Standing on stairs and sitting on benches are mine and Kitty’s favourite poses. (For those who don’t know, Kitty is my photographer.) When I discovered these stairs on one of my cycling trips, I sent Kitty some photos and she approved. We shot this very comfy and elegant red silk shirt there.
Below: These stairs are part of a house or an office near the big canal (called Spaarne) that runs through Haarlem. Great building for a photo shoot. I wouldn’t mind a photo shoot inside in winter. Big windows, lots of light…and warmth.
Below: The building overlooks the house boats along the canal.
Below: There are little decks along the quay, which are either jetties or vantage points. When you stand on one, you can see up and down the canal for quite a distance. Wearing my cute short coat from kpa.haarlem (seen before with hat in this post).
It didn’t take long before the order came through: “Coat off”. We did this shoot at the end of February, so you can imagine the (low) temperature.
Below: Kitty captured the rear of a passing boat in this photo. The deck is highly unsuitable for stiletto heels. (Of course it is, it is meant for sneakers and boat shoes.)
Below: You can sit on stairs as well (grin). The shirt is from kpa.haarlem as so many of my clothes. This really has become my primary shop. The belt is Isabel Marant from two years ago and the boyfriend jeans are G-Star Raw. The patent leather pumps are from 2016 and I bought them in Rotterdam with the Shopping Saturday girls (see this post). They had been damaged by rubbing against black shoes in my overloaded closet, but my cobbler knew how to fix that. Better said, his new daughter-in-law did. The family consists of cobblers.
Below: Kitty wanted to take this photo with a perspective of peeking through the steps and it wasn’t easy.
Below: She let me climb up and down those stairs several times.
The steps are perforated and are very dangerous to someone with stiletto heels. I also have a fear of heights. I couldn’t complain though, as I was the one who suggested these stairs. The bag is Chloe, a present from my friend Marianne.
Below: Kitty had to photograph me from a particular angle and the only way she could do that, was to stand in a flower bed near a tree. The very spot where everybody in the neighbourhood was taking their dog to. You could smell it and you could see it. People are obliged to pick up their doggie doo, but apparently nobody did. No matter how careful Kitty was, she got doo on her shoe, which she scraped off.
Below: Nice sign… It means: ‘don’t let your dog shit on the pavement’. Well, at least people obeyed that.
Below: I cleaned her boots when we got home. It was the least I could do for her. Here she is without her coat.
Below: The shirt from the side.
Below: We walked around the corner for this shot, which taught me to be careful with spreading my arms sideways, having big boobs. You live and learn.
Below: We turned another corner and there was a bench! However, it was so old that it moved sideways, nearly collapsing. Kitty had just warned me and I moved back a bit. The thought of me landing on my bum with the bench on top of me, made me laugh.
Below: My black and white earrings, which were a gift from Nicolene (blog: Fifty Fabulous) when she visited Amsterdam. (Gosh, my neck has become wrinkled again. Never mind, it is what it is.)
Below: One last photo because I love this shot.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday was an easy day with a visit to Amsterdam. I needed a replacement for my bright pink belt and searched high and low. Finally found one in a shop in one of the most expensive areas of that town. Fortunately the belt wasn’t that expensive, so I was pleased. Had to park my car and sign up for parking fee with my app. Which didn’t work as I had used up all my data for the month of March. I am too stingy to pay another 8 euro for 4 days and the hosting company said I would still have access to the internet, just a lot slower. NOT TRUE. I didn’t have any access to the internet. For the parking app there is a way around it: you can call in to start the parking time, hah!
Sunday we visited mum again. As she has had her vaccinations and doesn’t get anywhere, we felt safe to play Rummikub, a tile-based game. We like playing games.
Below: Mum. She is doing fine. She baked ‘boterkoek’ which is butter cake. The translation says shortbread but that is not true. It is much more moist and buttery than shortbread. We took two big slices with us as well but put them straight into the freezer so we won’t eat all of it in one go and pack on the pounds.
Too much information
A report on my visit to the gynaecologist. For those who don’t want to hear about this, skip this paragraph.
According to the instructions, I took 2 pain killers Sunday night and 2 on Monday morning. This instruction made me very apprehensive.
There were 4 women caring for me in hospital: an operation assistant, 2 gynaecologists and an intern. They inserted water into my vagina (and higher) because that opens the field so they can see better. The gynaecologist then inserted a camera. She could find the mouth of the uterus, but then the trouble began. The cervix is really a little passage from the vagina to the uterus and it was completely closed in my case. Shut, sealed, locked. Perhaps this has always been the case or perhaps that happened through aging, I don’t know. I have never had a child, so nothing has ever passed through there.
