Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor 
Archbishop Lawrence Burke (left) chats with Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke and Muna Issa at the Chinese New Year brunch, held at Ordan Close, Stony Hill, last Sunday.
OFFICIALLY, THE Chinese do not celebrate their New Year until this weekend, but when you are the city's reigning social empress and party giver extraordinaire, as in the case of Thalia Lyn and her hubby Capt. (retired) Michael Lyn, pesky little details such as those are not allowed to stand in the way of a good party.
After all, as they say, it's the thought that counts, and since the thought and planning that go into hosting such a shindig as the Lyns' Chinese New Year is no easy or ordinary feat, then it's all well that ends well.
Anyways, daahlings, as one guest who arrived late and did the rounds of the Lyns fabulous Old Stony Hill home on Sunday, and being suitably impressed by the august gathering of some of this island's leading citizenry, as well as the ease and continental charm with which the affair was clothed, rather grudgingly opined that 'Thalia, she certainly knows how to throw a damn good party!'
Well, sweet-things, take nothing away from the truthfulness of the sentiments contained in the statement of the begrudging guest. When it comes to throwing and hosting a shindig, Capt. Michael and Thalia Lyn are in a league known only by fellow members of the ranks of the well-to-do and/or card-carrying members of the genteel class.
FLAWLESS HOSTS
The Lyns have, over the years, proven flawless hosts and definitely great society. And little wonder here, as indeed, shy and almost retiring excepting when in the company of very intimate friends, Capt. Michael Lyn understands the importance of occasion, his father having served as fighter escort to the famed General Chang Kai-shek, and she being the offspring of legendary business, social and sporting icons here on the island, who despite being brought up in a home in which the traditional role of the woman is to be that of the supporting spouse, walked away from that imprisoning convention to chart a role and reputation for herself as a highly successful and competent businesswoman.
And so, little wonder here my dears, that indeed the Lyns are a celebrated family, not averse to celebrating the bounties and very many joys of life, friendships as well as their success and that of their friends and associates.
In short, sweet-things, the Lyns do not need an excuse to throw a party, only an occasion, and there are many of those.
Those of you social observers, as well as those in the know, should be aware of the fact that the Lyns' annual Chinese New Year's celebrations at their residence is a premier social event, much anticipated by the ruling classes. Not only is this the premier social event of the given season, it is a prized and coveted affair that has would-be socialites doing cartwheels and falling all over themselves as they, too, seek to make the guest list.
WELCOME AND FAREWELL
With each passing year, the list of would-be socialites 'campaigning' to make the Lyns' guest list has now reached legendary proportions. In fact, so too have their parties!
Now, officially, the party was thrown to celebrate the Chinese New Year, this being the Year of the Dog. It was also a kind of welcome/farewell for a number of new and departing heads of missions, and with last Sunday being the onset of Diplomatic Week, what would have been a traditional Chinese New Year celebratory affair took on some added flavouring.
Well, honeychiles, it was like that and then some last Sunday, as with the rolling gardens in spate and bursting forth in a rush of colours, the orchids looking like they are on steroids and guests all decked out in the colour red (the theme for the occasion), the Lyns' home was not only the preferred party and place to be, it was cooking and under the steam of celeb fabdom!
Pumpkins, it was the season opening soiree, of this social and Chinese New year, and dearhearts, it was one humdinger, and then some! Daahlings, it was like that a downright social eclipse of the fabulous order and the kind that makes enemies of lesser mortals simply because of the august body of the gathering.
And then there was the fare! Pumpkins, a treat like no other of the Chinese kind, with Capt. Michael Lyn cooking up and serving up a cauldron of fabulous food that had guests going to town, and then some!
GUESTS
And as for those guesting, nothing but the very crème, headed by Their Excellencies Sir Howard and Lady Cooke; Archbishop Lawrence Burke; Canadian/Jamaican multi-millionaire Ray Chang and his companion, Donette Chin-Loy; Karl and Nellie Hendrickson; regional security mogul Kenneth Benjamin; Joe Matalon and companion Bernadette McKinley-Morin; Anthony and Jeannne Watson; Peter and Beverly Rousseau; Susan Alexander; Adrian and Darilyn Foreman; P. J. Stewart; Robert MacMillan; Jennifer Lim; Donovan and Andrea Lewis; Joy Mahfood; Father Gregory Ramkisoon; Lorna Myers; George Fatta; Jeanettte Stewart; Geoffrey and Jennifer Messado; Capt. David McRae; Lolita Evans; Drs. Dhiru and Laura Tanna.
Among the diplomats were Ambassador Douglas Saunders and Angela Robertson; wife of the Chinese Ambassador Madam Zhenyu Zhao; head of the European Union delegation Ambassador Gerd and Mara Jarchow; American Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson and hubby Howard Johnson; Canadian High Commissioner Claudio Valle, his fabulous wife, Louise and her mom Edith Jarbeau; Russian Ambassador Igor and Olga Lebedev; German Ambassador Volker Schlegel and wife, Gabriella; Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi and Kinuko Sakurai; Chilean Ambassador Alfonso and Ada Silva and their son Benjamin; Argentinean Ambassador and Mrs. Gonzalo Medrano; Colombian Ambassador Dr. Kent and Cecilia Francis; Trinidad and Tobago's High Commissioner Dennis Francis; Ambassador Madge Barrett; Laurie and Ruth Hussey and their granddaughter, the lovely Chrystal Harris; Capt. Phillip and AnneMarie Feanny; Helen Myers; Anthony and Jeanie Bell; Howard and Linda McIntosh; Ronnie Coke and wife Ethlyn Norton-Coke; Carlyle and Diane Hudson; Bob and Angie Fowler; Butch and Heidi Hendrickson, his sibling Kevin and Jackie Hendrickson; the lovely Muna Issa, her twin sister, the lovely Zein Issa-Nakash and hubby Chris Nakash.
Also out were Felicity Croswell-Brandt; Anthony Chang; Janet Farrow; Gordon and Diane Arnold; Steven Lyn-Kee-Chow; Mark and Karen Myers and their children; Stella Rosen; Dr. Randolph and Andrea Cheeks; Randy Mair and wife Nicola Croswell-Mair; Patrick Hylton; Donovan and Michelle Perkins; Gary and Tina Matalon and the apple of their union, Gregory and Michelle Mayne; the lovely Rachel McLarty; Peter and Donna Bovell; Terry Shoucair; Sharon Thomas and several scores others.
By the way, the Chinese Benevolent Association hosts their Chinese New Year function on Sunday, February 5, starting
at 4:00 p.m.
