Just had news that the Approved Visas and passports have just arrived at the travel agent and the US consulate had given us all a 10 YEAR VISA.  How awesome is that.  Invite us again next year and we will be there. Thank you US Embassy.

Our day started at 03.45 this morning, giving ourselves enough time to start picking up the team at their homes in the various townships surrounding Wolseley from 4.45 am.  We were very impressed that everyone was up and ready and we did not have to wait for anyone. This augers well for travelling discipline or perhaps it is just that the band members are "just so excited".  We had to get up this early in order to beat the morning traffic on the N1.  We had a group interview slot for 08.30 at the US Embassy and we made it with only 20 minutes to spare.   You are not allowed to park near the Embassy and have to park at a shopping center close by and walk.   We had fortunately packed some egg and bacon sarmies which saved the day which was already a few hours old. 
We refreshed and fueled up and took on the next task at hand. 
This was a new experience for the group  - bullet proof glass, x ray machines, not cell phones etc etc.  We were each finger printed and then had an individual interview all behind very thick glass on a telephone as is seen on the movies in prisons.  
Suffice to say, all went well - we checked out and our story was legit and we got 10 approvals.  Just so happy and excited - this dream is about to come true.  A LONG BUT GOOD DAY.
  

Whilst you are all tucked up warm in your beds tomorrow, think of us getting up at 4 am in order round up all the band members in the township and leave by 5 am in order to beat the morning traffic into Cape Town.  We have a group interview with the USA consulate scheduled for 8.30 am and we all have to be present.  We will do what it takes to get the visa sorted.  ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!

The Members of the amaWolseley Marimba band seen here with a group of the Sommeliers, visiting from the United States of America at Fable Wine Estate near Tulbagh.  It was an exciting event and the American visitors gave the band a warm reception.  It was here that business cards were exchanged and plans were discussed with Charles Banks as sponsor and David Bernahl ll as organizer of the Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival.  (www.lafw.com)
I sometimes wonder if they have regretted this. Once we were given a bone, we held on like terriers and did not let go and here we are about to embark on a trip of a lifetime for these children.
Thank you so much.  We intend to make you proud and to bring exciting energy to your festival from a small town in the Western Cape. You will not regret your kind offer. "Buya Afrika"!

Red doubled as both MC and Auctioneer and even managed to sell a  "rugby ball" fashioned out of red river gum to some unsuspecting mate.  Thank you Glen. 

I think this pictures speaks volumes about the amazing young people who are our future leaders.  You go Guys.  We hope to meet you all some day and Thank you all for your amazing participation.  Thank you everyone for attending the event and contributing so generously.

Below is the wonderful story of HOOLEY who have donated day packs to the amaWolseley Marimba Band.  These funky items, made from 100% recycled materials,  are ideal for the the on board hand luggage and for touring about town.  The Band members are going to be the "Happiest HOOLEY gans". See www.hooley.co.za

WITH HUGE GRATITUDE TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE TRIP TO LOS ANGELES IN AUGUST 2014 
This list is in no particular order or 
Charles Banks from Terriore Capital
David Bernhl from Coastal Luxury Mangement
Ceres Zipline Adventures - www.ceresadventures.co.za - vouchers for raffle
Horse About adventures - www.horsebout.co.za - vouchers for raffle
Lorraine Hebblethwaite and Buchanan's Brook -  www.buchananansbrook.co.za - for voucher for a raffle
Tripple one Printers - Ceres - for the design of required logo and for pulling out all the stops to produce CD in record time.
Claude Pretorius - musical expertise when recording CD and general support
Johan Viljoen - CD recording
Tulbagh dried fruit- donation towards raffle
Vindoux Wellness Centre - www.vindoux.com/cgi-bin/spa.pl for the donation of a voucher towards raffle.
Elro Meubels - www.elromeubels.co.za  - prize donation towards raffle
Mountain Ridge Wines -  www.mountainridge.co.za  - for the donation of wine towards raffle.
Waverley Hills Wine and olives - www.waverleyhills.co.za for providing the group wit T shirts.
Paige Fiddes Photography - documentary  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB28BjTCJpQ
Tracy Kruger - Blog - http://jarofmielies.co.za/index.php?route=pavblog/blog&id=16
Hooley - www.hooley.co.za  for the most amazing day packs.  Hand made - from 100% recycled vinyl and sail cloth and so funky.
To Dion from Digital Printing Solutions - www.dps247.co.za who have offered the group tracksuits.
Fynbos Guest Farm - www.fynbosguestfarm.co.za for the donation of the most useful neck security pouches for documents and money. 
To the 365 people who bought raffle tickets at the Christmas in Winter event on 28 and 29 June in Tulbagh.
To all the people who have are are still buying our CD recording, assisting with funding this trip.
To the following people who made monetary donations into the bank account:
Angelique Rowland, Pedro Neto, Steve Andrew, William Stubbings, Hleziphi Mtshizana, Jennifer Schafer and Justin Stanford.
La Bristow, Dr and Mrs Coetzee, Mich Walf, Simon Devis and Thomas H Orr.
The Algar Family provide the group with the most amazing stocked toiletry bags.
Mr & Mrs Ashurst from Tulbagh who donated pats and T shirts.
To so many people who have bought CD's to support this cause.
To Barbara Cooke for arranging a fund raising concert at  Gerike and for selling a number of CD's as a result.
To my awesome children and their respective partners / wives who have each made a contribution in their own way.  They arranged lunches, auctions, comedians, frog races, to name but a few.  They have worked silently and behind the scenes and have all made amazing contributions
Thank you  Robyn for the wonderful iPad so that we can record this wonderful event.  
To Grant Adams and Gavin Bolton from Woodworx for your wonderful effort and contribution towards preparing the band.
To Trevor Alnutt for your generous contribution and encouragement.
To Peter Nel for life skills training and massive support.
To Christo Hauptfleisch from wild travel in Stellenbosch who went above and beyond to create miracles.

A big Thank you to Gavin Bolton and Grant Adams and Woodworx Marimbas for the wonderful work that they have done in training the amaWolseley Marimba Band, for the personal interest they have taken in this group and all the encouragement they have give us all.  Your advice has been invaluable to us and you are true to your "Play it Forward" tag line.  The members of the amaWolseley Marimba Band and management are eternally grateful for your guidance.  The Group underwent further training this past weekend on 20 and 21 July and have perfected their performance and even learnt two new songs.  We believe they will make Wolseley, the Witzenberg Valley and indeed South Africa Proud.

If it were not for the generosity of Charles Banks from Terroir Capital and the organisation skills of David Bernhal II of Coastal Luxury Management, this dream could not be real.  This opportunity is going to reach way beyond this group of children and create further opportunities for other children to learn to play the marimbas too.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank You!

Tracey Kruger from Tulbagh wrote this blog which gives a good overview of the amaWolseley Marimba Band and its activities.

http://jarofmielies.co.za/index.php?route=pavblog/blog&id=16

This you tube clip will give you an over view of the members of the amaWolseley Marimba Band and their progress.  It was captured at the end of June 2014 by Paige Fides.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB28BjTCJpQ