My very special gift

I received the most amazing gift this morning. This truly unique handcrafted clay model of Tony Sheldon as Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical was made in 2009 to coincide with the launch of the West End production. I first saw the model when it was displayed at the much missed Dress Circle shop in Monmouth Street. The original photo of the model I took was taken during my trip to London on 16 July 2009 and posted on Facebook on 21 July 2009. The photo of Tony taken with his mini-me was taken by a press photographer around about the same time when the cast visited Dress Circle as part of a charity fundraiser. The design of the figurine is based on Tony as Bernadette in the original Australian production of Priscilla so the costume and wig didn’t appear in the West End or any other version of the show which makes it even more special. The creator Raymond Berry has a website called Modelidols.com and periodically over the years I checked the site to see if the model had been sold but it was really only wishful thinking on my part as I knew I couldn’t afford to buy it. Imagine my utter astonishment when I opened this parcel today and saw what was inside. After 12 years (nearly exactly to the day) I now own the very thing I once admired through a glass case and it is all thanks to the most incredible man in the world. 🇦🇺🚌🚍👠💄💅🏻🦘🐨☔️🧁🎺⚰️🕶☀️🍾🥂🍬🏓🧰🎭🎟🎼 🌈