‘My’ opera, “Lost in a Bluebell Wood” will cost money. We need to raise a million rand to get it into production. But, we are making headway!
In early December we drove to Prince Albert to see Nicky Rebelo in his one man show The Kreutzer Sonata. I was looking out the window, daydreaming. Suddenly my dreams were halted by this red and blue sign on the fence of Oudtshoorn bowls club. It seemed to jump out at me. WARWICK WEALTH it said in it’s bold lettering that couldn’t help but catch my eye. Warwick Wealth, I wondered, before my attention was caught up by the scenery on that wonderful drive over the Swartberg Pass.
About two weeks later I was at my friend’s golf club when I saw the name Warwick Wealth again, this time on a beautiful clock. Making enquiries I discovered that Warwick Wealth was actually a financial institution.
“Warwick” Wealth is a local and international company known as ‘The Investment Specialists’.
For reasons I can’t explain I felt I must contact Warwick Wealth and see if they would be interested in advertising on my blog. I sent off a letter to the CEO, Ian Kilbride, and got no response. Not being one to be put off at the first hurdle, I sent off a further letter. This time I decided to concentrate on the sponsorship money required to produce Lost in a Bluebell Wood.
Much to my delight, I got a response! “When you are next in Cape Town, please contact my secretary and make arrangements to see me.” Little did the poor man appreciate that he was going to see me sooner than he thought. At that very moment, I was visiting my sister in Cape Town! By the end of the day the appointment was made for two days hence. Now all I had to do was to find out whereabouts in Cape Town Warwick Wealth were based.
Incredibly I discovered that they were only two minutes drive from where Liz lived in Constantia. Fortunately my best friend and blog publisher, B, was also in Cape Town and was able to come with me for moral support. We found the offices in the glorious grounds of the Alphen Hotel. Nervously we sat in reception, refusing the kind offer of tea and coffee. After about twenty minutes I heard my name being called. Seeing this man striding towards me, I stood up, willing my spastic arm to behave itself for the handshake I knew was about to follow.
“Good morning, I’m Ian Kilbride”, he said extending his hand for the inevitable shake. My hand behaved, thank the Pope and I introduced B. Ian Kilbride is a good looking man, tanned, blonde haired with gorgeous smiling eyes. I felt the tense knot in my stomach relax as I began to breathe easier. Sitting in his office I said: “Before we start, may I just point out that both B and I are deaf. This is just in case we mis-hear at any point.”
“Don’t worry. I am well versed in deafness. My father has a problem with his hearing. He had his first Cochlear Implant in Southampton in England and his second at Tygerberg Hospital just eighteen months ago. He has the same audiologist as you, Jenny Perold.”
I looked at him stunned. “Glory be, then you…you know about deafness. You do truly know!”
He laughed gently. “Yes, I do ‘truly know!’ Now, tell me why you are here.”
B handles the monetary side of ‘ear ‘ear, so I decided to let her take the lead on financial matters, I could always chip in.
“Okay, so you are looking for money for the opera and for blog advertising. How much money do you need for the opera?” he asked
“Just over a million rands.” said B calmly
I had expected Ian to be flabbergasted at this amount but he didn’t even draw a breath. He wrote on a pad in front of him. “And how much would advertising on your blog cost me a month?”
I told him and once again he wrote on his pad. Then he looked up and said: “I would like to have an advertisement on your blog for the foreseeable future. As far as your opera is concerned, Warwick Wealth will sponsor the project to the tune of R200,000 providing you and your team raise the other eight hundred thousand required. I want a viable project.”
I wanted to fling my arms around this incredibly generous man and give him the biggest hug. But I behaved in a properly dignified manner, spluttered out a thank you and grinned inanely.
And so, we have raised about one fifth of my opera-mega sum.
Thinking back on the raising of that first R200 000, I am just so aware of God’s work throughout. I don’t believe in coincidence. There was too much that just fit so perfectly. Bits of a puzzle that when put together formed the most amazing picture. The fact that I was in Cape Town when I got the reply; the location of Ian Kilbride’s business; his father’s Cochlear Implants; the connection Ian and I seemed to have; his Spirit Foundation which assists bright but disadvantaged children through high school which resonates within me. Maybe this can be the subject of a future blog……..
When I was a child and had failed miserably at something, I used to get so irritated at my Mother’s: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again!” I didn’t succeed in getting a response to my first letter. I want to put back my head and shout to the sky with delight that I did try again.
With a wonderful mind-blowing result!