Shrewsbury Abbey - 3rd & 4th August 2007

[Karsten]

Hi George,

I'm aware you are keen on the photos of "your" day - so here's the last part from Friday.

As you already know from Grant's report Hayley wore this nice black dress during the autograph session.

Whilst Gordon, Grant and I waited I'd plenty of time taking a few photographs, as you perhaps mentioned already. Hayley found time to have a little chat with everyone of the people asking for an autograph or a photo.

At the end there was a bit of haste, not caused by Hayley but by the members of the local staff. So I was glad to get two autographs (on a CD cover and a photo) and Grant was so friendly to shoot a photo of Hayley and me.

As Grant presented his copies to Hayley it was also time for me to deliver the G & B which I'd found in Shrewsbury (but only after three useless attempts). For the extreme case that I wasn't able to find a bar of this chocolate I bought a similar German one which I happily brought in one piece and without deformations through the airports and the warm days. Because there are two concerts I handed over the two bars and earned a smile and a "Danke für die Schokolade" (Thanks for the chocolate) in perfect German with this nice accent.

So at 10 pm my first Hayley concert was over. Still enchanted I was back at my B & B at a quarter to eleven and looked forward for the next day.

Here's the last photo from this day.



All the best

Karsten

[Stephany]

What a lovely report, Karsten.
I assume that the picture Grant took is the one you added as your avatar? Great shot!
I look forward to reading your report of the second concert

Stephany

[grant]

Hi Karsten

Great work on the pictures and the 'Ladies of HWI' will be delighted that you included Hayley's silver slippers in some of your pictures! I meant to, but somehow seemed to be captivated by that lovely face

Don't worry about you English - you are doing fine and as for the pictures, as Graeme says, there can never be too many of Hayley.

Looking forward to Saturday!

Best wishes
Grant

[Karsten]

Hi Grant,

I'm bold enough and try my best concerning the English language. (Of course I should buy a grammar book.)

The shoes are on the pictures cause my camera zoom is not sufficient - otherwise I pictured only the face, of course.

Best wishes
Karsten


Part IV - August 4

Before the concert

After a short visit of Buildwas Abbey (a ruin 10 miles away) I visited the abbey again at 3.15 pm but the doors were open and so I assumed that the sound check should take place after 4.30 pm when the abbey normally closes its gates. So I took a walk trough the town and at 4.15 pm I was back waiting for George. Soon after his arrival Hayley appeared, shouted "Hi Guys" and went to the abbey. I was obviously that she didn't want an open air photo session as at the day before - so there are unfortunately no pictures.

At 5.30 we started queuing - a very old-fashioned and likable English tradition, in the former GDR it went in the same way - but the locals felt no hurry and at 6.21 pm only a few of them have joined us:



The man on the left really was at the end of the queue - 10 minutes before the estimated opening time.

There are so few people that I wondered if the concert was sold out but eventually I understood it was. In the meantime the sound check was on its way - unfortunately without us - and at 10 to 7 the gates were opened. George and I had first row seats again, 3 meters away from the micro.

Karsten

[Karsten]

Part V - August 4

The concert

Due to my duty here's the song list at first:

Ave Maria
The Water Is Wide
Scarborough Fair

Fiona - 2 songs, cf. Grant's report

Mummers Dance
Prayer
Danny Boy

Interval

Fiona - 3 songs, cf. Grant's report

Pokarekare Ana
Shenandoah
Summer Fly
Le Me Lie
Santa Lucia
In Trutina
May It Be

Encore: Sonny

Counting them I realise that there was 5 songs from Fiona and 14 from Hayley, but it was the same like on Friday: it seemed to be one gorgeous song that should never come to an end.

There were differences between the two days which made that I prefer this Saturday's concert:

At first the auditors were a little bit more enthusiastic - of course not so much that two encores could be given. (There were also about twice as many people asking for an autograph.)

Secondly the lights are switched on already during the first part.

On the other hand the vicar said in his introduction that photos could be taken between the songs - apparently with flash, too.

And last, but obviously not least - two other songs amongst the performance of Hayley, as the encore Sonny and Mummers dance, which last I've never heard before. Of course I ordered the Australian X-mas edition of Pure with this song immediately after being back on my PC.

During the concert Hayley worked as her own sound supervisor, giving signs with her right hand - so there was no over-modulation on Saturday.

And here it goes:

Forthright the introduction of Fiona, Ian and Misha - sorry for the quality, but there was a heavy compression needed to reach the 100K




Karsten

[postscript]

Well done Karsten.

Your English is superb--unlike my French or German. I'm usually okay reading and writing but not speaking AS LONG AS I AM IN PRACTICE! That is the key. I mug up on them for visits but then never use them, so forget. Please feel free all of you for whom English is not a first language, practice, practice, practice here with the greatest of pleasure!

Peter S.

[Richard]

Many thanks for your excellent reports and fantastic photographs, Karsten!

I'm delighted you had a great time and met Hayley at both concerts. There's no disputing our coverage of her performances here at HWI is second to none! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I hope to meet you at one of her concerts soon.

Best Wishes from London,

Richard

[Karsten]

Thank you, Peter and Richard.

Unfortunately my next concert will be in Dublin not until December.

Best wishes from the rainy Germany

Karsten


Part V continued

Here's the black-gray dress. I try to avoid flashing mostly, so the pictures are a little bit blurred.


Prayer: Who knows the story of Hänsel and Gretel ?

[Karsten]

Part V continued

[Karsten]

Part V continued

One picture especially for Fiona's fans



and one with flash - Hayley and the two different ways pronouncing Shrewsbury





Greetings, Karsten

[Karsten]

Part V continued

[Karsten]

Part V continued

Here are the last ones in black-grey





and the very last



All the best

Karsten

[dutchjoyce]

Hi KARSTEN, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR YOU HAD A WONDERFULL TIME,thanks for your nice reviews and FANTASTIC pictures.
And for now..............UP to DUBLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!.See you there.JOYCE.

[graemek]

Karsten,
Those last 2 are absolutely brilliant.
ie. 04-19 ; 04-20.

I've always loved Hayley's entry to & exit from the stage.

No lingering, fast...business like...cute.

Graeme

[grant]

Hi Karsten

More great pictures!! I totally agree with Graeme about the last set, particularly the very last one with the swishing skirt and, no doubt clicking heels. Just beautiful.

Incidentally, that dress is actually blue as you have caught on several pictures. Peter (Postscript) and I had a friendly argument about the colour of it at Gawsworth last year and she confirmed it to be blue when I asked her about it afterwards.

Best wishes
Grant