It’s been another week of more radio coverage for Spareground. This week, I was invited along to the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire studios to be interviewed for the Andy Harper show. Both he and the producer Carol Carman really are lovely people and have kindly invited me back in a few weeks for an update on what’s happening with Spareground.
For once it was nice to see the inside of a radio studio instead of conducting interviews over the phone sat on my bed!
The response has been encouraging and we are now in the processes of furthering the sponsored advertisements on the site from interest generated from this programme. Our rate card is now available to any potential advertisers with very favourable rates, well I am bound to say that aren’t I! But it is definitely true!
This week has seen some great listings on the site; probably my favourite has to be the log cabin in London for writers, thinkers and tidy artists, ..Brilliant! And only minutes away from Turnpike Lane tube. Who would have thought it eh…a log cabin in London. Am sure there will be plenty of people interested in that one!
Also on the site this week we have lots of new storage space rentals, including a lot advertised for caravan storage. I am currently waiting for a response from the caravan club on this, I am pretty keen to let caravan owners know about Spareground. I am aware that with certain insurance companies, they may only permit storage in certain facilities but if this is not the case then why not use the Spareground site to look for other caravan storage options.
There’s lots of new car parking space offers for renting too, including garages, driveways and yards. Not forgetting the increase in listings for land or garden space both offered and also on our wanted pages.
So whatever spare space you’re after, keep checking the site as new listings for space for rent or even for no charge are appearing on the website all the time.
Tip of the day, when you are in a hurry for a cold beer, don’t leave it too long in the freezer. It goes flat! My much anticipated quaffing of a bottle of Badger Champion ale was ruined by my impatience!
More soon….
www.spareground.co.uk
Friday, 11 September 2009
Friday, 4 September 2009
Radio, Rugby and Dying Chickens
If someone had told me earlier this year that I would have spoken on the radio in front of millions, I would have suggested they take a trip to the nearest witch doctor for some treatment. Alas, it has happened! Yesterday saw me interviewed by Rebecca Pike, aka Foxy on the Chris Evans show on BBC Radio 2. Its weird how for the few hours beforehand, you are gripped with nerves and the imminent on air time produces that hideous stomach lurching and a dryness in the mouth that no amount of water seems to quench! Anyway, it went well I think! Looking at the increased website stats and listings, it was a job worth doing. We have a number of new listings on the site now covering all aspects of space and it’s great to see people using their creative thinking and adding stuff that probably wouldn’t have been in the realm of Spareground in its earlier days. Spareground will always be an iterative website and we will move in accordance with how people are perceived to be using it.
On other matters, where have all the fish gone? Spent last Sunday fishing for mackerel on the Norfolk coast and didn’t catch anything at all. All I got was wet feet and an empty freezer bag to take home! Don’t think one person caught anything so I will just have to put it down to one of those years where my catch tally is zero. I did have some lovely fish and chips in Sheringham though so that did make up for it to a certain point.
I also spent a day this week nursing a dying chicken. My lovely friends managed to get two rescue chickens which have had the life of Riley this last eighteen months, full run of the garden, lots of corn and a great coop. Alas they are now down to one chicken after some horrible virus snuffed one of them out. So it’s half an egg quota and less fertiliser for the allotment now…nevermind.
I see we have listings on the site for people who wish to keep chickens and I can now report that we have had a successful match up with one Spareground user. So a chicken coop is currently under construction with the aim of getting four chickens so I have been told.
Anyway, time to walk the dogs. They are feeling a bit neglected with me having been sat near this computer all morning.
Rugby season kicks off tonight; the worse thing of the summer months is the wait for the rugby to start again!
Until next time
www.spareground.co.uk
On other matters, where have all the fish gone? Spent last Sunday fishing for mackerel on the Norfolk coast and didn’t catch anything at all. All I got was wet feet and an empty freezer bag to take home! Don’t think one person caught anything so I will just have to put it down to one of those years where my catch tally is zero. I did have some lovely fish and chips in Sheringham though so that did make up for it to a certain point.
