Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Asafa powell

And so, the most anticipated list of the holiday season is out. No, not the annual Best and Worst Dressed list - but the national honours and awards, given to those who have excelled in their field of endeavour, and/or given service with distinction.

Well, it is official, and while some of the awardees have caused more than an eyebrow to be raised in questioning the propriety of the award, there are those who have genuinely earned the right to be so acknowledged.

In this respect, we congratulate Keble Munn; Rev. Sophia Azan of Linstead; Marcia Bennett of Morant Bay; Musician Byron Lee; international singing sensation Shaggy; the trailblazing Kingsley Cooper; Dr. Ivor Crandon; cricketer Maurice Foster; artist Christopher Gonzales; Father Gregory Ramkisoon; developer Phillip Gore; businessman Steve Khemlani; Mrs. Effie Lakasingh; and cricket umpire Steve Bucknor, on being so recognised.

Kudos all around, and yes, it's time to break out the champagne for the celebrations to commence!

Pity, though, that the inspirational Asafa Powell was omitted.

Then, my dears, what a beautiful bank holiday! Six days and nights of pure and unadulterated fun, from the pearly-white beaches of Port Antonio, through to Negril's West End, and on to black sand beaches of the south coast - it was a good time to be holidaying, andfor my word, how!

Preferred destination

Now, mind you, for those tired of trying to escape the city's traffic snarls and bad-tempered and semi-illiterate road users, who do not posses the inclination to show some restraint, joining these same hordes in their dash for Negril and the summer party season was just not on. So Kingston too, numbered among the preferred destination for the Emancipation and Independence celebrations, made that much more so by the fact that the traditional road hogs and their cohorts were out of town.

Anyway, my dears, if y'all missed it, while Kingston was kicking, Negril was most definitely the preferred destination for the young at heart and the party-hearty, as it was all about the Appleton Treasure Island (ATI) and the Red Stripe Temptation Island (RTI) party series, that are simply must-do events for the fun-loving. And luvs, it made Negril rock like a mansion on fire.

Now, there are hotels, and then there are resorts. When in Negril, the smart thing to do is stay at a resort. And for the smart folks with a zest for partying and luxury, the preferred resorts were the luxurious Grande Lido Negril, the racy Hedonism II, or Couples Swept Away Negril. But pity the lazy souls who attempted last-minute reservations, my dears, as it simply was not that kind of a party!

Miserable revellers

And so, while the fab crowd stayed at the fabulous resorts where they rested and dined well and then whooped it up by night, lesser souls were having a juice of a time, just finding a rhythm, and luvs, this made for a lot of miserable would-be revellers. A feeling not at all helped when ice ran out at one of the most highly anticipated parties of the ATI season; some properties were sans electricity and sans water for most of the weekend.

That hiccup aside, Negril was steaming all weekend long and it made for one helluva party!

Then, my daahlings, the age of the Leo is upon us and with the gusto of the rampaging lion. Naturally, parties there are aplenty.

Partying has begun

And so the partying has begun with noted lawyer Harold Brady celebrating on August 1, but more about his shindig. Also celebrating are: Jacqui Tyson, Friday the 3rd; Leighton McKnight of PWC did his thing on the 4th; Pegasus GM Eldon Bremner and high-flying model Nadine Willis did theirs on the 5th; Bishop Robert Thompson celebrated on Wednesday of this week; the lovely Cheryl Hill was the 9th; her hubby Alex will follow a week later on the 19th; but Richard Francis, will be blowing out the candles on his cake in Montego Bay, today.

The financial controller of the Guardsman Group will celebrate his special day on Sunday the 12th; the leggy Josephine McGann has decided to move the party inland and will celebrate her special day at the party capital of the Caribbean, Hedonism III near Runaway Bay this weekend, her birthday being Monday the 13th. Also celebrating his birthday on the 13th is Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields; celebrating on the 14th is the Honorary Consul of Switzerland Ulle Bangerter; as will fashion designer Norma Soas. The 20th will see style maven Marilyn Bennett, Howard Mitchell, Major Hugh Blake and his wife Judith all celebrating the good life in fine style.

And so it is my dears, but wait for the partying to be well and truly enjoined after the political die has been cast!

And speaking of politics, my dears, if y'all missed the fab little tea and art auction hosted by women (and men) for women in politics, two Thursdays ago, at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, then y'all missed a fine outing.

Hosted as a kind of familiarisation session with the PNP's female candidates, the affair was a novel experience in that it never directly solicited contributions from those invited, but rather encouraged them to come and meet the candidates and hear their stories vis-á-vis how they got started and maintained their political journeys, and for my word, what a pleasant interlude it was away from the rough and tumble of the actual campaign trail!

With such PNP stalwarts as senators Syringa Marshall Burnett and Donna Scott-Motley; Education Minister Maxine-Henry Wilson; Phyllis Mitchell; Sharon Hay-Webster; Denise Daley; and Andrea Moore in attendance and sharing their experiences.

Well, my dears, it was like that and then some with the able Dr. Blossom O'Meally-Nelson doing a superb job as compère for the occasion, her witticisms and ease of manner made it a fabulously relaxed atmosphere, especially for the political neophytes, out for the first time to learn about the process as well as to make their own contribution.

And contributions there were, as the art auction had a fine sampling from a number of leading contemporary artists, who had donated their works, and luvs, trust moi, the bidding and jostling to secure some very good deals, you know, we are talking an artistic and political buzz.

It was made that much more so owing to the fabness of guests, as in between the auctioneer's offerings and sips and taste, there was excellent repartee and intellectual sparring among the august gathering.

We saw: Daisy Cooke; Janet Panton; Gloria Palomino; Laurie and Ruth Hussey; Lynette Vassell; Robert Stephenson; Antoinette Haughton; Lorna Phillips-Nicholson; Thelma Joyhill; Kemel Allen; Betty Thompson; Phyll Williams; Maureen Webber; Ethlyn Norton-Cooke; and Grace Duncan; Pat Daley; Norma Russell; Melody Royal, plus scores more.

Indeed, it was a most civilised outing and a most fabulous mode to elicit support and/or contributions to the process.

And while some traditional summer visitors are staying away form our shores in this the political season, not everyone is buying into the hype that it will be a violent season. Last Thursday, the fabulous Katie Darling and her beau flew in from Dan Rice, from Charlotte, North Carolina, for a few days of absolute rest and relaxation on the white sandy beaches of glorious Negril, but not before catching up with friends and colleagues in the nation's capital, before heading out west.

And it's all systems go for tomorrow's nuptials between Ambassador Douglas Saunders and his partner Angela Robertson, with the international invitees already here in the island and just waiting to take Port Antonio by its party horns and party away.

And then, my dears, just what none of us wanted - one of the beautiful people getting caught up in the madness that periodically stalks this here land, as we too join with the family friends and colleagues of the lovely Tracey Moses, in wishing her our heartfelt wishes in this, one of her darkest hours; and God speed in your recovery from the physical assault and trauma that was inflicted upon you.

May the gods grant you their inner all-knowing peace, to see you and yours through.

( L - R ) Shaggy Douglas Saunders

Left: Nadine willis and Kingsley Cooper, Right: Byron Lee

( L - R )Mark Shield, Steve Bucknor