Reading Hexagon - Valentines Tour - 8 Feb 2009

[graemek]

From the "madwoman" at jon's forum I have also been encouraged to post these FANTASTIC videos here on HWI also, so here goes:

To Where You Are



Aranjuez



Be My Love



Bombay dreams



Canto Della Terra



My Own True Love



Se



Amigos Para Siempre



They are all just wonderful but please take my advice & watch Amigos Para S LAST

WOW !!!!

Graeme


Edit: I removed the links at the request of Cathy from Jonathan Ansell's forum.
Richard

[natalie]

Wow times million

[Martin]

Hi All
The Reading leg of the Valentines Tour last night was excellent and with the exception of a couple of Hayley “regulars” the choice of songs was very different to the norm and suited the occasion well.

I met up with Gordon, Grant, George and Larry just before the show and was surprised to see a well organised stall inside the theatre selling Hayley cds, concert programmes, the book “In My Own Voice” (signed), tour posters, Jonathan cds and the new album by Raven who had a signing immediately after the show.

There will many after show photos to come (camera police applied the letter of the law last night so I am not aware of any concert photos) and of course the early edition of the “Grant Times” when he gets home later today!

So I will leave the detail to others but will say that those yet to attend a concert are in for an exceptional treat, particularly the finale “Time to Say Goodbye” which had Hayley reaching notes that only animals can here! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Hayley was in top form throughout and we all agreed afterwards that the photos of the new red dress do it no justice at all since the colour has been totally lost in translation.

As at Rhyl there was a standing ovation at the end of the concert which both Hayley and Jonathan relished.

After the show there was no signing by either Hayley or Jonathan but, as you would expect, a large number of fans from both camps waited patiently outside the stage door and we were not disappointed. Hayley spent a good 15 minutes with us signing cds etc and happy to have many photos taken. There came a point of course that Richard (the driver) very sensibly said that it was time to leave and get Hayley inside the warm transport awaiting. She is still acclimatising to a very miserable winter here in the UK.

We all said our goodbyes and looked forward to the next encounter (next Sunday in my case).

Martin

Ps Don’t be alarmed at a future concert if Jonathan forgets some lyrics! His loyal fans told us that it is quite usual!!

[natalie]

Thanks Martin
Please can you tell me how much was the book ,thanks

[graemek]

Feb 9, 2009 10:08:57 GMT Martin said:

Hayley was in top form throughout and we all agreed afterwards that the photos of the new red dress do it no justice at all since the colour has been totally lost in translation.
As at Rhyl there was a standing ovation at the end of the concert which both Hayley and Jonathan relished.
Martin

What colour can you describe the dress as then Martin?
Pillar box Red? Is this one anywhere near accurate?

I was also at a loss to describe the blue patched (?)
one but the videos showed the material to be very very light (not heavy) & deep green/blue (?)
Graeme

[Martin]

Feb 9, 2009 10:40:04 GMT natalie said:

Thanks Martin
Please can you tell me how much was the book ,thanks

Hi Natalie
£15 if I recall. Cds were £10 (including ROD).

Martin

[Martin]

Feb 9, 2009 10:47:24 GMT graemek said:

What colour can you describe the dress as then Martin?
Pillar box Red? Is this one anywhere near accurate?

HI Graeme
You've got me there I'm afraid! Maybe strawberry is the closest but the photos to date are just not picking up the true colour at all.

Martin

[gymnerina]

Here's the pics I took/mum took

[postscript]

What colour can you describe the dress as then Martin?
Pillar box Red? Is this one anywhere near accurate?
Graeme

Naw! Its scarlet! [or poppy red]

Peter S.

[grant]

Hello everyone

I'm back home, :bat: but I don't think I'll be down to earth for some time yet!! :bat: What a night

Report and pictures to follow.

Best wishes
Grant

[grant]

The Day Unfolds
Having had reservations about travelling down to Reading by train on a Sunday, I was more than a little relieved when everything went according to plan, well, better really, as I made an earlier train out of Birmingham and actually arrived in Reading a good hour and twenty minutes earlier than expected!

