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Post by Mark on Dec 1, 2006 12:56:00 GMT
Hi Everyone
Just to keep up to date, its now ...
Best regards
Mark
PS Sorry about the green colour, I'm testing them one at a time !
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Post by Belinda on Dec 1, 2006 13:23:39 GMT
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Post by comet on Dec 1, 2006 13:57:30 GMT
Ha Ha Testing the colours one at a time. Between colour tests and "Round Objects"  Might as well increase recent posts to 150 That's one way of increasing your "POSTS" count. |
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Post by grant on Dec 1, 2006 19:06:03 GMT
Not long now!  See you at St George's at 4pm Mark Grant |
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Post by grant on Dec 2, 2006 11:46:48 GMT
Not long to go now! I'm just about to load the car and set off (Now, where did I put that ticket?  ?)  Only kidding! Wonder if Hayley will sing anything from the "new" album? Grant |
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Post by roger on Dec 2, 2006 12:28:01 GMT
Sadly, I am not going to this one but have a good time guys! I look forward to hearing all about it.
Roger
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Post by elizabeth786 on Dec 2, 2006 13:52:48 GMT
Have a great time at the concert everyone- I look forward to seeing your pictures of the show! That's always great- even when you can't get the concert, you can always count on getting some helpful reviews and nice pictures on the forum  -Libby |
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Post by Stuart H on Dec 2, 2006 16:12:22 GMT
Hi guys, I'm looking forward to reading about Hayley in Telford and I hope some of you remembered to take your camera! Enjoy the concert! Stuart |
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Post by grant on Dec 3, 2006 0:13:33 GMT
Telford 2nd December (Part 1)
Always ahead of myself I arrived at St Georges just before 2pm and managed to park opposite the church. Wandered across to have a look inside, the “techies” are already setting up the sound and the building is beautifully warm. I am advised that Hayley is expected about 3.30pm and a table for signing has been requested, so that’s good news!
St George is a one-time mining village now engulfed in the metropolis of Telford and I had seen everything there was to see within ten minutes! Now with lots of time to kill.
Mark and I had arranged to meet at 4pm but he arrived early at a little after 3.30pm so we sat and waited for Hayley to appear which she did very soon having travelled with Steve. As they got out of the car, I waved from across the street and got a nice wave of recognition back from Hayley.
We wandered over to meet them and walked with them to the church. Hayley is well wrapped up against a cool wind and is delighted to be told that the church is warm and cosy. We left them at the entrance, both feeling happy that we have already shared a few special moments with our precious Hayley.
Apart from a chippy, there is little in the way of food on offer in the area and we are obliged to make do with the local ASDA!
Importantly, we are back at church at about ten past five and occupied ourselves with “Hayley Chat” until the doors opened at 6.30pm. Yes folks! Early doors!
We are soon settled on the front row about four feet from the microphones having abandoned an even closer front row pew on the opposite side of the isle as being too close!!
We are so close that I had copied down Hayley’s “Crib sheet” placed at the foot of the microphone by Steve, well before Hayley appeared!!
At last it was time for the concert to begin; the vicar opening proceedings with a prayer of his own words thanking God for music and song which was appreciated by the mainly local ‘congregation’!
Hayley appeared wearing the same dress she had worn at Canterbury (details in another post) but with her favourite brown boots replacing the usual high heals. Musical accompaniment tonight being provided by Al Gurr and Fiona Swadling.
Hayley opened the concert with Caccini’s “Ave Maria”, followed by “The Water is Wide” (a favourite of mine) then concluding her first set, she sang Mists of Islay which she said was appropriate because her special guest comes from Scotland.
Nicky Spence was her guest dressed in pin striped, err, kilt, complete with sporran! He sang three songs “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desire” an Italian one and “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose”, he sang well and was much appreciated and he managed to kiss violinist Fiona twice during his performance!
To conclude the first part of the concert, Hayley returned to sing another one of my favourites “Prayer”, Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and “I Say Grace”. This last song I heard her sing for the first time at Canterbury. Tonight she made a point of saying that it “Describes how she feels at the moment” and she clearly enjoys singing it very much.
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Post by grant on Dec 3, 2006 1:00:19 GMT
Telford (Part 2)
At the interval, I went in search of Steve who is at the back of church selling CD’s, in fact, by the time I got to him, he had sold his entire stock of 50!!
Steve commented that it was good to see someone ‘flying the flag’ for HWI, a reference to my sweatshirt, which I’m sure everyone on the Forum will be pleased about. I was also delighted that he remembered my name! I learnt one or two other interesting things from Steve (see next post) also that THEY DO NOT YET HAVE a title for Hayley’s next CD. Also she is still doing some recording and is flying to Dublin in about 6 hours time for more recording!!
