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Post by grant on Jan 19, 2007 19:18:45 GMT
Hello fellow travellers!
Hope this thread is in the right place! But I thought it might be an idea to start a thread specifically for those of us contemplating travelling to New Zealand for Hayley’s concert tour this coming September.
I don’t know what the general consensus is, but it seems to me that it would be logical to pool our resources (No I’m not suggesting Roger pays for us all to go!!) and to share any information gained.
Some things I think we might consider:-
Would those of us travelling from the same country want to aim to fly out at the same time?
More importantly, wouldn’t it be fantastic to be on the same flight as Hayley? Perhaps we could auction the chance to sit next to her! (OK so Hayley would probably outbid us all and take a later flight!!)
There may be discounts available in some areas if enough of us are going.
We probably have different ideas about what we want to do/where we want to go, but if we are going to attend some/all Hayley’s concerts there’s going to be a likelihood of at least some of us having similar itineraries.
HWI in New Zealand MAY be the best chance we will have of sharing some private time with Hayley and perhaps her family. If this is to happen, we must be aware that Hayley will be close to her family and want to be with them as much as possible, also, she will be “at work”. Some serious co-ordination will be required if this is to happen.
The above is intended only as thoughts and possibilities and is not intended to be a list of “must do” things. Whatever happens over there it is going to be one fantastic experience!
SO:
Who is already thinking seriously about going? Now don’t be shy – why waste the opportunity of a lifetime?
Grant
P.S. My personal intentions will follow as a separate post.
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Post by grant on Jan 19, 2007 19:25:14 GMT
Up until Thursday, going to a Hayley concert in New Zealand had been a dream, a realistic one, I’ll grant you, but not one set in stone.
Then I set myself the task of taking a serious look at my future. i.e. beyond this year, because next year will be my 60th!
My plans for financing my future have been under consideration for some time, the number 60 being all important, but I walked home through yesterdays gales clear in the knowledge that I had the resources to fulfil that dream to see Hayley perform in her home town of Christchurch!
All I need now is the confirmation that the concerts will go ahead and I’m feeling very positive about that and just a little excited.
Grant
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Post by postscript on Jan 20, 2007 10:29:11 GMT
Almost a duplicate position to mine own, Grant, except that in my case I'm nearly four years closer to the terminus! That sort of travel and opportunity is NOW or NEVER and I don't much go on 'never'!  Peter S. |
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Post by postscript on Jan 20, 2007 10:33:20 GMT
Congrats on the initiative, Grant. Friends of mine are touring for three weeks shortly and will be reporting back in March. One thing is bothering me, at the moment, is the fact that I'm unsure of the weather. I want to get NZ at its best as well as NZ with Hayley.
Peter S.
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Post by postscript on Jan 20, 2007 11:00:58 GMT
Following on my initial response to your post, Grant, I didn't think we were likely to be a large enough group to gain any discount BUT it does occur to me WITHOUT in any way impingeing on, let alone muscle in on, arrangements Hayley may have made with NZ Air, were we to appraoch NZAir, in return for some unusual publicity--'we fly not only Hayley but Hayley's fans' or what ever, that way we might get special rates? I don't mind the publicity! And it means indirectly more general rather than specialist publicity for Hayley.
Peter S.
PS; Again, if there is a reasonable number of us, it might be worthwhile doing a formal press announcement for when we arrive, simply as further publicity for Hayley, providing an unusual angle. We would need to consult with Hayley through Steve Abbott, of course.
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Post by tonyw on Jan 20, 2007 11:08:44 GMT
Hi Peter
I went on an extensive coach tour of NZ' s North and South Islands last year, 21st February to 18th March. This period is the end of their summer. We only had one day of rain. The weather is obviously very variable and mountainous parts like Mt Cook National Park can be cool. I spent 5 days in Christchurch and it was much like British summer weather. The courier pointed out Hayley's schools and gave her a mention.
There was a bad storm for a day in the Cook strait and the inter Island ferry service was badly affected but it was calm when I made the crossing.
The North Island was much warmer and it was very warm in Rotarua and Auckland.
Tony
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Post by postscript on Jan 20, 2007 12:01:45 GMT
Thank you, Tony.
Reading web statistics is one thing but to receive first-hand experience is reassuring. Sounds as though we'll catch something of their late winter and early spring. Very interesting to hear of your coach trip. I want to handle both islands, the North being quite tropical I believe.
Rotarua is on my friends' itinerary as is Aukland, where I believe they have managed to get one of only two rooms available in a light house. 'Rotarua' I believe is a tourist 'must'.
You now raise another possibility for 'US' (that means you and me at the moment Grant). I had been bearing in mind campavan, purely for the flexibility of matching Hayley's schedule but we could perhaps try the same idea as I suggested with NZ Air. If we get all the necessary info in time, we might be able to gain discounts from a coach tour company on the same basis of allowing them to use us for publicity/promotion!