Below: This is what it looks like. Mine is the one on the right – shut.
The gynaecologist was going to force it open, gently. NOT FUNNY. I was in such pain that she stopped. That is the beauty of a female gynaecologist. She knows!
Because they were inserting water all the time (feels really weird), they anticipated that some water would have made its way into the uterus. This made an echo more reliable; they could see more than last time. They opted for that. Things looked fine on the echo and we settled for a pragmatic approach. If that cervix was closed, then the drops of blood couldn’t have gotten from the uterus, could they? The drops were probably due to a burst vein (a little one) in the vagina. We left it at that but if the blood drops happen again, they will sedate me and investigate further. For now I will just have my urine checked next week to establish whether the blood didn’t come from my bladder. So far so good. Not conclusive and not alarming.
I kept really quiet for the rest of the day, but I don’t think it was necessary. After all, nothing really happened.
You can read again from here
Tuesday was a gorgeous day, warm and sunny, a perfect day for a walk with husband Ron and dog Watson to walk at the seaside. With a take-away cappuccino to finish the morning.
Below: There were seagulls in the sea, creating a very wide horizontal line, but I filmed too fast, so I don’t think you can see that. Watson did though. We had nearly the whole beach to ourselves. Sound on for this lovely summer noise: sea and seagulls.
When I got home on the Tuesday, a parcel was waiting for me. As I didn’t expect anything, it was exciting to open it. And what a lovely surprise! One of my readers sent me a necklace she made. Isn’t that sweet?
Below: I was wearing this Uniqlo jumper with my trusted boyfriend jeans that day and swapped the brooch for the new necklace.
Below: Close-up of the necklace. I think it is a beauty. You can be sure to see it again in a future post.
In the afternoon I got out my stretcher and did some sunbathing in the garden. It was heaven. My neighbour Ina, from across the road, came over for a cup of tea. I love some company so it was a beautiful day.
Wednesday was again a gorgeous day, even warmer than the day before. Exercises, cycling, some grocery shopping, blogging and back to sunbathing in the garden. Some giggles with Froukje and Petro who live a couple of doors down the road. We found out that Froukje knows Marita whom I featured on the blog last week. Such a small world.
And…I got a big bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates from Sylvia (40+Style) and her husband. For helping them with clearing the house they sold. Such a lovely surprise.
Thursday was a boring day. Nothing to do, nowhere to go and no friends visiting me. So I did what I don’t like but ought to do…I created outfits with stuff already in my wardrobe. Starting point was a blouse I got from my friend Katrien, a Vivienne Westwood no less. It is black and transparent with lovely small blue velvet patches. I had some failures (huge ones) but created 4 outfits which are really good. Actually 6, if you count the black sleeveless dress outfits as well. Not too shabby a result. I also went through my boxes with buttons to find a load of buttons for Katrien who is very much into sewing. She is pleased with them.
On Friday Marcella of Lara Design came for lunch. We developed a friendship in this past year. I still insist on paying full price for the earrings I buy from her as I don’t want to mix business with friendship. It would make me feel uncomfortable.
Below: Marcella. She shares my love for cream/white boots. (Ignore the poor state of my jasmine.)
Below: And a close-up of the earrings. Of course she wears earrings from her own collection when visiting me.
Below: I wore my skinnies with my red tiger jacket (see original post). No problem showing you this outfit as I haven’t got a clue how to style it differently. It is perfect like this. Equalled only by the outfit with the matching trousers.
That concludes this week.
Can I draw your attention to another blog one more time? A few months ago I mentioned a new blog: The Grey Brunette by Suzy. She had only put one or two posts on it at the time. In this short period of time, she managed to publish quite a lot of posts and videos and she now has a very interesting blog with lots of humour. It is well-written, which is what you can expect from a writer. If I were you, I would click through to her blog.
Greetje
Great read, as usual.
You have a lovely life, Greetje. With the hubby, animals, freighbours, friends and family. Cool!
Ooh, I had no idea about your cervix experience. Glad that it could be left at this.
Love your outfits. You came such a long way from when we first met!!!
And you have great photographers; Ron, Kitty and Loes.
How sweet to receive a gift from a reader! Nice.
Been catching up, have you?
I agree that I have a lovely life. Usually you only know this when you lose it, but I am very aware of it.
