AHOY KOMBOLOY!

(with apologies to Jenny Joseph)

When I am an old codger, I shall wear khaki

With a shiny bald head showing the lumps taken out of it,

And I shall wonder if I’ll ever get my pension in my life-time

To spend on beer, retsina or souvlaki me pitta

Or new sandals every year or even magic crocs

I shall sit down in kafeneions when I feel like it and

twiddle my beads

I shall gobble up meze, swat bumble bottles and never

set off without my katsouna to hold me up.

I can rattle my fishing rod against every fence and

make up for the ‘privations of my youth.

I will be fishing in my kayak off Libya and selling my catch of the day

I won’t need terrible shirts and gaily patterned shorts then, but I might need a
trusty straw hat which is frayed on one side.

I will spend my days picking oranges in orchards, planting a lemon tree and
vine in my garden and watching them grow.

I might be tempted to give up Croziers forever and buy a quad bike or become too old to die young as a Sunday Motorbike Rider.

But until then I will carry an umbrella to ward off stray dogs and a water pistol
to see off next door’s cat

And I will always be sure to keep 5 euros in my pocket of my khaki shorts and
the telephone number of the Health Centre on the wall

In case of emergencies ….

We are having a party here .....