My, how you've grown! When we last saw lovely Irini Toufexi she was a young teen, living in Gournes. Then she moved back to Holland to resume her studies and . . . well, the rest is obvious! Irini, now 23 and a mom-to-be, was in town for a visit with her mom, Anna Corbey, who has a home in Pano Gouves. Irini, who was just baptized as a Greek Orthodox in ceremonies in Gouves last month, is expecting a Christmas baby, a girl she'll name Sophia – a name that's close to our hearts. …..Speaking of moms: Congratulations to a beaming Catrin Johansson,(right) one-third of the creative force behind B-Younique.com in Gournes. She gave birth to a 2,840-gram baby girl (that's 6.261 pounds). Catrin and her partner, Nikos Armataz, have named her, Leonora. …..Getting mousse-d up: The Heraklion Union of Hairstyling Shopkeepers will hold its 3rd Hair-Styling Festival on Sunday, Sept. 10, in the Exhibition Centre in Gournes. The event will include competitions, fashion shows and other surprises. .....But, he couldn't wait: Tony Bowes, chef-owner of the popular Neraida Restaurant in Kokkini Hani, couldn't wait for the show, so he's getting "clipped" by hairdresser Jean Altobelli, also of Kokkini Hani. Jean made a 'house' call, or, in this case, a 'shop' call, and styled Tony's remaining precious locks during a meal- break at the restaurant. …..Fancy meeting you here: Long-time friends Christian Bruns, Despina Kleio (centre) and Paola Ioanidis ran into each other at a little seaside taverna in Gournes. Although they hadn't seen each other since the beginning of the season due to work commitments, they took time catching up over a few beers. …..Are you kidding? Sophia, the congenial hostess of Caldo Café Bar in Kokkini Hani, tells of a tourist couple from the Arina Sand Hotel who stopped in to enjoy some cold drinks and cool music. At the end of the evening, they got up to leave – without paying the bill. When Sophia reminded them that they hadn't paid, they waved their band-encircled wrists in her face, saying we're all-inclusive, we don't have to. Needles to say, Sophia explained the facts of life in her most cordial manner. …..Hot off the press (grill): Fran Stride of Elia, was so engrossed with the latest issue of The Ko-Go Khronicles she almost missed out on the barbeque spare ribs at a recent Neraida BBQ Night. Almost, but not quite. And, there's no truth to the rumour that, because the editor of this newspaper and the BBQ chef just happened to be one and the same, Fran wouldn't get any food unless she posed for this picture. …..Great Island, wrong town: Pascal and Patricia De Wit,(right) who hail from Veghel in southern Holland, came to Crete for a holiday, and ended up staying in Hersonissos. They traveled to Kokkini Hani to visit their cousin, Patrick van Osch at the Café Nesta, and came back every day. Not only to see Patrick, but to swim. The hotel they were staying at had a very stony beach, and they fell in love with the smooth, sandy Kokkini shores. Next time, they'll be staying here! …..More all-inclusive – less quality: a kitchen-worker for an all-inclusive hotel in Gouves told this column that its guests pigged-out so much that the hotel's catering budget for the season was depleted by the end of July. Our unidentified (obviously) informant said a panicky management had to scurry around looking for the cheapest "bargains" in town. On the same subject, Debbie Shepard, owner of DM's Taverna in Gouves, says the food is so bad in some of the all-inclusive hotels that some guests have started eating elsewhere even though they have pre-paid for their meals at the hotel – a trend she's quite happy about! …..Holland bound: Jim van't Land, of the Marilisa Hotel in Kokkini Hani, is off to Holland with his wife and kids. Jim will return in a few weeks to take care of business, but his family will remain in their homeland throughout the school terms – returning to paradise in the spring. …..She's baack: Sexy Liza Wicander, 19, (left) of Malmoe, Sweden, is back on Crete and doing the same old thing – turning heads. Liza was last October's Kriti Kutie. This time around she won best costume honours at a Star Beach party – wearing a candy bra, which her unidentified mate seems to have a sweet tooth for. …..Rhyming duo: That's Ray and Gay Boden (right), back by popular demand, making a repeat appearance at the famous Neraida BBQ. Ray and Gay were here on holiday last year, and are thinking of becoming "regulars."