I also spent a day this week nursing a dying chicken. My lovely friends managed to get two rescue chickens which have had the life of Riley this last eighteen months, full run of the garden, lots of corn and a great coop. Alas they are now down to one chicken after some horrible virus snuffed one of them out. So it’s half an egg quota and less fertiliser for the allotment now…nevermind.
I see we have listings on the site for people who wish to keep chickens and I can now report that we have had a successful match up with one Spareground user. So a chicken coop is currently under construction with the aim of getting four chickens so I have been told.
Anyway, time to walk the dogs. They are feeling a bit neglected with me having been sat near this computer all morning.
Rugby season kicks off tonight; the worse thing of the summer months is the wait for the rugby to start again!
Until next time
www.spareground.co.uk
Friday, 14 August 2009
BBC Radio at last!
It’s been a busy few weeks both on the Spareground front and with my other business commitments so no blog posts for a while! …and after all my earlier promises!Well, this week saw my first ever radio interviews about Spareground on BBC Radio5 and also on BBC Radio Ulster (Northern Ireland). I must admit I was shocked with how nervous I felt beforehand but once we were ‘live’, things went well and I am pretty happy with the final outcomes.
Both features came about from recent polls showing that a lot of older people are now considering renting out rooms to lodgers to make cash to bolster their current financial shortfalls. With low interest rates, savings accounts are not bringing in the interest levels they once were and this coupled with increased living costs means that options such as renting out rooms are now being considered.
In the UK, the Government's Rent a Room scheme allows people to receive up to £4,250 a year tax free through renting out a room in their main home; quite a significant sum of money to add onto their regular income. There are restrictions to this for example, you cannot modify your property to create a separate space or create a private access for the lodger so it is wise to check the government websites to check for further details.What Spareground have tried to get across is that for a lot of people renting out a room in their house may not be a favourable choice. However, it’s always an idea to look at what spare space you do have and see if you can rent that out, hence our promotion to rent out driveways, parking facilities, storage facilities and garden space. You would not be able to create a huge amount of money from something like an attic space or garden space for example but it all helps!
Spareground was also featured on this week’s Enterprise Nation website http://www.enterprisenation.com/ and we have seen an increased in the hits on the site related to this. I have also signed up to attend the Enterprise Nation conference in November this year so I will make sure that I will report on this with all the news and stories of what happened. Busy times ahead!
Great news that the UK gets the Rugby League World Cup and the Rugby Union World Cup! Hopefully we can be of some use to help cater for peoples parking and accommodation requirements!
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Ryder Cup 2010 Newport Wales, get ready now!
Two of my favourite sporting events have now passed and my life is now back to its normal ebb and flow.
I am really disappointed for the Lions that they didn’t come away from South Africa with a series win but very pleased that this tour was no whitewash and albeit for a few narrow margins, the result could easily have gone the other way. Still that’s sport for you. Just ask Andy Roddick, with four set points in the second set tie-breaker or when at eight games a piece in the final set with two break points, Lady Luck could have waved her wand in the opposite direction and we would be looking at a new Wimbledon Champion and Federer looking to the US Open to eclipse the Sampras record.
To the British and Irish Lions and Andy Roddick, you didn’t achieve what you set out to do but you all showed how sport should be played at the highest level.
Congratulations of course to the Springboks and Federer!
The remaining summer months now sees the arrival of the Ashes series in the cricket and I personally will be interested to see how Cardiff responds to hosting the first test. Coming from the South Wales area, I am always keen to see major sporting and music events being held in this part of the world and how Wales welcomes and responds to its visitors.
In 2010 Wales also hosts the much anticipated Ryder Cup tournament at the Celtic Manor resort in Newport and this event alone could easily become the catalyst for other large events in Wales if this proves to be successful.
No prizes for already guessing that accommodation for this event is already squeezed and as always I am keen to get people and businesses to use the Spareground website to advertise their spare accommodation, parking facilities, camping facilities etc.
