How has Hayley changed your life

[Richard]

Hello Rob!

I think this is a more appropriate thread for your post, so I moved it for you.

Richard

[grant]

Hi Rob

Your's is a pretty normal reaction to hearing Hayley for the first time and yes, she does have a habit of changing lives. Now Richard has moved your post to this thread, you may like to read what others have to say.

Best wishes
Grant

[John H]

I have hinted at some of this in a few of my previous posts, but seeing this thread has persuaded me to put my story together. I don’t do this in any attempt to gain sympathy, but rather so that you may understand some of the background to the things which I write. I hope it may also give some comfort and encouragement to others whose situation matches my own in any respect.

In summer last year, it seemed that my wife was winning her battle against breast cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy had apparently done their job and life was starting to return to normal. Then towards the end of July she became very ill. We brought forward her routine appointment at the Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton, where scans revealed that she had a large brain tumour. She was transferred to the Atkinson Morley wing of St George’s hospital in Tooting where they operated to remove the growth, but she never really recovered from the operation and died on 23rd August.

Thus ended several weeks of intensive hospital visiting and thirty years of marriage. My life was changed whether I liked it or not. My church community was very supportive, but I found that I just had to keep busy to avoid spending too much time alone at home. I don’t think I could have kept going very long at that rate.

After a couple of months I started to investigate our small CD collection. I found a couple of Katherine Jenkins albums which helped a bit, but didn’t really hit the spot. Then I remembered a young singer which we had seen twice at the BBC Songs of Praise ‘Big Sing’ and thought to myself “That is the sort of voice I need. I wonder if she has any recordings which I can buy.” So I entered ‘Hayley Westenra’ into the search box on Amazon and was confronted with a bewildering array of albums in various different versions. I couldn’t decide on one, so I ordered Pure and Treasure, plus a couple more Katherine Jenkins albums for good measure.

As soon as I heard Hayley sing again, I discovered a magic in her voice which really pierced through my grief and lifted my spirits. To misquote a once well known lager advert “Hayley reaches the parts which others cannot reach”. I was soon back on Amazon looking for more Hayley music, and also started to find other similar music from the “customers also bought...” section, such as All Angels, Camilla Kerslake and more. Google searches for more information about these artists led me to Nicola’s Classical Crossover website, where I began to discover even more wonderful talent. All this also enabled me to feel happy about spending time on my own, with the music.

I started looking for concerts to attend; my first was All Angels, who just happened to be coming to my nearest theatre at Epsom in April this year. Then just before my first Hayley concert at Croydon in June, I found my way to this forum.

So how has Hayley changed my life? She has comforted me in my grief, entertained me, opened up a whole new world of music to me and given me a fresh interest in life.
Not least, she has given me new friends all round the world through HWI and the Classical Crossover forum.


John

[Joe]

Hello John,

I thank you for writing your post. It could not have been easy for you. I am sincerely sorry for your loss. Hayley's voice is a calming and understanding voice...as if she knows what the listener's emotion may be.

Many times Hayley has given me the strength to carry on. This forum gets me through the hardest of days; for I know, just like my family, someone will be there.

Very best wishes,
Joe

[Jillian]

Dear John,

Thank you for your story. It's amazing the power that music can have and I'm so glad that you've found comfort, joy and new beginnings through music - especially Hayley's and through HWI.

Jillian.

[robrep]

Thanks Richard.
Definitely a more appropriate thread, I've read quite a few of the posts in here now and I'm touched by what I've read, I'm glad Hayley has touched you in such a way John and that its given you some greater meaning as her music has given me something special. I can relate to Spidermans comment yesterday about others thinking he is obsessed with her, I don't feel it;s an obsession but more an appreciation similar to those that follow the opera or theater, I try not to rave on about Hayley's voice to my friends as they tend to give me a bit of a ribbing. :je I made the horrendous mistake once of admitting to my friends that I am attracted to girls that wear glasses (please no puns as to why I'm an Optometrist as that had nothing to do with it) but since that day if I'm out with friends and a girl walks past wearing glasses you can imagine the ribbing I get ::)and now that I have this appreciation of the more finer aspects of a singers voice I tend to cop the same thing. Come to think of it Hayley would look nice in glasses wouldn't she .
But getting back to my original statement; I think the most important thing in how Hayley has had an affect on my life is that I actually HEAR the music now, I don't think it's so much the girl behind the voice but the voice behind the girl, she just has it.
Regards Rob.

