There has been a frenzy of sporting activity here at the guesthouse recently. For once, not all lycra has been worn by yours truly and baby buggies have been outnumbered by bikes in the dining room.

With the London to Brighton cycle ride almost amongst us, guests have been hitting the tarmac and hills of the South Downs in preparation for Ditchling Beacon and the other meanderings between the capital and the South coast.

At a slightly different pace, our lovely Norwegian couple have also been testing themselves at nearby golf courses which share the same scenery and also the same (currently wind-blown) challenges, whilst others have enjoyed pre-breakfast jogs along the prom.

Watching everyone else indulge in the activities has left me feeling slightly frumpy, largely sat behind the laptop, with only Wednesday night running club (and a recent but thankfully short spell on a wedding dance floor) to keep my legs moving.

It’s a far cry from the marathon training and morning spent running around Richmond Park. If you fancy reading more about the sights and suffering I suggest you pick up the latest edition of Running Free magazine or perhaps take a look online here – see pages 38-39.

If you have the time for a visit to this rather unique Eastbourne bed and breakfast and fancy a run out why don’t you give me a call on 01323 722774 – and don’t forget your welcome to join us at The Running Inn’s Wednesday night session or indeed circuits on a Friday night at 6pm (for just a fiver). There is always the prospect on my (apparently legendary) porridge to sort you out in the morning.

We’re approaching the end of a long, sun-drenched (at least here in Eastbourne) and action-packed summer, completing our first year here, and even this irrepressibly enthusiastic hotelier is starting to feel a tad jaded.

Whether it’s bag carrying for guests, kayak hauling or indeed newborn winding that’s caused the trouble, I’ve had to call on Tina, our resident massage therapist, for some No Hands relief (I’ll explain more over the phone…). Indeed, Steve Crossley, the Back Mechanic osteopath, has just produced some dramatic noises from my spine during a consultation.

The freshness in the air must point us towards Autumn and with that comes our unique Pregnancy Pilates weekend retreats. So if you’re pregnent and also in need of some pampering can I suggest you talk to us about our pregnancy pilates and well-being weekends? Think about it – a couple of pregnancy pilates sessions, a treatment or two and a couple of nights away in boutique accommodation in a beautiful coastal setting (short-listed in this year’s Beautiful South B&B of the Year awards no less). We’re faced with difficult decisions every day so make an easy one for a change.

Call Carl or Sarah on 01323 722774 now to hear more and book in. The next planned weekend is 29-31 October which includes a Positive Birthing taster.

And fear not husbands/partners – if an afternoon with the papers, coffee and cake doesn’t hit the spot, there are the South Downs, Belle Tout and Beachy Head to explore with running trainers or mountain bikes (available for hire).

Now that’s what I can therapy.

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

I’m talking of Benni, Bjorn, Agnethe and Anni-Frid rather than the Martin Luther variety. Oh yes – Abba are back at the Eastbourne bandstand this friday, May 7th!

It’s the tribute band sadly, but there will still be fireworks among the blond wigs and glittery boots.

Given the recent cold snap I’ve had to sniff out ideas to keep my clan (and guests) happy here at The Guesthouse East B&B in Eastbourne. Thankfully, there’s a new free exhibition at the Towner whenever you need some shelter from the elements – A Walk in the Park: Images of the South Downs. The Observatory Science Centre is also worth a visit for hands-on fun – check out the Zany Zone of Experiments.

We’re already pretty packed from June onwards so I suggest you make a May visit here if you fancy sampling our delights. We have some special offers on this month so take a quick look.

With scenery from chalk grassland to rolling wooded hills, coastal plains and magnificent cliffs such as Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, the South Downs has just appeared in The Times ‘Top 20 places to cycle’.

And the marketing team at Eastbourne Tourism must be enjoying their Sussex breakfasts this morning with another top recommendation (again in The Times Saturday supplement) with ‘Top spots for rockpooling’ - ’Seven Sisters Country Park’, it highlights, ‘has acres of rockpools beneath white cliffs. Park at Friston Forest, walk half a mile to the sea, then head west along the pebbles’.

Apparently Britain can expect its lowest tides for yonks at the end of this month so if you fancy unearthing some coastal creatures dig out an old pair of trainers and get ready for some slithering over seaweed. Let me know you’re heading down there and I might well cycle down.

It’s taken 60 years since it was first earmarked for protection, but the South Downs, stretching from Beachy Head near Eastbourne (just a mile or so along the beach from The Guesthouse East) to the edge of Winchester in Hampshire, has finally been given national park status becoming England’s 9th.