means one thing to me and one thing only: it is the biggest day of the year. The most day light. The confirmation of summer. I love this day :o)

I did not go to the beach this long weekend. Instead I was suffering from cramps and a period a bit too early. And horrible horrible cravings for the most unsual and unually fattening things. Which I made and ate. Angelos was working a good part of the weekend too, but had arranged to have Monday off. Which was great because by Monday the cramps that were torturing me for 2 whole days had subsided some, so we were able to go out and look some more for balcony furniture. This morning I had breakfast in the balcony :)

I am not in love with the furniture really. It was sort of a compromise. We looked at so many sets, so many different kinds, and the one I fell in love with was out of stock and had a possible delivery date between August 7 and 21! However I am in love with the fact that we finally HAVE balcony furniture and tonight we can have dinner in our brand new table in our beautiful balcony!

While I was miserable at home all weekend, in pain and alone most of the time, I was trying to amuse or ease myself by thinking of food and making it and eating it too!

I have been silently thinking for a long time now. Silently thinking means not consciously thinking. In the back back of my head, I have had thoughts that feel like a dream, and up to Sunday, were treated as such. I mean that I was either pushing them away, or let them be silent and not deal with them.

I have been reading religiously all the blogs lately. And I have realised that by not typing a comment at the time I read the blog, the point that the blog made me think of, follows me in my head all day.

I read this gorgeous post for instance, and kept it in my head since then. Many others like this too.

The problem with me lately is the new house. I absolutely adore it. I spent all my free time making it prettier. Rearranging stuff, looking for the right flowers, the right places to put them, trying to add a personal touch here and there and make it feel really like home. We have company almost every night. Angelos teases me and tells me I want to show off the new things I add here and there all the time.

And every night I cook. Which I always do anyway. But lately I cook to entertain. Which is a different kind of cooking. Because it has at least 3 courses plus desert.

Angelos also tells me that my cooking has reached its peak lately. I come up with all kinds of new recipes. All kinds of new ways to serve food. I have been utilising every serving plate and bowl I have had since we got married and never used before. I have go nuts! The last mad thing I did was to take orange and lemon peel and stiched them together with linen thread to make individual salad bowls for a green salad with orange vinegraitte! Yes...that nuts I've become!!!!

And although I am loving and enjoying the domestic goddess part of me, I am not happy with it. Because it lacks balance. When I become like this it is all about the kingdom and not the queen I'm afraid. I am so consumed by the house, the cooking, the guests, the plants, the perfect vase for the yellow roses, that I forget about me.

I realised this morning that for a week now I have run out of cream for my face. I am using a cheap hydrating cream I get from the organic shop. I do not believe in anti-wrinkle expensive stuff. And every morning I wake up, wash my face and put on the cream. And every day for almost a week now, I wake up, wash my face, see I have no cream, and forget it by the time I get out of the bathroom, because my mind is usually set on things I need to get for the house.

In the same note, I cook all these rich and deliscious meals, thinking about my husband and guests, and not once I think about the size of my arse!!! Which is holding nicely, thank you very much, but will soon expand unless I do something about it! Not that I have dared to get on the scales. But I know that the gain is no more than 2 kilos. Because of my jeans and how they fit me. I am not getting on the scales before I'm done with my periiod either.

I have the date for our summer holidays. August 7 we will be on a boat to some island and we will return on the 28 :)

I have 7 weeks. As of today, I started using the treadmill again. Boy have I lost at least 50% of my fitness! And as of today I am on a 7-week challenge. Which consists of the following "rules":

• at least 40 minutes on the treadmill every day, unless I am going to the beach, where I am swimming for at least 30 mins non - stop for evey hour I stay there
• eat breakfast every day, even if it is just a piece of fruit
• no sweets
• one very unhealthy but diet friendly 0% fat 0% sugar ice cream once a week

If I am still close to the gorgeous 86.7 I saw 12 days ago, wouldn't it be marvelous to leave on holidays in the magnificent 70's?

I am determined you know!