Signing at the Warehouse (Auckland) - Oct 26, 07

[Stephany]

Hello all

I'm opening a brand new thread about the Sylvia Park Warehouse signing to avoid off-topic in the 'A new voice' topic. A few pictures of Hayley at the signing have been posted on her Japanese fansite[/u]. There is also a very long report that I will try to translate (roughly) as soon as possible.

Stephany

[Stephany]

Five more pictures, also from Hayley's Japanese fansite[/u].

Stephany

[Caitlin]

Thanks for the great pictures Steph! It looks like it was a good turnout for her. I wonder what the T-shirt was of that she's signing in the last picture.

<3 Caitlin

[Stephany]

Main points of the report:

- No one realized that Hayley was in New Zealand until the NZ Music Awards 2007 and it took many people by surprise.
- The signing has not been well advertised, very few people knew about it.
- Jill accompanied Hayley at the signing.
- It was on Friday, a weekday, and in the middle of the day (12-1pm) so there was not that many people. No students, more middle/advanced aged people and mothers with their babies.
- According to the Japanese fan who attended this event, there was a massive difference with the signing at 'Sounds' (the one that Dori attended). Back in April 2007, Hayley seemed more tired and the music store was over-crowded so it wasn't ideal. At the Sylvia Warehouse, the queue was smaller so it was more intimate and Hayley was in a very good mood, smiling and laughing.
- There was a representative ot Random House NZ who imports the book from the UK and changed it from a hardcover to a paperback.
- The Japanese fan has already met Jill Westenra many times (they both share a passion for photography) and was delighted to see her again.
- According to Jill, Sophie is now taller than Hayley.
- Dame Malvina Major is now teaching Sophie.
- There are too many early starts in Japan so Jill wasn't too keen on going there so Gerald is apparently going with Hayley.
- Hayley was due to leave on Saturday.
- They briefly talked about winery tour in February in NZ with Dave Dobbyn.

Sorry if I didn't translate the whole article but it would probably take me too much time and I'm not even sure the translation would be accurate so I prefered to post only the main 'highlights' of this report.

Stephany

[grant]

Hi Stephany

Many thanks for providing the highlights of the report. Interesting that no one knew Hayley was back in New Zealand! I'm sure that is exactly what was intended as I'm guessing that the Japanese tour is going to be hectic for her and she wanted a complete rest to be ready for it. She probably also spent some time reading up on pool etiquette! )

I think we all knew that Hayley was very tired at her last signing (though cheerful as always, according to Graeme!) so nice to hear that it was a more relaxed and intimate affair.

It's also nice to hear that Gerald will be going to Japan with her. It will have been a good lengthy period of time that she has spent with some or all of her family.

I know exactly what the Japanes fan means about Jill and photography. When I first met her after the Tewkesbury Abbey concert and started talking about her photography, I felt I had a friend for life! She really is a lovely person.

Love
Grant
xxx

[Belinda]

Hi, all
Yes there seemed to be little advertising done for the signing
Now if it had been in Christchurch it may have been different.

Oh well one day
At a guess the Japanese fan was Masaya if so i was introduced to him by the Westenra's at the last ch ch concert in 06
he is very nice and has been a Hayley supporter for many years also.
and also a great photographer.
Belinda


Belinda

[Stephany]

belinda said:

At a guess the Japanese fan was Masaya if so i was introduced to him by the Westenra's at the last ch ch concert in 06

Hi Belinda - it is indeed Masaya!

[Mark]

Hi Stephany

Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to translate this report for us. The Japanese fan obviously had a good old chat with Jill and also provided us with some great pics that do indeed show Hayley very relaxed and looking well and happy.

I do hope that Sophie and Jill are with Hayley for her UK concerts in December

Lots of love
Mark x

[Karsten]

Hi Stephany,

many thanks for the pictures and the translation from me, too.

All the best

Karsten

[thomas]

stephany said:

- There are too many early starts in Japan so Jill wasn't too keen on going there so Gerald is apparently going with Hayley.

Thank you, Stephany, for the translation! Like Grant said it's good to hear that Gerald travels with her to Japan! So if Jill comes to the UK, I really hope she does , then Hayley has got (a) family member(s) around her for the next months. She was apart from them such a long time.

Thomas

[Stephany]

Hi Thomas,

I'm not 100% sure about Gerald going to Japan with Hayley. There were a few Japanese characters I didn't understand but I know that Gerald's name was clearly mentioned. Jill is definitely not going, though. Anyway, we'll know if he went there eventually!

Stephany

[thomas]

stephany said:

Anyway, we'll know if he went there eventually!

Hi Stephany!

We can ask her in December but I'm sure you'll find out earlier.
At Shepherds Bush you said that one must know 2000 Japanese characters to read a newspaper. How many do you know? Must be very difficult I can imagine.
I know just a few Japanese words but I've no idea how to spell it with its characters.

Thomas

[graemek]

Hi Stephany,
You did a marvellous job with the translating.
Anyone who's had to do this will agree how difficult & time consuming it is to put into your own language what the other person is trying to say in their language.

And your mother tongue is French Stephany....which we forget here as your usage of English is so brilliant.

Three cheers for Stephany......

Graeme............love your new avatar too.

[mariannek]

Hi Stephany,
A big thank you from me as well ! I love to hear snippets about Hayley's family. So Sophie is taller than Hayley now....she must take after Gerald then. I wonder how tall Isaac will be one day....probably towering over Gerald as sons often do.
I agree with Graeme....your English is superb !!!

Love, Marianne

[timj]

Hi Stephany, thanks for the post!....TimJ