Waiting for the music. Part of the tableau inspired by Katherine Mansfield’s “The Garden Party”, created in The Masfield Garden at Hamilton Gardens, Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2018December has been another month of relative inactivity, with few photos added to my archive.
Unexplained pain in my right leg has kept me from traveling much (a visit to Hamilton Gardens notwithstanding) — or even walking far. A post-Christmas visit to the doctor is planned.
But beyond that, I seem to be living in a curious limbo. The Big T and I have talked for years of selling up and leaving Auckland, but while our enthusiasm for a life-change is undiminished, work, families and a host of other roadblocks have continually flung themselves in our path.
At times I feel I’m living in The Eagles’ “Hotel California” —
“… you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.”
The Mansfield Garden, Hamilton Gardens, Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2018The reason for my visit Hamilton Gardens (apart from testing my pain threshold) was to see the newest creation — The Mansfield Garden — named after New Zealand author Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923).
The garden recreates the setting of Mansfield’s short story The Garden Party (1922), complete with the facade of the family home, lawns, Ford Model T on the drive, a pond and a tennis court upon which a marquee has been erected to cover tables laden with carefully recreated facsimiles of the food described in the story.
Written a year before Mansfield’s death from pulmonary tuberculosis, The Garden Party tells the story of the wealthy Sheridan family as they prepare for, and host a garden party. During preparations, they learn that a working-class neighbour has died suddenly. While Laura, one of the Sheridan daughters, believes that the party should be canceled as a mark of respect, the rest of the family disagrees and the party goes ahead. Later Laura visits the dead man’s family with a basket of party leftovers, and is taken to see the body, laid out for the wake.
The story is seen as a reflection on Mansfield’s own impending death. She had been diagnosed with tuberculosis several years earlier, at the time considered a death sentence.
The Mansfield Garden is lovely; both as a recreation of the story’s setting, and as a beautiful space in its own right. It was incredibly busy when we were there, and the light was quite intense, so I took very few photos.
I guess I’ll need a return trip on a quieter, more overcast day.
About The Changing Seasons
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
- Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
- Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
- Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
- Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
- Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.
Update
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Joanne at My Life Lived Full
Tish at Writer on the Edge
Mick at Mick’s Cogs
Deb at The Widow Badass Blog
Sarah at Art Expedition
Jude at Under a Cornish Sky
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind
Ju Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful
Zimmerbitch 
That Mansfield display looks enticing and I will put it on my “to do” list when we come to NZ. Hope you find out what is wrong with your leg and get it better. Jack has knee problems now and so we don’t get around so much, and when we do it is slowly….It is hard to make those big life changing decisions, but you will when the time is right. Maybe this will be the year of change. Good luck with whatever you do
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Thanks Pauline. Hamilton Gardens would definitely be on my “to do” list. Much of it is pretty flat, so though there is a fair amount of ground to cover, it’s a fairly easy walk.
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I’ve been there a couple of times. Last time about 4-5 years ago, so definitely time for another visit.
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Such a bright day day there on your trip, Su. The tableaux are fascinating.
That sore leg must be getting you down. You had that when you visited the sculptures in Sydney! Hope you can find out what is causing the problem.
I’ll post my month in the new year when my internet plan kicks over. I’m shut inside on these hot days and cannot do any binge watching!
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Thanks Tracy. It is beginning to really bug me; not least because it’s not my arthritic knee that’s giving me trouble (and it was really sore in Sydney), but the other leg. Another visit to the doc is due in the New Year.
Hope you are feeling better, though I’m guessing the heat is pretty miserable.
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😦 And yes, miserable. I have a massive headache. Whinge, whinge.
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☹️ Hope that goes soon.
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We read a volume of Katherine Mansfield’s short stories for O Level. As with many of the authors which were enforced i’ve never been tempted to go back to her, though I know I have read this story much more recently, maybe in a collection of women’s writing. Sorry about the leg: hope you get that resolved soon.
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Thanks Anabel. I will find out what’s causing the pain one way or another — not k owing drives me nuts.
I had to read Mansfield at school too, and remember that I found the characters quite unlikable. I read The Garden Party again the other day, and it reminded me of John Buchan’s stories — upper class protagonists congratulating themselves for sympathising with the “lower orders” — represented as horribly cliched and one dimensional. The garden’s nice though 😀
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Indeed! I vaguely remember another one being quite spiteful about (I think) a governess.
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An impressive display, especially the facade of the house. I hope the New Year and the doctor bring you some pain relief, or answers to your pain.
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Thanks so much. I have paracetamol and ibuprofen, which are working pretty well, but I will feel better when I understand what is going on. Not knowing is much worse than the actual pain.🤨
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True.
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I am sorry about your pain, and I hope your doctor can give you some relief—mental as well as physical.
The story sounds lovely. I will have to look for it.
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Thanks so much Amy.
Here’s a link to the story — just realised I didn’t put it in the post 🤨 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1429/1429-h/1429-h.htm#link2H_4_0015
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I found it and downloaded it to my laptop. Hope to read it while in Florida the next two weeks. Getting out of the cold Northeastern US!
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Hope you have a wonderful, restful time with lots of sunshine.
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Thanks, Su!
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So sorry to hear that you are being laid-up by a bum leg. I hope it’s a relatively easy fix and you are mobile again soon. Being on the sidelines from an injury is never a good place to be.
Best wishes for the new year, Su. Perhaps 2019 will be THE year you and Big T finally make the big move 🙂
Is it safe to assume you will be continuing the monthly Changing Seasons feature in the new year? I hope ….
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Thanks so much Joanne. I will definitely continue hosting the challenge as long as I can — it is such fun!!
Thanks too for your good wishes. One way or another, I think things will have to change and I am excited about that.
