It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It has certainly been feeling quite chilly this past few days, and this morning I looked out the window over a white field and square. Despite living a few miles out at sea we had a layer of ice with what looked like a light dusting of snow on top. We have our fingers crossed for a real covering of snow, but not until we have had chance to fill the kitchen cupboards!

Today I went with Heidi, Chloe and Alfie into Hull. We got a lift in a 4x4 to get off of Spurn Point, and to collect my car so we got to see what the sea did to the road last night. The mounds of sand that were beside the road are now on top of the road. The sections of bricks that make the road are now buried deep under the sand! What we really need here are some proper sea defences and a proper road. The residents of Spurn Point are just ordinary people who live in an extraordinary place, and all we want is to be able to get home!

Whilst we were waiting to be picked up by the 4x4 I couldn't help but grab the camera to capture this fantastic wintery sunset. The skies looked amazing, and the sinking winter sun reflected over the mud of the Humber Estuary. Also, if you look closely at the second image you'll be able to make out Spurn's lighthouse, on the horizon. I watched whilst the birds stomped on the mud looking for worms, but not for long as my fingers were rapidly turning blue!

The Christmasy Homes of Spurn Point

Now all of the houses are starting to look very Christmasy, with the flashing lights and figurines! The relief house is looking a bit dark and lonely though, so we may have to find some spare lights to get it more in the Christmas spirit! Most of us gathered together this evening to enjoy the lights, despite the cold! Maybe we'll even get some snow (we hope so anyway!)

Some of the residents of Spurn enjoying the lights and a cheeky glass of mulled wine :)

Superintendent Coxswain Dave and wife Karen.

Crew Steve and family: Rach and Thomas.

Crew Col Junior and family: Sarah, Lacie and Masie.

Mechanic Max and family: Heidi, Chloe and Alfie.

Second Coxswain Martyn and his family: Gail, Dane, Shaunie and Shannon.

Our house may need a few more lights outside!! Looking a bit dark in our corner.

Fundraising Opera at The Guildhall, Hull

The brave crew of Humber Lifeboat are all given one night of the year off together. Relief crew are bought in to cover the station, and all the crew are invited to join a fundraising event. This year was our first chance to join our neighbours in an evening of good food, great music and even better company. We all had a fantastic time, and an amazing £8,000 (or so) was raised for the fantastic charity: the RNLI.

Me and Pete.

Some of the residents/Humber Crew.

Superintendent Coxswain Dave, Second Coxswain Martyn and Deputy Second Coxswain to be Pete!.

Don't they scrub up well!

The WAGS having some fun!

Remembrance Day 11th November 2011

Today we saw the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, of the year two thousand and eleven! (or 11-11-11 for short). At 11am the crew of Humber Lifeboat took part in a moments silence, at The Royal Dock, in Grimsby. They joined some brave war veterans, current serving military personel and members of the public to lay a wreath and remember the lives that have been lost.

View from Spurn Lighthouse

Last week we had the chance to go up the lighthouse, which is normally closed. The men were allowed to come, but had to take their bikes incase the pager went off! It was only when we were right at the top that we wondered how long it would take to get back down all of those steps....luckily we didn't have to test that one!
There were some really beautiful sights from the top - taken on Pete's phone!

On a lighter note...

After the depressing pictures of the poor whale, I thought I'd lighten the mood with some of the more picturesque photographs I have taken over the last couple of days. Spurn Point is such a beautiful place...

Any of these images can be purchased as prints, and are also available as printed canvases. Please email hannahnelphotography@hotmail.com if you are interested in ordering any copies.