Yes, Mac a meet should be on the cards as soon as you are free. Plenty to talk about I’m sure.
Gavin McArdle:
mciver m:
Ah mr mcardle, great story. many times i sat in the forge or the shell at evsoni and the crap you used to hear was getting on my ■■■■, so i cut out 2 bits of cardboard that i could hang off my ears, i had written BULL S**T DEFLECTOR goes without saying that i had a few rows over that, why is it that when some sad person has to make up stories and you tell them “your talking b****cks mate”,that you are the one who is in the wrong,srange, macsdaff.Hi macsdaf, I have only found this , I realised that I had missed some postings. you are right about them getting upset I suppose its because they believe their own stories.
I was in I think the shell at Polikastro one night and a driver was telling us how as an undercover SAS man he had been sent to check on the situ in Yugo ( it was as the problems were bubbling up)we were trying to ignore him and talk amongst our selves. As we were paying up he said ‘I have to make a phone call’. we were outside still chatting when he came out and said 'I have to phone Headquarters at this time every night to report what I have seen and get my instructions for tomorrow.
Gavin
Just read this and it had me in stiches. Dont you just love meeting these characters who before they done the ordaniry mundane job they do now they were in the SAS MI5 etc.
Glad to hear you put the numpty in his place.
There is a chap where i work a bit like this he now operates a wood chipper and he got a bit upset when i asked him if his saftey goggles were his special forces night vision ones.
Colonel:
Another one for you:
who was the poor sod with the cargo and tilt. 
The photo was taken at Igoumenitsa and there were four trucks in the convoy to Albania and the Ford Cargo was driven by the Police HGV driving instructor from Colchester.
Full story here:
Colonel:
Archie, The truck in the photo was when I used to drive it, which was after Mac left Anglo Greek. I doubt anyone could give me a date for the photo and where I was at the time.
It looks like the Ariston factory in Italy 
Early May I reckon.
Great diary of the Albanian trip 
Colonel:
Archie, The truck in the photo was when I used to drive it, which was after Mac left Anglo Greek. I doubt anyone could give me a date for the photo and where I was at the time.
Hullo John,
OK then it was your wallet lying in the footwell that was causing the lean to starboard. That diary on the Albanian trip was very good by the way, thank you.
Cheers Archie.
Well done wheelnut, I suppose I asked for that, didn’t I giving the link to the answer.;
Archie, come on, you worked for Brian, he never paid enough to fill a wallet
Hullo John,
Yes he was a bit Stingy wasnt he ? but a good bloke to work for. Actually he was paying the same as any of the others that were doing the job at that time, Mondial, Groupex, Sealandair and a few other minor players. His work was far better too especially as if like me you lived in the North of the country, because we always used to load out of Felling on Tyne. His running money was always there, his boat bookings, if you went that way were always booked and ready for you when you got to Ancona or Bari and Brindisi. When you arrived in Piraeus his Agents, Theo Vianellis and the young Apostolis were always on the ball. Funny thing, Joe Taylor who was with Mondial and was married to Val, a lass that had lived in Greece for many years, said to me one day, when you go into the office say to Apostolis, "Kali mera Apopsolis" and see what he says, I did and he went Bananas, apparently Apopsolis is a Pr**k. Back to Brian, plus reloads were always available. Actually I was doing quite well and was able to keep my Wife and three kids fed and sheltered, plus have a good time myself with ease. Was Superstar, Dave Burgess still in the office when you were there ? he came from Essex International ( M&C Jamie will know him ) and I often wondered if he was still there. John on another note, when you were on for OHS was Billy Moore still on there ? or had he moved onto Ferry Freighting by then. Good to hear of your experiences on here, keep them coming, theyre most interesting.
Cheers, Archie.
Hi Archie, I remember being with you one day an anglo greek’s office when you said kalli mera apopsolis, knowing what it meant I had to turn away so he could’nt see me laughing; how he never had a heart attack that man the way he used to lose his temper (wonder if he’s related to george attipa) or is it a greek thing. Sitting at home at present recovering from a partial knee replacment operation, must have got to the age when bits start falling off, sposed to have 6 weeks off but I’m booked to double man to Barcelona for FOM at the end of the month so I’ll have to get fit quickly. Mind you they are supposed to be getting new actros trucks with the system that you can keep the distance between you and the vehicle in front constant sotogether with an auto gearbox as standard ther is’nt much to do except steer these days so I should’nt have to much to do. How trucks have changed over the last 20 years.
regards charlie
Funny thing, Joe Taylor who was with Mondial and was married to Val,
Is Joe still nightwatchman at George Otipas place in Enfield? He used to live in Wales at weekends & commute to Enfield . Slept in the nightwatchmans hut all the week. Felt sorry for the old boy ;sad really.
