Aberglasney Gardens - 27th June 2008

[grant]

Jun 17, 2008 11:44:02 GMT Martin said:

Jun 17, 2008 10:41:04 GMT grant said:

You may be lucky with a signing, but make sure you have a contingency plan!

Grant

Like forge Hayley's signature!!

Martin

No Martin!

I meant like lying across the bonnet of Ray's car to stop him driving off!!

Best wishes
Grant

[Richard]

Or let the tyres down!

Anonymous

[Mark]

Jun 17, 2008 12:30:15 GMT grant said:

Jun 17, 2008 11:44:02 GMT Martin said:

Like forge Hayley's signature!!

Martin

No Martin!

I meant like lying across the bonnet of Ray's car to stop him driving off!!

Best wishes
Grant

Hi Grant, Martin & Richard

Some interesting contingency plans there if Hayley doesn't do a signing I think of the three, I would go with Martin's forging Hayley's signature - its the least dangerous i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Seriously though, thanks for the tip Grant, I will indeed see if I can spot Ray around to find out whats likely to happen after the show.

I was planning to visit the gardens during the late afternoon anyway, so may bump into Hayley before the show - who knows.

Best wishes
Mark

[Paddy]

Just wave some big chocolate bars at the car!

Hayley will stop to give you some too .....

[drew]

Sadly, Gini and I will no longer be able to attend this concert due to bad timing with a family funeral.

If anyone is in the area and needs tickets, please send me a pm. Despite circumstances, event policy is no-refunds.

It is now up to Mark and Eugene to wave the HWI flag in the rain. (The forecast looks bad for Friday but Hayley will bring her own brand of sunshine.)

You guys should find everything to be in perfect order, Charles and Camilla are popping into the gardens for tea today.

[Mark]

Hi Drew

Sorry to hear of your news and that you won't be able to make it. However, assuming that the postman arrives in time over the next few days and assuming that I am able to see Hayley after the show, I'll make sure she receives your gift

Hope you're wrong about the weather I don't care, I wont even notice the rain when Hayley comes out on stage.

Best wishes
Mark

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Well, its the evening before the concert at last. As I'm staying overnight for this one, I'm already getting things together in readiness - anyone would think I was going to be away for a month never mind one night

Anyway, I'll have my waterproof coat - just in case of rain - well it is Wales after all. I'm really hoping that Hayley will decide to slip in one or two new tracks from her Japenese Songs album. Now that would be something to report back to you

Anyway, I may be able to post a brief report from my phone after the show. Otherwise, a full report will follow on Saturday.

Best wishes
Mark

[Steve H]

Good Luck Mark,

... and give our love to Hayley!

... and any other members of Hayley's family who might be there

Have a great time

Steve

[Mark]

Hi Steve

Thanks for your message - say no more I certainly will give your love to Hayley.

Regards
Mark

[gra7890]

Hi Mark,
I hope the weather is good for you. I am sure you will have a great time, its been a long gap since Buxton !
However now we are nearly in the 'Summer season' with the 'Autumn season' to follow i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif It will be quite a 'Hayley year'

Look forward to your report,

Best Wishes,

Graham

[thomas]

Hi Mark!

Have a lot of fun tomorrow night. I hope you're able to attend a wonderful concert and also that you're able to see Hayley after the show.

Tell her our greetings!


Thomas

[Stephany]

Hello Mark,

Have fun in Wales - I'm sure you won't regret booking for this one.
Did you prepare your GPS or map to get to Aberglasney Gardens okay?

Drive safe and enjoy the concert!

Stephany xxx

[drew]

Mark, Eugene enjoy the evening, I hope the weather is kind.

Mark please note that CR-103 and CR104 are still free if they give you a better view.

Here is something to talk about (Walesonline): www.walesonline.co.uk/news/feature-news/2008/06/27/hayley-westenra-91466-21159089/

Hayley Westenra
Jun 27 2008 by Claire Rees, Western Mail

While our own Charlotte Church is famous for some very public rock and roll excess followed by a newfound private motherhood, New Zealand-born classical music singer Hayley Westenra is so focused on her career she finds it impossible to switch off. Claire Rees spoke to the 21-year-old about growing up in the business and how she overcame shyness to let performing take over her life.

AN 11-hour flight followed by questions about your personal life from a stranger might frustrate the most seasoned of celebrities – but not 21-year-old Hayley Westenra.

Speaking to me from her London flat at the end of a 10-date tour of her beloved Japan, the jet-lagged singer is far more lively than I’d expected, and is one of the most polite tired interviewees I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking to.

Exhausted or not, she’s hiding it impeccably well.

“I flew in late last night and I was up at 6.30 this morning – I can’t help myself!”

