A friend of mine recently went to Rhodes. Before she went she was a little concerned about what to eat – being a vegetarian, she wasn’t sure how easy it would be to find restaurants that would cater to her, especially in Greece, where they are renowned for their love of meat. But when I asked her about the food, she waxed lyrically about the choice on offer and how easy it was for her to eat meat free and enjoy her holiday.

Since Rhodes is a holiday hotspot she found that communicating was really easy. In resorts like Lindos Blu where she stayed, most signs were in both Greek and English, making it easier for Anna to identify what she could and couldn’t eat.

Another plus point was the choice she got. Although salads were a plenty, Anna was pleasantly surprised to find that wasn’t the only thing on offer to her. And as she told me about some of the things she had to choose from, my mouth really did begin to water. Spanakopita, a spinach and cheese pastry sounded incredible as well as gemiste – a dish consisting of vegetables stuffed with rice. This can sometimes come with minced lamb so take care to check this with your waiter before you order.

I love courgettes, so when Anna told me about Kolokithokeftethes, I found myself getting a little envious, especially when she told me how good they were dipped in tzatziki.

So, whilst I gaze longingly at Anna’s holiday photos and long for sunnier climates, what are you doing for your summer holiday this year? I’d love to hear about it!

After my thoughts – and imagination – had run away with me, I started to think about how I might put the wheels in motion and turn my party from a fantasy into reality. It turns out that there is a great deal of help at hand and I found this piece on Woman’s Day really helpful and it raised a few points that I hadn’t considered. The main one being, I didn’t have a theme in mind.

To the rescue was Martha Stewart (I have always wanted to say that). Her website is choc-full of inspiration on themes, from advice on choosing the right one for you, to examples of how to execute your vision. My love for all things vintage-inspired, means that I am a sucker for ceramic jugs used as vases – I will be recreating the Pitcher Bouquet Centerpiece for my garden party. Keeping with a more subdued theme, my decorations will be simple with iris reticilata and bright yellow tulips tied with ribbon for a more relaxed feel.

If you are swayed by bright colours and thoughts of sunnier climates, a Hawaiian or South Pacific theme might be more up your street. Using tropical plants, such as red ginger or a frangipani to embellish the tables and chairs at your party, will convince your guests they have been transported to a tropical island getaway without even a hint of a miniature cocktail umbrella.

Now that you’ve dealt with your theme and your flowers, it’s time to think about the food. Your food could easily match your theme. By adopting a French theme, cheeses, meats, baguettes and wine should be in abundance – you might not be able to go to Paris, but you can bring Paris to your guests. If you want to go that extra mile, you could even order in authentic produce from the country your theme is based around, but remember to do this in advance.

Good wines are now much easier to come by, with Marks and Spencer having a range of exclusive wine offers on their website. Whether it’s Italian, French or something more exotic, their selection of good wines is extensive and will help your party go with a bang.

Not only does throwing a garden party provide you with the opportunity to show off your gardening skills, but if you’re a crafty type, it allows you to put these skills to good use. HGTV has some great ideas on how to create place settings using your party theme. It also shows you how to add special touches such as guest place tags, petals from flowers grown in your garden, and centerpieces with any plants, vegetables, or flowers you’ve cultivated. You should be able to find the items you need to put together your decorations and table settings in craft shops. Try to incorporate as many items that follow your theme as possible.

Once the sun has got his hat on again, I plan on throwing my summer garden party. Look out for the pictures coming soon and let me know if any of you have any garden party plans up your sleeves.

My eating habits Monday-Friday differ massively from my culinary exploits at the weekend. In particular, the biggest contrast comes at breakfast time. During the week, it doesn’t get any more glamorous than fruit and yoghurt, usually guzzled at my desk.

At the weekend it’s a whole different matter. Think eggs perfectly poached on sourdough bread with some smoked salmon, or grilled Crombies sausages served on ciabatta, accompanied of course by vats of freshly brewed coffee, and the weekend papers. Time is not a concern on Saturday or Sunday mornings. The options are endless, and generally I start planning my weekend breakfast around Thursday, when it’s almost close enough to smell.

