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Post by Richard on Dec 3, 2006 9:22:08 GMT
Thanks for your superb report, Grant!  I'm pleased you and Mark were there to welcome Hayley on her arrival, and then escorted her to the church. Now you know how I felt when I showed Hayley to the stage door at the London Palladium! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifI'm really looking forward to seeing the photographs, so I hope you master the technique soon!  Best Wishes, Richard  |
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
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Post by Martin on Dec 3, 2006 10:36:25 GMT
Telford (Part 2) 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!) Grant I can echo Richard's comments in saying that your report was superb and epitomised what HWI is all about. Well done in posting the report so quickly and we all look forward to the photos. I agree entirely with the above quote as I have been fortunate to meet and talk with Hayley twice now (Savill Court and Gawsworth) but the very first time was ambarrassing as I was tongue tied!! I find it staggering that Steve sold all 50 cd's to such a small audience ( I assume they were copies of Odyssey?) which only goes to show what can be done by bringing Hayley "face to face" witht the general public. I hope Decca take note for the forthcoming album launch and get Hayley as much exposure as possible. It worked for All Angels. Best wishes Martin |
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Post by Stuart H on Dec 3, 2006 11:00:43 GMT
Hi Grant, Thanks for the very comprehensive report and i am looking forward to seeing the photos. I am sorry that I mised it but its just so busy here at this time of year. It sounds like you guys had a really great time!  Stuart |
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Post by Andrew on Dec 3, 2006 11:18:28 GMT
Hi Grant (and everyone else!) Grant, well done for managing to produce a concert write up so soon after the event... You did a brilliant job! I was deligted to hear about Hayley and Nicky (Spence) performing a duet of 'Ave Maria'... that would have been quite unique!  By means of your close attention to detail you really managed to evoke and capture the essence of what sounded like a wonderful evening in your report. Thank you very much! We'd all love to see some of your photographs, so see if you can post some up on the Forum as soon as you can. If you would like any help, please send me a PM. Thanks Grant! It's great to hear that you and Mark really enjoyed yourselves. I'm sure Hayley would have really appreciated your warm reception and gifts too!  I'm really looking forward to seeing Hayley at 'Christmas Presence' on December 14th at 'The Sage' in Gateshead. Regards, Andrew |
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Post by grant on Dec 3, 2006 12:38:25 GMT
Hi Martin and everyone.
Thank you so much for you kind comments about my review. I was on such a high when I got home, I just couldn’t go to bed with it all still in my head!
To fill in some of the blanks that you’ve asked about:-
The CD’s Steve was selling was the original UK release except for one copy of the Japanese (I think?) “Hayley Westenra” which he found in the car!
I think those of you going to see her final two concerts on 14th/15th December will find Hayley in a fabulous frame of mind as she flies home on the 17th.
Grant
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Post by grant on Dec 3, 2006 12:52:39 GMT
Hello Marianne!
I remember you asking about Hayley's dress after the Canterbury concert and, as she wore the same dress at Telford last night, I asked her about it (any excuse!!)
Hayley describes the decoration as "stone diamante" (least I think that's what she said!)
The dress, incidentally, now we've seen it close up, has a diaphanous polyester top layer over a very dark grey skirt and bodice. It looks, and feels, very delicate!
Hope that makes sense
Grant
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Post by Mark on Dec 3, 2006 13:12:02 GMT
Hi everyone
Firstly, can I thank Grant for his fantastic report that told it as it was and as it happend. I couldn't really add anything else to the details. It was a pleasure to meet you Grant and thankyou for your company. Heres to many more !! Secondly, sorry that I have not posted before now, I may have had a minor disaster - I will explain in a minute !!
I just have to say that a first for me was being there to welcome Hayley to the venue and having such a lovley chat with her on the way to the church. Another first, (apart from Savill Court) was to be on the front row, perhaps one advantage of unreserved seating, as long as you get there early !
I also met Steve Abbott and as Grant says, lined him up to take some pictures of Grant & I when the signing was over. Now comes the "minor disaster" I have been preoccupied with my camera all morning as I can't seem to access the pictures I took last night. I have not had any trouble in the past but have this horrible feeling that all is not well ! Some of you may be aware that I am still a novice when it comes to digital photography - why oh why did it have to go wrong today of all days !! Grant, you obviously have some pics, including the one of Hayley and yourself, thank goodness !. I am particularly disappointed though, because Steve took one of Hayley and me, plus one of both Grant & I with Hayley using my camera !! I am still hoping that all is not lost and I will keep you posted. The only upside is that I will see Hayley again in Cardiff on Saturday. Perhaps she will be kind and afford me another opportunity.
I am doing my best not to let this spoil a wonderful evening, at least I can replay it over in my mind for many years to come! I am hoping that Grant will manage to upload his photos for you all to enjoy at least.
Best regards
Mark.
