Left: US Embassy Consul General Edward J. Wehrli and wife, Rose, at a function in Kingston, recently. - Contributed. Right: Age is just a number for Bev Corke (left) and Joan McDonald, who look as gorgeous today as they did when they dominated the social scene. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Oh Holy Mary, the Blessed Virgin! All praises to her son Jesus and on his birthday, as honeys, his birthday made for one almighty festive season and then some, so the stars, be praised!
Baby luvs, what a Christmas! Oh, for the celebrations! The parties! The sorrel, Christmas puddings! The egg-nog. The ham, lamb and turkey! Not to mention the duck, goose and flowing vino! Luvs, oh for a year of Christmases and nothing but!
And little wonder here my dears as it was all about the air of conviviality; the celebration of family; the reaffirmation of friendship; and a toast to perseverance and the triumph of goodness in what, at times looked like a sea of malevolence!
And so it was that Christmas 2006 was simply beautiful!
To be sure, there was a lot of partying and gift-giving all around, but whereas this activity was usually confined to immediate family and friends or one's circle of friends and/or associates, this year compassion was in the air and so there were a sharing and caring that went beyond the usual photo-opportunity poses and/or regular public relations gimmickry, practised by would-be good corporate citizens, that is more about highlighting their name and/or brands than the care they are ostensibly postulating!
Anyway, my dears, this year, corporate Jamaica's social conscience went way beyond traditional posturing and took on a very meaningful consideration as it sought to alleviate the social and financial discomfiture of many of the less fortunate.
And the truth be told, it was as if something were in the air as some in the corporate world were being generous. It was even more so as the act of giving and/or caring for those outside of one's direct sphere took on more urgency this year, and so there was more than just a cursory interest in the well-being of strangers over the Christmas weekend, and honeys, it made for a much calmer, more peaceful and merrier Christmas, in some places that otherwise would have been in the doldrums!
Now, if only we can take this mood and sense of goodwill into the New Year!
Celebration
Some of the Caribbean Fashion Model finalists share pleasant moment with C&W President Rodney Davis. From left are Amy Brown, St. Lucia; (partly hidden) Shevolee Bell, Jamaica; Pearl Joseph, Trinidad; Donna Archer, Barbados; Sara Jones, Antigua; Carolyn Gouevia, Guyana; Crystal McLawrence, Grenada; and Masiel Peralta, Dominican Republic. - Contributed
Now y'all know that the Jamaican tradition is that come Christmas and Boxing Day
holidays, it's all about getting together and celebration of family and friends. Well dearhearts, this year was no less, so as from Negril through to Morant Point, the island was in an orgy of dinners, soirées, and get-togethers that made for a fabulous Christmas!
Luvs, beginning with our Prime Minister, the lovely Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller began her day with an outing to her constituency that saw her sharing with her constituents; then returning home for a Christmas fare with hubby, Errald Miller, and immediate relatives and friends.
It was the same for former Prime Minister Edward Seaga and his wife, Carla, who served up their traditional fare and homemade egg nog to their friends and relative at their upper St. Andrew residence, from mid-morning way into the evening, that had a number of political bigwigs and leading citizens in attendance sharing anecdotal memories over libations and a scrumptious fare that made the mouth water in anticipation and the stomach applaud in appreciation!
Abuzz with family
The patriarch of the Benjamin family, the charmingly lovely Mrs. Doris Benjamin, jetted in from her Florida home to attend at her son, Kenny Benjamin's annual Christmas dinner, at his Stony Hill home, which was abuzz with family, relatives, and immediate friends, on Christmas night. The oohs and aahs audible some distance away as presents were unwrapped, and even more so when the fare was served up later in the evening!
The fabulous Janet Panton hosted her traditional shindig, and a
memorable do at that!
Socialite extraordinaire, Jennifer Lim, hosted the ultimate power brunch on Christmas Day, which saw the entire Hussey family, headed by patriarch and matriarch, Laurie and Ruth Hussey in attendance. Also present were German Ambassador Volker Schlegel; his Mexican counterpart Leonora Rueda; U.S. Consul General Ed and his fabulous wife, Rose Wehrli; Barbara Matalon; Oswald and Shirley James; and the charming Barbara McNamee; plus many others.
Meanwhile John and Cherise Windle, threw a charming little do on Christmas Day as well, that saw Kingsley Cooper and the fabulous Romae Gordon; the lovely Betty Delfosse-Ingleton; Pulse's newest modelling sensation, the statuesque, and lovely Shevolee Bell; and her super model runner-up, Sashana Gray; plus a number of others, all partying way into the evening.
Swanky dinner
David Minott threw a swanky dinner do at his Millsborough Avenue residence, later that night The ultra-gorgeous Sophia MaxBrown celebrated Christmas and her birthday at homes, the preferred libation here being that absolutely devilishly fabulous party elixir known as Champagne, with her family and a few friends, who actually insisted that the beauty take a break from her adopted
charities and hard work to savour her own birthday.
On Boxing Day, Carl Bliss threw his traditional fare at his Red Hills residence and here the sorrel was to die for! And for those wishing to get away from the kitchen, but yet still be gracious hosts, the place to brunch on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was definitely over there at Diane Watson's place, in Liguanea.
Their Excellencies, Burchell and Joline Whiteman, take up their duties at the Court of St. James, on January 1.
Business tycoon, John Issa, celebrates his birthday today. As does Gleaner columnist, Dawn Ritch.
Wednesday saw musician and pilot, Capt. Rupert Bent; stained glass artist, the lovely Liza Marzouca; along with actress and public relations practitioner Mitzie Pratt, celebrating their special day.
Former high-fashion model and beauty, and etiquette consultant, the elegant Bev Corke, celebrated hers yesterday!
Other celebrants
Thursday too was the birthday of dub poet extraordinaire, artist and radio host, Mutabaruka, the celebrations started on Boxing night, however, with his 'empress', Jackie Amber Olabisi, throwing a fab do that saw the intelligentsia and the artistic out in attendance!
And it's all systems go for the year-ending annual art and craft fair and intuitives exhibition over there at Harmony Hall, come New Year's Eve.
And so, it's been a swell year, and so it was in the beginning, so it is in the end, one swell year, and then some!