This Saturday, it was cafe au lait and French patisserie. Which one of the above did I choose? You guessed it, I had both!

In time for planning this Saturday’s delights, tell me your favourite weekend breakfast. I am ready to be inspired!

The summer holiday is a thing to behold. Our trip to Nice was booked in February this year, and I must admit, it feels like it has taken so much longer six months to come round. But it’s here, and true to the summer holiday spirit, rather than running away from the school gates screaming, I will be running towards the departure gate, elated. Yes, it’s more modest than the six weeks reserved for school kids, but 10 days in the South of France sipping wine and eating delicious food will do me nicely. And did I mention the rooftop pool? See you all soon!

1 Embrace the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. With so many shows to choose from, it can be a little daunting, but half of the fun is going to see something completely random. But if you want to plan in advance, check out Edinburgh Spotlight. It is by far the most comprehensive reviewing website.

2 If you head in the direction of the Udderbelly, visit the pop-up Assembly Mojito Bar. A truly unique experience, it’s the only place in Edinburgh where the ingredients are laid bare for you to make your own mojito. Team this with the intoxicating smell of mint and salsa music, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.

3 If you do feel the need to escape from the madness of Edinburgh, visit Jupiter Artland. A haven just outside the city, you can’t help but come back feeling chilled out and relaxed.

4 Browse the new Marks and Spencer homeware collection. The Clerkenwell Cluster Pendant Ceiling Light is currently on my wishlist.

5 Cook with courgettes. They are in season at the moment, and are so versatile. Whether grilled as an antipasto accompaniment, or added to soups, this is a truly delicious vegetable.

Reading Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas.

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Charlie and Evelyn’s table is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Chris and Rachel Rowley. They have turned their passion for food and cooking into a dining experience, which has fellow food lovers from Edinburgh and beyond signing up in their droves for a place at their table.

A warm welcome and exceptionally beautiful home set the tone for the evening. Testament to Chris and Rachel’s hosting skills, I felt at ease all evening. Food was served on warm plates, glasses were regularly topped up and there was plenty of water on the table.

The evening started with canapés: stilton gougeres and seared tuna with radish and wasabi. Both were equally delicious and whetted my appetite for what was to come.

As we moved from the living room to the dining room, the smell coming from the kitchen worked wonders for my senses, as I took my place at the table for the amuse bouche of pappa al pomodoro, a delicious Tuscan tomato soup. The starter, pea and mint risotto, served with a parmesan crisp was perfectly cooked, and the classic pea and mint combination was delicious.

Our main course was seabass with chive crème fraîche, artichoke, green beans and new potatoes. Another delicious dish, I was beginning to forget that I was in someone’s house – this was restaurant standard food.

The evening came to a close with raspberry tarts, garnished with mint and lemon, the perfect dessert to round off this outstanding meal. Tea and coffee followed, with handmade pistachio and milk chocolate truffles.

From start to finish, our evening was one to remember. The warm welcome, the exceptional food and practising the art of dinner party conversation, made for a truly wonderful evening. I will definitely be at the front of the queue when the next dates are announced.

All photographs in this post were kindly donated by Chris and Rachel Rowley.

Those of you who know me are well aware of my default snack – toast and Nutella. But after months of over indulging to soothe my prolonged winter mood, I was happy to spend a little more time in the kitchen, after all, it looked like the sun would wait.

25 minutes later, I was sitting in my back garden with a cup of Earl Grey, Amy Thomas’s Paris My Sweet and a cranberry and buttermilk scone still warm from the oven. Here’s how to rustle up six large scones:

Delicious served warm or cold, with jam or butter, these scones are definitely at their best on a sunny Sunday.

Cream tea at Ardanaiseig

A visit to St Conan’s Kirk

A hungry robin