christenings (and the HH logo)

42 weeks to go at HH was beckoned in with christenings galore

First we are proud to launch the  HH logo

I loved it the first minute I saw it - I love the way it is like a family emblem or crest (but with a modern twist) I love the purple (bearing in mind HH's link to women for over a century) and I love the circle to represent interwoven stories. It was described as heritage and tradition - I think that is true. Anyway, I love it  Thanks AJ and the team at 121 Creative

The boys at HH saw it first - I am not sure they were as excited as me - but that is usual anyway, so I did not take offence.

This was not the only christening this week - we had the christening of this gorgeous bundle of goodness

Many of you might recall that this little gift from heaven Madeleine Mae arrived 9 months after my beautiful mother died. She was the first granddaughter born since Miss HH many years ago. My mum would have loved her beyond everything - except she loved Miss MM's 3 brothers a lot too

The christening was beautiful - sad in lots of ways because there was an important link missing - but she was there - this beautiful dress was made by mum to mark the christening of Miss HH almost exactly 19 years ago . She hand-smocked and embroidered it (the headband was a 2013 addition!)

This was Miss HH in that same beautiful dress in August 1994

and so the legacy lives on - Miss HH becomes a godmother for the first time

and Maddie Mae immediately took to her like a kindred spirit

  

It was a beautiful day

There were other christenings this week too

It was the Qld Telstra Businesswoman Awards - and Rosemary Vilgan was christened the 2013 winner. She is a wonderful businesswoman - and lovely too - congrats Rosemary

http://www.news.qut.edu.au

And I had the wonderful privilege of judging this year in a section taken out by this dynamo - Jellaine Ross from Cherry Blooms - she has the most amazing extendable eyelashes See them here - and is an inspirational young businesswoman - watch this space!

http://cherryblooms.com.au/about-us/about-jellaine.html

These girls were inspirational too. One of the best things I do is host a group of school students to the awards each year - The Tomorrow's Enterpreneurs initiatiave is in its 8th year of operation in Qld and Telstra is taking it national this year.

 I am so proud - and these young girls are proof of this year's Telstra manta that

And in christenings at HH, the new roof was in its first week and was much admired (especially by me!)

There has been much building, and cleaning

 My office became alfresco again, to make way for the roofing sheets

I can't wait to see this fireplace revealed in my new office home

 Here is the sootless ground now beneath the ballroom floor (it was shortlived) Temporary flooring soon appeared as there is much work here about to commence)

 Goodbye beautiful front door - I will miss you

 

It's been a delicious week (and don't think I have not eaten a few of these devine donuts - thanks Flour and Chocolate!) A girl has to do what a girl has to do to keep up with the workmen!

 I love christenings ... and new beginnings...

x HH

anniversaries of the heart

I am back - Superstar Tea Cosy had her time in the spotlight and it is time for her to start behaving whilst I regain control of my blog!

 

In a way, her help was appreciated, as this last week was the 6 month anniversary of the arson attack which forever changed the course of Hanworth House

 

 

So I thought maybe it was a good time to have a look back at the last  6 months (with 10 months to go until HH's 150th birthday)

 

 

Remember the house had been in renovation for about 4 months - many rooms were all but finished

 

 

some bedrooms were complete with linen

 

 

This was the view of the dining room at 6pm when I locked up the house 

 

 

This was that fateful night just after midnight 19 March

 

 

and when the firemen left, this is what remained

But over the last months, progress has been slow as insurers argued, bureaucracy took over and we did what we could to save the grand lady from the passage of time and decay

 

I miss my lecturn

 

 

 

But lots of things helped as the passage of time seemed to pass so slowly

 

Lots of frogs

 

Words of inspiration

 

 

 

Champagne and (I hate to admit it) the presence of STC (Superstar Tea Cosy)

 

 

Fridays at Four

 

Local media

 

Friends

 

 

 

The greatest of teams

 

 

 and pink hard hats

 

 

This image still stands as the most poignant - the roses given to me by Mr HH a few hours before surviving as a graphic reminder of the resilience I grew to need more and more as the battle was waged.

 

But waged it was. Just look at the action over the last few days

 

 

 

The new roof is taking shape

 

 

Hello beautiful new exhausts (glamour plus!)

 

 

A landscaping team has been appointed (just loving the new fence which went up the last few weeks in the background)

 

 

Wood for new back stairs was hoisted in

 

 

Rafters are now well and truly in place and roof ready

 

 

VJs have been exposed and hidden doorways unhidden

 

External painting is in full swing

 



 

The chimneys are resplendent

 

And guess who came back this week?

The HH film crew (can you believe STC shamelessly talked her way into this shot!) 

 It was good to see them 

 and it feels like HH is back on course again 

Thanks to you all who have rallied around when I needed you most

 

http://socialkloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/thank-you.jpg

 

 

x HH