Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer 
From left, Claudia Robinson, Judy MacMillan and Valerie Bloomfield at the launch of 'My Jamaica' in Dharma Studio, Coconut Grove., Florida, recently.
From left, David DaCosta, Dorit Hutson (who died this week) Robert MacMillan and P.J.Stewart at the book launch. - Contributed Photos
WELL, MY dears, it was an all-girls affair on Wednesday as the oh-so-charming and beautiful Harriet Huber,wife of German Ambassador Dr. Christian Hausmann, celebrated her birthday.
Sweet-things, it was a gathering of the leading social denizens, haute society and, of course, a number of diplomatic wives, for what, according to the buzz, was a truly fab luncheon in honour of one of the more fashionable members of the diplomatic community.
Saturday night, however, it was all about fashion bellissima Janet Farrow, as it was her birthday. To celebrate, her friends Rod Heaven, and his gorgeous wife Nevine, hosted the birthday girl and a number of friends to a smart and fabulously intimate dinner party at their Jack's Hills residence. Those who attended are still going ga-ga over the fare and the Heaven's domicile.
And little wonder here, as indeed, the Heavens are quite famous, and fabulously so, for their celebrated intimate little parties and chic dinners, their home the stuff House and Gardens magazine would love to photograph, and with Rod Heaven's legendary skills in the kitchen, y'all can understand why many were a- hankering for an invite.
TALK-OF-THE-TOWN PARTY
And speaking of making the cut if you have not yet received your invitation to Dennis and Jane Joslin's Texan shindig, this weekend, then dears, you are probably not expected.
Sweet-things, the invites are out and it promises to be a high-society smasheroni, with the dress code causing quite a stir. In true Texas mode, the required attire here is denim and shirtsleeves (preferably white shirt sleeves) for gentlemen, and the ladies are to be all decked out in diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and all.
Doves, talk about being the-talk-of-the-town, dears, this is it! But the best part of it all is the buzz in couture shops and establishment as the ladies are busy swiping their credit cards as they get all suited up for the do! Luvs, more anon, as indeed, not even wild steeds could keep y'all-know-who, away from this one!
Our heartfelt wishes to the elegantly svelte Sonja Sutherland, currently at home recuperating, after a brief period of hospitalisation!
BOOK LAUNCH
Then my dears, last weekend, it was all about Florida, and the 'A' crowd, as the simply fabulously talented artist Judy-Ann MacMillan, fresh from the success of the introduction and launch of the pictorial tome of her works My Jamaica in London last September, and following upon her fabulously successful launch here in Kingston, at Devon House, in November, took her best-selling show on the road last weekend, this time to Florida, and for my word, what a buzz, it created!
Dears, to begin with, it was a double-whammy as first, there was the Florida launch of My Jamaica at the very upscale Books and Books store, (located in a fashionable and prized piece of real estate owned by Ambassadors Charles and Sue Cobb) over there on Aragon Avenue, in Coral Gables, Florida. Last Thursday evening saw the crème of the Jamaican expat community in Florida, out in attendance and in fashionable numbers, for the do.
Dears, now those of you who have lived abroad, know that when in foreign climes, all things Jamaican are precious, sometimes even more precious than gold, as indeed, the music literature, art, cuisine etc., not only excite the nationalistic sensibilities and yearnings, they transport the enchanted back to the very homeland in that very unique manner known only to and shared by expats.
Well my dears, if ever there was a tome or an artist that carries the cache and pizzazz that would excite the Florida Jamaican expat upperclass, it would most definitely be Judy-Ann MacMillan, and dears, so it was last weekend in Florida.
Among those out sharing in the warmth and camaraderie were her brother Robert MacMillan, Honorary Consul of Iceland and newly-elected president of the Advertisers' Association of Jamaica, his son Elliott, who jetted into Florida for the weekend of activities; socialite grand dame Iris Day, her son-in-law and daughter Raymond Carifio and his wife Rosalie Day-Carifio; artist/ author/poet extraordinaire Edward Lucie-Smith; Peter Kerr-Jarrett; Dr. Paul Chen Young and his companion, the oh-so regal Dorit Hutson, who sadly passed away on Tuesday night; David DaCosta; the lovely Beverly Baracatt; celebrated artist Graham Davis; P. J. Stewart; David and Eileen Tate; Colin Machado and his fabulously wealthy wife Abby; Claudia Robinson; Tony and Margo Youngman; Normandell Alexander and son Chet Alexander; John Ambrose; and Allan and Angela Brown, and many others.
