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Rain couldn't stop JoJo Paige's party

Published:Friday | June 10, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Jojo Paige (seated) is having a grand time with three of her children (from left) Peter Franklyn, Monique Murray and Diana Stewart.
From left: Mommy Michelle Bovell with her daughter Terry Shoucair and grand daughter Tara Shoucair.
Janette Stewart (left) and Lorna Myers.
From left: Marjorie Borough, Magnus Menzies and Chris Bovell enjoy their wine.
Jojo Paige and her great grandson Timothy Stewart cut her birthday cake. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Jojo Paige 'drops legs' at her 90th birthday party in Dunsinane, near Gordon Town, on Tuesday.
Hanging out (from left) Viv Luetenn, Paula Creary and Robin DeLisser.
From left: Moxy Morrison and wife Louise joins stylish Ann-Marie Vaz for a photo.
Robert MacMillan and Jeanne Watson are having way too much fun.
Peter Franklyn has some fun balancing a drink on his mom Jojo Paige's head.
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So if you thought a little thing like a thunder and rainstorm was going to stop the fun-loving Jojo Paige from celebrating her 90th birthday, you got it all wrong. By mid-morning on Tuesday, May 7, more than 80 of her guests had already confirmed attendance. So with shuttle service arranged, it was off to Dunsinane, near Gordon Town, St Andrew for the lunchtime soirée.

Now, the typical Jamaican takes to bed in rainy weather, but the lawns and extended patio of the cosy residence looked like a garden party in 90 temperatures. Round tables, covered in red white or blue, under tents draped in the same colours, spoke volumes of the English-born senior's preference of colours. So if the wind carried a few squalls in the faces and hair of guests, no one complained.

The roaring, mud-red Hope River gushed angrily below the patio, in contrast to tinkling of glasses and pleasant chatter of guests above. All this while they were enjoying the scrumptious fare prepared by the expert hands of Fiona and Mario Machado. English favourites trifle, and bread and butter pudding, with heavy and clotted cream on the side, were among the dessert treats. Meanwhile, Johnny Rogers's music was just the right topping for a perfect ambience.

Birthday girl Jojo Paige was in her ackee. She was her usual irreverent self, spouting the one-liners she's famous for. And when she was presented with a small floral arrangement. complete with a full martini glass embellished with an interesting 'object', let's just say it gave quite a new meaning to 'sipping cocktails'!

toasts and wishes

Daughter Diana Stewart led off a round of toasts and good wishes from the children, grand/great grand children and friends. She thanked everyone for braving the weather to attend the party and saluted her mother who had bore her children during the English war years before coming to Jamaica, went back home for 27 years, but returned "to her beloved Jamaica for the last 17. Her siblings implored their mom to, "never change, never stop being a riot, keep going healthy and be good."Robert MacMillan summed it all up by saying that if Jojo's party had been in the middle of the Sahara under the blazing sun, "I'd have been there with you."

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com