Almost forty years ago, I placed an advert in the English language newspaper "ATHENS NEWS" (which, sadly, no longer exists) in which I was looking for a "shipping person" who could do my many complex Laytime Calculations.
(For all you landlubbers, laytime is the period of time agreed between the parties - ship owners, charterers, cargo shippers and consignees - during which a chartered ship is available for loading / discharging without payment of additional freight.)
Bozenna answered the ad and did a wonderful job, saving my employer lots of money. On the personal side, she and Ted introduced me, a newcomer to Greece, to the many delights of Greek wining and dining.
Today is Bozenna's special day. We went into the Bay and bought a large 2 litre bottle of Retzina so that, as Bozenna starts her celebrations at "O Sotiris", we can open it and drink to her good health! "Yamas, Bozenna!"
Sto lat, sto lat, niech żyją, żyją nam
Sto lat, sto lat, niech żyją, żyją nam
Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz, niech żyją, żyją nam
Niech żyją nam!
"Bozenna, happy birthday and many happy returns!", or, borrowing from my optician's eye chart, "Wszystkiego najlepszego i wielu szczęśliwych powrotów!" My many fond memories of Greece are entirely due to our wonderful friendship which has endured to this day! Long may it last!