The problem with long-haul and airline restrictions is that it sounds we need both summer and winter clothing.
Thanks for your intervention, Tony. Although a 'fixed' route a coach trip (the idea of which I normally hate) would sort out all the problems of hotels etc.
I don't know about you Grant, but as I have posted on another occasion, I want to see NZ. It seems illogical to be in NZ when Hayley isn't but to catch her at CH CH Town hall and St James' Wellington, would content me to then enjoy purely NZ.
After all, we have been extraordinarily lucky with her in the UK and while I don't want to seem blasé (because she could ship herself to the States to really nail the US) you can 't better those evenings outside Cadogan Hall. Were she to settle for a time in US instead of UK, I've a feeling Cadogan Hall will always be a sort of home base for regular visiting.
Peter S.
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Jan 20, 2007 14:16:11 GMT
Hello fellow travellers! Some things I think we might consider:- Would those of us travelling from the same country want to aim to fly out at the same time? More importantly, wouldn’t it be fantastic to be on the same flight as Hayley? Perhaps we could auction the chance to sit next to her! (OK so Hayley would probably outbid us all and take a later flight!!) Grant P.S. My personal intentions will follow as a separate post. Hello Grant/Peter You have got me seriously thinking about this trip which until now I was planning to make in 2009. The chance to see Hayley in concert though in Christchurch is a great temptation. I will let you know further once I have thought through a few "domestic" arrangements. Grant - regarding your dream to sit next to Hayley I wouldn't put too much hope on it being realised as she would be sitting in Business Class (there is no First Class on Air NZ).  Best wishes Martin |
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Post by postscript on Jan 20, 2007 17:22:40 GMT
If she were to know I wouldn't put it past her to poke her head down below, though I doubt she'll condescend to visit the hold, where I'll be in steerage hanging on to a wheel! Actually, although I have had it in the back of my mind, perhaps why I haven't got to planning details yet--no, it is simply being overloaded at the moment--but I too was balancing time of year and my 'convenience' with the reality of Hayley 'actual'. I'm inclined for Hayley 'actual', rather than 'Hayley probably some time in the future'. Even then one could not be sure if it wouldn't be winter. Peter S. |
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Post by grant on Jan 20, 2007 18:38:50 GMT
Hi Peter and Martin.
I was in Auckland in October 1990 (arrived on the 10th) it was Spring then and very pleasant, needing only a light jacket on most days.
If South Island is cooler, then I guess a few extra layers may be useful!
If hayley does fly Business Class, I know of several airlines that offer upgrades to well dressed early check ins, usually because they have overbooked economy. Don't know whether this would apply to ANZ, but who says Hayley flys Business anyway? She may not.
Grant
PS. Really like your idea of extra publicity and press release. If we were to arrive on the same flight as Hayley that would be even better "........x number of English fans join Hayley on her New Zealand tour!"
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
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Post by Martin on Jan 20, 2007 19:18:08 GMT
Hi Peter and Martin. If Hayley does fly Business Class, I know of several airlines that offer upgrades to well dressed early check ins, usually because they have overbooked economy. Don't know whether this would apply to ANZ, but who says Hayley flys Business anyway? She may not. Grant PS. Really like your idea of extra publicity and press release. If we were to arrive on the same flight as Hayley that would be even better "........x number of English fans join Hayley on her New Zealand tour!" Hi Grant By "well dressed" I assume you mean you will be wearing the HWI sweatshirt!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif This must impress the check-in girls. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifWith regards to class of travel then I can't think of any celebrity who doesn't fly Business/First class (but I may be wrong  ). I am sure that on such a long flight Hayley welcomes the additional space, comfort and privacy. We other mortals travel in cattle class because that is all we can afford!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifBest wishes Martin |
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Post by scoobedoo on Jan 21, 2007 2:33:08 GMT
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Post by grant on Jan 21, 2007 12:51:01 GMT
Hi Martin!
I wasn't actually thinking of my HWI sweatshirt, but I guess it would qualify!
My reason for quoting well dressed came from a flight to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific, when having already been upgraded to Business Class, the group I was with requested a visit to the flight deck.
The response from the Captain was "Certainly, they are all wearing ties aren't they?"!!
Luckily I was!
Grant
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Post by roger on Jan 21, 2007 13:44:51 GMT
Ah, but what he didn't tell you was that the joystick had just fallen off!  Roger |
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Post by thomas on Jan 21, 2007 22:23:58 GMT
I don't know if Hayley flys Business Class or not but lately there was a thread started by Belinda which calls In the Next Seat where the property manager of her house sat next to Hayley. Here I have the Seat Plan of a Boeing 777 of Air NZ which takes the western route via Los Angeles to NZ. As you can see there are no seats really next to another one in Business Class there. Everything is very separated. So maybe you are lucky and meet Hayley in Economy or Premium Economy.  But actually maybe Hayley is lucky and has the possibility to fly Business Class. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifThomas |
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