What a wonderful day I had with my friend Katrien in Leiden, wearing my big yellow jumper. The sun was shining, I was healthy, my knee was cooperating and the company was great. What more can you want? Katrien said she would gladly take outfit photos for my blog which was a lovely bonus.
Below: Katrien. She is wearing a puffer vest from kpa.haarlem. Two days after she bought it, I was in that shop and tried it on as well. I fell in love with it, only my budget was zero, so I decided to “think about it”. After all, there were 2 left in the shop. When I decided it was too good to pass up (a couple of days later), both vests were gone. On the upside, kpa.haarlem is stocking them again for next winter and one has my name on it.
Below: A quick run through the items I am wearing. Oversized jumper (sweater) by American Vintage, aubergine coloured trousers bought at kpa.haarlem, golden boots by EIJK Amsterdam, brown tortoise print bracelet bought in Barcelona and the golden bag is a present from Marianne. The belt is ancient.
Below: Again earrings by Lara Design. Brown leather and gold plated.
Below: As Katrien and I walked to the centre of Leiden, we passed this impressive church, called “coeli church” by the locals, after the Latin aphorism above the entrance: Hic Domus Dei est et Porta Coeli (This is God’s house and the gate to heaven).
Below: We briefly went inside. Nice little church.
Below: We had lunch in an impressive building, called De Waag, where goods were weighed in the old days. Lots of nice photos here.
Below: Outside we first took a photo of me, wearing the coat that Katrien made me. (Also see this post.) The coat was perfect with this outfit.
Below: Here I am trying to stop pedestrians walking in front of the building De Waag so Katrien had a clear shot. I didn’t really have much success, but it was good for a giggle.
Below: Katrien just aimed the camera a bit higher to capture De Waag. In the middle above the entrance you see a sculpture of men putting bales on a scale with a posh looking fellow on the right overseeing things.
Below: The restaurant already had seats outside as the weather was so mild.
Below: Cheeky look.
Below: All old towns in the Netherlands will have canals as in the old days, supplies were carried to town by boat. Many canals have been turned into streets though.
Below: Katrien wanted to pay a visit to the G-Star Raw shop as she had seen a pair of jeans she thought would be perfect for her. The jeans were from the ‘special collection’. And indeed they were perfect. Well, nearly. As she got home, she ordered them in a bigger size and preferred them as they were a bit baggier.
Below: I couldn’t help myself and tried another pair of jeans from the ‘special collection’, including a vest. I thought it was rather cute but perhaps a bit much. You wouldn’t be able to combine it with a lot of other things.
Below: I would have needed another size as well hahaha. That long orange ribbon on the zipper is to pull the zipper up if you have to get dressed when nobody is around to help you. Like with surf gear.
Below: It did fit Katrien
Below: And…she could zip it up.
Below: I had a good laugh here (it doesn’t make me look very attractive but who cares). It was over something silly and small. A guy was talking broad slang on the phone with such a strong Amsterdam accent that it hit my sense of humour. He wholeheartedly laughed with me.
Below: See what a glorious February day this was? Having drinks outside on a boat terrace. Spring is in the air.
Below: This square needs a ring of green trees and it will be delightful.
Below: The entrance to a ‘hofje’, an almshouse courtyard called Sionshof. It was founded in 1480 to accommodate 14 couples and had strange stipulations. If the wife of a couple died, the husband was allowed to remain in the house but he could not marry again. If the husband died first, the wife had to leave the house. As she would be a risk for the community, she might lead other men astray. (Still a long way away from equal rights for men and women.) In 1641 the wife of the mayor founded a smaller ‘hofje’ to accommodate the widows.
Below: On our way home we saw this mill, still standing between tall modern buildings.
Below: The other side of the mill with an adjacent house.
Below: Across from the mill is a statue in memory of World War II.
Below: Close to Katrien’s house we passed this artwork.
Below: Apparently, at night, these chickens and cockerel sit on the branches of a tree across the road haha. Chickens at liberty.
Below: One last photo of Katrien with a lovely coat on. She did not create this one herself. Nevertheless, it is a beauty of a coat.
What happened in my life this week
Last Saturday was a glorious day with lots of sunshine and I visited my friend Lia. We go way back; became friends when we were teenagers and we always laugh a lot.
Below: Lia looking at the spring flowers.
Below: In the afternoon we went for a walk; good for mind and body. As we walked along a small river, we saw this magnificent replica of an old ship.
Below: I was wearing my yellow jumper again, this time with jeans. The little blue checked jacket was just right for the day.
Below: Lia goofing around against the hedge. You cannot see it, but she is 66 and only has three grey hairs. The rest is her natural dark colour and it comes down to her waist, usually braided.
