Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Group Country Manager for Barclays, Nigeria, Elaine Hall, gets ready to cut her birthday cake last Saturday night, at Mamee Bay, Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

Attaining the age of 50 is a significant milestone and for banker Elaine Hall, it was even more so. The Jamaican-born group country canager for Barclays, Nigeria, journeyed to her St. Ann roots, to party with 18 overseas family members and relatives, plus a host of others living in the island.

Party central was Jam Villa Resort in Mamee Bay, Ocho Rios, St. Ann and from as early at 4:00 p.m., guests began to arrive ready to party and partake of the lavish Jamaica feast and copious amounts of liquor at the bar. There were many Kodak moments as old friends met, hugged and toasted the birthday girl. And judging from her hot outfit, Mrs. Hall seemed to have found a brand new birth certificate as her slender frame fit perfectly in white shorts set featuring a halter top and red sheer sarong.

The other visitors from London, St. Kitts, Grenada and the United States of America, seemed to have captured the mood of the night which was to get formalities out of the way and dance till they droppded!

Moet and Chandon champagne toasts from family and friends described Mrs. Hall as "... loving life, a planner, top of the class, a great and loyal friend of over 30 years, a pleasure to know, always there when you need her and someone nice to be around."

The feast

St. Mary-based caterer, Norma Ellison, prepared all the Jamaican favourites specially requested by the visitors. These included manish water, fish tea, curried goat, rice and peas, roast fish, escoveitch fish, jerk pork, breadfruit salad, carrot salad and more. For dessert, there were all the delicious sweet treats such as gizzardas, sweet potato pudding, and fresh tropical fruits.

We saw Sherdon and Sharon Johnson, Clayton and Janie Witter, Roy and Lesma Baisden, Winston Rose, Elaine Thomas, Lana Lee Leonard, Joyce Brady, Pauline Platt, Eda and Desmond Reid, Dennis Marshall, Alwyn and Shirley Palmer, Glenville Shaw, Veronica Shaw, and several others.