Southampton - 13th December 2007

[grant]

Part One - The Day

Although I love my “Hayleydays”, climbing out of a warm bed early in the morning and on a cold, dark December day, is not my idea of fun. Nor is trundling a suitcase out to the bus stop and again from the bus to the railway station. That accomplished, however, I am soon settled on a train that will take me directly to Southampton Airport where I am to meet Stephany.

Not surprisingly, Stephany’s flight is delayed by about 45 minutes, but we are soon whisked into Southampton by South West Trains and heading for our respective accommodation following Stephany’s carefully hand drawn map. Interestingly, we have managed to secure lodgings only a few yards from each other, despite having booked totally separately!

By the time we are ready, James and Mark have arrived and we headed into Southampton for our ferry ride. This proved to be something of a marathon, Mark having to drive half way round town; then we found ourselves in a private car park, before we eventually found our way to that part of Town Quay used by the Hythe Ferry. Our troubles are not yet over as we then discover we have to feed a ticket machine with £16 worth of mixed change to get our tickets, knowing that the ferry is about to depart. But we made it!

Stephany, James and Mark aboard the Hythe Ferry

Finding somewhere to eat at Ocean Village proved just as troublesome, but Banana Wharf served up some appetizing food so we were reasonably happy! That is until we tried to find the University! The final hurdle was trying to find the venue and that proved as difficult as everything else appears to be in Southampton. Needless to say, we were all very glad to finally arrive. Eventually our numbers swelled as other HWI’ers joined us and we waited for the doors to the concert hall to open.

On arrival at Turner Sims, we were greeted with this.

The one that came home with me, thanks to a lady with a pair of scissors!

More Later

Best wishes
Grant

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Thanks Martin, Jeff & Grant for your reports. Jeff, I really wish that I had found Hayley in time to have gone to the "Pure Tour" concerts. It was good to see you again by the way. Martin, I like the "reports 1-20" bit i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif and a great photo of Hayley with an interesting expression on her face Grant - I think you must have caught me at an off moment in your photo on the ferry - somebody should have said "cheese" i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Anyway, time for my part two - if you can stand it Before i start, can I just thank Grant, James & Stephany in particular for your company before the show yesterday. We had a good time and a few laughs didn't we. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Part 2 - the concert

After the lights went dim, Al & Fiona stepped out into the spotlight and took their places - closely followed by Hayley. She opened of course with her signature song. Roger has already posted the song list, so I won't go through it again. We all knew that Hayley was feeling tired after very little sleep and i was wondering if it would show in her performance. I have to be honest and say that for the first couple of songs, I thought she did seem a little jaded - but by song three, she was fully warmed up and seemed her usual self. Hayley's performance was in top form by the last number of the first half - Danny Boy, the audience were totally enchanted and silent during the quiet moments, with Hayley taking long pauses, building up the suspense, to finish on a perfect, strong, high note. The audience burst into rapturous applause and so ended the first half.

The highlights of the second half for me were Mummers Dance, Santa Lucia - with Al on piano and with the great rapore between himself and Hayley, making this song something special to watch as well as listen too. May It Be - always one of my favorites, appeared very popular with the audience and definitely a highlight for me. Despite her singing it at almost every concert, it sends a shiver up my spine every single time. And of course, last but not least 'Sonny' , playing piano at the same time. Thanks Hayley. It really was a fantastic venue, with a very appreciative audience, making yet another very memorable evening.

I'll be back with part 3 very soon, along with a few photo's, just to keep you going until the real photographers can post some

Mark

[grant]

Part Two - The Concert

Eventually, someone noticed that the doors were open and people were beginning to take their seats and we began to follow. After Croydon, it was a shame that we are spread far and wide across the concert hall, but it is a superb venue and one that will suit Hayley very well I think.

As Jeff has already commented, there is no Row A in the centre block, so I’m actually on the fourth row in my seat E20. I have an excellent view and will be closer to Hayley than anticipated. After what seemed like an age, the lights dimmed and Al, followed by Fiona, came out onto stage, closely followed by Hayley in the ‘new’ black dress, first seen at Croydon. The applause died down, Hayley’s smile turned to concentration and the concert began with Pokarekare Ana.

As the concert itself has already had sound treatment from Jeff and Mark, I don’t intend to repeat what has already been said, rather, I’ll concentrate on those aspects which either have not been fully detailed or which have significance for me.

