The Shopping Saturday girls met again. We were so pleased to see each other again. And after carefully sanitizing our hands, Sabine took photos of me with my camera. It was very hard to get the colour of this orange dress right. The light, the sunshine changed the orange, like in the above photo. It looks much lighter on the chest than it is in reality.
I bought this dress when I showed my friend Peggy the shop Meent Boutique as they sell good quality items. There aren’t a lot of such shops around anymore. The orange dress caught my eye because of its bright colour and when I put it on I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. The style, the colour, the fit, the length, everything suits me. I did wonder whether I would wear it much now that I am retired. On the other hand, you just put it on, you don’t feel any restrictions and with sneakers it is actually pretty ideal. At the pay desk I found out it was also in the sale. YAY.
Below: Apparently not everybody dares to wear this colour as there was another example left in the shop when Sabine and I passed it. Come on girls… let some colour into your life. I got loads of compliments on my dress that day. See my little red and pink bag in the window? Amazing that it isn’t sold yet. Such a beauty.
Below: I hadn’t thought of my red and pink bag with this dress but chose the blue clutch my friend Marianne gave me.
Sabine and I started the Saturday together as Anke could only join us for lunch. With a toddler, a baby, a husband, a household and working 4 days a week, there isn’t much extra time in her life anymore. She is in that stage of her life and we understand that her family has priority so we really enjoy the time we get to see her.
Below: Sabine completely upstaged my dress haha. Isn’t it gorgeous?
Below: At the side of the Saturday market in the main Market Square. The dress billows in the wind,
Below: Head to toe shot,
Below: Close-up of her earrings which are very lightweight. (Only 14 days until I can start wearing my earrings again. Looking forward to it so much.)
Below: Sabine called back the gentleman on the bike to pose with me haha. And he did. Good sport.
Below: I love his hat. Suits him so well. Of course I gave him my blog card.
Below: We took some photos in this street but the sunlight was too sharp. It is a good close-up of my necklace though (present from my friend Anja, the Curly Traveller). Don’t I get a lot of presents?
Below: On the other side of the street against a dark door we finally got the orange right.
Below: I showed Sabine a shop on the corner of Warmoesstraat, called Lab Women’s Clothing. The sneakers I am wearing are from here. It is a really nice shop with quality stuff and a great staff.
Below: Walking towards the water (Spaarne).
Below: Yay, Anke showed up for lunch. We had coffee and lunch in the garden of Vascobelo. Such a nice place with lovely staff and a good cappuccino.
Below: Of course Anke had to pose before she could leave again.
Below: She was wearing snake print sneakers which we bought together on one of our shopping sprees last year.
Below: Close-up of her cute earrings.
Below: Anke returned to her family and Sabine and I continued our shopping at kpa. (Zeilstraat).
Below: At another store she tried on these green patent leather sandals. Cute but they didn’t feel right.
Below: It was a lovely day and for the first time none of us bought anything. Call the papers. We might have to change our name from ‘Shopping Saturday’ to ‘Just hanging out together’.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday. All of the above.
Sunday. Ron and I decided to walk dog Watson together on the beach. While putting on my shoes I did my back in, something which has never happened to me before. Perhaps it was caused by the way I sit nowadays, leaning forward too much. We walked Watson for an hour after which I sunbathed for an hour, properly covered in sun protection cream. Ron went off with Watson again and upon his return we had a lovely beach lunch. It is like a holiday when you live near the beach and the sun shines. We are very lucky.
My back didn’t like the beach bed one bit, so after arriving home I did my weekly exercises which helped. Took a pain killer and went to bed for half an hour. That helped as well. At the end of the afternoon we brought paella to our friends Georg & Marla for dinner. Thoroughly pleasant evening.
Monday: A photo shoot with Loes again. Our first one since Covid-19. We disinfected our hands before touching the camera and kept our distance. We both missed these little trips. Had coffee and cake at Vascobelo. (If the place is good I like to return). Cannot show you the photo of us as that will be in the next post. But I can show you a photo what I wore the rest of the day (link to original post):
Tuesday. A day full of drama. I was supposed to meet my friend Marjolein and as I was driving on the motorway (highway) I sang out loud with the radio on high volume: Roar by Katy Perry. Which is why it took a while before I noticed a very strange and disturbing sound: a flat tire. Well… flat… I drove it to shreds, smoke coming off it. Fortunately I did not lose control over my steering wheel and could park it on the road shoulder. Phoned the AA. Long story short: it took 3 hours and a new tire and I had to leave my car at a garage. Ron picked me up. Bummer. Of course I had already phoned Marjolein to tell her to turn back home. I knew our day was shot. The only good thing about it is: it was a drizzly, wet day.
Anja came over for an hour in the afternoon and I wore this (link to original post), a very relaxed and easy outfit:
Wednesday. Nothing special, exercising, blogging, reading. It was a sunny day. Anja came over again. And I decided I wanted to get rid of the hair extensions. They are too uncomfortable. I cannot make the coupe which I like with the heavier hair and I am still very apprehensive of anybody spotting my extensions. It is all too much for me. I accept my thin hair. I will be the lady with the thin hair. Who cares.
