When I promised David Pollard that I would go and get some recent photos of mobile homes and caravans outside the houses of those affected by the floods I thought I knew what I would see and how I would feel. 

And at my first port of call - a new housing estate with mobile homes outside almost everyone - it was just as I expected.  It was sad and I counted my blessings that my experiences were not those of the families who lived in this part of Hull.

But this was nothing to an unscheduled visit later that day when I had put my camera away considering my task complete.  I was on my way to see the Hull Freedom Trail co-ordinator, Jonathan Richards when I turned into a side street to park my car.......

It was one of those surreal experiences.  It was like driving down a street in a ghost town. 

There were 5 touring caravans with electrical wires linked to the houses.  All the downstairs windows were empty, devoid of any personal possessions whilst the upstairs windows were normal with dressing tables and other items clearly on view.    Some windows displayed danger signs whilst others looked like the windows of new houses - all freshly painted and clean and some even had builders advertising boards displayed.

I had to get some photos but whilst I did so I felt awful - intruding on people's misery and bad luck (I remembered how I felt when I lost everything I owned in a house fire).  I caught sight of a lady watching me from one of the caravans so I turned and walked to my meeting.  As I did so, I walked between one of the houses and a caravan aware of another lady in her garden. 

I felt so guilty that I stopped to talk to her explaining that I hoped that she and her neighbours would not be offended by my actions.  I explained I was a Rotarian and about what we were doing in the district to try and help those affected.

As I talked I was aware of a young man in a suit sitting on a box in the doorway with a computer on his lap that was connected to a power supply from upstairs.  The lady explained he was setting up her 12-year old daughters new computer that they had only just got from the insurance company so that she could do her schoolwork (4 months later!).

The lady explained she was not expected to be back in her home until February 2008 at the earliest and that all but 5 of the families in her street had moved out until their houses were repaired.  She went on to explain that she was finding it hard to sort out her washing - she coming home early from work to sit in the laundrette to wash it and then she had to try and get it dry.  We were standing in the pouring rain as we spoke - there's not much room in a touring caravan to dry a families washing on a regular basis.  Its very different when you're on holiday as you know it is not for long.

She went on to explain that shopping daily was expensive - again short of storage space.

In our conversation, I told her how to get hold of Rotarians if she and her neighbours felt that there was anything we could do to help but there was a strong message for us all.  There is still an awful lot of hardship and suffering going on - we Rotarians, need to get out there and see what needs doing at grass roots level and do it!  The task force will help with funding for the larger projects with longevity but lets get on with some of the more practical issues now!