We were all expressing our concern about how Hayley would be feeling after such a gruelling schedule with little or no sleep. Both Martin and Mark have intimated that they felt she looked tired, maybe she did, but, if she did, she didn’t let it show. Perhaps the only indication being that for her first set she concentrated on her singing rather than on dialogue with the audience, but after Al and Fiona had done their bit, she was back on stage, bubbly and cheerful as she normally is. In fact, as the audience moved out of the concert hall at the interval, I met up with Martin, Roger and Stephany and we commented on the emotion and feeling Hayley puts into “Danny Boy” particularly, and the way that yet again, she nailed that final note to perfection.

The beginning of the second half came as something of a surprise, as Al appeared without Fiona and approached the microphone. Chuckling, he promised that he was not going to sing, but he thought initially that he was going to have a fairly steady evening until he discovered he was required to do a solo set. He explained that, as a session musician, he got to do lots of different material and that he was particularly fond of jazz. He continued by explaining how jazz musicians work and that pieces would be divided into ‘melody’ and ‘not the melody’; would sometimes have a ‘tag’ and that the melody was sometimes referred to as ‘the head’ as jazz musicians often forgot where they were and someone would tap their head to indicate ‘the melody! Confused? So am I, but it was fun to listen to and his rendition of Duke Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” was superb.

Hayley returned to stage for the final set of the concert, opening with “Mummer’s Dance” and explaining the meaning of ‘Mumming’. Her usual questions preceded “May It Be”, and Hayley apologised for reminding everyone that it would be summer in New Zealand when she returned home and that she would be enjoying her Christmas dinner on the beach. Thanks Hayley!!

Of all the songs Hayley sings, In Trutina has to be the one that she seems to sing at every one of her headline concerts, the reason for which I have never fully understood before, although I know it has some special significance for her. Hayley explained the reason tonight by telling us that it was the first song she recorded for “Pure” at Aire Studio with a full orchestra.

And so the concert drew to a close as Hayley introduced “Hine” as her last song. Now, I had sneaked a look at the set list at the interval and, not surprisingly “Silent Night” was the planned encore, with “Sonny” as reserve. To me that meant lots of loud and furious applause at the end to make sure we got both. This time though, Hayley returned to stage alone and moved straight to the grand piano, sat down and started adjusting the microphone. So we got “Sonny” as the encore – a truly amazing end to a very special concert. Thank you so much Hayley, you were terrific!!

More to come

Grant

[gra7890]

Thanks Grant,
If you can't be there, reading your posts are the next best thing !
I really enjoyed going through them, Thanks, Graham

[dazza]

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for all the reports, I enjoyed reading them and look forward to more.

Dazza

[Mark]

Hi everyone

So here is my part three ...

Meeting Hayley

As has already been mentioned, Ray, Hayley's road manager had confirmed that she would be doing a brief signing afterwards. Most of the audience left and the rest of us, 30 or so people, including HWI members, waited for Hayley to appear. There was something that she had to do first though - all will be revealed in good time. Anyway, after around 15 minutes, Hayley appeared and made her way to the signing table. I caught a very obscure photo of her ..



A sort of queue had formed and I joined it. When it was my turn I handed over my Christmas gifts and card, which I gave her in one of those decorated gift bags - you can see it on the table here - Oh Gosh - have I left the price on the bottom of the bag



As well as an unusual pack of G&B chocolate, I presented Hayley with my version of the video footage that I had taken of her at Shepherds Bush in the form of a dvd. I explained to Hayley that I had been standing right in front of the stage when she performed 'Sonny' and that this would be a 'close -up' view of her performance. She seemed very pleased and said " shall we have a photo" - well what could I say - yes please was all I could think of. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif You will have to wait for Stuart & Steve to post their photo's to see it.

Here are a couple of other photo's - not very good though

Hayley signing something for a young girl, who had been waiting patiently at the front of the queue.







After everybody had been seen and spoken to, Hayley finally had to go, wishing those who she wouldn't see at Bath tomorrow a very merry Christmas and to those of us going to Bath, a warm "see you tomorrow". Thank you once again Hayley for a fantastic evening. Despite being tired, you still were generous enough to spend some time with us after such a wonderful performance - it really is very much appreciated.

Goodbyes were said all round and after finding the car fairly easily (surprise surprise), I dropped Grant & Stephany back at their hotels and james and I set off home in our respective cars. The roads were clear and after listening to my favourite Hayley songs all the way home - singing along if you can imagine I was safely tucked up in bed by 1am.

