Nadine Willis, Grace Silvera and P. J. Patterson - file photos Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Pumpkins, in a word - flawless! And we are talking from Port Antonio to Negril, as freshon the fabulous three-day-and-night celebratory bash that Icelandic billionaire threw to celebrate his 40th birthday, Port Antonio is once again jumping with the cachet of international celebrity. The fabulous blue-blooded aristocrat and the flawlessly wealthy Francesca von Habsburg jetted into Port Antonio for the Easter with an entourage of fabulous people my dears, and how!
Also jetting in from London for the Easter holidays via his Manhattan condo was international hair stylist and owner of the London-based chain of Windle Salons, Paul Windle. Word is that he, the founder of the high profile and very successful Windle Salons, complete with its own line of hair and beauty products - boasts such clients as the world's leading high fashion supermodels; members of London glitterati and chi-chic crowd. Clients also include a number of Europe's leading blue-bloods and royals - has sold his company, and for a pretty penny, to American beauty and hair giant, Estee Lauder, in a fab deal that saw them retaining his services as a leading consultant for the British and European markets. The buzz is, expect this charming gentleman to be spending more and more of his leisure time here in Jamaica.
Winter home
And already there is talk of his making this his winter home. Anyway, more definitely anon.
And the buzz from the Memorial Hospital in South Florida is that the stork has delivered a bouncing baby boy to budding music mogul Jon Baker of Geejam Studios, over there in Port Antonio and Kingston, and his companion, Nordia Witter.
Named Che J. Baker, the stork made her delivery mid-afternoon on Tuesday, and mother and child are doing quite fine! Needless to say, dad is beaming, and then some!
And speaking of births, belated birthday wishes to the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson, who celebrated his big day on Tuesday! He will be followed by the absolutely and fabulously elegant Laurel Williams DeMercado, who will celebrate her very special day next Tuesday, and the word is that it promises to be not only a very special affair, but also a very regal one! On Wednesday, however, it was all about the fabulous Grace Silvera, of Red Stripe, as the serene beauty marked her special day!
And the buzz in modelling circles and the world of fashion is all about hot model Nadine Willis, as the news is that she has called off her recently announced engagement to her diplomatic fianc, at least for the time being. But not missing a beat, the hot young lass has already planned a fab little soire to fill the spot that was earmarked for her wedding, and the word here is that it will be all that!
And while the international modelling sensation has put her engagement and pending nuptials on hold, it's all systems go for the fab couple of Steve and Betty Ashley, as this here very charming couple mark the 11th anniversary of their marriage today.
Celebrations will be many as the couple will begin the partying at their Norbrook residence before sharing an intimate lunch around mid-afternoon, then joining friends and well-wishers, later tonight for a smasheroni.
And, man-about-town, Alistair MacBeath, is almost US$5,000 richer this week, following upon his triumph in the second staging of the now annual Strawberry Hill Boutique Resort and Spa High-Stakes Backgammon Tournament, hosted over last weekend, at that oh-so-goose-pimply-fabulous resort and spa nestled up there in the St. Andrew hills!
Luvs, with last year's winner and defending champion Blaise Hart; international pop icon and leading Backgammon aficionado, Chris Blackwell; Lenny Chin; Ryan Lowe; Dwight Sangster and Frederick Moe all touted as pre-tournament favourites, from the field of nearly 30 participants, the only surprise came when Chris Blackwell ousted last year's champ, Blaise Hart, to make the round of final four.
And then it was down to Lenny Chin and Alistair MacBeath, their nerves and the luck of the dice, to decide this year's champion, as MacBeath triumphed over Blackwell and Chin over Lowe, for the trophy, bragging rights and US$4,300, a return trip for two to London courtesy of British Airways and a weekend for two at the fabulous Golden Eye Boutique resort in St. Mary.
Well, the day that began with a scrumptious breakfast to fortify the players, ended pretty much on the culinary high note on which it began, with a faultless fare for dinner, that segued into the knockout stages of the friendly but fierce competition, that saw MacBeath emerging as champion, Lenny Chin, first runner-up taking a cash prize US$1400; Ryan Lowe secured third place and a cash prize of US$400; Chris Blackwell in fourth with a purse of US$400 and Dwight Sangster emerging triumphant over Frederick Moe, in the Lost Souls category, and taking the US$300 consolation prize.
Now the word here is - expect a bigger and better championship next year, as already a number of major sponsors are queuing to join in what is emerging as one hot and definitely fab and popular numbers.
That Portland Party
And then, speaking of Port Antonio, my dears, by now y'all should have heard of the others who tried to gatecrash the multimillion-dollar affair!
Well, the buzz is, after the unceremonious ejection from the affair, word is that attempts were made to access at least one multimillion-dollar yacht, anchored at the Port Antonio Marina!
Well, the captain of that yacht was having none of it, so again access was denied. But, word is that at least one beauty queen, hired to act as a party hostess, was too busy having a good time sipping on champagne and ordering waiters around, while lounging a la poolside, so she too was ejected from the shindig.
And then there was that business of an armoured truck arriving around 1:00 a.m., laden with jewellery, making its way all the way from the other coast, in an attempt to sell some jewellery to one of the international pop acts booked to perform for the birthday celebrations!
Well, no word yet, if there were any early morning sales; or what even happened to the beauty queen after her ejection, but quill feathers have definitely been ruffled.
But more anon, as this one promises to be one cantata; word is: there will be no idle bystanders here.
