Carols on the beach

Tonight I went along to the Carol Service on Cullercoats beach, just around the corner. I joined a crowd of about 40, all of us dressed warmly for the icy but beautiful weather. We gathered in and around the Lifeboat Station, standing on the beach in the dark with the white of the breaking waves behind us, while the Salvation Army band played the all time favourites - 'Oh Come all Ye Faithful', 'Silent Night', and we sang heartily along. After that it was upstairs into the warmth for a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. The Lifeboat men are all volunteers, many following family tradition over several generations. There was a terrific sense of community. When you visit why not pop in to their little shop on the beach for a souvenir of your stay. And remember to say hi! to Anne, our neighbour who helps out there.

The Ghost of Captains Past

He has been spotted again - The Captain, in yellow sowester , walking the decks of The Captain's Room. He captained The Lovely Nelly which ran aground on Brown's Bay - the wreck can still be seen at low tide. There is a certain calm that pervades when the old man appears, wandering through the room, picking up his compass fondly or the Old Log, remembering days at sea gone by. Ahoy sir, we'll look after the place for you.

A truly Southcliff Christmas

It's snowing it's snowing! Across the fabulous, wild North Sea white waves refelcting in the sun, the white snowdrops pass horizontally across the window. Inside it's lovely and warm, and on the sea you watch as the fishing boats dance and the seagulls play exicited in the air currents. A christmas tree and Christmas decorations adorne each apartment giving a truly traditional Victorian feel to the festive time. The cast of Jack and the Beanstalk are strutting the boards at the Playhouse, opened last week by the Duchess of Essex. So get those mince pies warming and that christmas cake stirred - it's almost time for the carols!

Stars at Southcliff !

It's been a star studded Christmas with more to come! The cast of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat have taken over the entire house while playing to packed houses at Whitley Bay Playhouse. For two weeks fan mail has been arriving as the cast have enjoyed the luxury of the fabulous sea views and catch up TV ('you don't know how important this is to an actor') And was it Lee who put up the 7 foot inflatable Santa in the front garden during the evening soiree..? As they sadly move away to tread the boards at Cambridge ('But we want to spend Christmas here...!), the cast of Jack and The Beanstalk arrive - more teenage girls sending fan mail, opening of supermarkets and TV interviews...Break a leg lads and lasses - Come back soon!