In a city where open spaces and gardens are an absolute luxury, children play in handkerchief-sized spaces that pass for parks. People walk and run on subways and skywalks for daily exercise. Gyms have members keeping a wary eye out in case they are hit by a flailing limb during workouts.

So, when gardens are shut for months for some ridiculous reason like nobody is available to cut the inaugural ribbon, or, because it has become a bone of contention for two political parties, the pain and disappointment is sharp.