Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

William Clarke, president and CEO of Scotiabank, having fun with the lovely duo of Monique Todd (right) and Lois Heslop at Scotia Insurance's 10th anniversary celebration last Saturday. - Photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Oh my dears, what a week it was! Talk about hot and fab. Well, sweet-things, it was all that and then some, as am-a-telling-y'all, it was one fab party after the other. Fab outings all the way and Negril buzzing like a witches brew, being cooked with thermo-nuclear heat, especially at one of that resort town's high-class resort!

My darlings, suffice it to say, it was all about the ultra-fab and très chic all-inclusive Grand Lido Negril for the ninth annual food and wine festival: Epicurean Escape. And honeys, the name says it all. But more anon, as this was one hot tamale of the finest order.

It is, however, that time of the year when a number of our diplomatic friends celebrate their independence days. Starting with the Canadians, who celebrated their National Day on July 1; the Americans do their thing today (strangely, however, the official celebrations to mark the occasion here was on July 2). The Venezuelans celebrate their National Day on July 7 and the French cap off the celebrations with their Bastille Day commemoration on July 14.

Champagne toasts all around and nothing but!

And speaking of July 1 celebrations my dears, that is also the day that the wife of Canada's former high commissioner, the très élègante and oh-so-charming Louise Valle, celebrated her birthday. This year, however, fresh from her week-long holiday here in Jamaica, she and husband Claudio are now at their summer home in Italy, where she saw in her birthday.

All about the birthdays

Peter Fraser (left) and Tom Tavares-Finson, one of the birthday celebrants (right).

The one-time head of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and now United States diplomat, Lloyd Jackson, stopped off in Jamaica en route to his new posting in Pakistan; but this weekend, it's all about his 50th birthday bash in Florida, and dears, the word is it promises to be all that! Also celebrating his 50th birthday this weekend is international financial consultant Brent Ciurlino, with the weekend-long celebration getting under way today in sensational Negril.

It's all systems go for the 60th birthday safari to-do that will be the celebratory theme for Peter Fraser's milestone bash on the 14th. Manufacturing icon Billy Woung also celebrates his special day this here weekend.

The fab Marsha Wilson celebrated her birthday on Monday of this week, with an intimate outing at Norma's On the Terrace at Devon House. Legal powerhouse Tom Tavares-Finson celebrates his birthday on Monday, July 7.

The following day, security conglomateur Kenny Benjamin celebrates on the eighth, the party, however, follows on the 11th and party organisers Sonja Sutherland-Dumetz and Cindy Breakspeare promise a smasheroni! Legal eagle Patrick Bailey will take the birthday honours on the 10th, while former Transport Minister Bobby Pickersgill will celebrate on the 12th.

Caught up with Mark Pritchitt, formerly of the Jamaica Observer, now an international business and financial consultant, last Tuesday at the happening Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel. And the buzz is the former newspaperman is still bullish on destination Jamaica, and is eyeing the agri-sector for areas of cooperation and support, but more anon.

And mes congrats to former Senior Superintendent of Police Derrick Shand on his new appointment to the rank of assistant commissioner of police. Plus, it's a bouncing baby boy for David Hall and wife Liz.

Joylene Griffiths Irving (left), director of public, corporate and government affairs at Scotiabank, may be having fun at the expense of a quizzical Bridget Lewis (right), general manager of Scotia Private Client Group, while Sharon Colquhun looks on.

Communications consultant Melody Cammock (right) introduces birthday girl and mom, Monica Cammock, to guests during her 81st-birthday celebration last Thursday in Smokey Vale. - Contributed

Patrick Bailey