Homage to Newfoundland

Bit of a different blog for you this week because we’re nothing if not versatile! Mrs Oh Orlando here, and I’ve taken over this week’s blog. I’m going to review a lovely day out in London with our wonderful son and daughter in law to be, Ashley and Tiffany, and Mr Oh! of course, and talk about a show we went to see and where we ate, all of which have connections with Orlando, but not in the usual sense.

I’ll start with the back story. On September 11th 2001 I was on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Manchester to Orlando International, for a fabulous holiday in Walt Disney World. So far so good. The events of September the 11th unfolded as the pilot had just announced we were not far from New York and in around 45 minutes passengers on one of the plane would have a good view of Manhattan Island etc. Almost immediately after that was announced a further announcement from the crew said that there had been a couple of plane crashes, and that American airspace was being closed with immediate effect and we were diverting to land in Gander in Newfoundland. I had heard of the place, because years ago planes couldn’t make it all the way from England to Florida without stopping to refuel, and Gander was the place. Of course that had long since been unnecessary due to bigger better planes which didn’t need to refuel. The plane banked sharply – and changed direction really quickly and in no time we were on the ground in Newfoundland. I was in the first plane to land and we all then stayed on the plane for around 7 hours I think. It seemed like an eternity and I don’t think any of us really knew why we were still being kept on the plane. I think I naively thought we would all just go into the airport for a couple of hours and then take off again and continue to our destinations. I watched Moulin Rouge on loop for most of that time, feeling scared and confused, and selfishly I suppose thinking I was missing out on valuable Walt Disney World time and my holiday. (I haven’t watched Moulin Rouge since – I can’t bring myself to).

With the benefit of hindsight and knowing what I now know, about the events in New York and elsewhere, and understanding just what was going on on the ground in Newfoundland – it’s a wonder we got off the plane as quickly as 7 hours. I know a lot of people stayed on the following 37 planes that landed a lot longer than 7 hours. With the help of a fabulous book, bought to me by a contact via work, who bizarrely was living in St John’s in Newfoundland at the time, I understood the massive operation that they managed to pull off to look after the stranded plane folk. The book is called The Day the World Came to Town and it’s a cracking read. People in Newfoundland don’t bother locking their doors or cars, they don’t need to, and there aren’t that many of them living there either.

Meanwhile, back to that actual day. I remember getting off the plane and going into the airport terminal where the Red Cross looked after us. They handed me a blanket, a little further along the line of tables manned by lots of people, someone handed me a bag of McDonald’s food and a drink and I got onto the first of a long line of yellow school buses like I’d seen in so many American movies. My plane full of passengers, along with several other plane loads were taken to The Twin Ponds Salvation Army camp near Glenwood which is 35 miles west of Gander. The bus travelled for miles through complete pitch black, all I could see was darkness and trees – but as it turns out that’s probably all there was to see even it it was daylight. Hundreds of stranded passengers at that camp were fed three square meals per day, given beds to sleep in, provided with tv’s in the main hall so that we could watch the news and see what was happening, and after a day or so, were provided with washing kits, clothes, towels etc, as hold luggage had remained on the planes so I only had what was in my hand luggage. They also got a couple of satellite phones up and running so we could each make a call home to let someone know we were all OK. I don’t think I have ever been so happy to hear my dad’s voice that day that I called home, and knowing that I was letting my parents know I was fine was probably the most important phone call of my life – I cannot comprehend how they must have felt not really knowing where I was.

The population of Newfoundland doubled that day, and most of the stranded passengers remained there for between 3 and 5 days until American airspace re-opened and planes were prepared, boarded and sent on their way, mostly back to their original destination rather than onwards to the destination they were originally travelling to. The Virgin Atlantic flight I was on was the first to leave and the first plane to land back in the UK – and the press were waiting for us. The people of Newfoundland stayed awake with all of the stranded frightened plane folk, they cooked, opened their homes, halls, camps and churches, donated food, clothes, pharmacy prescription items and anything else they could. They even looked after animals that were in the hold of the planes. They had to clear up 5 days of chaos after we’d all left too which they did without complaint. They say they did what was needed and anyone would have done the same, but I think in our current world climate I am not as sure as I should be that that would be the case. I know that those events and that day changed my life for ever, and I know I’ll never be able to thank the people of Newfoundland for their selflessness and kindness and I hope I am a better and more charitable person for that experience.

