbourne Cycling Festival, a weekend of cycling events based on the seafront. It won’t be all lycra and inappropriate shorts – family rides will also be available as well as the time trials and road racing.

So, some pretty hardcore action on offer. Stay at The Guesthouse East and get prepared – on a Wednesday night enjoy the regular running club night with The Running Inn (as well as this red-faced ginger author) or perhaps a Friday night Circuits session with (Iron) Mike Ovens – let’s not hear any excuses about not being ready for it…..

We’re a boutique guesthouse in Eastbourne. Bang on location, lovely rooms, separate kitchens. You might know that already and, hopefully, appreciate it enough to have stayed here in the last year we’ve been at the helm.

Many of you have also made the effort to review us on TripAdvisor. Thank very much indeed if you have.

What you probably don’t realise is that if you recommend us to family, friends, the bloke at the bus stop you really shouldn’t be talking to, whoever, and they stay with us you get a £10 M&S voucher. Which for me equates to a decent  bottle of red and a bag of cookies. For you maybe a nice bunch of flowers or the right arm of a Per Una cashmere sweater. Just get them to tell me when they book that you were the reason they came and, hey presto, the voucher arrives on your doormat. Brilliant, eh?

If you have stayed here already you might well have forgotton that you get a 10% discount on future bookings. Nice. So banish thoughts of Autumn and see the sunny shores of Eastbourne again!

Just give me a call on 01323 722774 or take another look at our website to see what all the fuss is about.

I could never say I’m short of ammo for this Eastbourne hotelier blog mallarkey, filtered through personal experience, scurrilous rumour and creative licence. Unfortunately much of it is unprintable so I shall have to restrict myself, in the absence of red wine, to some pertinent information.

Dig out your Union Flags and prepare to get pickled on Pimms in the sun – there is some Davis Cup tennis action this weekend, just two minutes down the road at Devonshire Park.

Team GB are taking on Turkey, starting on Friday July 9th. There is also a 2-for-1 ticket offer, meaning that you can get in for as little as a fiver so there’s little excuse – cracking courts, compelling action and lashings of Robinsons squash. Blissful.

I am, naturally, obliged to pay attention to the forthcoming Eastbourne Airbourne, which runs from the 12th – 15th August. Accommodation will be in short supply (not least here at The Guesthouse East), but check out our availability here – Saturday is completely sold out, but we have B&B and self catering available on the Friday and Sunday nights.

The Red Arrows will be flying every day you’ll be delighted to hear.

Look, strapping yourself to a baking tray with wheels and careering downhill with little potential for stopping (other than hitting thankfully soft spectators and somewhat less forgiving barricades) is great fun.

Participation in the forthcoming Eastbourne Extreme isn’t mandatory. Indeed, watching other people risk life and limb can be just as rewarding and certainly less life-threatening.

Eastbourne Extreme, 17th & 18th July this year, is officially the biggest free extreme sport festival in the UK, featuring a huge line up of air, land and water-based outdoor pursuits. The have-a-go sessions are mightily recommended!

Powerboating, zorbing, jet-skiing, land yachting, street surfing (what??), kite surfing are all on tap, as is a climbing wall and a knockhatch ski ramp. I did say it was quite a line-up. That’s without mentioning the Battle of the Bands or the surf shack bar.

If you need accommodation in Eastbourne you’ll have to be quick to snap up our last remaining suite for the dates, so give Carl or Sarah a call now on 01323 722774. The double suite costs £90 per night over the Saturday and Sunday. Self catering or B&B is available. Bandages and Germalene aren’t.

Either Eastbourne is playing host to the  2010 Sugar Daddy Awards or the tennis is back in town.

Walking down to the sea along Grand Parade last night with the kayak (actually I should say shambolically shuffling, with the wetsuit rolled down, eager to chase the bass), on three separate occasions I passed wizened men in shell suits, paired with sun-bleached, athletically beautiful and aloof, continental or quite possibly Eastern European girls, dressed in their whites. Which proved the perfect contrast for their orange legs.

We’re absolutely chocker here for the week (and have been for months) so vast apologies if you’re in need of accommodation this week.

If you don’t bump into tennis players, you’ll trip over the cast for The Sound of Music who seem to like our part of town as well. Do you think they see straight through my casually-trying-not-to-stare routine?

Refreshing is one word for it. Let’s just say I needed the wetsuit for the inaugural swim of the year. And a bowl of steaming soup on my return. But the blood is certainly flowing again and we’re back in fine fettle after a hectic few weeks here at The Guesthouse East B&B in Eastbourne.

Swiss, French, Thai. Management consultants, teachers, designers. Young families, romancing couples and businessmen.  You can’t say it’s a bland crowd here. We’re completely taken over this Saturday night by an ecletic mix of walkers after the rigours of the South Downs Way. Better put some porridge on.

We still have some suites available for this Friday – self catering or bed and breakfast – and the chance to take advantage of my ‘Name your price!’ promotion. I’ve just had a lovely lady book on the phone who was obviously a bit embarrssed to  make an offer but delighted with the result. I suggest you give it a go too – on 01323 722774