As with the Wimbledon tennis tournament, there are agencies specialising in top dollar private accommodation which gives local residents a fee charging agency service for leasing their properties and parking. That is fine and I certainly don’t ignore the fact that some people will want their properties to be managed in such a way.
However for those who cannot or do not wish to pay such agency fees and are happy to manage their property then why not use the Spareground website. It’s free to use so no harm in giving it a go.
Of course, go ahead and use it to advertise what space you are looking for if you are heading to the Ryder Cup too!
www.spareground.co.uk
I am really disappointed for the Lions that they didn’t come away from South Africa with a series win but very pleased that this tour was no whitewash and albeit for a few narrow margins, the result could easily have gone the other way. Still that’s sport for you. Just ask Andy Roddick, with four set points in the second set tie-breaker or when at eight games a piece in the final set with two break points, Lady Luck could have waved her wand in the opposite direction and we would be looking at a new Wimbledon Champion and Federer looking to the US Open to eclipse the Sampras record.
To the British and Irish Lions and Andy Roddick, you didn’t achieve what you set out to do but you all showed how sport should be played at the highest level.
Congratulations of course to the Springboks and Federer!
The remaining summer months now sees the arrival of the Ashes series in the cricket and I personally will be interested to see how Cardiff responds to hosting the first test. Coming from the South Wales area, I am always keen to see major sporting and music events being held in this part of the world and how Wales welcomes and responds to its visitors.
In 2010 Wales also hosts the much anticipated Ryder Cup tournament at the Celtic Manor resort in Newport and this event alone could easily become the catalyst for other large events in Wales if this proves to be successful.
No prizes for already guessing that accommodation for this event is already squeezed and as always I am keen to get people and businesses to use the Spareground website to advertise their spare accommodation, parking facilities, camping facilities etc.
As with the Wimbledon tennis tournament, there are agencies specialising in top dollar private accommodation which gives local residents a fee charging agency service for leasing their properties and parking. That is fine and I certainly don’t ignore the fact that some people will want their properties to be managed in such a way.
However for those who cannot or do not wish to pay such agency fees and are happy to manage their property then why not use the Spareground website. It’s free to use so no harm in giving it a go.
Of course, go ahead and use it to advertise what space you are looking for if you are heading to the Ryder Cup too!
www.spareground.co.uk
Monday, 15 June 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen, time please,….it’s Wimbledon
One week left to go before the influx of visitors to SW19 for the best tennis tournament in the world! Sadly for me I have no tickets. I did enter the public ballot but was unlucky this year. My parents however, were more successful and will be on Court 2 on the 29th of June. Lucky them!
Spareground now has its first tennis related listing, some lovely private accommodation available just a ten minute walk from the All England Club.
It’s no secret that one of the problems with this tournament (and I would imagine many others) is the lack of closely available parking or accommodation. Each year, residents within Wimbledon and nearby areas have placed their properties in the hands of local estate agents for rentals to visitors during this time. Nothing wrong with that of course and for some people to have someone to ‘manage’ the rental of their property or parking would be the preferred option anyway.
However, not everyone can afford to pay or wants to pay, the handling fees involved, especially when there can be no guarantee that it will be leased out at all.
Spareground offers an alternative source. We do not charge for people to register and create listings, nor is there any charge for users to contact advertisers. All we ask is people register to the site. Using this method means that it is entirely down to the user to manage their own listings and arrange the rental terms as they see fit. Spareground plays no part in this aspect, we only provide the introductory aspect.
This great tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club attracts visitors from all over the world. Not all will have the same budgets so the broader the range of pricing options for accommodation, hotels, B&Bs or even camping locations then the better. So even if you have a single room available, a space for putting up a tent or a 7-bedroomed detached house, all will be welcome on the Spareground site.
Parking options is also another aspect for people to consider, whether its listing a driveway space in front of a house, a business premises car park or that of a school or church, list them on the site,. There are other websites too which allow you to list parking so by all means use those as well.
