John Faraclas was there with his camera
With just over 85 members, guests and friends with their families, the Hellenic Engineers Society of Great Britain held its third major event of the year following the Annual Dinner and Ball last February at the Grosvenor House and the summer BBQ in early July at the Trailfinders Sports Club, Castle Bar, Vallis Way in London’s West Ealing. The venue continues to be the Real Greek Taverna at Westfield’s Supermall Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush, given its excellent greek cuisine and location, convenient for the majority of participants, public transport-wise as well as car-parking-wise. Thank the Olympian Gods we just had some light showers, weather-wise, so all in order…
Under the supervision of Aleksandra Petit, the manager of the Real Greek and her team of well mannered waiters and waitresses, we had a great time given the spreading of the starters and main-meze courses, not to mention the sweets at the end accompanied with coffees including the traditional Greek coffee… Our table was supervised by Athenian Aprodite; excellent!
The cold starers (greek μεζεδες) with pitta-bread at the right temperature and some hottie filo pastry greek varieties “brought” our mind, heart and soul down to Greece its islands and Cyprus… Nice sausages and meat on the mini-spit complemented the dinner!
Did I hear you say wines? Well, ELLINAS’ variety, red and white house-wine in the appropriate temperature made the trick boosting interesting discussions in all dozen of tables – five long ones and five smaller, but cosy ones. The Shipping Markets – Dry and Wet, the draught in Panama Canal, Ukraine and the Middle East wars as well as the Migrants issue were at the forefront of discussions, not to mention the Arts and Global Health issues in this “post”- Covid-19 era…
Good to see HESGB’s president Dimitris N. Monioudis – as he missed the last two years doos due to business travel, flanked by some of his “trusted lieutenants” – among the in alphabetical order Patty Apostolopoulou, Giorgos Foustanos, Alex Xenakis and Evan Zaranis; Costas Amarantides and Christos Kottas missed the event this year, both travelling…
We were honoured to have Greece’s Defence Attache, Captain (HN) Nikolaos Filias, but hard luck with our Shipping Attache and officers due to the arrival of Greece’s Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides who is attending the IMO’s Annual events including the Bravery Awards tomorrow evening…
Good to see some of the faithful members such as Capt. Michael Kounoupas and his wife Ann with a stick following her recent operation – a remarkable effort to be present; the Haberis’, Pappadakis …times two, Prof. Evangelos Markopoulos and his wife Olga, the Milissis in full force, Prof Epaminondas Mastorakos and his wife Eleni- Assimina, The Pappas’ – Takis and Christina, Skinitis’, Zarifis’, Zodiacs strong team, the ever present James Yin as well as Leon Papazoglou and many many others. Good to see newcomers amongst them Elina Chatzivassiliou and Evi Baniotopoulou; the female factor stronger than ever before making its presence felt!
Once again, it is as always good to meet old friends, some of whom didn’t see even before the Covid mess and meet / talk to newcomers; HESGB covers now all sectors of the Shipping Adventure and “Offshore” Business including, Academia, Arts, Banking, Education, Human Resources, Medical, you name it…
The countdown for the Christmas Festive Season, coincidentally, just begun!
We now look forward for the 29th Annual Dinner and Dance on February 24th 2024 at the Grosvenor House, so ink your diary accordingly!
That’s the spirit; have a nice evening and week ahead!
