Wanderlust Paul Morrison Guide Awards 2007?
 

I went along to the awards ceremony yesterday evening and Wanderlust awarded two guides the winning GOLD.

Our very own Selwyn is one of them!

CONGRATULATIONS, Selwyn, I was so proud to see you recognised in this way!

The awards were presided over by Lyn Hughes, co-founder (with the late Paul Morrison) of Wanderlust magazine.

Speeches too from Bill Bryson and Hilary Bradt, from last years guide finalists and from this year's winners!

Selwyn also impressed the audience when he decided to give £1000 of his bursary to the silver place finalist for her charitable pursuit of choice. The remaining £4000 is going to support a soup kitchen in Kayamundi.

WELL DONE SELWYN!

Hi Selwyn,

My hearty congratulations on your excellent and very creditable achievement. Wish you all god speed in all you further endeavours.

Regards
Mohammed

Congratulations Selwyn! Well deserved!

Chris

Way to go Selwyn! Ultracool!

Mazeltov! Will be in your beloved South Africa in a couple of weeks. ez

Congratulations Selwyn, you're a class act.

Selwyn! Congratulations!!!!!! I am not surprised!! My one big disappointment with our trip this summer was that you were not available to take us to Kayamandi. We revisited all the places you took Richard and me two years' ago, but not Kayamandi! I will never forget the township.
You are the 'Gold Guide' on these boards as well thanks to your constant selfless sharing.

Outstanding Selwyn!! Well deserved honor to a very giving man.

Kavey: thanks for reporting the details.

No problem.
Today Selwyn is enjoying picking out some personal purchases from Nomad, part of his prize, and enjoying lunch with last year's and this year's finalists and the Wanderlust team.
I think he's flying back either later today or on Saturday.
I'm off on holiday myself for two weeks so won't be online to welcome him back to the board but I'm sure you guys can do that without me!

I heard from Selwyn this morning as he was waiting at Heathrow to fly home. I just happened to email him at the right time.
We feel very fortunate to be going to Kayamundi with him in early Nov.

Congratulations Selwyn. For everyone who has had the pleasure and experience of spending time with you, we all know that luck was on our side. We are still talking about Kayamundi, and Lily to all who will listen.

By the way the little girl we want to sponser for more education, when does she take her English test, and when can we start helping. I can't remember her name so please remind us, and post a picture if you have one.

Carol

Hello all,

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes. I have arrived back in Cape Town with more than 200 emails of congratulations and have to answer and thank these wonderful folk soon. Thus at this stage I am just saying thank you to all of you who have published on this page or sent me messages of support and well as congraulations. As soon as I have an opportunity I will publish a letter in this thread giving you a trip report of my journey to London and what the Wanderlust awards really are about.

Once again a HUGE thank you to you all.

Very proudly part of the wonderful ((r))nation of South Africa

Selwyn you ROCK!
Next time I'm in Capetown, I must and will see you for a day as my guide,

a hearty congratulations,
Kristina

Thank you Kavey for the good news.

Congratulations to Selwyn. An outstanding honor and a worthwhile donation.

Uplifting all the way around.

Selwyn, look fwd to your report on the whole trip...
(Am still in France but have internet access from this hotel which is handy as we're booking the hotels one or two nights in advance only and checking them out on the net before booking is very helpful)!

Congratulations Selwyn! We were sorry that we did not have the opportunity to meet you while we were in Cape Town
last week, but had the pleasure of touring with Rob (Selwyn's brother)
and were able to meet Lily in Kayamandi.

CONGRATULATIONS!

What a terrific honor, and while I have not had the pleasure of joining you on a tour of Cape Town, I understand the honor is well deserved.

Michael

Selwyn-
Having just returned from our trip to SA, and having had the pleasure of joining you for an extended afternoon at Kayamundi, all I can say is...WELL DESERVED!! It truly was a life-changing day for us. I am delighted that your greatest wish from all of this judging came true-the chance to give even more to Kayamundi.
Congrats!
Betsy

Selwyn:
This is driving me nuts....and such a nit-picky thing that I should be ashamed!! After touring with you, I always refer to the township as KayamAndi and believe that is the correct spelling.
Can you confirm just for my peace of mind???????????????????????? I talk about the township constantly and want to see if I have the correct spelling and pronunciation........
Thanks......

Congratulations Selwyn.

Once again thanks to all for your congratulatory wishes. I am truly humbled because there are so many Fodorites on this board who also deserve kudos for the manner in which they help others with regard to travel questions yet they never receive these honours.

PhilBill,

Kayamandi is a Xhosa word comprising of 2 words viz. Kaya and Mandi. Kaya means home and mandi means sugar hence Kayamandi = Home sweet home.

Hope this helps set the record right for you. :)

Very proudly part of the wonderful ((r))nation of South Africa

Thanks, Selwyn!

=D> ((y))

Selwyn, what is happening with the education program? Are the kids getting ready to take their English exams. Please advise as we are ready and willing to support the program for the little girl we discussed.
Carol

Carol,

I will be contacting you some time in Novemebr as the kids are going to the school principal for a conversational English test in a couple of weeks time and then we will know exactly who we can send to a "better" school next year. Thats when I will be contacting you so please just hold tight till then. Can you believe it we will probably be sending 18 sponsored kids to better schools in 2008. I am setting up a voluntary mentorship and administration programme with some local ladies as I wont be able to maintain all the administration myself. Heres hoping we can send 180 kid to better schools in 2009.

Thanks for your continuous interest.

Very proudly part of the wonderful ((r))nation of South Africa

Selwyn
Would still love to read your report on your whole experience!