London - Barbican 22 Dec 2010

[Karsten]

[Karsten]

[Karsten]

To end with a curtsy

[Karsten]

After the concert

[Karsten]

[Karsten]

[Karsten]

It was great too meet all the members, many thanks again to the artists for this wonderful concert and in particular to Hayley for her patience.

Merry Christmas,

Karsten

[robrep]

Just wanted to say what fantastic photos and reports, glad that everything went well for Hayley and the concerts.
Wished I was there again. perhaps next year.
Regards Rob

[Karsten]

To add a few photos of Hayley and Rhydian - if any of his fans should be amongst us.

[Karsten]

Bye, Karsten

[Steve H]

Dec 24, 2010 0:44:49 GMT Libby said:

Jillian, is the jumper you're referring to the white dress?

Hi Libby, I think Jillian was referring to the jumper Hayley wore after the concert not the white dress during the concert.

Have a great Christmas Libby!

Steve

[davidm]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your welcome Martin D and Joe - you guys seem like a friendly bunch! I'm looking forward to Songs of Praise, although it will only be 1 song (I assume) rather than the 20 we had on Wednesday!

Thanks Jillian for putting me right re Winter Magic. It was great to hear 'All with you' and 'Carol of the Bells' - this one must be difficult to sing due to the fast flowing words.

Re the concert not selling out, there were one or two empty seats near me, but I think several people did not come because of the weather, not because the seats were not sold (the seats next to me were definitely sold but the people did not turn up). I think there was at lest 1,500 there. Great to be with so many HW fans as I hadn't met any before!

'Little Drummer Boy', 'Mary did you Know?' and 'All with You' were particularly special. 'Little Drummer Boy' because it was the first time I heard Hayley sing (on TV exactly one year ago today!)

Hope you all have a great Christmas

David M

[Joe]

Dec 24, 2010 11:17:05 GMT Steve H said:

Dec 24, 2010 0:44:49 GMT Libby said:

Jillian, is the jumper you're referring to the white dress?

Hi Libby, I think Jillian was referring to the jumper Hayley wore after the concert not the white dress during the concert.

Have a great Christmas Libby!

Steve

Hi Libby,

In the UK, a jumper is another meaning for a sweater.

Best wishes,
Joe

[comet]

Dec 23, 2010 23:36:24 GMT Jillian said:

Thanks for the great photos, Steve H! I love the embellished jumper Hayley is wearing!

Grant - thanks for your excellent report - I always enjoy the detail in your writing! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Cheers,
Jillian

Nice report Grant, I love the protesting suitcase

[grant]

Hello everyone

My apologies for making you wait for the last part of my report, but I have been rather busy i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

A night to remember
I was quite surprised, walking out of the auditorium to be greeted by a member of the house staff directing me to a familiar staircase with the words “You’re welcome to go back stage to see Hayley if you wish” “Huh?!” How did she know that that was exactly what we hoped to do? Well, not exactly ‘back stage’ but the next best thing –the same area we met her in before - an internal way through to the back stage area with a security desk. There were already a fair few people assembled and it wasn’t long before Rhydian appeared to meet with his fans. In just the same way as Hayley does with us, he chatted, signed autographs and posed for photo’s.

I guess we had to wait about 20 minutes for Hayley, she presumably choosing to wait until Rhydian had seen all his fans before emerging into the limelight. Now wearing an off white sweater and jeans she still looks fresh, relaxed and happy. To begin with, it’s a bit of a scramble so, along with Steve, Stuart and Karsten, I sought the best possible angles for a few photos – always hoping for that one special image. There are quite a few people wanting things signed and/or pictures – including a few children which I could see Hayley enjoying her interaction with and getting down to their level for that special photo.

Several of us took the opportunity to chat with Hayley’s new manager, Sara, and I also took the opportunity to introduce myself and explain that there would be a number of faces that would soon become very familiar to her. I have to say after our brief chat that I like her a lot – she is lovely and already well aware of HWI and what we stand for regarding Hayley, so I think we will all get on very well with her.

Once the numbers began to thin out I managed to have quite a long chat with Hayley; talking to her about her adventures getting to Birmingham from Glasgow and about how wonderful the concerts had been for me. I reminded her that this time last year she had told us that we possibly wouldn’t see her until the following summer and said I hoped that we wouldn’t have to wait so long in 2011, well, it does seem as though we may have some summer concerts to look forward to. Sara did say that she thought it was going to be an exciting year and that there were “things in the pipeline, but nothing concrete yet”. I also spoke with Hayley about her not intending to fly home for Christmas and that perhaps it had been a wise decision – in the event it would likely have worked for her but, with all the flight problems earlier, it would have been quite stressful and she agreed with a little grimace. I had intended to ask; being that she was not going home, would she be the one cooking Christmas dinner but in the excitement forgot all about it!

Another fan whom we have seen before at London concerts seemed keen to know if Hayley though she had reached her prime yet vocally and would she carry on if she felt she had passed her best! WHAT?? Despite efforts to persuade him away from the subject he persisted. With a resigned look on her face, Hayley turned to the rest of us with a “Hey guys, you will say when you’ve had enough of me won’t you??” Of course, we reassured her that that would never happen!

By 10.30pm most fans had drifted away and various heads were appearing from back stage to see what Hayley was up too. “I better go” Hayley giggled, “my dressing rooms is a disaster area” from which I deduced that some tidying up and packing was still required. Just time for a quick photo – my first with Hayley this year (thanks Karsten!) and to wish Hayley a happy Christmas and then she was gone.

Walking back towards Moorgate tube station with Juliette, Richard and Karsten there was a tinge of sadness that we had seen our last concert of the year but the real feeling was one of elation – a series of wonderful Christmas shows rounded off with half an hour in the presence of our special girl; our Hayley. What better way could there possibly be to get into the Christmas spirit?



Thanks Karsten and Steve for your photo's so far and for the kind comments regarding my contribution so far. It is always nice to know that one is appreciated.

Pictures from me will have to be "My Gift To You" over the Christmas holidays - haven't even had chance to look at them yet!!

Best wishes
Grant