Mark

[grant]

Part Three - Post Concert, Hayley and a 'Senior Moment'

Gradually, we made our way out of the concert hall and regrouped. No need to go searching for the stage door on such a chilly night as we have been promised that Hayley would be coming out for a short signing session. After a wait of about twenty minutes she appeared, closely followed by Ray who, no doubt, will try to make sure she gets away reasonably quickly. We all know Hayley though, despite her lack of sleep she is soon into the swing of things and happily chatting to a, thankfully, smaller than usual gathering of fans.

Many of us have books to be signed, others the latest “Prayer” CD insert, whilst one chap asked Hayley to sign his ticket upside down as she was from New Zealand! She obliged with a trademark giggle. Something that readers may like to take note of concerns donations to UNICEF. One of ‘our lot’ told Hayley that he hadn’t been able to decide what to get her for Christmas, so had decided on a donation to one of her projects. Hayley was asked to choose which one and she chose the ‘Playpump’ scheme as “We really need to get that one off the ground” whereupon a short discussion about playpumps ensued.

I had spent much of the time thus far taking pictures and decided it was time for me to get in line to present my offerings. My turn came and with it, another special moment. I was greeted with a warm smile and an unprompted “Hi Grant!” which, you can imagine, made my night for the second time! I presented my book for Hayley to sign asking “Can you spare a kiwi please?” (Martin, I think it might have been that question that prompted the look on Hayley’s face in you photo). Somewhere about then, I added ‘Christmas’ to kiwi which made Hayley giggle and then try to think how to depict it. She took a lot of trouble to get it right, expressing concern at one point that it didn’t look quite right, but I think the end result is brilliant, so, Hayley, thank you so much for my very special ‘Christmas Kiwi’ I love it!! What do you think guys and gals?

That done, I delivered George and Denise’s gift plus a card and a gift from me and finally a DVD of concert pictures for mum and dad, which she seemed particularly pleased with, commenting that they appreciate pictures now they don’t travel with her like they used to. That reminded me to ask her if she had received the packet of pictures that I sent down after the BBC West Side Story recording and she confirmed that she had but only recently.

Our time with Hayley was drawing to a close. The ‘brief’ session was already stretching beyond 30 minutes, but it was clear that Hayley was enjoying herself and, hopefully, if we had helped her to unwind just a little, it will help her sleep more easily. It was one of those evenings when even Hayley didn’t seem to want it to end, continuing to chat and wish us all a Happy Christmas as she edged away from us to return backstage. We could delay her no longer and, with a final wave and a smile she was gone and we made our way happily back to our cars, remembering our own special moments as we did so.

As Mark drove us back into Southampton, we are already making arrangements for meeting up in Bath on Saturday to start all over again. So, another ‘Hayleyday’ over, we said our ‘goodbye’s and went our separate ways. Thank you everyone, particularly Stephany, Mark and James with whom I spent a most enjoyable afternoon, for another special day.

Oh! The ‘senior’ moment? Well, when I got back to my room and decided to look at what Hayley had written in my book, I found I still had her Christmas present!! Now how on earth did that happen?

Until Saturday and ‘Another time, another thread’

Best wishes
Grant

[grant]

Hello everyone

Here are the first three pictures from me from Hayley's signing session after the concert. Going to have to go and get myself ready for another 'hayleyday' tomorrow now!

That's yer lot for now!!

Best wishes
Grant

[postscript]

That is a lovely tale (Grant's post 171) about the kiwi and superb Christmassy one too, well done Hayley--artist as well as singer, songwriter and prose writer.

Peter S.

[Paddy]

Thank you Dave, Martin, Grant and Mark,

for the concert photos and your interesting personal stories!


It would be great to have a queue of just around 30 to meet Hayley.

'Took a bit longer to reach the top of the queue in Dublin!


'Looking forward to more photos,

even though some of you lucky people are busy preparing for yet another treat tomorrow.


Paddy

[dutchjoyce]

Hi all,
Thank you for posting lovely pictures and wonderfull stories!!!
As always...............A Pleasure to read!!!
Thanks JOYCE.

[graemek]

Hi Everyone & thanks for pics & reports.

Here's a "from me too".

What a gorgeous evening you all had.

Loved the Christmas Kiwi.

Graeme

[Andy]

Hi Everyone


Thanks for the reports, loved the Christmas Kiwi Grant !


Andy

[Belinda]

Hi Everyone,
Kool Pics and reports

Love the scarf Hayley i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Christmas on the Beach yes way to go

Belinda

[gra7890]

Hi Grant,
I enjoyed Part three it was very descriptive.
Great Christmas Kiwi, you are going to need an extension for your growing collection of Hayley memorabilia !!

best wishes, Graham