Don’t forget that if you are visiting Wimbledon for the tennis, you can create a listing to ask for what space you need, whether it’s parking or accommodation.
The site is there for those who are looking as well as for those who can provide.
To finish off, congratulations go to Andy Murray for his win at the AEGON championships at the Queens club last week. Also to Roger Federer for his French Open win, putting him toe to toe with Sampras on his number of Grand Slam tournaments won. If either of these two men lifts the trophy at Wimbledon this year, you will be watching sporting history in the making!
www.spareground.co.uk
Spareground now has its first tennis related listing, some lovely private accommodation available just a ten minute walk from the All England Club.
It’s no secret that one of the problems with this tournament (and I would imagine many others) is the lack of closely available parking or accommodation. Each year, residents within Wimbledon and nearby areas have placed their properties in the hands of local estate agents for rentals to visitors during this time. Nothing wrong with that of course and for some people to have someone to ‘manage’ the rental of their property or parking would be the preferred option anyway.
However, not everyone can afford to pay or wants to pay, the handling fees involved, especially when there can be no guarantee that it will be leased out at all.
Spareground offers an alternative source. We do not charge for people to register and create listings, nor is there any charge for users to contact advertisers. All we ask is people register to the site. Using this method means that it is entirely down to the user to manage their own listings and arrange the rental terms as they see fit. Spareground plays no part in this aspect, we only provide the introductory aspect.
This great tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club attracts visitors from all over the world. Not all will have the same budgets so the broader the range of pricing options for accommodation, hotels, B&Bs or even camping locations then the better. So even if you have a single room available, a space for putting up a tent or a 7-bedroomed detached house, all will be welcome on the Spareground site.
Parking options is also another aspect for people to consider, whether its listing a driveway space in front of a house, a business premises car park or that of a school or church, list them on the site,. There are other websites too which allow you to list parking so by all means use those as well.
Don’t forget that if you are visiting Wimbledon for the tennis, you can create a listing to ask for what space you need, whether it’s parking or accommodation.
The site is there for those who are looking as well as for those who can provide.
To finish off, congratulations go to Andy Murray for his win at the AEGON championships at the Queens club last week. Also to Roger Federer for his French Open win, putting him toe to toe with Sampras on his number of Grand Slam tournaments won. If either of these two men lifts the trophy at Wimbledon this year, you will be watching sporting history in the making!
www.spareground.co.uk
Monday, 8 June 2009
Tweeting, test matches and Take That!
It’s happened again! Once more, I disappear from the desk for a few days chill out by the sea and Spareground has another influx of high hits!
Clearly, I should spend most of my time messing about by the seaside if this is the effect. Its great news and very welcome!
It’s nice to have had some very positive feedback on the Spareground concept and good to see that people can see how useful such a site can be. A website than most people could probably benefit from at some stage in their lives.
Other news, Spareground is now a-tweeting on twitter! @spareground
I must admit I was rather hesitant about twitter, I couldn’t see how it would be any different to facebook or other social websites but I am happy I am there and looking forward to seeing where it may take me.
For those of you who read this blog regularly, you will undoubtedly realise that as a passionate rugby fan, I am engrossed by the goings on with the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag for me, two 'average to below par' games with one sublime one sandwiched in the middle. If only I was there!
I was fortunate enough to go on the Lions tour to Australia back in 2001 and to this day, that first test match in the Gabba at Brisbane, still holds number one spot for the best match I have been to! There is nothing like a Lions tour and I sincerely hope that the powers that be never decide to call time on them. I can’t think of any other sport where players from different countries, normally used to pulverising the living daylights out of each other, can for a period of six weeks or so form one team. I already have my test team forming in my head so will be interesting to see if I am right in a fortnight’s time.
(There’s an unused rugby pitch near my house, which was once part of the Ministry of Defence property, I’m not sure who owns it now but it would be nice if people or organisations who have unused land like this could put them on Spareground. What a waste of a good pitch!)
