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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.

Just back from an amazing couple of days in Dorset soaking up the heady atmosphere as Weymouth & Portland prepare to host the 2012 Olympics. The excitement in the air is tangible and there’s a real feel-good factor, with the added bonus of glistening blue seas, bright sunshine and spectacular coastline. I had a fab time with some friends and even managed to squeeze in a little work amongst the revelling. If you’re heading in that direction for the Dorset Olympic experience, I reckon you are in for a treat. 

Great to see Chris and Lorraine Clode’s elegant home starring in the current issue of Country Homes & Interiors (August 2012).

The Clodes are a super fun-loving couple and have worked hard to create this idyllic cottage situated in Emsworth, Hampshire, right on the edge of Chichester Harbour.

It was a pleasure to write about this unique cottage that’s been transformed with the help of West Sussex-based architectural designer Jane Mottershead.

Lavant-based interior designer Becca Mousley of J & B Interiors worked closely with Lorraine to create this delightful home where photographer Brent Darby and I were made to feel more than welcome.

For more information about Jane Mottershead click here 

To find out more about J & B Interiors click here

Whether you are two or 102, if you love nature or just fancy switching off and unwinding for a while, I’d thoroughly recommend visiting Lordington Lavender on the outskirts of Chichester. Lordington Lavender is running a series of open days from now until Sunday, July 8 between 10am and 4pm. It’s the ideal opportunity to explore this colourful haven for wildlife and our own little corner of Provence, here in West Sussex.

The £2.50 entrance fee is going to charity and children under the age of 16 are free. Refreshments are available and, if the lady who made the lavender cake happens to read this, thank you very much – it was delicious!

For more information about Lordington Lavender click here

I reckon ferryman Andy Larsen has to be one of the hardest-working blokes in Chichester Harbour. The genial Andy runs a busy ferry service stretching along the Itchenor reach to the Bosham channel from April to the end of October and he’s there come rain, hail or shine. Andy’s passengers range from commuters to walkers and cyclists who are all out exploring the delights of this truly magical area. I’m a huge fan of the ‘Itchy Bosom’ ferry and thoroughly enjoyed interviewing Andy for the Coast Character slot in the August issue of Coast magazine that’s out now. Big thanks to Andy for his time and to the lovely talented photographer Claire Lloyd Davies for her super shot on page 15 of the magazine.

To find out more about the ferry service ring Andy on 0797 037 8350 or click here for further information.

For more details about Claire Lloyd Davies click here.

Wow! Hearing that amazing roar as The Red Arrows hurtle past my office window as Goodwood’s Festival of Speed gets into full swing has just reminded me of a feature I wrote a couple of years ago for Build It magazine. At the time, self-builder Jeff Dobbie had just finished an amazing project. This involved knocking down a property he referred to as “like something from The Amityville Horror” and replacing it with this smart family home (pictured) blending seamlessly into the surrounding West Sussex countryside.

Since meeting the amiable Jeff, he has taken another step along the self-build route and converted a garage block into a rather lovely B & B called Bex Lodge Studio. Now, anyone who lives in the Chichester area can tell you that finding available B & B accommodation during The Festival of Speed is pretty tricky and, I would imagine, that Bex Lodge is already booked up this weekend. However, it’s definitely somewhere to bear in mind for future Goodwood events and, of course, other times of the year.

To find out more about Bex Lodge Studio click this link.

Click on Articles to read the full Build It feature. 

21st Century house

Antonia Ogden-Meade never imagined she’d end up buying the house next door!  However, when a For Sale sign went up on this 1970s property, the plucky house-hunter and her husband Mark took the plunge and transformed it into a contemporary family home. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Antonia (and her friends!) in this impressive house in the pretty West Sussex village of Wisborough Green and discovering how hard work, careful planning and vision have brought a dated property into the 21st Century. They now have a home they love in an area where they feel very welcome. Happy memories of a great day and….the added bonus of meeting Cassius, the family’s adorable Labrador! If you fancy finding out more, this six-page feature is in the July issue of Real Homes.

House before the transformation

Antonia with the very cute Cassius. 🙂

Very pleased with the coverage given to creative interior designer Amanda Neilson in this month’s (July) edition of 25 Beautiful Homes. Apart from making a fabulous job of her own truly inspirational home, London-based Amanda has been commissioned by top celebrities in the UK and, it’s easy to understand why she’s in demand. It was a pleasure to visit Amanda’s stunning house in North London and to meet her lovely family. Click on the link above to check out Amanda’s website.