On my post, GREECE, dated 4th August 2018. I had written:
"My parents were in Pakistan, where my father worked, and as they would not be returning to Greece until June 1960, we decided to christen our youngest son Yiannis in May 1959. It was a lovely service at the church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, at Kefalari, Kifissia and our dear friend, Eftyhia Mela was the godmother. To celebrate the happy event, we held a small party for our family and friends".
Our life continued in the same pattern as described in the previous post. Parents with young children are usually blissfully happy, although burdened with anxieties and a deep, happy fatigue.
Our boys grew up in leaps and bounds and it was delightful to watch them develop day by day. Spiro spoke articulately and loved playing with his cousins and friends, while Yiannis took his first staggering steps, trying to follow the crowd and jabbered in a language that only we could understand.
Financially, we were broke and we both worked very hard to make ends meet. Aleco made great efforts to sell more goods for the companies he represented and I economised as much as possible, endeavouring not to make it too obvious.
When people from the companies we represented visited Greece, Aleco took them to clients all over Greece, to discuss, solve problems and sell more goods and machinery. We often entertained both the company people and our best clients at home. I can admit, now, without arrogance, that my culinary efforts had considerably improved and therefore our dinner parties were usually successful.
We loved spending time with old friends from Pakistan, like Susanne and Milto Zouros, Aspa and George Magnis and other couples we met like Eva and Walter Backes, Eileen and Nicos Melissaropoulos and Eddie and Tasso Kotsis and their family. Later, we became very friendly with Mary and George Xenakis, when they returned home from Egypt with their daughter and son. I remember Spiro telling us, then, in a very serious manner, that he was very happy as he had a new friend called Aris Xenakis. We were deeply touched by our two-year-old son's candour.
During winter, when it snowed, I dressed our boys in thick coats, mufflers, caps and boots and we went walking in the snow. Usually, my sister-in-law Dolly and her precious children came with us. We had a wonderful time making snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other, always returning home for a steaming cup of cocoa.
My father retired from Ralli Bros in June 1960, as planned. To my delight, my parents returned to Greece and stayed with us until they bought a spacious apartment at Palaio Phaliron, a beautiful Athenian suburb by the sea. On Sundays, they usually invited over for lunch and as we drove down Syngrou Avenue, at the first glimpse of the sea the boys would start singing: Na i thalassa mas Na i thalassa mas (there is our sea).
I must mention an incident that happened when Yiannis was two years old. It was late November, and he woke up about six in the morning, lisping excitedly: "Honi honi" instead of hioni which is Greek for snow and which he hadn't seen since he was one and a half. Like all proud, doting parents we considered that was simply brilliant!
 |
| The Old Family House in Kefalari |
 |
| Hotel Pentelikon Kefalari (next door to the Old Family House) |
"My parents were in Pakistan, where my father worked, and as they would not be returning to Greece until June 1960, we decided to christen our youngest son Yiannis in May 1959. It was a lovely service at the church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, at Kefalari, Kifissia and our dear friend, Eftyhia Mela was the godmother. To celebrate the happy event, we held a small party for our family and friends".
Our life continued in the same pattern as described in the previous post. Parents with young children are usually blissfully happy, although burdened with anxieties and a deep, happy fatigue.
Our boys grew up in leaps and bounds and it was delightful to watch them develop day by day. Spiro spoke articulately and loved playing with his cousins and friends, while Yiannis took his first staggering steps, trying to follow the crowd and jabbered in a language that only we could understand.
Financially, we were broke and we both worked very hard to make ends meet. Aleco made great efforts to sell more goods for the companies he represented and I economised as much as possible, endeavouring not to make it too obvious.
When people from the companies we represented visited Greece, Aleco took them to clients all over Greece, to discuss, solve problems and sell more goods and machinery. We often entertained both the company people and our best clients at home. I can admit, now, without arrogance, that my culinary efforts had considerably improved and therefore our dinner parties were usually successful.
We loved spending time with old friends from Pakistan, like Susanne and Milto Zouros, Aspa and George Magnis and other couples we met like Eva and Walter Backes, Eileen and Nicos Melissaropoulos and Eddie and Tasso Kotsis and their family. Later, we became very friendly with Mary and George Xenakis, when they returned home from Egypt with their daughter and son. I remember Spiro telling us, then, in a very serious manner, that he was very happy as he had a new friend called Aris Xenakis. We were deeply touched by our two-year-old son's candour.
During winter, when it snowed, I dressed our boys in thick coats, mufflers, caps and boots and we went walking in the snow. Usually, my sister-in-law Dolly and her precious children came with us. We had a wonderful time making snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other, always returning home for a steaming cup of cocoa.
My father retired from Ralli Bros in June 1960, as planned. To my delight, my parents returned to Greece and stayed with us until they bought a spacious apartment at Palaio Phaliron, a beautiful Athenian suburb by the sea. On Sundays, they usually invited over for lunch and as we drove down Syngrou Avenue, at the first glimpse of the sea the boys would start singing: Na i thalassa mas Na i thalassa mas (there is our sea).
I must mention an incident that happened when Yiannis was two years old. It was late November, and he woke up about six in the morning, lisping excitedly: "Honi honi" instead of hioni which is Greek for snow and which he hadn't seen since he was one and a half. Like all proud, doting parents we considered that was simply brilliant!
 |
| A Traditional Villa in Kifissia |
No comments:
Post a Comment