Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Dennis Francis hosted a farewell reception for U.S. Ambassador Sue Cobb prior to her departure earlier this year. Mrs. Cobb (left) chats with Thalia Lyn (centre) and Dr. Pauline Knight at the function. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
IT'S A summer of goodbyes, as indeed, Kingston has been in the throes of goodbyes for some time now as there has been a spate of diplomats taking leave of our shores, and so goodbye parties, dinners, receptions and soirees there have been, and aplenty.
It seems that this season of goodbyes will close this weekend. However, the final round of goodbye will be hosted for outgoing Spanish Ambassador HE Rafael and Lola Jover as they too take their leave next week.
Also taking their leave of us next week will be British High Commission official Colin Bowskill and his wife Jean Bowskill, who will leave at the end of the month.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED?
And, people are asking what has happened to the successor to former US Ambassador HE Sue Cobb, who left at the beginning of the year. Since her departure, nothing has been heard about a possible successor.
That is a question for the U.S. State Department and Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
Now, no problems here for the British, as indeed, their new High Commissioner HE Jeremy Cresswell and his partner Dr.Barbara Munske, both arrived in Kingston on Monday.
Also here is the new German Ambassador HE Volker Schlegel, who arrived in mid-June; and the charming Ambassador HE Filomena Navarro, she being the newly appointed Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Jamaica.
We welcome back Ambassador Navarro to Jamaica, she having served earlier as her country's Consul General.
Sadly, Deputy British High Commissioner Phil Sinkinson and wife Clare will both leave in November.
We bid those departing fond adieus as we welcome heartily the new heads of missions.
And the lovely Brunetta Matthews celebrates her birthday come Sunday, while the charming Angela Patterson celebrated her special day yesterday. Champagne wishes all around.
And then the buzz in upper St. Andrew is that architect and hotelier Earl Levy and his heiress wife, Beverly Junor-Levy, are expecting their first grandchild, as the stork is expected to deliver a little bundle of joy to their daughter, Susanne Levy-Louis and her hubby Jean Louis, and dears, the expecting parents and grand parents are over the moon in joyful anticipation.
And then the word out of Montego Bay is that retired world heavyweight boxing champion, the mega wealthy Lennox Lewis, tied the marital knot last Friday morning in a very quiet but fabulously lovely ceremony with the smashingly lovely Violet Chung. They celebrated the nuptials later that day at the Goodhope Estate and then at the Wyndham Rose Hall.
Doves, the buzz is, it was all that and then some, with a slew of celebs and the fab in attendance.
2005 SEASON OF DANCE
But that was last week Friday. Tonight my dears, the much acclaimed and celebrated national treasure, The National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) premieres its 2005 Season of Dance with a gala opening at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue.
Dearhearts, it promises to be a smasheroni of a fabulous cultural feast and then some.
Luvs, its all about living well and looking good these days and dears, the chic and fabulous are working their bodies buffing them to perfection and living the mantra: Living well is not the best revenge, its the only revenge!
Dears, the verdict is in, and not that it was any secret, as those who opt for dietary control and an active lifestyle, will outlast those who opt for the more sedentary existence. And so, and without a doubt, fitness is in!
Well, two years ago, Kenny Benjamin of the Guardsman Security Limited entered into the fitness industry, by acquiring the fashionably hot gym in the Hilton Hotel complex in New Kingston. Since its acquisition, and with Sheila Benjamin-Fernandez at its head, the Hilton Gym, as it was then known has undergone some dramatic transformation, taking it from its state of near neglect to a state-of-the-art, techno equipped health club and fitness centre named Gymkhana.
GYMKHANA
Clearly not a gym for the polloi, the new and upgraded Gymkhana now boasted cadre of instructors to complement a slate of state-of-the-art equipment, weight training and management modules with personnel to match in a client-friendly environment that lends itself to the business of adhering to the motto: Fitness Centre - Total Fitness With A Difference!
We are talking total transformation here from your run of the mill dime-a-dozen gym with little more than irons, to a sophisticated set-up, with cappuccino and evian on offer, to those with that discriminating taste.
In no time, Gymkhana was not merely a health club and fitness centre, it became the fitness club of choice for the well-to-do and the fabulous.