Archie, you perfectly correct when you say that Brian was good to work for, as you say the running money was always there, the organisation at both ends was first class. Theo got into film making and did not get into the office in Bouboulinas street, very often. Apostolis was always his usual efficient self and all the time we loaded in Greece it was a great job. Once the Greek backloads dried up and we moved onto backloading for Saima, first of all the Ancona branch and later on the Civitanova Marche branch. All loads were taken to what was the old Thrapston Warehousing, before Saima eventually took them over. Always a disaster there, so slow in unloading.
I expect you will remember loading the copper coil at Stylis and having a nice meal on the beach before loading.
Joe Taylor was a great bloke and I expect you heard him play the piano on the Karageorgis ferry many times. A lovely touch on the keyboard. Do you remembeer Brian ■■? who used to drive for Orphee Beinoglu.
Dave Burgess does not ring a bell but in the office with Brian was Mary, who seemed pretty competent. She later had a fling with Ray Emptidge.
Those days were some of the best of my life, with the camaraderie from the regulars that did the Greek run. I much preferred it when we went overand, but of course Bosnia put paid to that and we all started to use the ferries. Brian was not too keen on using Ancona so I spent most of my trips running the old Ventouris line from Bari.
Colonel:
Archie, you perfectly correct when you say that Brian was good to work for, as you say the running money was always there, the organisation at both ends was first class. Theo got into film making and did not get into the office in Bouboulinas street, very often. Apostolis was always his usual efficient self and all the time we loaded in Greece it was a great job. Once the Greek backloads dried up and we moved onto backloading for Saima, first of all the Ancona branch and later on the Civitanova Marche branch. All loads were taken to what was the old Thrapston Warehousing, before Saima eventually took them over. Always a disaster there, so slow in unloading.I expect you will remember loading the copper coil at Stylis and having a nice meal on the beach before loading.
Joe Taylor was a great bloke and I expect you heard him play the piano on the Karageorgis ferry many times. A lovely touch on the keyboard. Do you remembeer Brian ■■? who used to drive for Orphee Beinoglu.
Dave Burgess does not ring a bell but in the office with Brian was Mary, who seemed pretty competent. She later had a fling with Ray Emptidge.
Those days were some of the best of my life, with the camaraderie from the regulars that did the Greek run. I much preferred it when we went overand, but of course Bosnia put paid to that and we all started to use the ferries. Brian was not too keen on using Ancona so I spent most of my trips running the old Ventouris line from Bari.
.
Hullo John,
That Brian with the old Fiat Furniture Van working for Orphee Beinoglu, was Brian Haskey or Askey. Yes I remember him very well, is he still doing the job do you think ? Yes I also remember the Copper wire job, I dont remember Mary but I knew Ray Emptage and his brother Russell, and I do know that a fellow I introduced to AG was fettling somebody in the Office, but this was after Id left the job. You are so right they were good times with lots of fond memories, pity we did`nt know then what we know now, or maybe we would all still be there now eh ?
Cheers, Archie.
chazzer:
Hi Archie, I remember being with you one day an anglo greek’s office when you said kalli mera apopsolis, knowing what it meant I had to turn away so he could’nt see me laughing; how he never had a heart attack that man the way he used to lose his temper (wonder if he’s related to george attipa) or is it a greek thing. Sitting at home at present recovering from a partial knee replacment operation, must have got to the age when bits start falling off, sposed to have 6 weeks off but I’m booked to double man to Barcelona for FOM at the end of the month so I’ll have to get fit quickly. Mind you they are supposed to be getting new actros trucks with the system that you can keep the distance between you and the vehicle in front constant sotogether with an auto gearbox as standard ther is’nt much to do except steer these days so I should’nt have to much to do. How trucks have changed over the last 20 years.
