I’m thankful my Dunlop Green Flash trainers and Lacoste shorts are still in decent shape but frankly the Tacchini tracksuit top is a bit frayed around the edges.

Devonshire Park, home to the Aegon pre-Wimbledon Championship, is just around the corner from here at The Guesthouse East in Eastbourne and provides arguably the finest grass courts in the world.

We’ve teamed up with former international player Samy Messi to offer you the chance of coaching and fun on the very green carpet that Martina Navratilova believes is a better surface than Wimbledon.

It’ll only cost you £25 per hour for one or £30 for two per hour. Samy can handle up to 6 at a time (for only £6 each!) and the cost includes court hire (and racket and balls if required) so it really is a snip.

No matter if it’s for your children, wife and friends or semi-pro husband, the coaching will be tailored perfectly.

For a reason I really can’t fathom my wife has decided that she fancies a run around the courts and has scheduled intensive one-to-one sessions with the coach. I don’t believe she’ll be wearing my early-80s clobber either.

AEGON Championship: Venus Williams is set to appear this year at this year’s tournament as well as Lleyton  Hewitt.

We have a delightful apartment available for the week in the Meads (just a short walk away) if you fancy taking in the tournament. Just call Carl on 01323 722774 to find out more.

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?

You can keep your Costa Brava, and all that palava… Eastbourne was sizzling today… We started the day with a long run (17 miles on the Downs – and a bit sunburnt), then it was crashing out on the double deckchair at the beach with the papers and marmite sarnies, and the sound of a traditional brass band playing on the Bandstand… Our guests are watching or organising the tennis (the LTA stay here in tennis week) – and of course, soaking up the sunshine. The sea was cold but crystal clear today – and blissful for me after my long run. Next week, we’re looking forward to watching the tennis – full value for money this year, with both men and women playing, then it’s Ascot… I love the summer in England.