The following interview was taken on the 5th of June in Elounda. The couple do not want to be named on the interview so to protect there wishes I will be listing them here as MR and MRS Brown. Other information has been edited to protect the identities of the couple.
MR Brown is a retired Civil Servant, MRS Brown a retired School Teacher.
MR Brown is a retired Civil Servant, MRS Brown a retired School Teacher.
ME: First may I thank you both for allowing me to take this interview
MRS BROWN: That's all right been looking forward to it
ME: Well my first question is, why did you choose to come to Elounda for your retirement ?
MRS BROWN: Hmmm me and MR Brown used to come here on holiday and always loved our times here, when did we start coming to Elounda MR Brown?
MR BROWN: It was June 1985
MRS BROWN: That's right I remember now, we both fell in love with the place and the people straight away
MR BROWN: Yep they couldn't do enough for you nothing was to much great people easy to fall in love with the place and the local people
MRS BROWN: It was like a home from home, well better actually
ME: Better? why?
MR BROWN: Look around you Stephen
MRS BROWN: Ah it was much more than how beautiful the surroundings are even more than how nice the locals are. It was the movement of life here it all just slows down, relaxed
ME: The famous Greek lay back way of life?
MRS BROWN: Yeh I guess you could call it that, just quiet even though it was always busy then with lots of tourists the locals themselves still lived and I think still do in a more traditional and slower pace of life
MR BROWN: Your right and when you consider how fast and busy our lives were in the 80s it was an amazing shock to us coming here and the best place for us to have a holiday, it was a real holiday full of relaxing and enjoyment just what a holiday should be
ME: Tell me about Elounda how was it in the 80s, you said it was busy
MR BROWN: It sure was less shops as well I guess the store owners that were here then must have been taking a lot of money. People up and down the street and the square packed, I guess all things change though over time.
ME: I guess they do, So tell me about your lives now, what do you do to fill the long hot days in?
MRS BROWN: Little as possible (laughing) well that's not strictly true I like to go for long walks over the causeway and just feel the warm sun on my face. I like to sit over the causeway and just remember
ME: Remember?
MRS BROWN: Yes you know things I have done in my life, the children and my job, strange thing is I think I remember more now than I ever did when I was working. I guess it has a lot to do with living here in Elounda it's our more relaxed lifestyle, gives you more time to think.
MR BROWN: Its true I think more clearly than I ever did...
MRS BROWN: Ooh I am not sure about that (laughing)
ME: (laughing)
MR BROWN: (laughing)
MRS BROWN: No seriously my health has improved steadily since moving over to Elounda, must be the climate and the way of life here.
ME: And you MR Brown what do you do with your time?
MR BROWN: I am thinking but I just cannot remember !
MRS BROWN: (laughing) What you like you silly old goat !
MR BROWN: Hey not so much of the old. Well I do my stamp collecting and I like to go for walks but in the opposite direction to MRS Brown we both like to remember no matter what she thinks (laughing) and we like to do it as far as part as we can get!
MRS BROWN: You are a right bugger when you get started MR Brown, you want to watch yourself or you won't be getting any tea.
MR BROWN: Hmm Great loss ! God knows what you put on the plate last night but I am still suffering now ! (laughing)
MRS BROWN: Well is this all the thanks I get for preparing your food for you?
MR BROWN: It was a soggy sandwich with limp cucumber or something like that ..........I think! (laughing)
MRS BROWN: (laughing)
ME: (laughing) Well I think I can tell by all this banter you are both very happy here in Elounda?
MR BROWN: Well I would have been a hell of a lot happier if I had left her back in England !
MRS BROWN: WELL !
MRS BROWN: That's all right been looking forward to it
ME: Well my first question is, why did you choose to come to Elounda for your retirement ?
MRS BROWN: Hmmm me and MR Brown used to come here on holiday and always loved our times here, when did we start coming to Elounda MR Brown?
MR BROWN: It was June 1985
MRS BROWN: That's right I remember now, we both fell in love with the place and the people straight away
MR BROWN: Yep they couldn't do enough for you nothing was to much great people easy to fall in love with the place and the local people
MRS BROWN: It was like a home from home, well better actually
ME: Better? why?
MR BROWN: Look around you Stephen
MRS BROWN: Ah it was much more than how beautiful the surroundings are even more than how nice the locals are. It was the movement of life here it all just slows down, relaxed
ME: The famous Greek lay back way of life?
MRS BROWN: Yeh I guess you could call it that, just quiet even though it was always busy then with lots of tourists the locals themselves still lived and I think still do in a more traditional and slower pace of life
MR BROWN: Your right and when you consider how fast and busy our lives were in the 80s it was an amazing shock to us coming here and the best place for us to have a holiday, it was a real holiday full of relaxing and enjoyment just what a holiday should be
ME: Tell me about Elounda how was it in the 80s, you said it was busy
MR BROWN: It sure was less shops as well I guess the store owners that were here then must have been taking a lot of money. People up and down the street and the square packed, I guess all things change though over time.
ME: I guess they do, So tell me about your lives now, what do you do to fill the long hot days in?
MRS BROWN: Little as possible (laughing) well that's not strictly true I like to go for long walks over the causeway and just feel the warm sun on my face. I like to sit over the causeway and just remember
ME: Remember?
MRS BROWN: Yes you know things I have done in my life, the children and my job, strange thing is I think I remember more now than I ever did when I was working. I guess it has a lot to do with living here in Elounda it's our more relaxed lifestyle, gives you more time to think.
MR BROWN: Its true I think more clearly than I ever did...
MRS BROWN: Ooh I am not sure about that (laughing)
ME: (laughing)
MR BROWN: (laughing)
MRS BROWN: No seriously my health has improved steadily since moving over to Elounda, must be the climate and the way of life here.
ME: And you MR Brown what do you do with your time?
MR BROWN: I am thinking but I just cannot remember !
MRS BROWN: (laughing) What you like you silly old goat !
MR BROWN: Hey not so much of the old. Well I do my stamp collecting and I like to go for walks but in the opposite direction to MRS Brown we both like to remember no matter what she thinks (laughing) and we like to do it as far as part as we can get!
MRS BROWN: You are a right bugger when you get started MR Brown, you want to watch yourself or you won't be getting any tea.
MR BROWN: Hmm Great loss ! God knows what you put on the plate last night but I am still suffering now ! (laughing)
MRS BROWN: Well is this all the thanks I get for preparing your food for you?
MR BROWN: It was a soggy sandwich with limp cucumber or something like that ..........I think! (laughing)
MRS BROWN: (laughing)
ME: (laughing) Well I think I can tell by all this banter you are both very happy here in Elounda?
MR BROWN: Well I would have been a hell of a lot happier if I had left her back in England !
MRS BROWN: WELL !
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