[Richard]

Dec 5, 2010 0:35:50 GMT robrep said:

I don't think it's so much the girl behind the voice but the voice behind the girl, she just has it.

Hello Rob!

If you get to meet Hayley, you might change your mind there!

Best wishes,

Richard

[robrep]

Dec 5, 2010 8:28:02 GMT Richard said:

Dec 5, 2010 0:35:50 GMT robrep said:

I don't think it's so much the girl behind the voice but the voice behind the girl, she just has it.

Hello Rob!

If you get to meet Hayley, you might change your mind there!

Best wishes,

Richard

Hello Richard.
Please don't get my comments wrong, I think Hayley is one very very attractive girl and I doubt if anyone could argue any different and to be honest I am now kicking my self from not staying back and trying to get to meet her, I guess at the time it was more of a pride thing as I could not see myself actually walking up to a performer to ask for an autograph, in my book thats something that teeny boppers do with Justin Beiber.
I'm not suggesting that its a bad thing it was just my mind set at the time, but should i get the opportunity again I will get her to endorse some Cd's for me for sure and I am also certain that Hayley is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside but for the moment I will just maintain my stance and be content with her incrediable voice.
Regards Rob

[mihizawi]

Hi, Rob and a big welcome from Barcelona, Spain... Been rather busy, so that's why I haven't welcomed you yet.

I have never seen Hayley live on a concert yet, but I do hope it will not take long to change! However, even without having met her, I discovered through this forum that while her outside beauty is beyond compare, and her voice is even a bigger and more unique treasure, it's her inside which is the richest and most incredible thing she gives to the world. Stay with us and you'll discover what I mean soon.

Michal

[robrep]

Dec 5, 2010 10:19:12 GMT mihizawi said:

Hi, Rob and a big welcome from Barcelona, Spain... Been rather busy, so that's why I haven't welcomed you yet.

I have never seen Hayley live on a concert yet, but I do hope it will not take long to change! However, even without having met her, I discovered through this forum that while her outside beauty is beyond compare, and her voice is even a bigger and more unique treasure, it's her inside which is the richest and most incredible thing she gives to the world. Stay with us and you'll discover what I mean soon.

Michal

Hello Michal.
Thanks for the welcome, I intend to stay around for a while and I understand what you mean.
Regards Rob

[larryhauck]

Dec 5, 2010 0:35:50 GMT robrep said:

Thanks Richard.
Definitely a more appropriate thread, I've read quite a few of the posts in here now and I'm touched by what I've read, I'm glad Hayley has touched you in such a way John and that its given you some greater meaning as her music has given me something special. I can relate to Spidermans comment yesterday about others thinking he is obsessed with her, I don't feel it;s an obsession but more an appreciation similar to those that follow the opera or theater, I try not to rave on about Hayley's voice to my friends as they tend to give me a bit of a ribbing. I made the horrendous mistake once of admitting to my friends that I am attracted to girls that wear glasses (please no puns as to why I'm an Optometrist as that had nothing to do with it) but since that day if I'm out with friends and a girl walks past wearing glasses you can imagine the ribbing I get ::)and now that I have this appreciation of the more finer aspects of a singers voice I tend to cop the same thing. Come to think of it Hayley would look nice in glasses wouldn't she .
But getting back to my original statement; I think the most important thing in how Hayley has had an affect on my life is that I actually HEAR the music now, I don't think it's so much the girl behind the voice but the voice behind the girl, she just has it.
Regards Rob.

Hi Rob
It's great to see so many posts from you. I think you are already becoming an asset to the Forum. All the folks from Australia that I've met have been extremely nice and you seem to be following right along.
You have a great country. I plan to visit there next year perhaps our paths may cross.

Larry

[Libby]

Hello, Rob.

Hayley has definitely had a major influence on my musical tastes. If not for her, I probably wouldn't have nearly as much of an interest in the classical crossover genre as I do now. Before I discovered her, I was already a big fan of Josh Groban, and I also liked Charlotte Church. Even after I got Pure, I still wasn't all that into it, although I liked her voice very much. But later on, after just hearing some short clips of her Odyssey songs on her website, I was hooked. Not only was her voice beautiful, but the songs were, as well. It was very refreshing after having just tried out Charlotte's [then] new songs. I've been a big fan of hers ever since.

