Buenos Aires/St Albans

After a long time in the preparation stages and with great anxiety, the long-awaited day finally arrived! On Sunday the 27th of November of 2005, the choir Simply Blue of Bishops Diocesan College, Cape Town, departed for Argentina. The Malaysian Airlines flight managed to arrive on time and the London Bus from St Alban's College was waiting for them at the Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires. This was certainly a Sunday to remember with our arrival at the college, being distributed with the host families, and the most important of all; - everyone spoke English!

Very early on Monday Morning, all the Simply Blue boys found themselves at the school in the company of their host brothers and or sisters. During the course of the morning that gave mini-concerts for the different age groups (Kindergarten / Junior and Middle School) and workshops with the Marimbas and Djembe (east African Drum) that were presented by Ross Johnson and James Tuft. Without a doubt, this was an opportunity for the youth of both countries to integrate and enjoy the rhythms of Africa in an interactive manner, providing both entertainment and enjoyment to everyone.

Marion Bradley, Robert Moolman, Ross Johnson, - staff of Simply Blue, and Duncan and Susan Chase from TCEF, were invited to enjoy lunch with John and Paul Vibart in the Centenary Salon at St Alban's College. The members of Simply Blue enjoyed lunch with students from the College in their dining hall. When evening fell, Simply Blue held their first full concert on American Soil which was also their first performance for Argentine audiences.

On Tuesday, Baker College located close to St Alban's, was also allowed to participate in this international event. Students from the Middle and Junior School enjoyed a brief mini-concert which received ovations from the audience and academic staff that were present.

As a result of the strike of Aerolineas Argentinas, Argentina's Flag Fleet, we had to battle to obtain bus tickets with the resulting inconveniences, to ensure that we met deadlines and could complete our performances as promised in the Mendoza Province of Argentina. As a result of this, on Tuesday evening we all departed to Retiro Bus Terminal to travel to the Andes Range and Mendoza, where our hosts were anxiously awaiting our arrival.

After our performances in the Provinces of Cordoba, Mendoza and Salta, Simply Blue returned to Buenos Aires to be able to enjoy the last two nights of their tour in the Naval Central Hotel. This time spent together allowed them to make their last minute shopping, participate and enjoy a Tango Show, and travel around the various sights of the City of Buenos Aires. This also gave them the opportunity to celebrate the end of their year working together as a team in Simply Blue, an say farewell to those that had matriculated and would be leaving the group and school to continue their studies,

On Sunday the 11th of December 2005 during the course of the early evening, Simply Blue embarked on their flight to return to Cape Town, South Africa. On behalf of the Chase Foundation we would like to extend our thanks to each member of Simply Blue, Staff, and all those whom in each and every way collaborated to make this tour of Simply Blue TCEF Argentina so successful.