Building a Boat Table --- for our Anniversary Party

FIRST OF ALL I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE  ------ I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH SINCE I HAVE SHOWN A BLOG  !!!!

I have been so busy, finishing my Christmas Mosaic Bollard, turning a 13 foot boat into a table, to seat 10

(This was my husbands mission )

Finishing our Rock'n'Roll Music Room

THE GARDEN -- Where do I start, not only our Anniversary (that was on the 27 th of October, ) but my son is to be married in 1 week -the 24th of November. and of course the photos will be in the garden

   I think we will start with the BOAT, yes the BOAT !

My hubby came in smiling and said I have bought you a present. !
Jody ( our son,) will be bringing it any minute
Next minute he came sailing past in his ute (he looked like he was sailing ) Filling his ute and hanging out the back, was a 15 foot boat.
Hubby said " I said I thought it would look great in the garden. We will never be able to go to Italy, so I thought we could have a Gondolier  in the boat  I just have to find some oars "

So our boys and Vince started looking on the Internet for some life size Gondoliers.
I must admit some of them where quite handsome, and cost around 300 dollars

Next he he found this great old anchor, and we where donated this shell

What was I to do.?  Dismayed I said to Hubby," I'm going to have to wash his clothes every week !"
He replied " We'll put an umbrella up ?"

About 50 hours went into this boat !

I went to Ceramics Class and said "HELP " I need some ideas.
A friend Phil told me her son had turned a boat into a table, although his was smaller of course
They had filled it with antiques, put glass on top, and it was a real talking point

Well the idea clicked, he thought it was a great idea. I was so relieved. I didn't have to wreck my garden, be startled by a handsome Gondolier in my garden, or wash his clothes every week
Besides that, I just love, love, love the beach and we could fill our boat with beach magic

Happily filling our boat with sand ! 

A shipwrecked boat, plus donations of shells, turtle,driftwood, coral and Sonia gave us the great boat 

My little mermaid with her pearl, the sky reflecting through the glass

The large sheet of glass being placed on the boat .
The 3 clever young men, used 3 suction  pads to maneuver it into position
They used just 1 sheet of glass

"What shall we name our boat ?"
That was a Competition on our Anniversary.
I think will be another blog, as our son Kyle, the artist, has do his magic

PARLIAMENT HOUSE and the WINDSOR

  We have just been to 2 of the most beautiful places in Melbourne, ( Victoria , Australia )

In a previous blog l have told you about  a book, my husband and our family had completed , his memoirs ,called 

"A Small Boy From Italy" 

l have also shown you our Invitation from Parliament House. We had entered our book in a competition (thanks to our local museum ). The 2011 Historian Awards 

Some photos inside the Queens Room at Parliament House

People starting to arrive for the Award Ceremony
There were over 160 entries, no, we didn't win, but it was such an honour being there

The beautiful mosaic floor in the foyer

 WHERE NO COUNCIL IS THE PEOPLE FALL BUT IN THE MULTITUDE

 Before we went to the Windsor  to stay the night, we went to this great restaurant called " The European "

We had a delicious meal,- l had Garfish, this was an entree, l couldn't eat any thing else

This magical photo is Parliament House at night time.
We are overlooking Parliament House from the 4th story of the beautiful "Windsor"
We are staying in the Superior Suite, so, so, spacious, like a small house, just a dream.

THE WINDSOR
 

 The toilets were unreal, after going down a carpeted staircase,everything was marble and wood, real flowers, and back and white checkered  tiles

Actually l hardly took any photos of this unique place.
There were over 100 paintings all genuine and beautiful.
  I'm an artist and l took photos of the toilet?
But l guess it will stay in my memory forever
 Comments ! 
Parliament House - Did we expect too much in this prestigious place ?Would our afternoon tea be high tea we have heard so much about
No, we helped ourselves to coffee and all flavours of tea, which was nice, but, 
we had a hard scone with a small amount of  jam and cream on it, and an uniced muffin, a serviette to put it on as there were no plates. We had to try and balance these in our hands as there were no tables, only the tables
full with coffee, cups etc.
Maybe coming from the country we expect too much !

The Windsor
As we had never been to such a glamorous place before, and the night in our superior suite, plus a la carte breakfast was a special gift to us, we were like kids in a lolly shop.
( Thank you so much Mary and George, l know you are very proud of your brother.)
The Breakfast and high tea were to die for, absolute perfection.
We were talking to a cleaning lady, and commented on fresh flowers etc in the foyer.and she said she was worried, as the new owners were cutting down on costs.
In the top class rooms they always had a bowl of fresh fruit, a chocolate on your pillow, and a vase of fresh flowers. That has all been stopped, and people had been commenting She said there is too much competition out there .I hope this beautiful place doesn't go downhill, as Australia has sold off nearly all our assets to other countries