Only one week to go before my holiday!

And it's an Ambassador-free week, which is even better.
I wish I could invite all my winter-traumatized friends to come to Skopje and stay here for a week. The morning temperatures have been well above zero for weeks, daily maximum around 20° (or more), everything is in full bloom, lush and green -- just what you'd need after an interminable winter.
I even got a slight sunstroke yesterday from playing tennis for 1,5 hrs in the sun, but lots of liquids and judiciously applied headache pills took care of that, fortunately.
The critters are thoroughly enjoying the exptended periods of time they're allowed to spend out on the balconies, and if Cornelius didn't feel compelled to have a nightly singing contest with the nightingales, everything would be completely perfect.

After the triumph of fitting into size-40 Mango jeans, I had a bit of a setback last week, altough it was more a WTF? thing than actually frustrating: Zara have a sort of ethno line this year, with short skirts made of a material resembling thin, woven rugs, and I bought one. Size L, to be on the safe side. When I tried it on at home (I never, ever try things on at the shop, because I hate that) I couldn't even close the zipper. Now, I'm aware that I'm by no means a slim nymph, but I'm 1,62m tall (or rather short) and weigh 63 kg, so I daresay I don't fall under the XL heading. One plausible explanation, though, was given to me by Snezana, the masseuse, who knows the owner of the Zara shop here. It seems that they buy the -- cheaper -- stuff made for Asian markets, which is why I'm not so surprised anymore. Of course, a Chinese or Japanese L wouldn't be more than an M for a European woman. Whatever the reason, I exchanged the skirt for a top, also L, which inexplicably is comfortably large around my hips. *rolls eyes*

Renovation work starts today at the Embassy; six weeks after the exploded-radiator disaster, the walls are now completely dry. Plus, no Ambassador, which is good because Ambassadors tend to complain if there's too much noise, and if there's one thing you'd better avoid, it's a whiny Ambassador. Not out of pity, but because you can't tell him to kindly shut up and/or work from home.

All things considered, the week is shaping up to be pleasant and mildly busy, and afterwards there'll be twelve free days, counting the next weekend.