Post by grant on Sept 19, 2011 13:42:16 GMT
The bit at the end with Hayley
It takes a fair while to get 1000 people out of a sports hall with one exit leading into the not over large foyer and the other into a corridor which also leads into the foyer! The situation is not helped by the fact that Hayley’s private area is off the same corridor and she didn’t make it back there before the exodus and is now being asked to sign programmes and pose for pictures whilst Ash and staff members are politely trying to get her back to her dressing room. I did manage to get a few pictures of Hayley in her red dress but it is very cramped and I’m sure she would have been quite relieved to find herself back in her own private space.
It is 10.30pm and most of the audience leave the centre to make their way home leaving Martin John and myself to wait for Hayley to change and reappear. There have been several heavy showers noticeable hitting the hall’s flat roof towards the end of the concert so we are grateful that, on this occasion, we won’t be waiting at the stage door. The bar is open upstairs so the centre will not be closing and we won’t have to leave the warmth of the foyer. It also looks as though it’s going to be just the three of us and maybe a couple of the choir with Hayley when she appears and that doesn’t happen very often.
Waiting where we are, everyone of Hayley’s people have to pass us on their way out to the tour bus as it is loaded with possessions and equipment. Tim stops for a chat and asks if we’re going to Llandudno next week – apparently we can expect some different songs! I manage to let Hayley’s guitarist, James Hayto know how much I enjoyed his playing for I Knew I Loved You which he seemed to appreciate; Arnaud flew past at one point asking if we’d enjoyed the gig and everyone advised as they passed that “Hayley won’t be very long now”
A smiling Hayley appeared shortly after ten to eleven. She looks tired but happy and says, when asked about her Milan trip, that although it had been a very tiring few days, it had been a lot of fun and that she had really enjoyed herself. I couldn’t resist teasing her a little about her tweet - going to bed in Milan and waking up in Madrid – I think it’s going to take a while for her to live that down but at least she sees the funny side.
Of course, we all told her what a fabulous evening we were having and that we had thoroughly enjoyed her performance, once again referring to “I Knew I Loved You” and James’ playing. I got the impression that Hayley enjoyed that one too. I wasn’t intending to mention the ‘wardrobe malfunction’ that she had tweeted about from Milan but, as there are only three of us I thought I would and hoped that it was not a delicate issue that she might not want to talk about. As it turned out Hayley was quite happy to talk about it and explained that she had intended to wear a long gown for her appearance but realised when she saw the set, that it would be impractical to walk down such a long flight of steps in it. As she didn’t have an alternative with her she had no option but to go shopping.
Hayley did put on a ‘hard done to’ expression when she told us but had clearly made the most of her shopping trip adding with a sigh that she had had to buy another pair of shoes as well. “These things have to be done” she said trying not to giggle.
Now it looks as though the tour bus is loaded and ready for the off. Ash is keen to get moving as it’s a long drive and the weather’s not looking good, we’ve had a good ten minutes with Hayley and even then she never seems desperate to leave, backing slowly away as she says her goodbyes and we respond with “See you in Llandudno next week” At the last minute I remember to pass on Elizabeth’s love and best wishes and Hayley returns the sentiment. With a final “Have a safe journey home” and a wave and they are gone. We say our own goodbyes leaving John to drive home and Martin and I to return to our hotel and a glass or two of the red stuff and a chance to talk about what an exceptional night it has been.
Best wishes
Grant
It takes a fair while to get 1000 people out of a sports hall with one exit leading into the not over large foyer and the other into a corridor which also leads into the foyer! The situation is not helped by the fact that Hayley’s private area is off the same corridor and she didn’t make it back there before the exodus and is now being asked to sign programmes and pose for pictures whilst Ash and staff members are politely trying to get her back to her dressing room. I did manage to get a few pictures of Hayley in her red dress but it is very cramped and I’m sure she would have been quite relieved to find herself back in her own private space.
It is 10.30pm and most of the audience leave the centre to make their way home leaving Martin John and myself to wait for Hayley to change and reappear. There have been several heavy showers noticeable hitting the hall’s flat roof towards the end of the concert so we are grateful that, on this occasion, we won’t be waiting at the stage door. The bar is open upstairs so the centre will not be closing and we won’t have to leave the warmth of the foyer. It also looks as though it’s going to be just the three of us and maybe a couple of the choir with Hayley when she appears and that doesn’t happen very often.
Waiting where we are, everyone of Hayley’s people have to pass us on their way out to the tour bus as it is loaded with possessions and equipment. Tim stops for a chat and asks if we’re going to Llandudno next week – apparently we can expect some different songs! I manage to let Hayley’s guitarist, James Hayto know how much I enjoyed his playing for I Knew I Loved You which he seemed to appreciate; Arnaud flew past at one point asking if we’d enjoyed the gig and everyone advised as they passed that “Hayley won’t be very long now”
A smiling Hayley appeared shortly after ten to eleven. She looks tired but happy and says, when asked about her Milan trip, that although it had been a very tiring few days, it had been a lot of fun and that she had really enjoyed herself. I couldn’t resist teasing her a little about her tweet - going to bed in Milan and waking up in Madrid – I think it’s going to take a while for her to live that down but at least she sees the funny side.
Of course, we all told her what a fabulous evening we were having and that we had thoroughly enjoyed her performance, once again referring to “I Knew I Loved You” and James’ playing. I got the impression that Hayley enjoyed that one too. I wasn’t intending to mention the ‘wardrobe malfunction’ that she had tweeted about from Milan but, as there are only three of us I thought I would and hoped that it was not a delicate issue that she might not want to talk about. As it turned out Hayley was quite happy to talk about it and explained that she had intended to wear a long gown for her appearance but realised when she saw the set, that it would be impractical to walk down such a long flight of steps in it. As she didn’t have an alternative with her she had no option but to go shopping.
Hayley did put on a ‘hard done to’ expression when she told us but had clearly made the most of her shopping trip adding with a sigh that she had had to buy another pair of shoes as well. “These things have to be done” she said trying not to giggle.
Now it looks as though the tour bus is loaded and ready for the off. Ash is keen to get moving as it’s a long drive and the weather’s not looking good, we’ve had a good ten minutes with Hayley and even then she never seems desperate to leave, backing slowly away as she says her goodbyes and we respond with “See you in Llandudno next week” At the last minute I remember to pass on Elizabeth’s love and best wishes and Hayley returns the sentiment. With a final “Have a safe journey home” and a wave and they are gone. We say our own goodbyes leaving John to drive home and Martin and I to return to our hotel and a glass or two of the red stuff and a chance to talk about what an exceptional night it has been.
Best wishes
Grant
Were they not allowed? I want a better look at Hayley's new outfit! 
She also wore it when she performed with Jonathan Ansell at the Festival of Remembrance that year. Oh! And she wore it to the Capitol 4th show in 2008 when she sang Shenandoah. I knew I was forgetting something important!
Think it looks better with the red belt though.
