Love in a delightful birthday party

Summer calendar is full enough to keep me away from my base, Athens.

Being busy with travelling I hardly have time to think that all my friends left me alone in the big city. Went back to their native places, or abroad to work and/or study.
Well, fortunately I can follow or visit some of them.

Destination: Crete. Purpose: Vicky's Birthday Party.

Vicky (on the right, smiling with her heart) is such a tease.
Surreal screenwriter, enthousiastic film professional, free spirit, artistic by nature.
We celebrate her birthday at Antonella's (the batman girl) lovely house.
It was a gleeful night with family,
parents, boyfriends, best friends and a bright dog, Pedro.

Big hugs, happy faces, real pleasure meeting with a long aftertaste.

The guest of honor was Christoph, Vicky's boyfriend from Switzerland, who is, apart from handsome and hyper-polite, a promising pastry chef.
He made for his girl a unique six-layer b-day cake.

The miraculous cake consisted of a buttery sable bisquit, a delicate chocolate sponge, a thick chocolate ganache, a fluffy chocolate mousse, red fresh strawberries ans a rich vanilla topping cream put as snatchy waves, resembling a naughty sea with wooden floating paper ships!

We had pizza's, fresh tomato salads, satay chicken on teriyaki sauce, a delicious strand filled with veggies and meat and Pimm's original to "chin- chin" and to celebrate both Vicky's day and her new start to Amsterdam September coming.
Cheers to all!

ps. I dedicate this post to the b-day girl, wishing her all the best.
Big thanx for the photos, guys.

Your hand in mine

These are the hands that taught me what is soft and what is hard.
Showed the difference between cold and hot, explained the dos and the don'ts.
I have always had an extravagant relation with my mother's mom.
Pure love and strong misunderstandings haunted my childhood and puberty.

I was sleeping with her until I was 12, spent my summertime vacations till my 17.
She spent with me more days than with her own children, controlled her patience,
re- estimated responsibility and family affairs,
cooked for me so many breakfasts, lunches and dinners, made me gain 29 kilos in 4 months.
 

This is Mariό.

Last August she had an accident, routine for the elderly.
She is now recovering after a big stroke, trying to figure out life.
Again.
Since then she is living with me, because she believes that I take a good care of her. 
Also because she wants to make sure that I cook for her family, like she did, everyday.

She likes eating mostly candies and desserts, is a passionate vegeterian at her 82 and enjoys drinking red wine like there is no tomorrow.
Today she made her first steps, alone, after eight months.
We had to celebrate her victory against imbalance with something concise and full.
Cheers gradma'.