regards charlie
Hullo Charlie,
Yes young Apopsolis did used to get a bit hot under the collar didnt he, it was quite funny really. Still he was good for us wasnt he always on the ball. Im really sorry to hear about your knee operation, I hope it doesnt impair you too much and certainly that it doesnt give you pain. Will this make you reconsider your plans to desert us ? or shall you now stay here ? Lucky old you eh ? A trip off to Barcelona, that sounds really nice, any more jobs going ? Im sure it beats my night trunk work with the parcel firm, or the days lugging steel roof spans around, that`s what I usually do in the Summer. I shall give you a call when I get home in May, perhaps we could have a beer together somewhere and maybe invite Dereck, how is he keeping ? OK I hope.
Cheers, Archie.
Archie, Brian Haskey, that’s the man, a very nice chap. Did you ever come across Kenny Snooks( RIP) and his wife Yvonne.
Hi Archie and Colonel, Arch I’ve had the knee op in uk before I go to the states as you can guess how much they’d want to do it there, had it last saturday and am walking about sometimes with the aid of a stick but I think that will be gone by next weekend (be interesting to see if I get any benefits off the social as a self employed person or whether I should change colour and ethnicity) and hopefully driving again even if its only the car the following week. Amazingly the only pain is from the exercises when I’m pushing the leg further each time.
Colonel, talking about Kenny Snooks I knew him and Yvonne quite well as I sold him my triaxle trailer and he also used my EC book for a while, it was a great shame when he had the heart attack and died. A character if ever there was one.
Charlie
Hi Chazzer, hope your knee is doing better than mine. I had a half new knee in November last and it still is not right. Painful when just walking. My left hip has now started toguive me the yips so I suppose that will mean a new one of those as well.
Wish I was going to the USA with you as I thoroughly enjoyed the two occasions that I worked over there driving Interstate. I would be there no were it not for my dodgy heart. In fact my CDl does not expire till May this year.
Colonel:
Archie, Brian Haskey, that’s the man, a very nice chap. Did you ever come across Kenny Snooks( RIP) and his wife Yvonne.
Hullo John and Charlie,
Kenny Snooks, the name certainly rings a bell, but Ive thought about it and I just cant put a face to the name, and I dont seem to remember an Yvonne either, so Im not really sure if I did know him. Maybe you can help me Charlie. Talking about women, what was the name of that American bird that used to live with Ron the Con in his old MAN, she used to blst about working for the American Government. ( ps, not Lois Lane)
Cheers, Archie.
Archie Paice:
Hi All,
Ive been away for a couple of weeks , visiting the South of Brasil. The Corinth Canal was built in the mid 1800s it was as Roger said, A French company that started it. But they only opened up the two enda of the canal, then went broke, the Canal was actually mostly built and finished by the Greeks. And like you Charlie I was lucky enogh to transit it once by ship, That was in 1962 when I was 2nd Cook/ Baker on a Cargo Passenger ship a Furness Withy/Prince Line ship the “mv. Sycamore” A few more names of the lads doing Greece when I was, were, Dave Wilson, Alan Piner,Derek Rance,Nick the Greek , Pat Riley, Roger Haywood, Kenny Hooper, Noddy?, Graham Murray, Joe Taylor, Russel Emptage, Ray Emptage, Dave Burlingson, Hamish (RIP) David Hogg, Dave Johnston, Chinky Nev, Roly Long, Dennis Newley, Bill Lorrenti (RIP) Charlie Gethin, Mac Mciver, John Gaskell, Bob Pearson (Wor Bob). There were loads of us on it, I wonder where they all are now?
Noddy?
Would this by any chance be Robbie Dobson of Newcastle upon tyne, i live in the same village as him near Newcastle and worked with him a few years ago at Answer transport doing mostly Switzerland and Germany, i know he did a lot of Greece years ago as he told me several tales after a few drinks whilst we were weekend’ed ■■?
I seem to remember Kenny Snooks as a typical London Geezer with a lot of gold and jewelery. He was mainly parked in the bar at St Nicks Square near the main ferries. Strange thing was he was always there, never saw him down the road.
Ron the Cons wife or girlfriend worked in a travel agent and was responsible for me getting arrested in Agistri or Aegina and for my mate standing on a sea urchin 