Sunday is mum day. Cosy as always. Here she is again.
Monday I had a special day: high tea in the old first-class restaurant of Amsterdam Central Station together with Janna of @timelessstyle.nl. She is an Instagram friend whom I have met a couple of times in real life. Below: Janna without glasses.
Below: Janna posing for me, with glasses, in the dark station corridor. Green was her motto that day.
Below: I was wearing my Boden paisley dress with a white shirt underneath that solved all the ‘problems’ (see original post). Do I like it more now? Nope. I think this dress was a mistake.
Below: Of course we had a photo taken of the two of us together, but they all more or less failed. Janna thinks they are fine.
Below: A small impression of the restaurant.
Below: Oh, and they had a parrot. I practiced my camera skills on him (or her).
Tuesday I took Marianne to the hospital for a check-up and stayed for coffee. Below: Marianne. Because I see quite badly without my lenses, I didn’t spot that her jumper was not sitting straight. Sorry Marianne. Rainy day.
In the evening I did our tax returns and found out that the amount I have to pay the tax office is way more than I had anticipated. Oh bummer. There goes my old age savings.
Wednesday Marjolein and I had a girls day in Amsterdam and she took photos for the blog. Very patiently I might add. Also a day full of sunshine. Great day with a great friend.
Thursday was a quiet day with a visit to the dental hygienist. I found one who could help me straight away and she was fantastic. She even took me on as a new patient even though she has a patient limit. Lucky me. After that I paid a visit to the pelvic floor therapist who corrected me on a few exercises. Trust me to do the right exercises the wrong way. Well, that was the root of my problem. Let’s see whether I can remember it now.
Blog post work in the afternoon and husband Ron and I walked dog Watson. Sunshine again. What’s happening? I almost forgot what a day with sun looked like.
Friday Ron and I worked in my bonus daughter’s new house. Meaning…Ron worked and I sat in the sun, did a teeny bit of hoovering and got some wood from the shop. I have never done any painting or similar work to a new house. Up until I was 34 my father always did that and after that Ron did or we had it done by professionals. Which was fine by me. It was a relaxing day. I so enjoy the good weather after all these rainy and grey weeks.
And here is my weekly video. Readers who read my blog in their mail…remember you have to click through to the website to be able to see the video. That isn’t my choice but the choice of the mail programme.
Greetje
Very entertaining again.
How wonderful that you have such a fun social life with so many good friends!
I do feel very blessed. Life is wonderful. Retired life a blast.
I really like the coat Katrien made for you. It looks so stylish. Also, I like the shorter blue jacket with the jeans. Very nice looks! Thank you for sharing the beautiful buildings and art. I am always impressed with the beautiful surroundings you feature on your blog. BTW, your friend Janna is lovely. Lucky You to have great friends. Your friend, Lia, has discovered the secret of youth. Very spiffy. I especially noticed Lia’s lace-up shoes. Like them! Always nice to see your Mom.
I am indeed very lucky to have such great friends. And many of them. I cherish them all. The beautiful surroundings are the ones I pick to show you. Of course there are a lot of grey or hideous areas as well. But I don’t think you want to see them.
I love your yellow sweater, your gorgeous grey plaid coat and that beautiful dress. I know what you mean about “just not liking it” – I get like that too, and nothing anyone says can dissuade us! An excellent coat on your friend too, and so nice to see your mum.
So funny that you think the dress is beautiful. I must admit, the dress has fans, I am just not one of them. I will see what I will do with it, but I think it will have to go to somebody else. Interested?
You know what, I love oversized sweaters. And I love your yellow one, very informal, and I like your fashionable way of dressing it, by putting it in your pants. I love the print on Katrien’s dress. What wonderful earrings you chose, I like them very much. Wow, I loved your plaid coat, it’s beautiful and very elegant, you completed a beautiful outfit with it. I love your photo sitting on the terrace, looking to your right, you look gorgeous in it. Beautiful photos, as always.
I only tuck the front part of the sweater in my pants, not the whole sweater. That way I can create a nice arch line. At the moment I am totally addicted to earrings as you will have noticed. So glad you liked so much in this post.
I think the Boden dress does look better on you with the shirt underneath. The photos of the restaurant in Amsterdam remind me of my first visit to Amsterdam. I arrived on an overnight coach trip from Berlin, and had breakfast in the station. It was 30 years ago so I can’t remember where exactly. Perhaps it was in the lovely restaurant you visited, but perhaps not …!
I have said goodbye in my mind to the Boden dress. It isn’t going to work for me so I’ll make somebody else happy with it (if that is possible).
