91 year old cobbler from Varna still working and full of energy

Perhaps the oldest cobbler in Bulgaria is the 91-year-old Ivanka Koleva from Varna. She is full of energy and has even written a book about her life. It was published in a "boutique" printing - for her relatives and for her favourite show on BNT - "Bulgaria in 60 Minutes". In addition to repairing shoes and bags, Ivanka loves to sing folk songs, to spin and knit.

Despite the sub-zero temperatures, the wood burning fireplace in the shoe repair shop is lit and Ivanka is working.

She also found time to write a book about her parents, about how she became a cobbler, how she met the love of her life, about her children and grandchildren. In 30 pages she has collected 91 years of life. Difficult life, so there is no unnecessary storytelling, only facts.

I remember everything! I even see it and decided to write about it, so that my descendants know what their grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother went through during her life, says Ivanka.

She wanted the book to be a surprise for her family at Christmas.

Exactly at 4 in the afternoon Ivanka closes the shop and goes home to watch "Bulgaria in 60 Minutes" show. She has her own rituals before the show starts, but today is an exception because she wants to show the photos of her big family and her husband, who died 16 years ago.

Ivanka likes to be busy all the time. She likes knitting and singing. She has participated in many folklore festivals, has awards, and music springs from her soul.

She has a sense of humour and energy to power a nuclear power plant. She promises to tell her other memories and experiences for her 100th anniversary.

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