I eventually made my way along to the Travelodge but the young lady on reception wouldn’t bend the rules and let me check in earlier than the specified time of 3pm and suggested I come back then! I was not amused and eventually persuaded her to let me sit in the restaurant until check-in time. I hadn’t been there many minutes when Gordon arrived and we whiled away the time chatting until our receptionist took pity on us and allowed us to check-in at 2.30pm.

We are only a few hundred yards from the Hexagon theatre and quickly made our way down there in the hope of seeing Hayley and everyone as they arrive. No sign of the minibus but also, no obvious way to get down to the stage door as we are on a higher level! Luckily, member Trudy is on hand; quickly introduces herself and guides us to a well concealed set of steps leading down to where we want to be.

Having read that Jonathan’s fans usually meet up in this area, we are surprised to find ourselves totally alone. George and his brother joined us after a while, their respective wives having chosen to remain in the warmth of their hotel room. It has now started to rain!

After a while, the very polite and friendly door man came out to tell us that the venue wouldn’t be opening until 6.30pm. We explained that we were waiting for Hayley and Jonathan at which point he volunteered that they had not yet arrived and he didn’t know when they would.

“They’re here” I pointed out as I spotted the minibus driven by Richard who navigated the confusing array of low level streets outside the theatre to pull up at the stage door and almost right in front of our little welcoming committee.

Hayley was several minutes getting out, no doubt wrapping herself up against the Berkshire chill. We’d been stood out for an hour or so and it was cold, so a very wise thing for her to do. Anyway, Hayley seemed very happy to see us and spent about five minutes chatting. I managed a little tease by asking Hayley if I could make a date with her, she seemed a little bemused at first and I admit, I was tempted to slip in the suggestion of a quiet dinner for two, but quickly pointed out that it was to sort out a time for signing for our “Posters for Ghana” project. I even managed to snap a few pictures.

More to come ........

[grant]

Preparing for the Concert

Once they had all disappeared inside, we ventured forth through the rain to “The Monk’s Retreat” where we enjoyed good food, fine wine and each other’s company until it was time to return to the Hexagon ready for tonight’s concert.

There was already a large part of the audience gathering, there was also an exceptionally well stocked sales stand with all of Hayley and Jonathan’s CD’s plus Raven’s 10 track promo CD which I purchased along with a programme (must remember to go to the cash-point tonight!) We met up with Larry who had missed us at the stage door earlier and with Martin. At last, the doors to the auditorium opened and we made our way inside to take our seats.

George has done us proud as we are pretty much in the centre of the front row and now anxious for the concert to begin. After what seemed an age, the lights went down and the audience stilled. Jonathan walked out from stage right and started to sing. From stage left, entering quietly and with the grace that is, I think, one of her trademarks – Hayley, looking more radiant and lovely than ever and wearing that new red dress – from that moment, everything felt perfect and I was truly happy again.

If you’re wondering about that last comment, let me explain if I can, how I felt 12 hours earlier, because at that point I just didn’t want to get out of bed and come to the concert.

I’d woken early as I usually do on the morning of a “Hayleyday” and yes, I was a bit bothered about trains and about sorting out poster signing with Hayley such that when I eventually did get up I was wound up tight as a spring. Even the meeting with Hayley when they arrived hadn’t given me the ‘buzz’ it usually does and that niggled over dinner.

I could not believe that I was loosing my love for Hayley, but something wasn’t right. Was I inwardly blaming her for the loss of concerts during November and December? I couldn’t believe I was, as I knew in my heart it wasn’t Hayley's fault. It was the moment that Hayley joined Jonathan singing on stage that I knew everything was alright and can only think that deep down I had been worried about the possibility that Hayley may have done some permanent damage to her voice and that she may never be the same again!

Well, I am now certain that, in my eyes at least, she will never be the same again, but for a very different reason and I sat back in my seat to enjoy the concert feeling more than a little relieved in the knowledge that things could only get better from now on………….

[Dean McCarten]

Feb 9, 2009 15:37:05 GMT grant said:

Raven’s 10 track promo CD

Have you had chance to listen to it yet Grant?

I hope they bring some to BWH

Dean

p.s I look forward to the rest of your review

[postscript]

Gosh, we people who will write multipart reports aren't half a pain in the butt when the only info you have is what is written--and I think I started it! :2fun:

Peter S.

[comet]

PICTURES !

PICTURES !

WE WANT pictures !

Thanks in advance Grant