Outfit-wise you have helped me along when you were still living here. Still missing our coffee get-togethers.
I wish I could find jeans that fit me as well as yours do. I even found a pair of G-star Raw at a thrift store here a year ago, but they were snug when I got them and now they don’t fit at all 🙁 The red and blue outfit looks great on you.
Men have no idea of the complications we experience with our lady parts! I had to have a cone biopsy of my cervix done last December because of abnormal cells. I was very uncomfortable for about a week afterwards, but fortunately all was clear. I hope your situation sorts itself out.
Thrift stores probably won’t have last season’s jeans and boyfriend jeans aren’t around that long, are they? I am fortunate to have had a well-paying job all my life, which allowed me to buy such good clothes. From when I was 17 I knew I wanted a comfortable life and I chose accordingly. Had I not wanted money so badly, I would have aimed for theatre school. Never regretted it though. It is good to know what makes you tick.
Glad to hear you had the all clear on your abnormal cells. I am not yet that far as they have never been able to investigate in that area. But I am positive. The cervix test came back with 100% good, so I am hoping the uterus will be the same. We’ll see.
The red and denim–so snazzy. You look great! My two closest friends both say red is their favorite color. It’s so pretty on you!
Thank you or sharing your health info. We only know each other through your blog but I sincerely wish you the best. You are such an excellent person. Best to you.
I know! Red is great for me. Red, fuchsia, orange.. all kinds of reds as long as they are vibrant/bright. Pastels wash me out.
Thank you for your sweet compliments, but believe me.. I am just as ordinary a person as everybody else. I just show you my good sides haha.
I always admire the fit of your jeans–not too skinny, not too baggy–with plenty of length for cuffing. As a fellow tall gal and avid jeans wearer, I was wondering what brands you like?
Thanks!
My skinny jeans are pretty skinny and I am wearing them less and less. I chose for a longer length (36) so I could cuff them because I think that is cute. Being 5ft74 I was a tall child when I was young (sooo long ago) and trousers were usually too short as were the sleeves. So anything that is longer sooths my ‘trauma’ haha.
The brands I like are J Brand (great soft skinnies with a lot of stretch) and Paige (my flared jeans). Furthermore 2 Dutch brands which I think ship internationally: Denham, the jeansmakers for straight and skinny jeans and G-Star Raw for boyfriend jeans (ARC 3D low rise boyfriend). G Star also does a good straight one, the Noxer Straight Jeans, but they are high rise, so I haven’t tried them yet. High rise means for me that tucking-in at the front is more difficult, plus I have a short upper body.
Greetje, first, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the very kind mention of my blog. I am so grateful to you <3 <3
I absolutely ADORE your outfit. I used to have a pair of red patent leather stilletos (from Mango) but I ended up giving them to my friend because they were just hideously painful to wear lol! But I loved them so much. I really don't think you can beat a pair of red heels. So these days, I usually settle for red trainers lol! Really not the same though!
Your gynae appointment sounded absolutely awful. But I'm so glad there appears to be nothing to worry about.
That necklace a readers sent you is absolutely gorgeous! She made it??! WOW, what a talent!
Oh and I LOVE Rummikub!!!!!!!!
Hugs
Suzy xxx
These patent leather shoes are quite comfortable, but hell to walk in as you get stuck in the pavement cracks all the time.
I am pretty good at Rummikub but I doubt we will play it if we ever meet haha.
Oh dear, hope you are doing ok now Greetje – that sounded painful!
Love the red shirt.
xoxo Yvonne
http://www.funkyforty.com
I am fine and although the results aren’t conclusive, they sound positive. Don’t you worry.
This is a lovely classic outfit, Greetje! I used to have pumps just like those! I enjoyed your photo-shoot with Kitty even though it sounds like you had a few hazards to deal with!
I’m glad you got your uterus checked out – that’s kind of scary, to get drops of blood! sending good vibes…
Your new necklace is gorgeous – the green pieces handing down look like malachite.
I know that sound of waves and seagulls – it sounds just like home to me! I hope you have a good week!
We are having a cold week here in the Netherlands, around freezing point. One minute it is sunny and the next minute it is snowing. Off and on. I mean snowing!
So we don’t do much but indoor stuff like cleaning and polishing and reading. Boring.
The lady trouble story hasn’t gotten a happy ending yet, but at the same time it doesn’t sound worrying. So I am positive.