Onto our day in London – which was primarily to see the musical Come from Away. The musical was written about that time in Newfoundland when all of the plane people diverted to Gander and landed them with a giant logistical problem that they navigated with love and compassion and great efficiency. It was written by David Hein and Irene Sankoff and the story is totally put together from interviewing the people of Newfoundland to get their stories and also the stories of some of the near on 7,000 people that landed that day in Gander. The tickets were bought for us by Ash and Tiff when they heard that I had been one “strays” (to quote the musical) that landed that day. What gorgeous people they are!

I knew I would love it, but I had no idea how much I would love it, or how emotional it would make me. From the opening words and song I was already starting to wobble – just hearing the distinctive Newfoundland accent transported me straight back there. The story was, from start to finish, terrifyingly accurate – people’s names I recognised (the Captain of the plane I was on featured in the story), mention of the Salvation Army camp and the school buses and everything in between. The show is fantastic, moving and also very funny, and they haven’t shied away from covering some of the more difficult issues that cropped up – the cast are stellar and it’s a proper ensemble piece. The music and musicians and lyrics and staging are all perfect. Most cast members play several parts and their accents switch from Newfoundland folk, to passengers from all around the world seamlessly. The harmonies in the songs are superb, and the voices on stage are without doubt some of the most gorgeous I have heard – like thick creamy runny caramel pouring through you! You should go and see it while you’ve got chance. Mr Oh! And Ash and Tiff all loved the show – and I loved it too – and went between laughing, crying and nodding along in agreement as the show ran on.

Mr Oh! earned himself extra husband points by emailing ahead and getting me the opportunity to go backstage, meet some of the crew and cast and company management. We went onto the stage and had a good look around and met some lovely lovely people who not only were willing to give up their own time to come and meet me, but also were genuinely interested in my story as one of the strays and also took great pride in the fact they they are telling a real story about real people and feel how important that is. Very great thanks to Jenna Boyd who pays Beulah in the show – she was a delight, super knowledgeable about her character and a phenomenal actor and all round good egg. I could have chatted to her for hours such a delight she was – but of course she had another performance to do and they had already taken her wig off her for re-dressing and the wardrobe mistress was after her clothes too! Thanks also to Jonathan Andrew Hume who we also briefly met and who was super friendly and kind, not to mention also a phenomenal actor – as are all of the extremely strong cast without exception. Thank you also to the Assistant Stage Manager and the Company Manager who were so kind and informative and giving of their time, and also the Dance Captain who came to chat to us too – I was let’s face it, in complete awe of her, thinking that might have been me in a different life if I’d been in professional theatre rather than Amdram!

Let’s park that all there and bring it back to London, and hopefully cleverly tying things all back up in a neat little bow that brings us back to Orlando! We had a lovely, fun, happy day out with people we love, we drank Prosecco, and Pale Ales and laughed and talked and caught up. All very splendid indeed. In the whole of London, with the many possibilities of places to eat where did we head for – Shake Shack. Which is the bit that brings us back to Orlando. Mr and Mrs Oh!’s first taste of Shake Shack was when Ash and Tiff took us there in Orlando last time we went – the Florida Mall one. The burgers are an absolute delight and were demolished very quickly, and the crinkle fries are simply fantastic – also available smothered in runny cheese and apparently also now a garlic mayo – YUM!!! The ‘Shroom burger is a vegetarian’s delight – gorgeous portobello mushroom in a crispy breadcrumb with an oozy melted cheese middle. Heavens!! The caramel milkshake went down a storm and the Half and Half (half iced tea half still lemonade) that I had was amazing! A glorious day by all accounts and what life really is for. The next time we eat a Shake Shack we will be back in Orlando – and we can’t wait!

When we fly on our next adventure to Orlando this summer the flight will take the same flight path it always does – flying over Newfoundland and Labrador down the East coast of the USA, and like I do every time I fly that route I look out on the map for the time we are flying over Newfoundland and I glance out of the window, silently remembering that day and seeing trees, lots and lots and lots of trees, and remembering that quiet peaceful safe place.

So to conclude – we really do hope that all of your days are filled with Disney Magic and love and laughter, but if ever they are not, I hope you are fortunate enough to meet people like the good people of Newfoundland who, as it turns out, are unbelievable in a crisis and filled with compassion and love and kindness.

See you Wednesday for a more usual Orlando based blog!