Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Saleem Lazarus
Belated birthday wishes go to Saleem Lazarus, who celebrated his birthday on the 11th; Rodney Davis, who celebrated last Sunday; Arnold Foote on Tuesday; international songbird Marcia Griffiths and noted attorney Churchill Neita, on Thursday. Special birthday wishes to Dr. Jonathan Greenland, of the National Gallery, who celebrates his birthday this Sunday; and a special wish to the lovely Frances Allison and her fab daughter Cherise Francis-Windle, who both celebrate their birthday, next Thursday, the 29th.
Many happy returns y'all, and champagne toasts and caviar treats!
There was no denying the charm and nostalgic appeal of what was truly a quaint invitation, in that it was a behest that offered those requested, to join the hosts, Lincoln and Barbara Robinson, for an evening of soup and mento at the couple's fab home nestled in Old Stony Hill, above the hurly burly of life in the famed metropolis.
Well, those who braved the pitchy-patchy roadway that is the Old Stony Hill Road, leading up to the couple's residence, might have been sent into shock and even outright motion sickness by the horrendous state of the road, but, there would be no denying the fact, that for first-timers, it was worth the arduous drive, as not only were the Robinsons faultlessly gracious hosts, they transported their guests back in time to a kinder and gentler Jamaica!
The good old days
Marcia Griffiths
It was a time when conversation was not a studious art form, but more of a sharing of information about one's community, friends and offspring. And not part and parcel of some vicious rumour mill either, but as a means of keeping each other in touch and updating the others. It was also a time when someone enquired after one's health. It was a genuine expression of concern, and not just something to say to make small talk. And back then, one's neighbours were just that - neighbours - not some faceless people with whom one perpetually competed to establish some kind of social Johnny-come-lately, fly-by-nighters pecking order.
Back then, people feared ghosts and D. Lawrence, not marauding criminals armed to the teeth, hell bent on murder and mayhem. And instead of hiring a hitman to be rid of a pesky neighbour and or rival, one simply went out of parish for a clandestine visit to the reputed obeahman, unless of course, the parish in which one resided had the obeah man of national repute, as was the case of St. Catherine and the notorious obeahman and his monkey of Mount Rosser.
But, aah! Those were the good old days - not that they seemed so at the time. And then again, when the history of this period shall have been written, these too, shall come to be regarded as the good old days. So, let us enjoy and make merry, when we can.
Charming residence
Jonathan Greenland
And it was all about making merry and neighbourly goodness last Saturday evening at the Robinson's lovely home, as they opened up their spacious and very charming residence to colleagues and friends from the Rotary Club of New Kingston, who trouped in arms laden with tureens, cauldrons, and plain old pots for the affair, as it was not only soup and mento night but it was also pot-luck soup night, which meant friends and neighbours brought their own soup, to share with others. And it made for a very warm and intimate to-do!
It had been a rather balmy night, made more so because the house sits on the crest of one of the many hills that amalgamate into Stony Hill. A soup buffet was exactly what the doctor would have ordered!
Luvs, there was gungo peas with pig's tail; red peas with beef; bird soup; fish soup; mannish water; and the hit of the night - air, land and sea soup - so named because this potpourri contained meats from birds from the air, fishes et al from the sea, and mutton and beef from land-dwelling animals.
Now, Christmas is definitely in the air, and if the North-East wind blowing through the hills did not provide enough evidence of that fact, the Peacemakers Mento Band of Spanish Town used their repertoire to do that from time to time as they gaily entertained with the traditional abandon known only to mento bands!
Some call it the 'high Cs' others say it's the high shrills. Whatever it is that has set mento bands apart as indigenous performers for many decades now was in full flight last Saturday night!
And so it was, that with a medley of Jamaican traditional and folk muse and musings warming the cockles of the heart, a buffet of soup to warm the body, and stories to thrill the soul, it was simply one mighty fine evening, made that much more so due to the fine company and the excellent repartee and social discourse it engendered.
Out sharing in the warmth of the occasion were club president - Gladstone Barrett and his wife Melissa; the esteemed Claude Robinson and his charming wife Joan Robinson; Dr. John Lindo and his fabulous wife Jacinth Lindo; Dr. Al Fletcher; Dr. Garth Alexander; Godfrey Boyd and wife Dr. Carolyn Boyd; Locksley and Pauline Lindo; Patrick and Jill Chambers; Mr. and Mrs. Hyman Walters; Jean Dwyer; Athelstan Bellamy and wife Colleen; Benito and Maxine Palomino; Andrea Walters-Isaacs; Jonathan Burke, Errol and Annette McKenzie; 'Mitch' and Elizabeth Stephenson; and siblings Marcel and Renée Robinson (son and daughter of the hosts).
Indeed, it was one very charming affair!
Arnold Foote