While many of us would have headed straight for the duvet and enjoyed the rare day off, hard-working Hayley picked up her guitar (the biggest thing she missed while away, besides Marmite) for another lesson – she began teaching herself last year.

The gold-selling artist who has performed for the Queen and US President Bush, is kicking off a UK run with a date at Aberglasney Gardens in Camarthenshire tonight, but it doesn’t seem like there will be much room for relaxation when it’s over.

“I find it hard to switch off – I’m not good at relaxing,” she admits, adding that on a recent visit home to New Zealand it took her two weeks to put work out of her head, and “chill out”.

“It’s not a nine-to-five job and being in the music industry is so rewarding that I don’t mind that it takes over my life.

“I’m still young, there’s time for rest!”

On the odd occasion when she does take time out she enjoys a good meal.

She turned 21 in April and when asked how she celebrated, her reply is “I spent the whole day eating”.

“We had an Italian lunch and a Thai dinner,” she says, before we spend the next five minutes extolling the fabulousness of food.

“It’s one of the greatest things in the world.

“I went to a Turkish restaurant the other day and they gave us a free dessert – how great is that?!”

But the slim star, who enthuses about her developed taste for Japanese cuisine, wasn’t always as keen to indulge.

When Hayley became famous at 16 with the release of her debut album Pure following a signing to Universal (it’s now the top classical album of the 21st century) she was far-from-healthy about eating and it was a phase she says that only ended a year ago.

“I used to be very health-conscious – overly.

“I was uptight.

“It was mainly me being very conscious of looking after my voice but I went completely over the top.

“I wouldn’t eat dairy, or sugar, I took it to extremes – I was a health freak from 16 to 20.

“I think my friends are keen to have this new Hayley – the chocolate-loving Hayley!”

It was a journey that took years but Hayley is happy with the results.

“I’m in a good place now.

“I still scrutinise myself but I’ve got to the stage where I’m accepting my body for what it is.

“I’ve only just signed up for gym membership, I used to think I was allergic to the gym because I’d get sick the day after every time I went – that was a good excuse!

“These days I’m just a lot more carefree about eating.

“You realise that a lot of staying healthy is your mental wellbeing and when you’re worrying about that, it has the opposite effect.”

It’s a confident bet the London resident will never, however, be pictured falling out of Chinawhite.

Describing herself as “not a huge clubber” who prefers going for coffee with friends, the last time she was anything close to drunk was a few weeks ago in Japan to celebrate her friend graduating from fashion school.

But, as ever, she woke up fresh.

“I’m pretty restrained – I never want to push myself over the edge,” she says.

“I’m conscious of damaging my hearing mainly but I’m also not one of those people who feels the need to get drunk.

“It can be hard to stand your ground because there’s always the assumption if you’re not drinking, you’re not having a good time.

“I’m also a bit of a weakling and I couldn’t cope with the hangovers!”

Hayley’s aware it’s a very different story with her peers, and is also aware of her unique position as someone who is famous for her voice alone.

“I see stars going off the rails and I just wish someone would pick them up and help them.

“You wonder how they get into that state.

“I’ve been very lucky – I don’t get the same scrutiny from the press being classical – I’m just glad not to be involved in that.”

Clean-living celebrities can find their halos slipping though – 15-year-old Disney kid Miley Cirus apologised for appearing semi-naked on the front of Vanity Fair this year – claiming she had been exploited by celebrity photographer Annie Liebovitz.

Can Hayley identify with someone under that pressure?

“It happened more when I was very young, which makes it even worse,” she offers, with a coy reluctance.

“I did have some requests and my management would just say ‘are you joking’?”

Hayley manages to divert from giving away any examples, nervously laughing and adding “it wasn’t even discussed” – suggesting her management protect her from any unwanted attempts at moulding her into a sex symbol.

“I’m just not interested at all,” she says.

It’s a novel stance from someone in the public eye so young who plainly would rather concentrate on her career and the charity work which takes up a lot of her precious time.

Hayley is an ambassador for Classic FM’s music therapy charity Music Makers, and as “matron” of the Women’s Environmental Network, she is allowed to indulge her passion for researching the threat of global warming.

Last year, she tried to corner President Bush at the White House on the subject but lost him to a terrorist threat.

WEN is aimed at encouraging women to help the environment, and their drive includes encouraging them to rid their beauty routines of harmful chemicals that hurt the planet and take another look at how they shop.

“It’s shocking the amount of big brands using cosmetics that have these awful things in them,” says Hayley.

“I’ve discovered the Trilogy range, it’s based in New Zealand, and I keep my skincare routine simple, I cleanse, moisturise and use sunscreen.

“I still wear make-up with chemicals and being on tour I end up using hotel shampoos so I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

“But I am a recycling freak – I walk 20 minutes to Sainsbury’s to recycle my bottles.”