I got an invitation for a barbeque in September at the house of one of my former colleagues. With my old team mates. How extraordinarily nice of them to include me.
Wore my lovely long dress again (link to original post):
Thursday. My back was fine again until Wednesday night. Oh the ache…From my left buttock cheek, through my left leg to my shin. So Thursday was a day of pain. I had to drive Ron to his garage as his car got a check-up. We spent the day in his luscious allotment garden. It is beautiful there but the pain kept me busy.
Friday. At 8 a.m. I was at the physiotherapist who told me the pain was caused by my sacro-iliac joint and it could take up to 6 weeks, the first 5 days being the worst. Oh my God…I never had such ailment and thought it would pass in two days. I am not a good patient. I moan and groan the whole day. My pain will not go unnoticed. My husband Ron is so much better in this. He will tell you once something is hurting him and then you won’t hear him anymore. Poor fellow is stuck with whiny me. As an extrovert who shares everything with everybody all the time, I share this too.
I am not wearing my body shaper, just trousers with loose elastic in the waist and a big shirt covering everything. Comfort is now more important. Wearing my Delft Blue jewellery again (more info in last week’s post, scroll to the bottom).
I had my hair extensions removed in the afternoon. They did make my hair look thicker but, as I said above, there were many reasons to get rid of them.
The back ache waned, it’ll be that way for a while.
At one point Ron said to me, sitting on the sofa: “It looks as if you have quite a belly haha”. And he put his hand on my stomach…only to find out I DO have quite a belly. He never notices this as I am always wearing a body shaper. He felt awkward as if he had accidently insulted me and I had to laugh so much. Yep, that’s reality for you.
Greetje
Looking great in all pictures. Great selection and oh, the ease you display!! Very cool! Sabine’s dress reminds me of a very favorite American designer, Ulla Johnson. Colorful, sophisticated and unique. check it out. Sabine would look even better if her hair were cared for a little better!!
As for your sciatica, careful exercise and motion is essential. ice and heat, alternating, help too. If there is no improvement over time, a shot of cortisone may help and speed recovery. When bending down, best its done by flexing the knees carefully rather than bending from your waist. this back affliction is the universal right of passage to the Age of wisdom!! Take it in stride. This, from someone who’s been there and made it all the way through!!! It gets better with age!!
Thanks for the back tips Daniella. Fortunately it is a lot better now. I would say 95%. After the physiotherapist treated me, it went uphill. But your tips are valid.
Yes, the age of wisdom and aches haha.
I am sure Sabine’s hair is well treated. I think she washed it that morning, let it dry naturally and forgot brushing it when it was dry. She is pretty keen on her hair.
Your dress and Sabine’s are wonderful! You were most likely the best-dressed women on the street. I’m sorry to hear your back has been causing your pain. I have on and off back discomfort if I don’t get enough exercise and without going to the gym these past 4 months it’s not been good for me. Hope it feels better soon!
We did put in some effort, didn’t we haha? My back ache is much better after the physiotherapist worked on it. It is still lingering in a corner but it doesn’t really restrict me anymore. I never had any back problems so for me this came as a surprise. Three times a week I have been doing exercises with video’s and cycling for 20 minutes. To prevent old ailments rearing their ugly head.
So nice to read your blog and enjoy your photos.
Glad you still like my posts Linda. Comments like yours make me proud and give me positive energy to continue.
Oh, that orange dress is divine, Greetje! People are so timid when it comes to colour – you know I have a jumpsuit that is that exact shade, and all I hear when I wear it is, “I don’t have the courage to wear that!” Like it’s something you need to be brave for!
I adore Sabine’s dress – wow, what a great dress, but how dare she upstage you, ha ha! Glad you had a nice time, even if you didn’t buy anything (very rare for me too).
I’m so sorry to hear about your back – that sucks. L tweaked his back getting out of bed one day – such is aging. I am like Ron with pain – I keep it to myself, but L is more like you, moaning and groaning. He does like everyone to know when he’s hurting! Ha ha!
Oh dear, poor Ron, grabbing your belly! Funny story: when L and I were first dating, one night we were watching a movie together on the couch (we never do this now), and he grabbed my thigh, shook it (!!) and said, “Now that’s a good piece of meat!” I informed him that he had better bloody well not ever do that again to any part of my body, or refer to me as a piece of meat or I’d be arrested for murdering him. Silly guy.
I respect your decision around your extensions – I think they would drive me nuts. Soon you’ll have your earlobes back!
Have a good week, my dear!
You and I aren’t scared of colours and have we ever met with disapproving remarks because of that? I don’t think so. More like what you say: admiration.
Sabine is an excellent stylist and perhaps even a bigger clothes lover than I am haha.
My back is about 90% better thank you.
Laughed at your reaction to L’s grabbing haha.
Having no extensions anymore is heaven. The good thing about the whole exercise is that I really appreciate my thin hair now. Who would have thought.
