President of Jamaica Public Service, Damian Obiglio (left) with Digicel's Ciara Ryan and Guardsman's chairman, Kenny Benjamin, at the party hosted by British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell on St. Patrick's Day, last Saturday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

And so, former Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, the venerated Claudio Valle and his tres elegant wife, the fashionably flawless Louise Valle, arrive in Jamaica, today, for their first visit to the island since his retirement last year!

The fabulous couple, who during their stints here, not only endeared themselves to the Jamaican people, (and we do mean people from all walks of life), but also made some lasting friends.They will spend two weeks on the island catching up with old friends, attending, a number of intimate soir?es to be hosted in their honour, in the capital, before heading over to the north coast, where they will spend some time in the sun, before returning to their home!

And luvs, it promises to be quite a busy two weeks for the Valles, as their many friends, here, are literally queuing to host them at brunch, dinner, and/or cocktails. So you know we are talking quite the unofficial "state" visit for Canada's former first citizens here, on the rock!

And, speaking of fabulous parties, soir?es and or receptions, my dears, if y'all have not yet received an invitation to this weekend double celebration, then it is plain that you are not expected! Those expected, however, will join Honorary Consul of the Ukraine Kenny Benjamin, at his Stony Hill estate, to celebrate his son, Nicholas Benjamin's coming-of-age. The firstborn and presumptive heir to the Guardsman empire, actually celebrated his 21st birthday, on Monday the 19th, and jets in from Canada today to join family, relatives and a shortlist of friends for the celebration!

Fabulous birthdays

Today being the 23rd, it's all about his mom, the former Mrs. Kenny Benjamin, the gracious and head-turningly fabulous Suzie Benjamin, who celebrates her birthday, on this here day. And not just another birthday either, as the absolutely gorgeous Susie Benjamin, looking like all that and then some, celebrates one fabulous milestone as birthdays goes, as she enters the age of the fabulous '50s, and dovecakes, how!

Not to put too fine a point to it, but luvs, the lady is a stunner!

And so my daahlings, let the celebrations begin!

And speaking of the fabulous and their birthdays, Chicago-based real estate power player Joe English celebrated his birthday, on St. Patrick's Day, and will arrive in the island this week, for the occasion. And on Wednesday, it was all about businessman and mover and shaker, Seragh Lakasingh, who blew out the candles on his cake with wife, Effie, and a few friends at their upper St. Andrew home.

And then, with the invitations for the wedding already out, as are the tickets to the third annual American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) fund-raising charity gala, in South Florida. The wedding is slated for Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May the 12th, and the AFJ's gala slated for May the 19th at the prestigious Ritz Carlton, in Coconut Grove, South Florida. Jamaican social and business icon and noted philanthropist, Tony Hart, and the international relief organisation, Food For The Poor, will be the recipients of the coveted and prestigious AFJ's international humanitarian award. Both are well deserving of the awards.

Well my daahlings, the buzz is that with the wedding of the scion - successful real estate developer and the Honourary Consul of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Robert Cartade, and his wife, former high-fashion model and celebrated fashion designer and co-heiress to the Couples Hotel chain dynasty, the fabulous Carole Issa Cartade - the dapper Oliver Cartade, coming within days of each other, haute society is planning on making it a fashionable lay-over in South Florida, on their return from the wedding in Sao Paulo.

Fab smasheroni

Oliver Cartade and fiancee, Adriana Aguiar.

Pumpkins, it is expected to be one absolutely fab smasheroni, and is being dubbed the Sao Paulo/South Florida smasheroni combi, by those in the know. Already bookings are pouring into the Coconut Grove Ritz-Carlton, and so my dears, little wonder here really as fab is as fab does and this here outing has all the telltale signs of being fabulous!

And speaking of fabulous outings, people are still talking about the absolutely fabulous "little" shindig, that British High Commissioner HE Jeremy Cresswell and his fabulous German companion, the oh so engaging Dr. Barbara Munske, hosted at the High Commission's official residence at Trafalgar House, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, last Saturday evening!

Sweet-things, the buzz here is that it was all things fab and then some, as with a host of Irish visitors on the island to cheer on their national cricket team in the ongoing ICC World Cricket Cup, playing it self out, and to much drama to boot. The air was one of fabulous camaraderie and bonhomie - a pace set and dictated by High Commissioner Cresswell and Ireland's most recognised citizen here, the very affable David Hall of Digicel Jamaica.

Luvs, y'all know that the British and the Irish have been notorious for their continental animosity for generations now, well, talk about rapprochement! Well dovecakes, everything came up roses and peaches last Saturday. And dovecakes, so much so, some of the non-Irish non-British who guested at the affair are hailing it as nothing short of historic!

And talk about a good time being had by all! Well, my dears, suffice it to say, that some of this city's leading social denizens are saying it was tenner, on the social Richter scale, and then some!

Definitely the way to go then!

Another fab function that has been coming if for rave reviews was the Sail the Harbour cruise - the floating reception, hosted by Kingston's first citizens, His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Desmond McKenzie and his wife, Marcia, two Tuesdays ago, aboard the Caribbean Queen, in celebration of the Cricket World Cup.

Doves, the buzz is that it was all good, but little wonder here as indeed, His Worship, an avid cricket fan, would have nothing less than a smasheroni, with a difference to celebrate and show his appreciation for the game of cricket as well as the historic happening of the region playing host to this exalted affair!

Well, me daahlings, it was quite the to-do, and so fine too, the expectations in some quarters are that there will be another such cruise to salute the region and the triumph the ICC Cricket World Cup has been for the region!