Hayley Westenra

While in NZ, I picked up the latest album by the fantastic Hayley Westenra, with two nicely juxtaposed songs:

Summer Fly

In another younger day I could dream the time away
In the universe inside my room
And the world was really mine from June till September
And if it wasn't really so I was lucky not to know
And I was lucky not to wonder why
'cause the summertime is all that I remember.

A summer fly was buzzin' every night
When I was young
In the gentle world my childlike senses knew
And the world was just my cousin
And the wind was just the tongue
In the voice my lonely moments listened to.

And I look at me today all the dreams have gone away
And I'm where I never thought I'd be
Seein' things I never thought I'd see happen to me
And I lie awake at night till the darkness turns to light
Hearin' voices callin' out my name
Callin' over and again the same message to me.

Cryin' who's your partner, who's your darlin', who's your baby now?
Who wakes up at night to pull you in
It don't matter, you'll just make her lonely anyhow
Don't know why you even try to win.

Whispering Hope

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

Whispering hope, whispering hope
Oh, how welcome, welcome thy voice,
Making my heart
In its sorrow rejoice.

Auckland

I'm enjoying Auckland's harbour, and relaxing now that my conference is over.

And, no, I didn't climb the tower. It seemed too pricy. I climbed a hill instead.

UPDATE: A hill? Millions! The whole city seems to be built on dormant volcanos.

New Zealand

I'm off to another conference, this time in Christchurch. I've been involved in the organisation, but I can relax when my bit is over.

UPDATE: the conference went well, now I'm off to NZ's North Island for the rest of my trip.