Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

The fab ladies, Marguerite Lynch (left) and Andrea Bickhoff Benjamin, who were among the guests at Mike and Thalia Lyn's brunch for the visiting Valles. ?– ContributedPhotos

And so, after just under a year following his retirement as Canada's High Commissioner to Jamaica, the affable Claudio Valle and his fabulous wife, the trs elegant Louise Valle, returned to Jamaica, for a two-week vacation. It was made that much more enjoyable and timely because of the gruelling winter Canada was experiencing.

And luvs, what a fabulous two weeks of fun, sun and beach it has been! And really, no wonderment here, as indeed, Claudio and Louise Valle not only earned the love, trust, respect and admiration of those with whom they interacted during their tenure here, theirs was more like a case of home-coming, as against a ritualistic ceremonial-type visit, with lots of staged appearances. Indeed, Claudio and Louise Valle served in many a capacity here in Jamaica, before his elevation to the rank of ambassador and subsequent retirement and made many a friends during their many tenure!

The toast of the town

(From left) retired Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Claudio Valle, socialite Jennifer Lim, Louise Valle and Joe Matalon, at the Old Stony Hill home of Capt. Michael and Thalia Lyn for a brunch the Lyns hosted in honour of the retired diplomat and his wife.

When it was made known that the Valles would be returning to Jamaica for a few weeks of rest and relaxation, not only were many queuing to welcome them back, many were voicing their hope that their first return visit since retirement to Canada, would be the first of many.

Well my daahlings, the mere fact that there were many who expressed their desire to host the Valles, did not necessarily mean that these were genuine expressions of love and or true intentions. There have been many former and or retired diplomats who returned here expecting to be welcomed with the fatted calf and the best rums of the island, only to be politely invited to dinner/lunch in a public place. And duty done, they were ignored and leftpretty much to their own devices thereafter!

Kingston's leading denizens make for pretty hard taskmasters, with the ultimate sign of welcome being an invitation to dine and or meet with the ruling social politburo in the confines of their well-appointed and fortified homes.

Well my daahlings, not unlike his predecessor, John Robinson, Claudio and Louise Valle were definitely the toast of haute society upon their return visit. Their presence on the social scene not only revved up the social calendar, they added just the right cachet to what would be an otherwise dull season filled with music of the polloi jumping up and getting on bad!

From Negril to Morant Point, Claudio and Louise Valle were definitely the toast of the town, with a dinner here, cocktails there, lunch over there, and to crown it all, a few days in the sun in one of the north coast's more exclusive resort communities. Pumpkins, it all made for one fabulous visit and then some!

Fabulous hosts

Capt. Michael Lyn at home in his kitchen cooking up a fab feast for his guests, two Sundays ago.

Capt. Michael Lyn and his wife Thalia are known internationally as fabulous hosts who throw some of the best parties here in the nation's capital. They have a reputation which has earned her the moniker, 'social empress', and he, the title 'snob-society's best chef'. Together, their invitations have become revered social prizes; the receipt of one could mean an entre into the hallowed ranks of haute society, and the absence of one, not unlike a social death sentence to the social profiler or would-be profiler.

Well, no social profiling, or profilers here, or at least two Sundays ago, when the Lyns opened up the portals of their upper St. Andrew home, way up there in Old Stony Hill, and hosted a decidedly swanky and oh-sooo-divine and intimate little brunch, in honour of the Valles. It was a beautiful affair, scrumptious, and then some!

To beginwith, there's nothing like an intimate dinner party or brunch to bring out the very best of conversation in any group or setting. Guests are inclined to speak freely and or allow themselves the luxury of relaxing without ever having to wonder if the 'paparazzi' will intrude on their private space, and or conversations.

Well, no such worry at the residence of Mike and Thalia Lyn, as indeed, not only was it an intimate and august gathering of the Valles' friends, my dears, this was a gathering of the critically hand-picked, and it made for one fabulous outing. This, despite looming and threatening rain clouds that would from time to time darken the afternoon's sky, causing the temperature to dip so low a cashmere sweater would have been most definitely in order!

But the surprise du jour was definitely Thalia Lyn donning her apron and joining hubby Mike in the kitchen to turn out the day's fare. And indeed, what a fare it was too!

My dears, the order of the day was faultless society; the very best in libation; and the fabulous fare, for which Capt. Lyn is celebrated. No ceremony here, it was not that kind of a party. And no drama either, just the very essence and radiance of friendship, as the Valles, their hosts and guests partook of the community of friendship in all but song and dance as they broke bread over libations and exchanged anecdotal reveries of times shared, great moments, lasting memories and lives made the richer for their pathways having crossed.

My dears, it made for a mmm good, afternoon, and then some, suspended as it were, above the city of Kingston. Indeed, the truth be told, between the to-die-for orchid collection and garden, and the to-die-for pineapple souffl, Heaven on Earth never looked and or tasted so fabulous, and my word, how!

Doves, it was all that, and then some!

Fabulous guests

Now among those sharing in what was a fabulous occasion were social icon and businessman Joe Matalon and wife, the unquestionably fabulous Bernadette McKinley Matalon; 'A-crowder' RobertMacMillan; socialite heiress Beverly Junor Levy; Caribbean jurist and former Government Minister Hugh Small; celebrated artist, sculptor and socialite Susan Alexander; socialite the elegantly fabulous Jennifer Lim; business powerhouse Patrick Lynch and his fabulous wife Marguerite Lynch; businessman Herman McClarty and his trs elegant wife, legal luminary Dorothy Pine-McClarty; the rather affable David Hall and his charming wife Liz Hall; Chicago-based real estate baron and raconteur Joe English; the charming Andrea Bickhoff Benjamin; and a precious few others, all making it a most fabulously stimulating and interesting afternoon!

The Valles left our shores on Tuesday morning with a trove of fabulous memories gained from the many outings hosted in their honour.