Wishing you and your family the very best for 2019.
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Yay! I’m so happy to hear that. I love this monthly wrap-up 🙂
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🙂
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The setting is perfect for a story Su. Thank you for sharing.
Hope that sore leg clears up soon.
Leslie
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Thanks so much Leslie. I’m resting it, and will see my doctor again as soon as the Holidays are over.
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🙂
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Sorry to hear that the leg is still giving you pain. It is horrible how disabling it can be when your mobility is compromised. Loved reading about and seeing this garden. I really enjoyed my brief (and wet) visit to the Hamilton Gardens https://smallbluegreenflowers.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/garden-portrait-hamilton-gardens/ where I concentrated on the Paradise Gardens. I would another longer visit.
Maybe this year the time wasn’t right for the life-change. It will happen. Sometimes you have to force it. I’m only too aware of how fast life is passing by and hesitating isn’t making me any younger.
Wishing you all the best for 2019 Su. xx
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I did think of you when I was writing the post. I knew you liked Hamilton Gardens, and you would love the Mansfield. Apart from the tableau, the planting is lovely.
I think you are right about forcing change. I worry that if we don’t do something soon, circumstances will force change upon us and it might not be as favourable!! My in-laws are a classic case of dithering around until disaster struck, and now the kids are trying to sort out the mess!! That’s not my family’s way at all. If anything, we’re a bit impulsive. Makes for interesting discussions at any rate. 😂😂
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I think I may be somewhat impulsive…
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I’m a classic Libra — on the fence longing to jump, but holding on for dear life.
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I’m a Libra too!!
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Such a lovely and beautiful house and gardens! That tableaux with the piano is fascinating, I suspect they need to cover it everytime it rains, unless they dismantled it on the inside.
And I’m so sorry to hear about your new leg problem – please take good care! I know how awful it is not to be able to get around as much as one would like too. 😦
Does putting it up help? I hope it’s nothing serious and will keep my fingers crossed for a very speedy recovery!! Sending huge hugs to comfort you! Xxxxxxxx
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Thank you so much Sarah. Resting the leg definitely helps, but it’s so boring!!! And hugs help 😀😀
I wondered about the instruments too, but suspect they may not be real, but constructed props like the food. The tennis court is fenced off from visitors, so you can’t get close to take a look, and it was to busy to investigate the house facade closely. I would like to go back when it’s a bit quieter.
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Totally get the boring part! 😂 Maybe try some sketching and painting? Just did another acrylic pouring that fortunately looks much better than the last one. 😄
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That’s a good idea. I have been itching to make some new bags, but that does require a bit of standing and moving around to cut, etc.
I’m so glad your pouring went well. I’m excited to see results when you are happy to show work.
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Will share the pics soon! And can´t wait to see yours! 😉
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I’m sad to hear about your leg pain, Su. I hope that gets sorted quickly so that you can return to your usual active self.
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Thanks so much. 🙏
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What a lovely exhibition of architecture,flora & historical recreations! As always, thank you for sharing a slice of your beautiful world!
Hope the docs manage to help you figure out the pain in your leg!
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Thanks so much Ju Lyn. 🙂
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Sore legs! That gets me too sometimes. Go to the physio, she may be able to help.
My latest entry is from a draft I wrote a while back and then took and added the photos today. I did not seem to have the same ability to install a ping. so this is it
https://regionalcognisance.wordpress.com/2018/12/30/the-memorable-leech-and-police-incident/
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Thanks Mick. I’ve got some suspicions that the pain is related to another problem which I’m seeing a specialist about in a week, so I’ll hopefully know more then.
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I hope it sorts out for you Su. It’s a bummer getting older sometimes.
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I hope the pain resolves….that is hard to live with.
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Thanks so much. I’m taking it easy, and trying to do some gentle stretches.
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This garden is marvellous, Su. Katherine Mansfield’s evocation come to life. Don’t some people have some brilliantly uplifting ideas. Very sorry about the knee though.Hope you find some relief soon. I use organic cold pressed castor oil on my twinging joints though it’s a bit messy.
https://tishfarrell.com/2018/12/30/decembers-changing-seasons-all-of-them-except-winter/
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Thanks for the castor oil tip. I’m happy to try anything, and to be honest, I can’t imagine it being worse that the mess I make preparing fresh turmeric for the endless anti-inflammatory teas I’m drinking. My hands look like I’m a life-long chain smoker. 🙂
Hamilton Gardens is pretty special — there are several new themed gardens in progress, including a Surrealist one. The mind boggles!
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I get in a mess with turmeric too.
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🙂 I have disposable gloves, but I think I prefer an organic mess to adding more stuff to landfill.
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Me too. On both counts!
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😀
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I’m a fan of the film Mansfield Park (Jane Austin) and had no knowledge of Mansfiel’s Garden Party. Was totally confused and had to look everything up to make sure I had gotten the right idea….
Sorry to hear about your pain. I experienced just today a unholy pain very suddenly in my knees. All of a sudden I couldn’t stand on one leg such was the weakness of said knee…. I blame the humidity of the day but it’s probably old age and MANY falls – first when skiing, later on when I lived in UK and my many little incidents when falling over cobble stones and wet leaves etc. I very much hope that a solution to your problems can be found as it really creates a lot of misery and down-time.
Thank you for this very interesting and inspiring article. I guess this is the equivalent of me visiting the Giverny Gardens (Monet’s gardens)…. Always good for a day out!
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Sorry to hear that your leg continues to bother you, Su. Glad you are getting it checked out! I don’t have your reason for inactivity but nonetheless I am all out of creative fire these days. I hope to turn that corner soon. All the best for 2019, to you and yours!
Deb
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