Anyhow, please keep passing the word of Spareground on to your friends, family and colleagues. The more and the quicker it grows, the more benefit people can gain from it.
Tomorrow sees me off to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, Take That are playing! Woohoo!
www.spareground.com
Clearly, I should spend most of my time messing about by the seaside if this is the effect. Its great news and very welcome!
It’s nice to have had some very positive feedback on the Spareground concept and good to see that people can see how useful such a site can be. A website than most people could probably benefit from at some stage in their lives.
Other news, Spareground is now a-tweeting on twitter! @spareground
I must admit I was rather hesitant about twitter, I couldn’t see how it would be any different to facebook or other social websites but I am happy I am there and looking forward to seeing where it may take me.
For those of you who read this blog regularly, you will undoubtedly realise that as a passionate rugby fan, I am engrossed by the goings on with the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa. It’s been a bit of a mixed bag for me, two 'average to below par' games with one sublime one sandwiched in the middle. If only I was there!
I was fortunate enough to go on the Lions tour to Australia back in 2001 and to this day, that first test match in the Gabba at Brisbane, still holds number one spot for the best match I have been to! There is nothing like a Lions tour and I sincerely hope that the powers that be never decide to call time on them. I can’t think of any other sport where players from different countries, normally used to pulverising the living daylights out of each other, can for a period of six weeks or so form one team. I already have my test team forming in my head so will be interesting to see if I am right in a fortnight’s time.
(There’s an unused rugby pitch near my house, which was once part of the Ministry of Defence property, I’m not sure who owns it now but it would be nice if people or organisations who have unused land like this could put them on Spareground. What a waste of a good pitch!)
Anyhow, please keep passing the word of Spareground on to your friends, family and colleagues. The more and the quicker it grows, the more benefit people can gain from it.
Tomorrow sees me off to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, Take That are playing! Woohoo!
www.spareground.com
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Spend the Summer Outdoors!
I don’t know where the time is going at the moment!
Since my promises to update regularly were uttered in April, we are now fast approaching the end of May already and soon it will be summertime.
At Spareground, we are in the throws of thrashing out some new promotional ideas and ways to encourage people to use the site to their advantages during the summer months.
Summer means the festival season for many people (Glastonbury, The Reading and Leeds Festivals, the V Festivals, the Isle of Wight festival and the Cambridge Folk festival to name only a few) and with the dates quickly bearing down on us, we are keen to encourage people who attend these festivals and those who live nearby to use Spareground to find or advertise their spare space.
The camping in close numbers experience may not be ideal for some people and with people wanting to keep vehicles close by, Spareground can act as the mediating facility to find what you want; whether its accommodation, camping space, parking or storage space. If that’s what you are looking for then why not place a listing.
If you live in these areas and can offer anything of this sort then advertise it free of charge on Spareground.
I only wish I was heading down to Glastonbury this year but alas I didn’t get a ticket. Nevermind, I will try again next year!
http://www.spareground.com/
Since my promises to update regularly were uttered in April, we are now fast approaching the end of May already and soon it will be summertime.
At Spareground, we are in the throws of thrashing out some new promotional ideas and ways to encourage people to use the site to their advantages during the summer months.
Summer means the festival season for many people (Glastonbury, The Reading and Leeds Festivals, the V Festivals, the Isle of Wight festival and the Cambridge Folk festival to name only a few) and with the dates quickly bearing down on us, we are keen to encourage people who attend these festivals and those who live nearby to use Spareground to find or advertise their spare space.
The camping in close numbers experience may not be ideal for some people and with people wanting to keep vehicles close by, Spareground can act as the mediating facility to find what you want; whether its accommodation, camping space, parking or storage space. If that’s what you are looking for then why not place a listing.
If you live in these areas and can offer anything of this sort then advertise it free of charge on Spareground.
I only wish I was heading down to Glastonbury this year but alas I didn’t get a ticket. Nevermind, I will try again next year!
http://www.spareground.com/
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