Of birthdays and Valentine's

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

( l - r ) Romae Gordon, Gene Pearson, Ann Chen

( l - r ) Kent Pantry, Michelle LaPorte, Carl Bliss - File photos

It's definitely the age of Aquarius, and Aquarians everywhere are celebrating!

Let's begin by wishing human resource consultant and tenor, Carl Bliss, of the National Dance Theatre Company's (NDTC) chorale, a happy birthday, as the affable gentleman celebrates today.

Birthday wishes also extend to the lovely Maureen Lee of Yallahs, St Thomas, who is also celebrating today, but with the party in Toronto, Canada; and the lovely Petra Poitz, who also shares today!

Tomorrow, retired jurist and former director of public prosecutions, Kent Pantry, and impresario, Junior Wellington, of Hartford, Connecticut, will be celebrating their special day.

Celebrating milestones

February 14 is celebrated as the day for lovers - Valentine's Day - but come this Sunday, the internationally acclaimed ceramist and sculptor, Gene Pearson, will celebrate another year as the island's leading and most sought-after sculptor.

The ultra-fabulous and stylish general manager of Pulse, Romae Gordon, will also be celebrating.

And in Negril, it will be all about the fabulously hot Michelle LaPorte Reid, who will also be celebrating her birthday, as will the lovely Simone Thompson-Ealey, who will be doing so in the nation's capital.

On Monday, the fab beauty Michelle Moodie will celebrate her birthday, partying in New York. Also celebrating are the lovely Seya-Ann Henry-Wilson and the lovely Tara Hylton.

The lovely Jacqui Salmon will celebrate on Tuesday, as will the charming Debra Howell.

Special wishes to the always-graceful Carol Reid, soprano, and long-serving member of the NDTC chorale, who celebrates her birthday next Thursday.

Belated wishes to: the Honorary Consul of Lithuania Lois Sherwood; the lovely Maureen German, with the partying in London. Also celebrating is the fab Nevine Heaven, with the celebrations being in New York; and Okuson Onura, of Hedonism II, in Negril, who all celebrated their birthday yesterday.

The lovely Nicola DeMercado Barbar celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, as did wine merchant and oenophile, Christopher Reckord.

The affable Jonathan Surtees celebrated on Tuesday, so did the lovely Gloria Dawkins, the always-fab Audrey Miller and the lovely Stacy Smith.

Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda celebrated her birthday on Monday, as did the tres lovely Aloima Suarez; the fabulous Shawna Newman; the charming Claudette Kenlock of the Hilton Kingston hotel; and Debbie Estensen, who did the honours in South Carolina.

Belated birthday wishes

Olympian Allodin Fothergill, the beautiful Carla Newsam, child prodigy-turned-attorney-at-law Courtney Foster, and Nadia Strachan of London, England, all celebrated on February 7. Fern Williams celebrated on February 5 and the lovely Ann-Margaret Olmos celebrated on the second. Internationally celebrated hotelier Josef Forstmayr and banker Mark Berry both celebrated on February 1.

Then, special belated birthday wishes to the fabulous Betty Delfosse-Ingleton and fashion designer, the gorgeously stunning Sandra Kennedy, who both celebrated their birthday on January 23. For the ultra-fab Delfosse-Ingleton, who is one of Kingston's leading gourmet chefs, building contractors and interior designers, the day was marked with an intimate outing with very close friends.

Meanwhile, for Kennedy, it was a case of a double celebration, as MoBay's first lady of fashion first celebrated with family on the day, followed a week later by a simply divine brunch, thrown in her honour by doyenne of haute style and glamour denizen, Ann Chen, and her companion Steven Ueker, at their oh so fine estate near Reading, just outside of Montego Bay.

The home is nestled in a simply marvellous enclave above the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. The estate is styled for fabulous living, with its pool house, deck and guests' quarters all studiously removed from the grand main residence. And the main residence is a beauty to behold, done as it is in a sort of medieval Spanish architectural mode. The estate was once the summer home of the late Sarah Churchill, the grandniece of the late Sir Winston Churchill, and boasts a simply commanding view of the Bay of Montego, as well as the city and its environs, making for a most relaxing atmosphere.

Now, imagine great, towering guango trees, draped by clinging moss; giant banyan trees; a flowering garden that manages to convey a rustic imagery; and then add a simply and marvellously posited lounge and entertainment area, with its very own bar, stocked with nothing but the premium stuff! A shortlist of friends were on hand for Kennedy's post-birthday cocktails and brunch, but also, and essentially, to celebrate their friendship and various achievements.

Joining Chen and Ueker to toast the fab Kennedy were: the lovely Maureen Shaw; the stunning Cecile Levee; the fab Jackie Byrd; the gorgeous Lyn Scott; the very charming Debe-Ann Chen; Seya-Ann Henry-Wilson; plus a number of others.

And very special belated greetings to the lovely Victoria Olive Windle, who celebrated her very own special day on January 24 with a fab surprise birthday party at her home in Encino, California. Champagne wishes all around with beluga treats!