Posted on 01/13/2010 7:45:07 PM PST by nickcarraway
A couple spent four months and about £3,000 transforming their home into a James Bond film set complete with German soldiers and 007 crashing into their bathroom in a hang glider.
Simon and Angie Mullane scoured the internet and travelled around the country to collect memorabilia for their New Year's Eve party in Poole, Dorset.
The couple, both 44, transformed their home into a homage to the fictional spy created by writer Ian Fleming.
Up to 40 guests were greeted at the roadside with a home-made checkpoint manned by one of several soldier mannequins dressed in authentic East German border guard uniforms bought from eBay.
They covered the front garden in camouflage cloth with two Sean Connery Bond mannequins performing stunts in the garden.
One was dangling from a hang glider, bought from Birmingham, so large its wing tip stuck into the first floor bathroom.
Another Bond sat expectantly inside a mini-helicopter alongside a giant missile built from an air condition extractor pipe.
They started planning the party in September after deciding on the theme.
Mrs Mullane said: "We are not particular fans but we thought it would make a great theme and it would be easy to dress up in black tie or a little black dress but in the end everyone made a massive effort with some fantastic costumes."
Mrs Mullane donned a gold body suit to become the Goldfinger character Jill Masterson.
They invited 26 people for a three-course meal and the rest for the after party. Invites were a top secret document announcing the New Year's mission statement and biographies of Bond heroes and villains to inspire fancy dress.
They built a marquee in their garden with another Bond statue and mannequins dressed as famous characters while clips from various Bond films played in the background.
It cost the pair about £3,000 but Mrs Mullane, who owns shoe shop 2 Die 4, said: "It was as a thank you to a lot of our loyal customers and our really good friends.
"They were absolutely gob smacked saying they could never have a party because of the lengths we had gone to. No one will invite us to any parties now."
Mr Mullane added: "We got lots of flowers and cards saying thank you afterwards."
The pair have a reputation for hosting elaborate parties having built a graveyard in their back garden for Halloween 2008 complete with underground smoke pipes, buried coffins and a coffin ice-bucket and they even bought a hearse.
Their next big party already in planning is for Mrs Mullane's 50th, but they have a few years yet.
Well, for my money, I think you could have about as much fun with the old Merv Griffin set that Kramer rescued from the dumpster on Seinfeld.
Shark pool?
Is this what Mr. M has been doing while you “thought” he was away??? :-). This is too funny.
Shirley Bassey?
*ping*
They covered the front garden in camouflage cloth with two Sean Connery Bond mannequins performing stunts in the garden.
Pusssshy Galore..
I was waiting for that.....
Lol
Looks like wifey’s James Bond act was a bit late....
She could have done with some 007 action to spring him from jail...:^)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/3686864.stm
Looks like the same guy, same age, same town, and same haircut...:^) — and it’s her shoe shop, not his.
Too much time on their hands!
LOL!
Thanks for the ping! Fortunately, Mr. Marple will not see this story and get big ideas.
.
Very good potlatch!
Excellent artwork and animation!
It was a great party.
I thought Q was underdone however, but Money penny was a knockout.
Gold? All over?
Thanks devolve, an old one as you know.
Must have made it before I got my new monitor as I see light speckles below the arm.
Busy today.
I’ve always wanted to do my house like Otter in “Animal House,” the seductive bossa nova soundtrack included, but my GF vetoed it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.