New York, February 2012

Flying Virgin Atlantic to JFK Saturday 11th February, 12.30GMT

We meet at Weydon School - let the adventure begin!

Waiting to check in at Heathrow
On the bus from JFK Saturday 11th - 22.20EST

The flight was delayed a little, and we landed at JFK at 20.30 EST. Immigration was slow, and we didn't leave for Manhattan until 22.10. As I write, we are on the bus, listening to a radio station that seems to appeal to the students.

Sunday 12th - 00.05

Unusually for the bus journey, we went through the midtown tunnel to reach Manhattan, and had great views of the skyline as we approached. As we emerged from the tunnel there was a light flurry of snow, but I don't think it will be enough to cause us any trouble. We arrived at the hotel at 23.00 and after the rooms had been allocated, most people went to bed, but a few hungry souls may have gone out in search for a burger, or some such. The staff are now checking that everyone is OK and going to sleep.

Sunday 12th - 07.15

Breakfast time. Some have gone out, and we are waiting for the rest to surface.

Sunday 12th - 10.15


The swings in Central Park The artists have looked at the Guggenheim Museum, and strolled through Central Park to The Met. The swings were too good to miss.



Sunday 12th - 10.50


At the Drama Workshop I am watching the first group of Drama students learning how to create slapstick routines with Mark Stolzenberg. He teaches them how to do what I think of as a Norman Wisdom 'trip'.

Sunday 12th - 12.30

The Drama students have all walked around the site of the World Trade Center - Ground Zero. Looking up at an extremely tall building nearby, and then being told that it was less than half the height of the Twin Towers brought home the enormity of what had happened.

We are now at Pier 17, South Street Sea Port, close to the Brooklyn Bridge, for lunch and shopping before heading off to the theatre.

Monday 13th - 06.45

How To Succeed... is a great show, with particularly good ensemble work. The dance number routines were particularly impressive, and I'm sure that the artists will have been looking closely at the wonderful set design.


Dinner at Bubba Gump As we left the theatre it was snowing, but once again, not enough to cause any problems.

Dinner at Bubba Gump's is always fun, with the staff firing questions about the film Forrest Gump, and handing out prizes to the first to answer correctly.

After another short break in Times Square it was time to go to The Rockefeller Center and The Rink. Forty two people braved the cold to go out on the ice, whilst the rest of us looked after their bags, and watched them from inside the building.

A short walk to the subway station, and we were back at the hotel at 22.45.

Monday 13th - 14.20


The John Lennon Memorial We started out in one big group to visit Strawberry Fields, the Central Park memorial to John Lennon. The Drama Students then headed for Eighth Avenue for their stage combat workshop, whilst the art students walked back through Central Park to the Museum of Natural History.


Stage Combat Having delivered the artists to the museum, I made my way to the combat workshop to watch proceedings. I have to say that the man running the workshop is an excellent teacher, and I have some video to prove it which I will post here when we get home.

Monday 13th - 17.20

After the morning's efforts were finished, it was time to visit 34th Street for a couple of hours of free time for lunch and visits to a few shops, after which 27 students went to Grand Central Terminal to see the wonderful architecture, the whispering 'gallery' and the amazing Grand Central Market, a small group headed for Ground Zero, and the remainder returned to the hotel.

We now have an hour and a half to relax before we go out again to The Garage.

Monday 13th - 23.59


At The Garage Restaurant We travelled on the '1' train to Christopher Street and to the Garage Restaurant. As we went in, a fifteen piece jazz band was playing - it was loud! The food was good, the music was good, and I think everyone enjoyed it.
Inside a limo

A short walk down 4th Street brought us to another subway station and we took the 'B' train to Herald Square and walked to the Empire State Building. I understand that the views were great, but I didn't go up to the top as I had other things to deal with.

As the group were about to leave somebody noticed a 'limo' parked opposite and made a remark about going back to the hotel in it. When they came out, Mrs Legat led them across the road, and only then did they realise that there was a fleet of limos to take them back.

Tuesday 14th - 09.45


One World Trade Center We are on the ferry to The Statue of Liberty. Tuesday mornings in New York are always hectic for us, and getting everybody packed, out of their rooms, and 'breakfasted' by 07.55 is a challenge. This year we almost made it, although a few people who weren't ready on time had to travel on another subway train with Mrs Legat. We all met up at Battery Park.

We only have enough time to walk around Liberty Island, so the students will be doing just that, and taking plenty of photos, no doubt.

It is overcast, but the views are still stunning, particularly as the skyline is beginning to be dominated by the new building, One World Trade Center, being constructed at the World Trade Center site.

Tuesday 14th - 15.30

When we arrived back at Battery Park, we walked to the World Trade Centre Memorial before setting off for China Town. There was a problem at the ticket barrier as one ticket had been lost, and two others wouldn't work. Mindful of previous experiences with subway barriers, and the fact that there were security cameras present, Mr Mortimer decided to take the three people concerned to Chinatown by taxi.

Shopping in Chinatown is an experience like no other. I was impressed by the bargaining skills of the students, some of whom managed to acquire goods for less than half the original asking price.

Lunch at Umberto's Clam House is always good, and although we were a little short of time, they provided us with a meal consisting of salad followed by pasta served family style in huge bowls, followed by a main course of chicken, aubergine, or sausage. If you should ever have spare time in New York, go to Umberto's - you won't be disappointed.

After lunch we walked along Canal Street to catch the '1' train back to the hotel. Over the years, the business of getting the luggage from the room where it had been stored, and loaded on to the coach has become something of a competition. In 2008, Mr Sharman managed a team that did the job in an impressively short time, only to be beaten in 2010 by Mr Maginnis's team. I have to say that this year's effort was stunning, although I can't credit one particular teacher for this as all were involved. There was cases in four lifts, and coming down a staircase, whilst students were running up the other staircase to collect more. The hotel staff looked on in amazement.

We are now on the coach to JFK.

Wednesday 14th - 07.45

I have written before about US bureaucracy, and this year the check in staff at JFK excelled themselves. We have twins with us, although they did not check in together. When the second one (female) arrived at the desk, they found that her brother had already been checked in against her ticket, and they could not get their heads around the concept of two people with the same surname and the same date of birth. Explanations seemed to confuse them further, but it was all sorted out in the end.

While we were queueing to check in someone discovered that their wallet was missing and was sure that it had been left on the coach. We were about to telephone the bus company when the driver rushed in having found it whilst checking his coach.

The flight was quick, with a strong tail wind, and we landed at 06.15. There was a little concern that a suitcase had gone missing, but this turned out to a problem of recognition.

We are on the coach on our way home.

Wednesday 14th - 08.15

We're back at Weydon and I think everyone has earned 24 hours in bed.

TL -