At the moment I am reading a lot of style books Sylvia gave me. And although some of them are quite old (2009) I can find some truths in there. Like being too matchy matchy. It said: “a black dress with red shoes and a red and white top looks great but a black dress with red shoes and a red scarf looks too contrived”. I thought…: “Hmmm… I wonder whether my black and white dress (post of two weeks ago) with my red/pink bag and red/pink earrings is great or too contrived?” As I think the writer is right, you have to be careful with this matchy matchy stuff.
You know, I love seeing you in your jeans. And I love jeans with red heels. Half the look already spot on, in my opinion. And if you also add red clothes, we will improve. And if you add your precious jacket … well that’s perfect.
Thank you. I have done well again in your eyes. That pleases me a lot.
Love the outfits and the blog. But oh you standing on those open stairs in those high heeled shoes really gives me the willies.
That is an expression I haven’t heard for a while: giving you the willies, haha. Believe me, I was very, very careful, tiptoeing. I know too well what it is like. I don’t think I would have hurt myself but my heels would have been severely damaged and that would have been such a shame.
Red is one of my favourite colours so I was always going to love the shirt with jeans combination. It looks great on you. The gynaecological procedure does not sound pleasant. What we women have to go through! It is good though that the result is not an alarming one.
Red is also one of my favourite colours, although I have many: red, fuchsia, orange, yellow, green, as long as the colours are vibrant, bright.
Of course the results of the gynaecologist aren’t conclusive yet, but I am quite positive about it.
Oh, that tiger jacket!!! And I love seeing photos of your mom. That necklace you received is stunning, and so are Marcella’s earrings.
I am always happy I can include other people or (funny) things that have happened. I think it makes reading so much nicer than just reading about the outfit of the week.
Great outfit and great photos. Such a perfect collaboration.
I hope the flowers are still going strong? You really helped us out so much and we’ll thank you in real life as soon as we’re in Haarlem again!
It is a perfect collaboration. But Kitty has a busy life and a full-time job, so I always feel I am pressuring her.
The flowers are indeed still going strong. They gave me good ones. The chocolates are finished. Quite quickly too haha.
Hi
I went to “The Grey Brunette” blog and she seems an interesting and a lovely person. Thanks for the recommendation.
I too love you in red! I would take that blue jacket right off your back, if I passed you in the street.
Have a great week,
Glad to have been the ‘go-between’ you and Suzy. I like her frankness a lot, especially being Dutch. The blue jacket wasn’t on my wishlist but when I was in the shop and tried it on a couple of months ago, I couldn’t bring myself to putting it back. This happens a lot to me.
Love all of them; especially the last one. So much creativity with the shots. 💕
That red tiger jacket is a winner, I agree. The creativity in the shots is all thanks to Kitty.
Love both your outfits with jeans and red – you look happy and fantastic! Thanks also for your gyno explanation. It was very interesting, and I’m relieved that everything seems okay.
Thanks for making my Sunday and have a wonderful week!
I am in jeans most of the times because they are easy and they suit me so well. But I am afraid of not using all my other lovely clothes anymore. I need a catwalk. My work provided me a catwalk and my colleagues were the public haha.
I like the red shirt on you, but can I say I especially love the outfit with the plaid coat and yellow scarf. It’s a fabulous combo! You are a brave soul to wear those stiletto heels on the perforated stairs and dock. 😉
And it’s always such a delight to see your friends and family, and to watch Watson having such fun at the beach.
Yes, you can say that. I like that little coat as well. It brings joy. Of course it is also from kpa.haarlem. Really, if she were to stand in front of my house and call back all the clothes I bought from her, there would be a pile on the pavement.
I have been very careful with my stiletto heels on the dock and stairs, you bet.
My poor family and friends know they will be on my blog if I have my way. But I always ask permission.
Beautiful shirt!
Isn’t it just? And as soft as a baby’s skin. This colour is so good for me.
Love the blue coat, yellow scarf and red shoes!! Great combo!
Climbing on those stairs with stilettos is INSANITY!! i have seen a few things in my years in ER! Not pretty! Same with the dock in stilettos. What one does for fashion. The water shots create an impressionistic painting. Quite lovely!! The red blazer is really stunning.
Glad your medical check up is behind you!
Well, the dossier of my medical check-up isn’t closed yet, but at least the unpleasant bit is behind me. Unless future research unveils something nasty, but I am positive it won’t.
Believe me, I was very, very careful on the dock and on the stairs, tiptoeing. I think most accidents happen because you weren’t paying attention.
I am glad you like all my outfits. Always nice to read.