Back in my seat, there is some enchanting repartee between the vicar and Hayley before the concert restarted with Hayley singing Pokarekare Ana which she explained was one of New Zealand’s best loved Maori songs. Bridal Ballad followed. Hayley really is in fine voice tonight and the sound is perfect. Next came Scarborough Fair before Hayley re-introduced Nicky Spence.
Nicky sang a French piece to begin with followed by “Maria” from West Side Story and I have never heard this sung with so much feeling before – it was brilliant! He concluded with a comic Scottish jig which included the jig! to the delight of everyone. He worked very hard and deserved the applause he got.
Hayley returned to stage to sing “May it Be” asking “How many of you have been to New Zealand?” quite a few hands went up (including mine!) next came In Trutina which she warned “Is quite short” and she conclude with the one and only “Hine”
However, one of the highlights of the concert was still to come. When Hayley reappeared for her encore, she had Nicky in tow “We’ve never sung together before today” she advised “But we’ll do our best and hope it’s OK” (when is it not with Hayley?!)
Their choice was Schubert’s Ave Maria, which they sang to each other – it was amazing, so intense, I could have cried. I was thrilled that they got a very well deserved standing ovation which lasted a good few minutes, during which three small girls presented Bouquets of flowers and a gift for Hayley.
Now I love to see Hayley in concert, to listen to her sing. Tonight I’ve been very close to her for the best part of 90 minutes, but now Mark and I are going to be “with” her whilst she signs CD’s and that is almost better than the concert (I’m sure you understand!)
Mark and I just stood enjoying the closeness whilst she happily signed all the 50 CD’s that Steve had sold in the interval! Both of us taking pictures and knowing that Steve was going to take our pictures with Hayley once ‘the punters’ had been ‘processed’ (I have to say here that everyone we spoke to were really friendly and fun to be amongst)
At last, the last CD's were signed and Hayley was ours! Both Mark and I had presents for Hayley. I also had a Christmas card from me as well as one from George and Denise which I passed on, along with their best wishes. Hayley was, as always, so appreciative, it would have been worth the 120 mile round trip just to see that look on her beautiful face.
And so, with talk of chips and an early flight to Dublin, Mark and I reluctantly took our leave as Hayley went off to change. I have enjoyed ‘sharing’ Hayley with another “friend” from HWI but I’m now three quarters of the way down the bottle of wine that I opened before starting to put together this ‘brief' report and I now seem to be using two keyboards!
Before I close, I can tell you all that Hayley is heading home to New Zealand (hopefully!) on 17th December so she should see her family well before Christmas morning as was the case last year!
I have taken loads of pictures at Hayley’s signing session so I PROMISE I will try to master how to post them!!
And finally…… You guys missed a fantastic evening tonight! Hayley was on top form; the acoustics at St George’s are superb and………………..see my next post!!
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Post by roger on Dec 3, 2006 1:05:59 GMT
We are so close that I had copied down Hayley’s “Crib sheet” placed at the foot of the microphone by Steve, well before Hayley appeared!! Hi Grant, You missed your chance there. If you had added a few extra lines to the crib sheet, you may have heard a few more songs!  Thanks for Part 1 of your review. Part 2 has just appeared so that is where I shall be for the next few minutes! Roger |
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Post by grant on Dec 3, 2006 1:20:45 GMT
We are so close that I had copied down Hayley’s “Crib sheet” placed at the foot of the microphone by Steve, well before Hayley appeared!! Hi Grant, You missed your chance there. If you had added a few extra lines to the crib sheet, you may have heard a few more songs! Thanks for Part 1 of your review. Part 2 has just appeared so that is where I shall be for the next few minutes! Roger Never thought of that Roger! But then you are the expert!! What a night - both Mark and I were in seventh Heaven!! Grant |
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Post by Belinda on Dec 3, 2006 3:11:14 GMT
Hi , Thanks for such a wonderful report Grant, i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif sounds like you both had a fantastic time, i also look forward to seeing your pictures. Its good to hear there are 50 new people with Hayley cd's , some who will of course want to know more about her. maybe a small increase in HWi Membership. Belinda NZ |
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Post by mariannek on Dec 3, 2006 3:13:40 GMT
Thanks , Grant so much for that quick report !!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifI am in seventh Heaven reading about Hayley and the concert, but my Heaven is green with envy !!!  So glad though you had this wonderful time with her... what a Gem she is to be with !!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifWords fail me now... how I wish I had been there with you !! Never mind.... bring on September 2007 !!!!!!!  Love , Marianne (& Graeme )  |
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Post by graemek on Dec 3, 2006 4:32:40 GMT
Yes Grant, Very well done !!! A gorgeous concert. Extremely readable & thorough review. Incidentally, in Australia a chippy is a carpenter so I hope he was tender. I often wonder if there're any members of the masculine gender who DON'T fall in love with her Hayleyness  Graeme....here's the dress from Canterbury...right Grant?  Photo is Steve's, lightened up a little to clarify the dress outline. |
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