Dear Friends,

Another year drawing to a close and this has been an extremely satisfying one for us both. Whilst we had a lot of touring, it was all very enjoyable, but we are rejoicing that yesterday we returned home and now have the luxury of ten weeks in our ‘paradise’.

In June we returned to Japan for our sixth visit, and as we have come to expect, it was wonderfully organized and very responsive audiences. The Japanese have shown great loyalty to David and great joy in his performances. He is always showered with flowers, gifts and cards, which makes him feel very wanted. Travel within Japan is so easy – the comfortable trains always run on time, the hotels have excellent facilities, and of course shopping is fun.

However, our most exciting trip was to Africa. We had been to Cape Town in 1998, but this time we returned to Cape Town, then trained it to Johannesburg via ROVOS Rail. That was the train trip of a lifetime. Beautiful old carriages dating to mid twenties, superb food and seeing so much of South Africa. Then to David’s great joy four safari tours in Kruger Private National Park where we saw the big five and David saw leopards every day. This was one of the most precious experiences for us and we hope to return to South Africa and also Zimbabwe sometime in the future. Let us hope Zimbabwe has a change of government in 2002, as it is an extremely sad country at the moment, and yet the people are so warm and friendly.

David’s new CD of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov was released in June, even though it had been recorded many years earlier. It was from a live performance and brought back many memories for David.

Next year we are really slowing down. We both feel more time in’paradise’ would be a good thing so our overseas touring will be limited to probably China – which is an exciting thought.

I have taken on a big project of study in the W.A. Gann system for stock market analysis. As Gann tied in with astrology, I am so thrilled to be doing this work and have just attended an enlightening seminar. So will have my head down over the summer.

We are both extremely well and happy, and every year we are filled with gratitude for all the love, friendship and caring that surrounds us. As David says – we are very privileged.

With love and season’s greetings
 
 

                                          ------David and Gillian Helfgott