The Owl and the Pussycat

Our SLG outings are often a bit of a mystery, with the group never quite knowing what the organiser has in store for us.  So it was quite a surprise to be taken to see an exhibition about Edward Lear, his nonsense poems, and his brilliant drawings, on show at Expressions Art Centre, Upper Hutt.  Edward Lear is perhaps best known for writing his poem, “The Owl and the Pussycat”, first published during 1871 as part of his book Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets.  The poem was written for three year old Jane, daughter of his friends John and Catherine Symonds.

The owl and the pussy cat went to sea, in a beautiful pea green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five pound note

Edward Lear was born into a middle-class family in the village of Holloway, the 21st child of Ann and Jeremiah Lear. He was raised by his eldest sister, also named Ann, 21 years his senior.  Due to the family's failing financial fortune, at age four he and his sister had to leave the family home and set up house together.  He was a sickly child and also suffered from epileptic seizures.  A gifted artist, Lear was already drawing "for bread and cheese" by the time he was aged 16 and was soon employed by the Zoological Society and published an illustrated book about parrots when he was 19 years old.  Well known TV presenter David Attenborough has a passion for these works of art prints of Edward Lear.  After nearly half a century tracking down a complete set of Lear's prints, Attenborough now has the pleasure of seeing his collection – in celebration of the bicentenary of Lear's birth – being reproduced in a limited edition by the Folio Society.  In Attenborough's eyes these are among the finest ornithological drawings ever made.

Beautiful parrot prints by Edward Lear

Also on display were landscape water colours from Edward Lear’s travels and he visited Greece, Egypt, India and Ceylon before settling in San Remo.  He was such a talented “serious” artist, but no doubt will be forever remembered for his illustrated nonsense poems.   It was so interesting to find out about the life and times of this talented man.

  Robin studying a limerick

Murals and Haiku at Katikati

Katikati is a pretty little town with colourful hanging baskets in the main street.  A group of residents got together in 1991 and decided to paint the history on the walls of the town.  The town now boasts over 50 pieces of art, from murals to sculptures and carvings.

This way to Katikati

Murals are painted everywhere on walls, all telling their own story.  Like towns throughout the country, native bush had to be cleared to make space space for homes and farms.

Early settlers in Katikati

George Vesey Stewart, founder of the Ulster settlement in Katikati in 1875

In October 1883 a battle of wills took place outside the newly built St Peter’s Anglican Church which was to be consecrated by Bishop Stewart of Waiapu.  But Presbyterian builder William Gray was not handing the keys over, locking out the Bishop and the congregation,  until the church building committee made the final payment of 30 pounds.  The matter was not resolved until May 1894.

Builder locks Bishop out

I had read about the Haiku Pathway in Katikati and was very keen to view it.  This was one of New Zealand’s Millennium Projects, and is the largest collection of haiku 'stones' outside Japan and the only haiku pathway in the Southern Hemisphere.  The pathway meanders along both sides of the Uretara Stream just behind the town’s main street, and  features a specially designed footbridge across the stream.  So just what is a haiku, you are probably wondering?  The definition of a haiku is a Japanese verse poem of unrhymed lines which are (usually) written in a structure of 5 syllables for first line, 7 syllables for second line, then 5 syllables for third line.  Sometimes there are two separate themes in one poem, surprising the reader with an unexpected link.  Although I have tried to write a few haiku in the past, mine were less than memorable.

One of the haiku stones

Bridge over the  Uretara Stream

It had been a very hot and humid day, and the rain had done nothing at all to lower the high temperatures.  No chance of sitting outside under the trees like we did yesterday, when we returned to camp.  We are currently staying on a working farm full of kiwifruit trained to grow on timber frames.  The kiwifruit plants are heavily laden with brown furry fruit, so we presume that it is not too long before the crop gets picked.

Kiwifruit growing on timber frames

Ready to pick

We will be sad to leave this lovely camp tomorrow, but Hamilton is calling.  We are taking our Leisureline caravan back to the factory where it was made, and the water tanks will be replaced.  More about that later.