Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Ian and Jean Bowskill of the British High Commission. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
REGGAE'S REIGNING 'queen' Rita Marley took her birthday celebrations to Ghana, last week, with lots of Jamaicans in attendance.
Anil and Nilofer Kalra will spend this summer here in Kingston, their first visit back to Kingston in about four years.
Akbar Indian Restaurant that opened their doors in Kingston almost a decade ago at Ruthven Road, in New Kingston and which also houses the Thai Gardens Restaurant, and then opened up on Montego Bay's hip-strip four years later, is now moving to the ultra fab Half Moon Hotel complex in adding further diversity to that beacon of civilised living and haut-appeal in the tourism mecca. Both Akbar and Thai Gardens will now be featured at Half Moon.
Dears, this is a welcome addition to one already fabulous complex and definitely the way to go!
And speaking of the Half Moon Hotel - the buzz is all about the visit there this weekend of Nigerian President Obasanjo, who jets into the island for some rest and relaxation and to share in the 43rd Independence celebrations. Dears, it seems that the women of upper St. Andrew are up in arms once again, and not unlike two years or so ago when they first made their displeasure known by boycotting a very high-profile social outing, the reason for their displeasure is the bevy of imported East European women who reportedly dance in the buff at one of the city's leading night spots.
OFF LIMITS
And so, outings to Lime Cay and any other hot spot frequented by these women are now off limits to husbands and anywhere where these women frequent for that matter. Some are even vowing to take up the matter of work permits for these women at the ministerial level, to have them shipped back home. But more definitely anon, as this is definitely one hot potato and then some!
The question on most people's lips however, is with the fee for 'companionship' being US$300, how long can these liaisons be maintained?
CLOSELY WATCHED
Pumpkins, the buzz is that in recent weeks, at least two husbands have moved out of their matrimonial homes to set up house with two of these women, and fearing an even greater exodus of wayward husbands, these women are being watched closely.
And luvs, all roads lead to the North Coast this weekend, as the party hearty take their show to the resort town to whoop it up for the holidays! And dears, if y'all have not yet made your reservations, then we extend our sympathies.
And so, after some three years as security manager at the British High Commission in Kingston, the rather affable, sometime raconteur Ian Bowskill and his wife the charming and ebullient Jean Bowskill, say their goodbyes to Jamaica and the many friends they made here. Their tour of duty ends this morning as they arrive in Washington D.C. later today, where he will assume the responsibilities as security manager for the British High Commission in the United States capital.
Dears, D.C.'s gain, is undoubtedly Jamaica's loss as Ian Bowskill distinguished himself as a no-nonsense, security-minded official, who placed the security of the British High Commission above and beyond all else, and in the process ruffled more than a few feathers.
Anyway the Bowskills were certainly very charming people, and it was this charm which made them fast friends to the many men and women with whom their official and social engagements brought them in contact, from the chic East in Port Antonio to the magical West in Negril.
CHARM AND BEAUTY
The charm and beauty of their host country was never lost on the couple who, having lived in 37 homes in some near 20 countries in their over 30 years of marriage and service to Queen and country, not only took time out to explore and enjoy the beauty of Jamaica, as well as sharing in many of its culinary secrets but invited many relatives and friends to come explore and enjoy the beauty and joys of the island.
Well last Sunday evening, a very smart and intimate dinner party was hosted in honour of Ian and Jean Bowskill, in Stony Hill. It was almost a mush-fest, as host, guests of honour and all were almost teary eyed in their very brief remarks, given to punctuate an evening steeped in a cloud of sadness, occasioned by the imminent departure of the guests.
Luvs, the affair began with cocktails for a short list of critically hand-picked friends and colleagues, drawn from high-society, and security leaders, who met to toast the departing couple.
Dears, it was one of those affairs - as charming as ever, but loaded with lots of emotional overtones and thus making it a rich outing ? as the friends of the Bowskills toasted, lauded and applauded them . The guest of honour summed up his feelings with a warm little limerick he had penned for the occasion, which began: I've had a great time whilst here.
A place I won't forget.
The friends I've made, and Jean has too
The best we've ever met.
It was with these words, which ended with the exultation - "God bless you all and thanks a lot. Good health, good luck, good cheers," that Ian Bowskill sank into his seat, the weight of leaving a place he had earlier described as, "just like heaven", beginning to look a little too much, and so he choked up.
His wife, however, crowned the evening with her thanks and reminiscences; thanking especially, friends who had made their stay much easier as she toasted the warmth and friendliness of the Jamaican people.
Among those out were: MacMillan; John and Marlene Fulford; Al Niazi and wife Charmaine Johnson-Niazi; Robin Morris and wife Muffy; Ian Garbutt and his fab companion A.J. Betty; Jeffery Dujon and his charming wife Sherida Sharpe; Vinay Walia; R. Christene King and sibling Dawn King; Claude Clements; Vikram and Aditi Dhiman; Robert Epstein and his betrothed, the lovely Odette Shoucair and her son, Matthew; the Robert Haughton; Gary and Debbie Cassons; Jim and Lynn Day; Phil Powell; Neil Kirk; Karen Chang and her brother Dr. Robert Chang, visiting from the UK; plus a number of others.
