General

If you’re up for a spot of decorating this month then why not double your efforts by supporting a good cause?

Homeowners never cease to amaze me. Take, for example, talented architect Jon Du Croz and his lovely partner Emma Lally. Having explored various options, Oxfordshire-based Jon decided to think entirely out of the box and snapped up a dark and disused toilet block in Witney which he has lovingly transformed into a wonderful light-filled home.

When I first saw this property, the project was very much in its infancy and, pretty much, a building site.

Gradually, with guts, determination and vision, what was once a crumbling building has been thoughtfully restored and is now a stylish three-bedroom home for the courageous couple and their adorable little girl Mabel.

You can read more about Jon and Emma’s journey in the current (October) issue of Real Homes.

Hey, hey, hey! 100 Facebook Likes…what a great start to a Monday morning and another busy week. Thank you so much to everyone for your support and kindness. Now…I’d better get writing – lots to do. 🙂

If you haven’t already liked my Facebook page, please feel free to click here to do so.

Ooh, la, la…just back from a wonderful week chilling out in Normandy in the north of France. Sightseeing included a leisurely trip to the staggeringly beautiful town of Honfleur, revisiting Mont-St-Michel and a whistle-stop tour of Monet’s enchanting home and gardens at Giverny – all with the added bonus of eyeing up an abundance of gorgeous ‘maisons’ (like this one) en route!

Very kind of Peter Spence to flag up my blog on a brand new website called Factual Writers. I’ve recently been invited to join this group which comprises writers and publishers based in the south of England. I’m looking forward to the inaugural meeting. The group is on the lookout for more members so, if you are keen, feel free to contact Peter at prspence@btinternet.com for further information.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I turn up for a job in Chichester Harbour to be greeted by views of colourful bobbing boats, glistening waters and spectacular scenery.

This shot was taken at Itchenor where I met sailing instructor Ashley Hatton who runs the successful Chichester Harbour Turtles.

Accompanied by the lovely Merryn Young – a budding writer keen for some work experience – we headed to Itchenor Sailing Club for, what I thought would be a fairly straightforward interview. Not a bit of it!

Before we could say ‘dinghy ahoy’, we found ourselves precariously stepping into a little rowing boat with coffee cups, handbags and briefcase in hand where Ashley rowed us (in rather impressive style!) towards a beautiful wooden X-Boat for a wonderful morning sail towards Bosham. Ashley took the whole thing in his stride and, before I knew it, I actually found myself at the helm for a few minutes.

It was an exhilarating morning and, back on my comfort zone of dry land, I managed to interview Ashley for the forthcoming Chichester Harbour News & Guide.

If like me, you’re a bit of a nervous sailor, I’d definitely recommend a trip out with Ashley. He’s on 07863 567584.

As for Merryn, seemingly, our fun-filled morning has reinforced her ambition to become a writer and…I can only hope she enjoys her chosen career path as much as I have and still do!

Beautiful weather…reminds me of this time last year when we popped over to Jersey for a fabulous break on this gorgeous island.

One of the highlights was a trip to the stunningly beautiful St Brelade’s Bay where artist and businesswoman Tina Ellis-Brecknell runs a gem of a beach shack shop called Fish n’ Beads.

This little treasure trove sells all sorts including colourful beads where you can sit outside, get creative and drink in the wonderful view of the sweeping bay. Fish n’ Beads is also a great showcase for Tina’s striking artwork as well as pieces from other local artists.

Following a tip-off from another Jersey homeowner, I discovered that Tina lives right next door to her shop in a much-loved home that’s jam-packed with her art, upcycled furniture and accessories, plus plenty of special beach-combing finds.

Your Home magazine jumped at the chance of featuring Tina’s beachside property and, with loads of input and enthusiasm from both homeowner and talented Jersey-based photographer Gisela Olsson, the pair pulled together to produce some stunning results.

To read the full feature, click here.

You can contact Tina at Fish n’ Beads on 01534 742348.

Click here for more information about Gisela Olsson  where you can also read her blog about the Your Home shoot.

To visit the Your Home website click here

Watching Team GB soar to golden success in the 2012 Olympics has, for me, (and, I sense, most of the nation!) been an incredibly inspiring yet humbling experience.

I have to confess that I’ve never really watched much sport on the TV before but now… well, I’m just as hooked as everyone else I have talked to.

Seeing the cyclists doing their thing in such style made me think about innovative businesswoman Christina Simons, who recently introduced ‘pedal power’ to her award-winning B&B Cottage Lodge, located in Brockenhurst in the beautiful New Forest.

The eco innovation takes the form of a specially-adapted former hire bicycle that’s been placed in one of the bedrooms. When guests are feeling energetic, they can simply hop on and start pedalling to generate enough electricity to power the television and get fit at the same time. Don’t worry, though, if you’re not feeling up to the challenge, photovoltaic cells on the roof can step in to take the strain!

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and writing about Christina, whose passion for her business and its wealth of green features is contagious.

The feature has been kindly flagged up in Anna-Lisa De’Ath’s Welcome column in the September/October issue of an exciting new magazine entitled LandLove that is on the shelves now.

 For more information about Cottage Lodge, or to make a booking, contact 01590 622296 or view www.cottagelodge.co.uk

The Giant’s Causeway

Watching the children singing their hearts out at the astonishing Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland was particularly poignant for me during Friday night’s spectacular opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.

Seeing this magical natural phenomenon in all its glory reminded me, not just of many happy hours spent playing on the basalt columns as a child, but also of a feature I wrote a while ago for Coast about Caroline Robb’s stunning home on Northern Ireland’s wonderful Antrim Coast.

During our interview, Caroline happened to mention that she’d struggled to find beautiful accessories for her own house which is located between Portrush and Portstewart.

One thing led to another and, soon after our cosy chat, Caroline launched Causeway Coast Lifestyle – an online business selling contemporary home accessories and stylish gifts inspired both by the Antrim Coast and other parts of this beautiful country.

Bizarrely, while visiting family in my native Northern Ireland a few weeks ago, I bumped into Caroline at Portrush’s popular Ramore Restaurant. A quick catch-up revealed that Causeway Coast Lifestyle is thriving and the entrepreneur is thoroughly enjoying her change of career. You can check out her range by visiting www.causewaycoastlifestyle.com

One of Caroline’s hexagonal candles from the Causeway Coast Lifestyle range

To read the full Coast article about Caroline’s home, please click here.