Fun & games in London

Had an interesting trip to London yesterday for work. It was eventful before we even got on the bus. Why? Because there was a logistical problem that meant there was not enough space on the bus for all our students. What to do? There was another coach with plenty of spare seats taking students to the airport. So 15 students, myself and two other staff took the Heathrow coach.

We were probably 10 miles or so out of Cambridge when there was a loud bang! I looked up to see the wing mirror of the bus hanging off the front! Not crucial to the driving the bus we carried on down the highway. Then off it fell. We were in hysterics. Last weekend on the Oxford trip there was bus problems and it looked like we were in for trouble again! The driver calmly pulled over to the side of the road. Then we began a slow journey, reversing back along the side of the highway to collect the missing accessory. The driver dodged the traffic, picked up the mirror and stowed it in the luggage compartment. We later found out that they are worth £2500. Probably illegal but we carried on without our left wing mirror and didn't strike any trouble changing lanes.

Got to Heathrow safely and made our way to the tube. We had been given £80 for tube tickets. I already suspected this was not going to cover the cost. Notices said it was about £13 for each ticket to central London. Lucky Emily (another teacher) had a credit card to foot the bill. The students with us were great. They didn't bat an eyelid when we arrived at Heathrow and explained we still had a half hour tube ride before we would meet up with the other part of our tour group at Buckingham Palace. No probs on the tube. YAY!

Oh, except that the Chinese tour leader had lost a couple of students and then lost himself. We figured perhaps he was looking for two of his students that were with us. Funny that he hadn't missed them for 3 hours! I got his number from the students and we let him know Yang and Yang were with us. Then we had to unlose him. This involved Ashley (the social co-ordinator) speaking to an Australian guy (quite likely sad after watching the rugby) who then directed the Chinese leader to what we like to call The Palace! I later found out that said Chinese leader did not know how to answer his phone. What a pain!

We managed to meet up with the other part of the group at B. Palace. While I was escorting students to the toilet the Chinese leader did another disappearing act. This time in search of another student who barely speaks a word of English. Eventually everyone was located and allowed free time for lunch, shopping etc at Covent Garden, as the rain began to fall!

It was amazing that everyone made their way to the 3.30 meeting point and then back to the buses waiting nearby. It was not the students this time that caused the extra stress but group leaders who speak very little English and don't see the importance of telling school staff what they are doing. I think they should be banned from the trip! They are a liability not an asset.