Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
At Left: Oliver Jarchow weds Jamaican bride. At Right: Oliver Jarchow (right) and bride, Floreen Hopkins (second right), with bestman Anton Burke (left) and matron of honour Scherrie Hopkins. - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
MY DARLINGS, it's still very much the age of Capricorn - the fabulous Earth sign falling between Sagittarius and Aquarius with its ruling planet being Saturn, and is the zodiac sign of many industrious, creative and fabulous people!
Among those celebrating this season are Carlos MaxBrown and Captain David McRae, who celebrated on Thursday. Carlos MaxBrown's party will follow tomorrow, but one of those fabulous people born under the sign of Capricorn with a December 25 birthday, is the simply charmingly beautiful Carol Bourke - she being the affable manager of Wyndham Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay, wife of Richard Bourke, the charming GM of Hedonism III Resort, Negril, and mother of the lovely Samantha Bourke.
And so it was that a few Saturdays ago, it was all about Negril and the celebratory party, heralding the 40th year of the lovely Carol Bourke. It was one fabulous affair!
MAKING MERRY
The GM's cottage in Negril sits on the 20-odd acre property that houses the Hedonism II Resort and is a beaut of a home nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the resort. It boasts some lovely gardens and rolling lawns, adding that touch of familial intimacy that makes it simply marvellous!
Family, friends, well-wishers and some colleagues journeyed two weekends ago to break bread and make merry in celebration of the birthday of the lovely Mrs. Richard Bourke. And they came from far and wide, all in the name of a good and treasured friend and relative.
The marvellously done lawns of the property were decked out beautifully with the centre earmarked for dining. The outer area, ringed with a number of food kiosks, offered a fare ranging from the traditional a la granmere, to the exotic, including the oriental and Asiatic, and buttressed by a libation station that kept spirits merry.
The host and his guest of honour met and greeted their arriving guests, some of whom had jetted in from all over the world. That done, guests settled into an atmosphere that was pure relaxation; no attitude here, just fabulous people living in the moment.
THE SPECIAL PRESENT
Between the sampling of the fabulous dishes and catching up with friends separated by distance, the party found its own groove. And when Roots Explosion Band took to the stage and unleashed a slew of hits, guests got rocking on to the dance floor.
And honeys, there was no denying the birthday girl; she partied like the best of them, with the best of them, and then some! And when her husband announced her 'special present' - a special delivery from two childhood girlfriends - dearhearts, the collective temperature in an already steaming party rose another 10 degrees! Doves, we are talking sizzling here, and for my word, how! Santa never looked better in a thong!
Phew!
Songbird Karen Smith was a guest, but with as delicious a voice as hers, it was no surprise that she was cajoled into giving up a song or two and when she did, the earth moved! My darlings, the party only revved up from there on, and when the witching hour came, dears, this fabled expression lived up to expectations, aided and abetted by the darling of the ladies, Lawrence Sutherland, who not only danced up a firestorm, he was the consummate expression of horizontal desires, in latitudinal prose!
Among the notables who journeyed from far and wide to join in the festive occasion were the couple's lovely daughter, Samantha Bourke; the birthday girl's parents Baldwin 'P' and Shirley Pitter; her sibling, Peter Pitter and wife, Lorna; Paul and Yvonne Bourke; Dr. Lennox and Kate Francis; Simon and Nichola Dixon; Senator and Mrs. Noel Sloley; Laurie and Claudia Bent; Drake and Nanny Paxton; the fabulous Jennifer Campbell and children, Chelsea and Sebastian Campbell; Jamie and Camille Delgado; Ian Dear; Johnny and Francis Mais; Kevin Levee and his simply gorgeous wife, Cecile Levee; Busha Clarke; Karen Lannigan; Karl Newman; social butterfly Nancy Jones; Phillip Paxton and his gorgeous wife, Patty; Dermot Connoly; Mr. and Mrs. P.J. Gibson; Lisa Richards; Andrew and Moya Baston; Joe English; the lovely Caroline Clarke; Patrick Brady and companion Suzette Chin-Loy; Errol Bennett; the fab Betty Delfosse-Ingleton; hotelier and hunk, Patrick Drake; Elaine Lyncook; Jackie Jackson; Willy Worton; Tom and Sandra Martin; Scott Robins and his fiancée, Tricia Bridge; Mr. Hotness himself, Ricardo Bowleg; Peter and Wilhelmine Carby; Joe Hylton; Risa Spindler; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Williams; Barbara Burton; Michael Weatherly; the charming Deborah Hickling; Steve James and his lovely companion; Matthew Marzouca; Janet Wedderburn; George and Carmelita Ovelson; Suzette Findlayson; John Miles; North Coast social scribe Janet Silvera; Garth and Marie Brown; Cedric Gooden; Erica Smith; Bernard and Mavis Thomas; the fabulous and happening Andy Conway; and the unflappable Ray-Ray; plus a number of others.
PAULWELL CELEBRATES
Luvs, last Saturday Commerce and Technology minister Phillip Paulwell celebrated his birthday by celebrating with a difference and how!
Dears, the affable minister began his celebration with a two hour jogging session with a group of specially invited friends got together in an effort to jog off the pounds and unwanted inches at Hermitage reservoir Saturday morning.
While the minister and some friends jogged, others gathered at his Stony Hill residence where they prepared traditional Jamaican fare, as well as mimosas and kir royale, which were the preferred libation of some guests. Others opted for these fabulously refreshing pick-me-uppers as against the traditional coffee or tea. It was a gathering of close friends and associates, made for biting and cutting humour and commentary by those gathered.
Luvs, it must be said, that of those short listed for the affair, not all were prepared to be up and about for a 6:00 a.m. jog in the chilly climes. But not to be outdone and in the spirit of the occasion all did don the requisite wear for such an outing. With his companion, the charmingly lovely Laura Butler at his side and attending to the immediate need for libations and fare, it all made for one sumptuous morning.
With breakfast out of the way, friends then gathered for the cutting and tasting of the cake.
My dears, assisted by his god-daughter and lady love, Paulwell was all engaging charm as he and his assistants sliced through the delicious looking cake. And as it appeared, so did it taste, sinfully and wickedly delicious.
The party momentarily broke into two factions the women opted to clean up whilst the men opted to indulge in discussing the politics of the day. Both regrouped later however for the unwrapping of the many presents friends and relatives had provided the Minister on this the occasion of his birthday.
Now, as to just how old is the Technology Minister remains a closely guarded secret and not even the fabulous ladies present could coax it from him.