Her sensible outlook on life has clearly been influenced by a “strong support system” around her.

She remains close to her friends in New Zealand, many of whom are studying at university, travelling, and “deciding what they want to do in life”.

Hayley could certainly never say she hasn’t already lived a full one, but does she feel she misses out?

“It’s very much a solo career.

“I do get lonely sometimes.

“In Japan my mum and sister joined me – I got my mum to bring me over Marmite because I missed it so much.

“I love Japanese food but after two weeks you start craving Marmite and salmon on toast!”

This weekend her sister Sophie turns 18 and Hayley has cleared both days for a celebration.

Sophie, who is studying music and law at university, is showing signs of following her big sister into the industry and Hayley describes her as possessing a “stunning voice”.

“I’d be happy for her to,” she says.

“There are pros and cons and me already being in the business could hinder or help her – but she’s a smart cookie too.”

Hayley, who says her weakness is an incapacity to be punctual and a tendency to stress, believes her sister can learn from her experiences – but her own lessons were self-taught.

The 21-year-old Hayley I’m talking to finds it amazing that 11-year-old Hayley managed to put herself at the mercy of critical strangers when she somehow found the nerve to busk after school four years before she was discovered.

“It freaks me out a bit now to think about how I did it!”

Hayley would sing Andrew Lloyd Webber and Andrea Bocelli in front of huge crowds in town centres, quickly learning which songs impressed – apparently the violin was ditched early on as it failed to gain a good response.

“It taught me a lot about confidence.

“When I was at kindergarten I was so shy I couldn’t even say hello to my teacher, and even when I became famous I would practically run off stage after every performance.

“My mum would say to me ‘try not to do that’ – now I find I’m really putting on a show and looking into people’s eyes and enjoying it!

“I’m not exactly sure how it happened but I’ve had a complete turn-around – I suppose I’ve had to because I was thrown in at the deep end.”

While she may now be singing with Bocelli rather than impersonating him in shopping centres, Hayley insists she’s no different from her friends and the same things excite her aside from her impressive career that shows no sign of stopping.

“I love romantic comedies, I love Breakfast at Tiffany’s – there was something about Audrey Hepburn’s personality.

“Unfortunately I watch most films on the plane so you can’t get into them as much.

“But I did watch The Other Boleyn Girl coming back from Japan and I cried – I do that a lot on planes, it’s very embarrassing!”

When it comes to music her taste is more eclectic than you might expect from a classical singer, listing Alicia Keys and India Arie as some of her favourites.

And after duetting with everyone from Jose Carreras to Bryn Terfel who she describes as “such a lovely, bubbly guy who sings with such ease” – can there be anyone left on her wish list?

“I’d love to sing with Sting – I’d love it if that could happen.

“Or Barbara Streisand.

“Singing with Andrea Bocelli was a dream come true but I still feel I have lots left to achieve.

“There’s always room for growth – as I get older my interpretations for music changes and I’m really enjoying writing.

“I write a lot of stuff that I know won’t end up on my albums though, I just do it for me.

“I find it so cathartic – like keeping a diary.”

Hayley likes but is not obsessed with fashion, adding she gets a thrill from wearing designer gowns to film premieres but is more comfortable in the staple London look she picked up in her second home of dress, leggings and cowboy boots which elicits strange looks when she’s in New Zealand.

“Things are very different here, I love London but I couldn’t see myself settling here and having children.

“I grew up having a very quiet existence but I loved it.

“It was very safe, I would go to the park and feed the ducks.”

Tonight, Hayley will be returning to Wales – the place that launched her in the UK after she appeared at Bryn Terfel’s Faenol Festival.

Coming back has given her the chance to reflect on the different directions she and a certain Welsh singer have taken.

“I met Charlotte Church when I was 15 and she was very sweet,” she says.

“I’d love to see her again, we’ve been through similar things so we’d be able to talk.

“Our paths have gone very differently, she’s having her second baby and I’m definitely not ready for that!

“I’m single, carefree, and very happy about it.”

Hayley Westenra appears at Aberglasney Gardens tonight from 7pm. Call 01558 667 951 for details.Her greatest hits album is due out in November

I added the link to the article.
Richard

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Thanks for your good wishes. The answer is YES Stephany, I do have my GPS system - hope it works, perhaps based on previous experiences, I'd better take a map as well

Thanks so much for this article Drew. Just back from Japan and after a long flight and Hayley is up and on the phone at the crack of dawn It make very interesting reading dosen't it.

Best wishes

Mark

[Stephany]

Hi Mark & Drew,

Thank you for the fantastic article - it was indeed a very interesting read.
I found myself giggling several times.

It sounds like you may well meet Sophie W. in Aberglasney, Mark!

Lots of love
Stephany x