By Chester Francis-Jackson, ContributorMY DEARS, the party season does not get any better than this, in a nutshell, there's plenty going-on, and it may easily be the best season in many a years!
Now, y'all take last week, for example it rained fabulous parties all week long, with three or more parties, at any given night, and dears, this week, the party machinery is definitely into overdrive!
If y'all have not yet received your coveted invite to the annual Kingsley Cooper/Pulse Christmas Eve celebrations, then it means you did not make the cut. And Luvs, y'all can take my word for it, this party, is just one of the many expected fabulous shindigs happening this weekend, as today, Nubian Prince Dennis Lee, celebrates his birthday; the ultra-gorgeous Sophia MaxBrown, celebrates hers tomorrow, and the oh-so-fab, Lisa Marzouca, will do so on Monday; and dears, it promises to be a star-studded celebration of not just Christmas, but some fab-birthdays as well.
Champagne wishes all around and Beluga dreams, y'all and many a happy returns!
FIERCE PARTYING
Last week however, office and anniversary celebrations were all over the place like everybody's business, and children, we are talking some fierce partying here!
On Friday last however, the party of choice, was hosted by Steve and Betty Ashley at their tres fab, upper St. Andrew residence, in Norbrook, for his KSA Engineering Consultants, that saw a number of the ruling political upperclass and social elite out in attendance and celebrating in fine style.
Dears, it was quite the do as, the charming couple are not only gracious hosts, but their home and gardens, a study in the phantasmagoric pleasures to be found in the well groomed and attended orchids that drapes, adorns, and spring forth from every nook and cranny of the marvelous home and grounds.
Dearhearts, we are talking a breathtakingly beautiful, and dazzling orchid garden here, of the most fabulous order, and then some! You know, the kind that makes the neighbours go absolutely green with envy!
A MUST
Dears, simply put, KSA Engineering Consultants annual yuletide shindig is a must, and whilst many queue to make the cut, it is restricted to friends, associates and colleagues of the Ashleys.
So little wonder that this annual calendar event is magnet to the political and social power brokers! There was an air of charming intimacy to the affaire as indeed, with a kiddies tree-house sitting perched atop one of the many fruit trees on the grounds and overlooking the pool and deck area, and with the absolute rush of colours occasioned by a garden in full spate, there was an inviting atmosphere to the evening that made it a very cozy and relaxed one.
Among those out sharing in the festivities were: Minister Portia Simpson Miller; Minister Dr. Paul Robertson; Dr. Vin Lawrence; Dr. Wayne Reid; John Cooke; Hopeton Caven; Ambassador Peter Black and companion Jose-Marie Desulme; Milton Weise; Vincent Chang; Mrs. Janet Panton; Howard Aris; Pinky Bowers; Lance Johnson; Paul and Mary Burke; Mrs. Jewel Spencer; Raymond and Mary-Helen Reece; Ray Campbell; Michael and Andrea Vascianna; Gilou Bauer; Robert Stephens; Clive and Melanie Tapper; Dr. Lorna Simmons Ranger; Mr. and Mrs. Morris Chin; Neville Henry; Dawn Young; Lennox and Katie Francis; Winston and Audrey Kong; Karen Smith; Leo and June Lawson; Norman McDonald; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Fisher; Karelle Ashley; DT and Pat Brown; Richard Harrison; Mr. and Mrs. Authur Geddes; Leroy Gordon; and scores more!
The following night however, the stage was set for yet another fabulous party, as over at the 107 Old Hope Road group headquarters of the Guardsman Group of Companies, group member - Marksman Security, was celebrating its 21st anniversary, and dears, here it was a case of the tale of two parties, as the evening got under way with party number one which saw the company's managing director Robbie Epstein, making several presentations to the company's founders and principals, its directors, and clients, in a brief ceremony.
ROYAL RUCKUS
Then there was the second party that saw clients, their guests, friends and well-wishers partying up a royal ruckus to the music of the 50/50 Band and dancing way into the early hours of Sunday morning. And it was one swinging do, as the 50/50 Band took no musical prisoners, rolling out its repertoire of musical hits to the delight of the guests present, and wooed them on to the dance-floor with music so delightful, guests partied up a storm!
Oh, my word, what a night! Oh, The Music! The Music! The Music!
Now Luvs, aam-a-tellin-you, the band 50/50, might have been easily voted 'The Band Most Unlikely To Succeed' by many a pontificating scribe or would be music critic, as indeed, they are not your traditional in-your-face musical ensemble, nor could they even be credited with hip-hop type pop-appeal! They are however, consummate entertainers with a feel for and an understanding of the nostalgic longings a 20-to-30-something audience would appreciate, and for my word, do they ever deliver!
Now Luvs, the Guardsman Group headquarters, is a designed with gracious entertaining and relaxation in mind. We are talking lush gardens, meandering streams, and a gushing waterfall, that empties into a rushing brook, that boasts a school of imported Kois, so colourful and regal in their pool, they are really quite a joy to simply behold.
OPEN LIVING ROOM EFFECT
Add to this tropical setting, lawn and garden furniture as well as a few overstuffed (for comfort) sofas, thus creating that open living room effect, at one end, with a cafe effect at another, dining and buffet stations in the middle and two giant bars at either end, yet managing to keep a raised stage as the centrepiece of all of this and we are talking unreserved fabulousness here.
Dears, it was like that and then some!
The night's entertainment got underway with the performance by the hot new artist Kris Kellie, her contempo offerings setting the stage for a musical extravaganza that was to set the night on fire and saw soles partying like there was no care in the whole world, as guests simply bruk-wey when the music hit!
Those out breaking bread and sharing felicitations, included: founder and chairman of the Guardsman Group, Kenny Benjamin; MD Valerie Juggan-Brown and her hubby Ron Brown; J. Lester Spaulding; Dr. Wykeham McNeill and Sheila Benjamin; Maureen Shaw; Dr. John Masterton; Robert MacMillan; Capt. Michael and Thalia Lyn; Ambassador Madge Barrett; Rae and Sharon Barrett; Ian Garbutt; Capt. Rupert Bent and wife Cindy Breakspeare; Aubyn and Tamara Hill; Tanny Shirley; Mrs. Elsie Lau; Dr. Badih and Sissy Shoucair; Steve and Betty Ashley; Odette Shoucair; Ron Coke and wife Ethlyn Norton-Coke; Walter Scott; Sonia Folkes; Keith and Janeth Senior; David Palmer; Joan Pinkney; Colin Bowskill and Alex and Lucy McCann of the British High Commission; Walcott Brown; Lloyd and Juanita Alberga; Tobi Phillips; Colin Steele; James and Marina Gill; Tarun Handa; Dr. Kim Brown-Ciurlino, her twin sister Karen Brown-Chang and hubby Andrew Chang; Jimmy Bruce; Paul and Anna Chin; Major Phillip and Pam Campbell; Stephanie Scott; Cedric Evans and wife May Lawrence; Stanley Nansen; Dave and Lydia Cherry; Leo Nesbeth; Yvonne Wilks; Douglas Domencio and Liz Ewart; Janet Farrow; Ian and Carol Romans; Pat Parkins; Tony and Suzette Haynes; Ueli Bangerter; Andrew and Michelle Bromley; Denise Eastwood; Major George Kates; Robert Haughton and companion Heather Blanco; Roger Allen; fab Louise Finnegan; Major Stanley Ford; Milton and Joan Moulton; Dennis Richards; Jordan and Judith Stapleton; entertainer Wayne Marshall; plus several others!
