A few words about me.........., and Villa Ralfa
I was born in Cuckfield in Sussex, my parents being
market gardeners. I lived in Uckfield and later
Newhaven in Sussex, and moved in to Brighton in 1977,
where I lived until I went to Australia in 1981. A qualified
engineer by trade, I spent a lot of time working behind
bars (alcoholic sort, not prison) at the Yacht Club at
Newhaven and also in Brighton.
On arrival in Perth I worked as a cocktail barman and
wine waiter in Perth and later at The Tower Hotel in
Kalgoorlie, until I found a proper job repping for an
industrial instrument company. Proving that they have no
taste, the Australians deported me after 5 years and I
returned to Brighton. On arrival back in the UK, I worked at
The Queen’s Head (an Irish pub at the time!) but later went
back to electrical engineering.
In 1996, I gave up my job to open a catering business
in Brighton, which I sold in Summer 2002, thereafter
temping at various different locations.
I first came to Greece in 1969, and had always promised to
return, which I finally did in 2001! After several trips to Crete
over the next three years, I moved here in February 2004,
intending to buy a bar/cafe. When the opportunity to buy Villa Ralfa
came up, I did so, as it was apparant there was a need for truly
gay owned and friendly accommodation on the island, where guests
could relax and be themselves!
Villa Ralfa was built in 1991, and is fine example of late 20th Century
Greek architecture, more after Frank Lloyd Wright than traditional
Greek housing! The house is named after Ralfa the dog who came
with the house, Ralfa being a nice easy name to pronounce in both
Greek and English. The house is built of reinforced concrete and Is
designed to be earthquake proof, the top floor is a later addition and was
one of the first houses in the area to have a pitched tiled roof!