Ah.. 30 years ago is a long time. The whole restaurant was probably different then. As long as you enjoyed it.
I like the Boden dress with this dark belt that you are showing this time. I would not wear it with the white shirt but just enjoy it the way it is. If the neckline opening feels too low wear a dark camisole underneath…no issues if it shows in the neckline. I see it as that perfect dress for when you are not sure just how dressed up to be….it can morph as casual or dressy depending on your accessories and the event.
Thank you dear for liking the dress. You are one of the few. I have tried a dark camisole underneath and it made the dress very dowdy (even more should I say). I think I will just take my loss. Regardless of what others think, I just don’t like it.
What a lovely post today. You covered all the bases: cute outfit, shopping, stylish friends, Mom, beautiful scenery. My only disappointment? No pic of the bathroom at the Grand Cafe! Ha! The patterned toilet was a highlight of my visit….perhaps I should have ordered something else? Haha. I can’t remember the meal, but the bathroom was fabulous!
Are we talking about the same Grand Café? I think not. This restaurant was on platform 2b and is not called Grand Café but 1st Class Restaurant. It had a tiny white toilet. No patterns at all.
I have been to places as well where the bathroom was so spectacular that you forget the rest haha.
Lovely, intense yellow top (better left for some younger chic) that always seems to drain a more mature skin!! Love your blue plaid jacket with a burst of yellow at the neck. It’s a winner and youthful looking.
Katrien has a gamine look and dresses accordingly.
No words about the dress, it’s way too matronly. Perhaps some adjustments may improve it, but it may not be worth the cost.
Mom looks serene, as usual.
You are funny. “Lovely intense yellow top” and then you add “better left for some younger chic” whahaha. Well, so sorry for the younger chic, but I will wear it with a lot of joy. I totally disagree with you that it drains a more mature skin. Quite the contrary: it lifts my skin tone. Bright colours suit me so much better than pastels. What we do agree upon is the fab blue paid jacket (indeed a winner) and we do agree upon the dress. I also think that altering will never make it right.
Much to like in this post; I am especially smitten with the blue check jacket with jeans. You rock this one. I agree with Susan, the dress does not suit you. But as so many others do, not a great loss.
Wow! Love you in the yellow, lights your whole face up. I think when you find a colour you like and suit it gives you more confidence. Also liked your friend in the checked coat again colour complimented her face.
Any bright colour lights up my face. You wonder why I ever put on a black top but sometimes I just don’t care haha. It is silly though, as you are right, when you know you are wearing a colour that is flattering, it boosts your confidence.
That blue check jacket is cute, I agree. I will think about the dress. Whether I will spend time altering it or whether I should just give it away.
Hi. Just had to mail you and say I love the casual and positive way you are describing your daily life. It is actually very entertaining because it is so natural and unpretentious. Congrats – nice to read something that is not Facebook pretty-pretty American style. So great that you do no not need to this hysterical need to impress that is the thumb mark of so many false lash, filler duck lips and copy cat Kardashians… Keep up the good work, and all the best to you from Eva from Norway – living in fabulous Fuerteventura
Thank you very much. Yes I like to keep it real. That fits my character best. I am quite an honest person, dare I say it myself. Mind you, I do pick the best photos of course from the 100 (no joke) that are made for each post. Thank heaven for digital photos.
Fuerteventura …ahh…a place where you want to go on holiday to. And you live there. Lucky you.
Lovely post again. Such well-preserved old buildings are a treat to see. In addition, I enjoy the photos of your friends, each chic in her own way. Your outfit with the yellow jumper and aubergine pants is gorgeous, especially with the coat Katrien made you. And I always love seeing your beautiful mother.
My mum doesn’t believe me when I say that my readers have been asking for photos of her. I said I wasn’t gonna go back and copy each one of them. She just has to take my word for it. But you have confirmed it again. Thank you.
And I agree with you, the coat and the outfit go so well together.
Oh, this outfit is just perfect. Especially with the coat Katrien made!
I so enjoy seeing all of the local sites you share, and learning a little about the history. I’m still determined to get back to the Netherlands soon!
I agree now that the Boden dress is not for you. I think since you are more angular you look better in angular prints. The print on the dress is too rounded and soft.
I was wondering what coat to wear with it and then I opened my wardrobe and saw it staring at me: the perfect coat for the outfit.
As far as the Boden dress is concerned, I think it is just all too much: too much print, too much material, too long, too big a sleeve.
Shall I chop bits off?
Actually if you want to come to the Netherlands July is your best bet in terms of good weather. No guarantee though.
Hello G! I love your voice- and that bright yellow jumper!
Is my voice very different from what you had imagined? Or did you never give it a thought haha?