Hey, I wear glasses! And I think there just might be another member here, from Australia even, who wears glasses, too! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[robrep]

Dec 5, 2010 20:15:35 GMT Libby said:

Hello, Rob.

Hayley has definitely had a major influence on my musical tastes. If not for her, I probably wouldn't have nearly as much of an interest in the classical crossover genre as I do now. Before I discovered her, I was already a big fan of Josh Groban, and I also liked Charlotte Church. Even after I got Pure, I still wasn't all that into it, although I liked her voice very much. But later on, after just hearing some short clips of her Odyssey songs on her website, I was hooked. Not only was her voice beautiful, but the songs were, as well. It was very refreshing after having just tried out Charlotte's [then] new songs. I've been a big fan of hers ever since.

Hey, I wear glasses! And I think there just might be another member here, from Australia even, who wears glasses, too! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Hello Libby.
Great, I like Josh Grobin as well, I have heard of Charlotte Church but will have to check out her voice. I'm really hooked on Hayley's voice at the moment and her Sleigh Ride song on her Winter Magic Album is stuck in my head at the moment, it has such a rhythm to it.
OK, you wear glasses and you don't have a photo in your avatar, how cruel is that, cruel cruel cruel : and to top it off not even a hint as to this Ozzie fan that wears glasses as well, I have an important meeting this afternoon and now I have to get through it with this suspense in the back of my mind.
My friends decided the other day that I should make up a set of flat glass glasses to carry with me and if i meet a girl i should ask her to put them on :je and they have decided that If I marry a girl with glasses she will have me over a barrel as if she wants something she will just be able to threaten me with getting herself contact lenses, see what I have to go through.
Regards Rob.

[robrep]

Dec 5, 2010 13:41:12 GMT @larryhauck said:

Dec 5, 2010 0:35:50 GMT robrep said:

Thanks Richard.
Definitely a more appropriate thread, I've read quite a few of the posts in here now and I'm touched by what I've read, I'm glad Hayley has touched you in such a way John and that its given you some greater meaning as her music has given me something special. I can relate to Spidermans comment yesterday about others thinking he is obsessed with her, I don't feel it;s an obsession but more an appreciation similar to those that follow the opera or theater, I try not to rave on about Hayley's voice to my friends as they tend to give me a bit of a ribbing. I made the horrendous mistake once of admitting to my friends that I am attracted to girls that wear glasses (please no puns as to why I'm an Optometrist as that had nothing to do with it) but since that day if I'm out with friends and a girl walks past wearing glasses you can imagine the ribbing I get ::)and now that I have this appreciation of the more finer aspects of a singers voice I tend to cop the same thing. Come to think of it Hayley would look nice in glasses wouldn't she .
But getting back to my original statement; I think the most important thing in how Hayley has had an affect on my life is that I actually HEAR the music now, I don't think it's so much the girl behind the voice but the voice behind the girl, she just has it.
Regards Rob.

Hi Rob
It's great to see so many posts from you. I think you are already becoming an asset to the Forum. All the folks from Australia that I've met have been extremely nice and you seem to be following right along.
You have a great country. I plan to visit there next year perhaps our paths may cross.

Larry

Hello Larry.
Thanks for the compliments but you over rate me, We do have a beautiful country and there are many other countries I could say the same about. I think we are a pretty easy going friendly type people, I certainly wouldn't consider moving anywhere else to live, I hope you have a great time when you visit us and there is certainly plenty to see and do, we might catch up if your anywhere on the Central Coast, I make a mean coffee. Anyway I had better get on with sorting out my paper work.
Regards Rob

[Libby]

Oh, at the end of my post, I meant I was a big fan of Hayley's not Charlotte's. Not sure if that was clear. I did used to like Charlotte. That's why I first went to Charlotte's website, but I wasn't too crazy about her new pop album. So then I went on to Hayley's website, and was much happier with what I found there.

I don't have a picture in my avatar because I don't really have my picture taken that much, and I don't like to stare at myself all the time. I don't really consider myself that good-looking, anyway. Plus, I look like I'm 12, when I'm really 26.

Hint: the Aussie girl with glasses posted above somewhere. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif