Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Young Master David Chin and Capri Rose-Tavares Finson strike a pose at the birthday party. - photos by Chester Francis-Jackson

Bookings are pouring in for the Christmas/New Year season, and sweet-things, how!

To begin with my dears, destination Jamaica is still quite the favourite among the international jet-set, social gad-abouts and definitely, the moneyed class, as honeys, this is still one of the best pieces of real estate for a holiday maker, anywhere in the world.

So, even while the internationally renowned become more jaded because of the horror stories we keep treating with banner headlines, the allure of the island and the charm and beauty of the people win out every time. These keep Jamaica atop the rankings of preferred destinations!

And so it is my daahlings it's that time of the year again, when the fun-loving thrill-seeking card-carrying members of the international fab crowd book their winter holidays at their favourite resorts around the globe.

Intense fun

Well, my dears, for many, a winter holiday is usually a few weeks, at best, of intense fun in the sun, for the haute class. However, it's never enough just to dash off for a few weeks, but more so to take of for the entire winter.

Well, honeys, after many a years of vacationing on Jamaica's north and south coasts, the absolutely fabulous couple of Ronnie and Francesca De Maja, he the fabulously wealthy patriarch of the esteemed De Maja family of Malta and the celebrated Bajtra Liqueurs, and she his stunning Italian wife and one-time budding operatic diva, both jetted into Kingston on Monday afternoon, on a little familiarisation tour as they seek to decide on including Kingston in their annual winter stay. Not only have Ronnie and Francesca De Maja, decided on making Jamaica, their winter get-away, they plan on making it a celebration and then some!

Luvs, with his motto being one of "work hard to play hard," the De Maja's will not only be ringing in the New Year here in Jamaica, the couple will make it their winter home as they ride out the expected rough winter at their preferred resorts - Hedonism II in Negril, and Hedonism III in St. Ann. Their stay runs from New Year's eve, through the beginning of April, before returning to their home in Malta.

Now sweethearts, no word yet if Kingston will be included on the couple's itinerary, but they are scheduled to visit St. Maarten and Cancun, to compare, before returning home. The onus is on Kingston to not only put her best foot forward, but to do so with the style, gusto and élan to which her residents are accustomed.

More anon as it promises to be one fabulous holiday season with loads and loads of the internationally chic jetting to chill and experience a fab island lyme for the winter.

Birthday Celebrations

Well my daahlings, it was intended to be a birthday celebration for the young Roman Tavares-Finson and his friends, as the off-spring of Tom and Rose Tavares-Finson was celebrating his fourth birthday. Well, it was all that and then some. It was one fine kiddies celebration, accentuated by the requisite bounceabouts, rides, piñata and other games designed to make the children have a fantasy playground and then some!

It was a magical brew as the celebrations took the theme of a Halloween costume party, with the hostess leading the way dressed as the Wicked Witch of Stillwell. The tots and toddlers who attended, for the most part came dressed in their favourite fantasy costume, their moms and dads, also in attendance, but keeping their respectful distance in order that the kids could really go at it.

And dears they did!

The beautifully-manicured lawns of the well-appointed St. Andrew residence of the Tavares-Finsons were decked out to embrace the Halloween theme of the party, with a mock haunted house to boot.

The children wore costumes, too, with the birthday boy dressed as Spiderman, led his sister, and their friends into having one heck of a celebration, as dressed as ghouls, goblins and comic-book heroes.

With the children busy playing, some parents kicked back and enjoyed each other's society, swapping stories of the exploits of their little ones. It was one smooth and charming outing, from beginning to end.

End?

Truth be told, with the toddlers exhausted and ready to retire, they were so accommodated and then with them gone, the bar was opened up and from there on, it really was full speed ahead for the adults. The premium libations made their appearances and honeys, there were no shortage of takers, and with that the partying got its second wind, and rocked it did!

Indeed, it was an evening turned night, very well spent with among those spotted being: business mogul Las Chin and his fabulous wife Dr. Eileen Gonzales-Chin and their two sons, David and Richard Chin; Robert MacMillan; Harold Brady; godparents to Roman Tavares-Finson,Peter and Michelle Champagnie and their daughter Isabelle;Bertrand Bainvel of UNICEF; Claire Fernandez and daughter Renee Wilson; Lisa Azan and her daughters; Don Creary and his beautiful wife Ayesha Creary and his lovely daughter; Mark and Susan Hotai and their children; Nathalie Lodge and daughter Leah Lodge; Paula Delves and daughter Hannah Delves; Henrietta Delisser; Courtney and Dido Sunderman; John Myers, who provided one fabulous Jamaican spread of a fare; and Italian/Canadian Joseph Tito, just in from Toronto. plus a number of others!

And, speaking of birthdays and celebrations, belated birthday wishes to Leonardo Johnson, (Leon, to his friends), who celebrated his birthday last Thursday with an intimate do at his home, near the nation's first capital. The buzz here is that it was all that and then some!

Now, tomorrow being Saturday, Saleem Lazarus, will be blowing out the candles on his birthday cake as he too celebrates another year.

And honeys, hold on to your horses here, as his wife being the lovely Anna-Kaye Zaidie Lazarus, y'all know that this here birthday cake will be beyond compare!