And next Monday it will be final earlobe check day. Yay.
Somehow what should have been an ordinary week in retirement becomes an adventure filled and hilarious time in your hands. Love it! Your embrace of color is inspiring.
I try not to have ordinary weeks haha. Although it is much of the same: lunch, coffee, shopping, friends… But it is sooo good. Covid-19 taught us well to appreciate such things.
Please include me in your mail-outs. I thought I had registered but I am not getting them . Help, how can I be sure to get them?
Oh dear… as I am only a hobby blogger, I do not pay for the email service done by Mailchimp. And therefore they do not support me with any problems and questions. The procedure of registration is that you type in your email address (could it be that you made a typing error?), then you get an email from Mailchimp asking you to confirm your subscription by clicking the link in their email. If you haven’t had that confirmation email, you aren’t registered. Please try again. Or try with a different email address if you have one. If everything fails… you can set the clock on my posts: Every Sunday at the same time.
Lest you all think I’m completely gaga, posting twice. i didn’t realize my first comment was at the top , so thought it didn’t post. Tee hee. lol – at myself!
Hahaha, these things happen to me as well, especially in the morning when I haven’t got my contact lenses in, nor reading glasses on. I just deleted your first comment.
You do entertain me and make me smile and laugh so blog goal achieved. The orange dress is fabulous on you and the way you styled with the sneakers and flower necklace makes it perfect casual chic. Sabine’s dress doesn’t upstage; it is on a different stage and both are top drawer! I might even wear a dress if I could find a long-sleeve high-neck one like that. I don’t like feeling my legs rub together though, so it’s pants for me. I do love orange and have lots of tops in that color. It’s so great to read takes of your life, but I hate that you’re in pain. My healing thoughts are with you.
I never get tired reading that people laugh at my blog posts. It means I am still on the right track. And after 7 1/2 years of blogging, I am getting better at styling haha. The sneakers are something everybody does now and the necklace popped up in my brain because I wanted the white to come back in the outfit. Adding the blue bag is something I learned through the years.
orange seems to be the color everywhere! and animal prints! you look great! and the necklace? i still love statement necklaces–i will always wear them! pair with trainers–effortless style..beautiful Greetje!
xo eva
Thanks Eva. I was wearing the trainers when I tried the dress on in the shop and thought it looked good. They make wearing the dress so comfortable that I decided to buy it. The necklace just came to me. I am getting better at styling haha.
I hope your back is better. I am the same kind of patient, grumpy and moody. Backaches are the worst! they always make me very crabby. I don’t wear shapers at all, I really hate the Spanx. I almost dislocated my shoulder putting on one of those midriff things. lol. just kidding! I too have a belly, and my husband calls it buddha. I don’t mind, the belly exists so why not?? I love your clothes. Oh, just forget about the extensions. Life is simpler without them.
You are right Linda. Just accepting who you are and how you are built is sooo much easier and relaxed. I must say I have done a poor job in that area. The funny thing is that now the extensions are taken out, I appreciate my thin hair so much more than before the extensions. So I did get something out of this exercise.
I love the orange dress and Sabine’s dress is just gorgeous. I do hope you soon recover — back pain is the worst!
My back is already getting better after the first visit to the physiotherapist. Thanks for your concern. And yes Sabine’s dress is divine. She totally upstaged me haha. Which I don’t mind at all.
I hope you are feeling better. Perhaps you have told us before – what shaper do you use? I have never worn one but might have some fancy events once the pandemic is over and would like to look my best.
I too have thin hair. Made even worse now by medication I take to prevent cancer’s return. But I am alive, and there are a lot worse things than thin hair. By that way, in the photos, you hair never looks thin. Always lovely.
Thanks for all your posts.
I wear the Spanx shapers but I think there could be better ones. I tried others which were worse. And I had a Spanish brand (Janira) which was good as well.
My hair never looks thin because I usually wash and blow dry it before a shoot and then carefully select the right photos haha.
That orange dress is just SO good! I like it styled with the sneakers too.
I hope your back recovers quickly.
Sigh…I miss getting together with my girlfriends, doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon. I’m so glad you’re able to see your friends!
We are trying to keep our distance. Doesn’t always work 100% but most of the times we are good. My back is already better but it will take a while before the pain is completely gone.
We never got to Facetime now did we? How about next week?
I laughed out loud at your husband’s remark and his embarrassment. I often do laugh at your posts. It’s nice to read about a cheerful life. Hope your back is better soon
My back is getting a lot better, but I am not there yet. Oh well, just a matter of time.
I am very glad you have to laugh at my posts, as that is my main goal with this blog: to entertain and make people laugh. So thank you very much for your comment.
Thank you for allowing us into your life. I enjoyed the laugh, “my pain will not go unnoticed ” even though I am sure with your pain you might not see the humor.
That orange dress is so pretty on you!
Thanks for taking us along on your shopping trip!
Hope your back will get better soon.
I can always see the humour, so I am glad you laughed at that sentence. My back is already getting better, thanks for your concern.