Post by Mark on Apr 7, 2008 17:01:51 GMT
Hi everyone
Wow - thanks to everyone for their reports and photos - theres just too many since I last posted to mention individual names but well done so far. I know there are quite a few more photos and no doubt some reports still to come. Infact, here is the second part of my report...
Part two
I ended my part one with my visit to Hayley's dressing room after the show, where Hayley met Connie Talbot. What a very memorable 15 minutes that was, particularly as when it was time to leave, Hayley picked Connie up for a big hug
After leaving Hayley to get ready to do her signing session, we made our way round to the front of the opera house just as Hayley was taking her seat and the first of the audience were shown up the stairs to meet her. After Connie signed my CD and a few other introductions and photos, it was time for Connie to leave. It was great to meet her and mum & dad, Gavin & Sharon.
For most of the next hour or so, I was able to watch Hayley in action, meeting her fans, having photos taken, accepting birthday presents and cards - just being Hayley really. When eventually the non HWI fans had all gone home, it was our time to finally show our appreciation. As those members who had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs came up to stand around her signing desk, I truly felt that Hayley was really overwhelmed by the shire number of HWI members - she was almost speechless
What I will never forget though, is when Caitlin started off the singing 'Happy Birthday' , Hayley for once truly looked as though she wasn't sure what she should do, how to react - I was standing just to one side and slightly behind her when, during the song she looked right round directly at me, eye to eye - I felt she was almost saying to me with her eyes - help, what should I do. For that moment, my impression was that she did feel overwhelmed - hopefully in a good way. However, as we finished singing (followed by three cheers, started by our very own Grant) Hayley did say a few words to say thanks to all of us at HWI for all our support. I don't recall her exact words but, I know she said "you all do so much I really am very lucky".
That moment to me was quite moving, the rest of the theatre now quiet, just Hayley and 30 or so of her most dedicated fans, representing the whole of HWI, showing our appreciation of Hayley and she of us.
Ray then announced that we would have to call it a night within the next 5 minutes as the opera house wanted to close up. As I had a 2 hour drive home, I decided to leave at that point. Before making my way round to as many people as I could to say goodbye, I caught Hayley's eye, she reached out and held my arm lightly as I thanked her for yet another wonderful evening and for taking the time to meet Connie and making that so special. "I'll see you at the Brits" I said as I started to make my way through the crowd.
The drive home wasn't too bad, although the snow was bad over the moors. By the time I reached the motorway, the snow had all but gone and I finally arrived home around 1.15am. I was pleased that I had driven home that night, as when I woke later that morning, 3 inches of snow had fallen
Mark
Wow - thanks to everyone for their reports and photos - theres just too many since I last posted to mention individual names but well done so far. I know there are quite a few more photos and no doubt some reports still to come. Infact, here is the second part of my report...
Part two
I ended my part one with my visit to Hayley's dressing room after the show, where Hayley met Connie Talbot. What a very memorable 15 minutes that was, particularly as when it was time to leave, Hayley picked Connie up for a big hug
After leaving Hayley to get ready to do her signing session, we made our way round to the front of the opera house just as Hayley was taking her seat and the first of the audience were shown up the stairs to meet her. After Connie signed my CD and a few other introductions and photos, it was time for Connie to leave. It was great to meet her and mum & dad, Gavin & Sharon.
For most of the next hour or so, I was able to watch Hayley in action, meeting her fans, having photos taken, accepting birthday presents and cards - just being Hayley really. When eventually the non HWI fans had all gone home, it was our time to finally show our appreciation. As those members who had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs came up to stand around her signing desk, I truly felt that Hayley was really overwhelmed by the shire number of HWI members - she was almost speechless
What I will never forget though, is when Caitlin started off the singing 'Happy Birthday' , Hayley for once truly looked as though she wasn't sure what she should do, how to react - I was standing just to one side and slightly behind her when, during the song she looked right round directly at me, eye to eye - I felt she was almost saying to me with her eyes - help, what should I do. For that moment, my impression was that she did feel overwhelmed - hopefully in a good way. However, as we finished singing (followed by three cheers, started by our very own Grant) Hayley did say a few words to say thanks to all of us at HWI for all our support. I don't recall her exact words but, I know she said "you all do so much I really am very lucky".
That moment to me was quite moving, the rest of the theatre now quiet, just Hayley and 30 or so of her most dedicated fans, representing the whole of HWI, showing our appreciation of Hayley and she of us.
Ray then announced that we would have to call it a night within the next 5 minutes as the opera house wanted to close up. As I had a 2 hour drive home, I decided to leave at that point. Before making my way round to as many people as I could to say goodbye, I caught Hayley's eye, she reached out and held my arm lightly as I thanked her for yet another wonderful evening and for taking the time to meet Connie and making that so special. "I'll see you at the Brits" I said as I started to make my way through the crowd.
The drive home wasn't too bad, although the snow was bad over the moors. By the time I reached the motorway, the snow had all but gone and I finally arrived home around 1.15am. I was pleased that I had driven home that night, as when I woke later that morning, 3 inches of snow had fallen
Mark