Postal Problems

Dear Editor

With great interest, I read your article about personalized legal postal stamps, where Mrs. Sfakianaki of the Malia Postal Office was quoted as saying: "Just bring us a photograph on a CD and in 10 days you have your stamps." So, we did. We took the bus from Kokkini Hani to Malia with the picture of our grandson on a CD, choose the accompanying frame, gave our name and mobile phone number and took the bus back home. Thirteen days later we travelled to Malia again with a big smile. Soon we would send a picture postcard to our grandson with his own picture on the Greek stamp. A big surprise for him and his parents! Great was our disappointment when the man at the desk said: "The stamps were in Iraklion and must be sent to us. I'm sorry; there is nothing I can do." I will call you when they arrive." Very frustrated we took the bus back to Kokkini and waited some more. Unfortunately, this was our second bad experience with The Greek Postal Office within a very short time. The other involved the posting of some books from Holland to the Kokkini Hani, which ended up back in Holland. Their response was the same: "I'm sorry; there's nothing I can do." 

It's not enough to say: "I'm sorry; there is nothing I can do." There is a lot they can do. They can, for instance pick up the phone and make inquiries. Start helping the customer. Act as if it is your own problem.

Hans Hendriks

Dear Hans:

We can't speak for all the local branches, but we do know that the Malia office is constantly striving to improve its services. In fact, as you are now aware, Mrs. Sfakianaki, while apologizing for the mix-up, personally delivered the stamps to you in Kokkini Hani. We’re sure your grandson and his parents loved them!

The Editor

Old Friends

Dear Editor:

My partner and I visited Crete in 2004 and stayed in Kokkini Hani where we met Janet Gallagher who worked in a Kato Gouves taverna and was married to Yannis Hitzakis, the chef. We became friends and promised to keep in touch, but unfortunately we have lost touch with them, and despite numerous telephone calls to Janet's last known telephone number, we have so far been unsuccessful in tracing them. We are again visiting your wonderful island in September and would love to meet with our friends. Perhaps, your community newspaper can help. Thank you for any assistance you may be able to provide. Our mobile telephone number in the UK is 07791646639

Ian and Anne

Dear Ian and Anne:

Unfortunately, the taverna in Kato Gouves, which was owned by Janet and Yiannis, was sold this year, and is now an Indian Restaurant. However, they both still live in the area and are regular readers of The Khronicles, so they will almost certainly contact you.

The Editor

Malia Madness

Dear Editor:

I have been lucky enough to have enjoyed some fantastic holidays in Crete, but reading the reports of the behaviour of some of my fellows Brits makes me ashamed. To repay the hospitality of the Cretans with such yobbish, brainless conduct is a disgrace. I wonder whether a new offence can be introduced that will allow anyone guilty of these kinds of actions to be not only thrown out of Crete immediately, but charged when back in the U.K. for the damage done to our collective reputation. I'd like to apologise to the people of Crete that such visitors are even allowed to set foot there, let alone given the excuse of excess alcohol consumption to account for their conduct.

Jim Grundy

Η Τρέλα των Μαλίων

Αγαπητέ Συντάκτη:

Υπήρξα αρκετά τυχερός κάνοντας φανταστικές διακοπές στην Κρήτη, αλλά διαβάζοντας τις αναφορές όσον αφορά τη συμπεριφορά κάποιων από εμάς τους Βρετανούς, με κάνει να ντρέπομαι. Είναι ντροπή να ανταμείβεται η φιλοξενία των Κρητικών με τέτοιες ανοησίες και αλόγιστες συμπεριφορές. Αναρωτιέμαι αν κάποιος νέος νόμος μπορεί να εισαχθεί ώστε αυτά τα άτομα όχι μόνο να φεύγουν κατευθείαν από το νησί αλλά και να δικάζονται όταν επιστρέψουν πίσω στην Αγγλία για τις ζημιές που έκαναν στη συλλογική φήμη μας. Θα ήθελα να ζητήσω συγνώμη από τους Κρητικούς διότι,  όχι μόνο τέτοιοι "τύποι" έρχονται στο νησί τους, αλλά δίνεται και η δικαιολογία της υπερβολικής κατανάλωσης αλκοόλ για να εξηγηθεί η ακραία συμπεριφορά τους.

Reunited

Dear Editor:

With only the first name, Leonidas, to go with, I wrote you this past year to see if you could help me find a man I befriended when I was stationed at the Iraklion Air Station from 1986-88. A very long shot, as we say in the United States.  I had forgotten I had written you and in June I received a letter from Leonidas Titomichelakis; and it was the Leonidas I had been looking for.  You helped bring two old friends back together and I thank you for that.  Leonidas will be visiting Baltimore, Maryland, in October and I will be flying down to visit him.  Once again…a big Thank You.

Bill Murray

Επανασύνδεση

Αγαπητέ Συντάκτη:

Αναφέροντας μόνο το μικρό όνομα, Λεωνίδας, σας έγραψα πριν ένα χρόνο για να δω αν μπορείτε να με βοηθήσετε να βρω ένα άνδρα με τον οποίο ήμασταν φίλοι όταν εγώ θήτευα στη βάση από το 1986-88. Με καμία πιθανότητα, όπως λέμε στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Είχα ξεχάσει ότι σας είχα γράψει και τον Ιούνιο έλαβα ένα γράμμα από το Λεωνίδα Τιτομιχελάκη. Και ήταν ο Λεωνίδας που έψαχνα. Βοηθήσατε να φέρετε δυο φίλους από το παρελθόν κοντά και σας ευχαριστώ γι'αυτό. Ο Λεωνίδας θα επισκεφθεί τη Βαλτιμόρη, στο Μέριλαντ, τον Οκτώβριο και θα πετάξω κι εγώ κάτω να τον επισκεφθώ. Για μια ακόμα φορά… ένα μεγάλο Ευχαριστώ.

Animal Welfare

Dear Editor:

Your on-line animal welfare petition is fantastic! I wish you well with your project and will ensure that all the animal groups on the island are aware of your efforts. Please be reciprocal, visit and sign my personal effort to try and achieve recognition that Animal Welfare is desperately needed on the Island of Crete and the rest of Greece.

If your efforts culminate with the new local government establishing an animal welfare unit on the property of the old air base it will be wonderful.

Val (peachr@otenet.gr)

Προστασία Ζώων

Αγαπητέ Συντάκτη:

Η on-line λίστα υπογραφών για την προστασία ζώων είναι φανταστική! Σας εύχομαι τα καλύτερα με το έργο σας και θα διαβεβαιώσω ότι όλες οι ομάδες προστασίας ζώων στο νησί, έχουν υπόψη τις προσπάθειες σας. Παρακαλώ να ανταποδώσετε , επισκεπτόμενοι και υπογράφοντας την προσωπική μου προσπάθεια στην επίτευξη της αναγνώρισης ότι, στην Κρήτη είναι άμεση η ανάγκη για την πρόνοια των Ζώων καθώς και στην υπόλοιπη Ελλάδα.

Αν οι προσπάθειες σας καταλήξουν με τη νέα τοπική αυτοδιοίκηση να ιδρύει μια μονάδα προστασίας ζώων στην παλιά αεροπορική βάση, θα είναι θαυμάσιο.

Val (peachr@otenet.gr)