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Post by grant on Dec 3, 2006 14:04:22 GMT
Hi everyone Firstly, can I thank Grant for his fantastic report that told it as it was and as it happend. I couldn't really add anything else to the details. It was a pleasure to meet you Grant and thankyou for your company. Heres to many more !! Secondly, sorry that I have not posted before now, I may have had a minor disaster - I will explain in a minute !! I just have to say that a first for me was being there to welcome Hayley to the venue and having such a lovley chat with her on the way to the church. Another first, (apart from Savill Court) was to be on the front row, perhaps one advantage of unreserved seating, as long as you get there early ! I also met Steve Abbott and as Grant says, lined him up to take some pictures of Grant & I when the signing was over. Now comes the "minor disaster" I have been preoccupied with my camera all morning as I can't seem to access the pictures I took last night. I have not had any trouble in the past but have this horrible feeling that all is not well ! Some of you may be aware that I am still a novice when it comes to digital photography - why oh why did it have to go wrong today of all days !! Grant, you obviously have some pics, including the one of Hayley and yourself, thank goodness !. I am particularly disappointed though, because Steve took one of Hayley and me, plus one of both Grant & I with Hayley using my camera !! I am still hoping that all is not lost and I will keep you posted. The only upside is that I will see Hayley again in Cardiff on Saturday. Perhaps she will be kind and afford me another opportunity. I am doing my best not to let this spoil a wonderful evening, at least I can replay it over in my mind for many years to come! I am hoping that Grant will manage to upload his photos for you all to enjoy at least. Best regards Mark. Hi Mark, so sorry to hear that you are having problems with your camera!! It is devastating when you loose something as precious as pictures of Hayley! If it is a problem with card reading, I believe there is recovery software available. I don't yet have this but, as the saying goes "I know a man that has"! As you (and everyone!) will see, I have mastered the art of uploading pictures but you will all have to be patient waiting for pictures from Telford, as I do not have a card reader yet and have not mastered how to reduce file size either. I should have said, Mark, in my review (and I don't think I did) that it was also a pleasure meeting you. As you said as we left church last night, it's always better to have someone to share an experience with and I totally agree! Thank you! Best wishes Grant |
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Post by george on Dec 3, 2006 16:12:54 GMT
Thank you, Grant and Mark for your wonderful reports of last nights events.
I only wish I could have been with you but it is my weekend of 12 hour night shifts (someone has to keep the gas flowing whilst you enjoy yourselves)!
Also thank you Grant for delivering my card to Hayley. I look forward to your photos now I see you are up and running. Hope you recover your pics too, Mark. I can understand how you feel but fingers crossed all will still be there.
George
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Post by thomas on Dec 3, 2006 18:30:50 GMT
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Post by postscript on Dec 4, 2006 8:36:11 GMT
Hi Grant. An absolutely superb report, Grant. I understand precisely how you felt and the intimacy of the moment must have been very wonderful. Did you think to ask her why she had chosen so small a venue? 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). Yes, if you have nothing particularly stimulating to say, just silence and enjoying her 'being around' is superb, although I appreciate that while she is signing she is fully absorbed in each person presenting to her. I have never fporgotten that first time of meeting with her. I srill don't know how she managed to hear me as she seemed so far away and I was talking back towards the people behind me. It was at Derngate. I just said to them, 'If you want her to sign something, just push past me, I'm happy just to be close to her,' and she seemed to take two steps when I thought she needed five or six and there she was, slap bang in front of me face to face, her hand thrust straight into mine: 'Well, you can't get any closer than saying, 'hi!', can you?' Glad you had such a good day, Grant. A superb report., Thank you for sharing. So, she's going back on the 17th right after her Harrogate concert. Sounds like this time she'll have a real run-in to Christmas and be able to properly enjoy a family Christmas again. Good for her. Peter S. |
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Post by postscript on Dec 4, 2006 9:10:12 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 Oh yes, I had forgotten the pics, your description was so good. :2fun: Don't fash yoursef over them... take your time. We can wait. Perfection requires time!  Peter S.  |
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Post by postscript on Dec 4, 2006 9:34:40 GMT
Actually, on this one I am rather critical of Steve. While I would not myself (until this moment) have thought of having both CDs there (plus the DVD) I am surprised he only brought 50. When he was with Nicola Benedetti they had boxes of both her CDs there. Perhaps he has forgotten how her CDs sold at her 2005 Christmas shows, or he was short-staffed? In which case I'm surprised he didn't ask Grant and Mark to help him out!
But then, I am one who in going simply to the seaside for the day tends to take the kitchen sink with him to cover contingencies... although i don't actually wear both belt and braces!
Peter S.
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Post by postscript on Dec 4, 2006 9:44:29 GMT
Hi Mark.
It's not much consolation, but this happens to us all. I'm not sure which is worse--when someone else does it (as a local shop once lost a whole roll of 35mm film in their processor--it stopped suddenly, or something and it was a Canadian trip)--or when it happens in your own hands by what ever method.
At least there were two of you, so Grant, any hope of some back-ups?
But word pictures can be very good and Grant's certainly was.
I'm sure Hayley will give you the opportunity of another avatar at Cardiff.
Peter S.
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Post by roger on Dec 4, 2006 12:55:16 GMT
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I'm really looking forward to seeing Hayley at 'Christmas Presence' on December 14th at 'The Sage' in Gateshead. 
