By Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer 
Robinson
DAAHLINGS, THE Leos have it, and so today we send warmest birthday wishes to the lovely Marilyn Bennett of J Wray and Nephew; and head of JPSCo., Charles Matthews who are celebrating their birthday today. Also belated wishes to the beautiful Donna Harpaul who celebrated on Sunday! Champagne wishes all around.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Then it was destination Round Hill for the charming couple of Dennis and Jane Joslin, who celebrated their wedding anniversary on Wednesday of last week but made a weekend celebrations of it over at the stomping ground of the international Jet-set and the rich and famous as they opted for a quiet but nonetheless fabulous hideaway for some R & R.
WHERE WILL IT BE?
Then the talk is: It will be a Monaco wedding for International Financial Consultant Brent Ciurlino and his fiancee, the absolutely gorgeous Dr. Kim Brown. Cape Town is another possible venue.
More to come.
MISSING THE BOAT
Oh, Daahlings of Grandeur, haute style and snobby sophistication A toast to those who would preserve the last vestiges of fabulousness, bequeathed to us by our forebears as it was their rich legacy steeped in international history and social and political intrigue that has made Jamaica, today, a destination synonymous with visions of a tropical idyllic paradise, armoured with the cache and elan of high glamour, that has so endeared it in the minds of the internationally civilised!
Now, and mind you, there are those amongst us that through self-serving myopia would have us deny our rich multi-cultural and multi racial past. A past that has made of us a very tolerant people, cognisant of our unique history and the role it has played in not only defining us, but in larger terms the impact of our geo-political significance in the charting of world history, as the shifting balance of world power and economies largely bequeathed us an English colonial heritage, as against a Spanish one.
Sadly, as we continue to miss the boat, by continuing to ignore the fountain of opportunities our rich history has given us, not only do we distort our true identity, we also ignore the wealth of marketing opportunities a proper exploration and acceptance of this history, would provide.
Port Royal, the River Cobre Gorge; the Old Capital of Spanish Town; and the various battle sights strewn across the island that did see the British and Spaniards do battle for supremacy and control of the Island, are just a few of our tourism potential, that goes a-begging.
BREATHTAKING!
Well, Doves, there is a fabulous Mountain Range overlooking the City of Kingston, and some nine or so other parishes on a clear day, that is not only steeped in the fabulous colonial history of this land, it also boasts more a contemporaneous relevance, and as such, is indeed prime time.
Luvs, above the valleys of the rural St Andrew town of Mavis Bank, and way up in the hills, across from the Blue Mountain range, way-way up where the Gods once played, and the pines and eucalyptus trees tower into the heavens, and clouds are at a tantalising fingertip away ,there is one truly majestic mountain range named Flamstead. It sits like an all-understanding, all-knowing paternalistic and benevolent protector of the City of Kingston, that is truly one of this here city, and nations' more fabulous secrets.
Daahlings, we are talking breath-takingly awesome here, and fabulously so!
Once the weekend country home of Sir John Eyre, Governor of Jamaica during the tumultuous Paul Bogle rebellion of 1865, the property once boasted a fabulous great house with some of the finest antiques ever. Sadly, not only was the residence destroyed (due largely to neglect) some of its prized pieces went the way of firewood by a peasantry totally unaware of the financial or historical value of that which they consumed.
Anyway, on February 26, 1866, in the aftermath of the Morant Bay Rebellion, the 9th Duke of Argyll, The Right Honourable Sir John Campbell, the Marquis of Lorne, who went on to Marry Princess Louise, the Fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and became the Governor-General of Canada, in 1878, paid a courtesy weekend call on Governor Eyre at his Flamstead retreat, at the behest of the Governor. The visiting Marquis wrote of his visit: "Our time at Flamstead was very pleasant. Mist and rain prevented our seeing much the first day but the weather cleared up afterwards-
The situation of the house is delightful. It is four thousand feet above the sea and the harbour of Kingston and fifty miles of coast lie spread beneath us.
The climate is quite English I have slept with blankets on my bed for the first time since I have been in the West Indies. It is curious to feel the change in temperature as one mounts from the blaze of the plains to the cool and mist of these hills". Written in 1867, the words of the 9th Duke of Argyll, today aptly describes Flamstead, as was made evidently clear, last Sunday, when Ambassador Peter King, Special Envoy and Patron of the Flamstead Heritage Society, hosted a simply dee-vine soiree at his Flamstead Chapel/retreat, (dedicated to his late father Canon ROC King, who served as Chaplain of Kingston and Port Royal) for the unveiling of the plaque, commemorating the visit to Flamstead, District of Port Royal, of the Right Honourable Sir John Campbell Marquis of Lorne and the 9th Duke of Argyll, by out-going Canadian High Commissioner H.E. John Robinson, at the request of the Flamstead Heritage Society in recognition of High Commissioner Robinsons' contribution to the strengthening of the bonds of friendship between Canada and Jamaica - this was a singular honour by the Flamstead Heritage Society, as indeed it was one of the High Commissioners' last official tasks here. Now, the more things change, the remain the same as today, the District of Flamstead, once the guarded playground of the Governor and symbol of privilege, has changed colonial hands, but still remains an enclave of the ruling elite with among those who maintained country homes in the range, being the late cultural doyenne Edna Manley and her son Michael Manley. In more recent years, however, there's been a renewed interest in the area, which has led to an expansion to the number of those with country retreats in the district, and saw the birthing of the Heritage Society in an effort to preserve the Districts' historical perspective. And so it was, that for Sunday's affair, it was snob and cultured society at its best, as the well-heeled was out in fabulous numbers for the occasion.
Now, those familiar with the blustery nature of the Flamstead range, came out appropriately in winter regalia, while others opted for fabulous summery wear. There was a blustering wind, however, that carried on its tips the ever so gently caress of powdery raindrops, causing guests to huddle and thus making for simply wonderful mid-morning turn mid-afternoon do, that bore all the hallmarks of a family reunion and with the sharing of prized anecdotal bon mots that added just the perfect flavour what was truly a prime time eleganza. By mid-afternoon, however, the shroud of clouds that had shielded the city from view gave way to a most spectacular post-card-perfect view that had guests gushing, as some struggled for words of appreciation.
There were no speeches throughout, only an abundance of distilled spirits and some gung-ho home dishes that made for a most resplendent Do, very pregnant with a sense of occasion and celebration. As indeed, this was yet another farewell affair for outgoing High Commissioner John Robinson, even if none wanted to be reminded of his impending departure!
But, for the life of ones Mont Blanc, it was truly a civilised affair and fabulously so.
