On a little tour through Amsterdam I wore my Kenzo top with blue trousers and very comfortable golden sandals. The top has been in my wardrobe for many years but I used to wear it only with a jacket because the sleeves are quite short and my upper arms very wrinkly. Ron says I should accept that my skin shows my age, but I am afraid I cannot bear it. I don’t like wrinkly skin, I don’t find it attractive to look at so why would I expose it? At the same time I am pretty jealous of older women who don’t give a damn and wear tank tops. What a heavenly state of mind. I solved my dilemma by elongating the sleeves with a polka dot print. (Link to an old post with this top where I put a long sleeved shirt underneath it. Not my favourite styling.)
As I showed you a couple of weeks ago, my friend Helena (below) was my photographer that day. She used to be a journalist at a trade magazine in the advertising industry and that’s how we met several years ago. We visited the area of Haarlemmerstraat in Amsterdam.
Below: This is the interior of the café. What we call a brown café. For obvious reasons I’d say.
Below: On our way to take some photographs, we passed this house. Apparently the basement is inhabited as well. The shutters indicate that in the old days the basement was used to store coal.
Below: We found nice steps to a house on a canal, so here is the sitting pose.
Below: I piled on the pearls. The earrings are by Lara Design (link to those earrings) and the necklace are cultivated pearls. Bought it decades ago.
Below: For scenery reasons, a bridge across a canal. I adore the trees in Amsterdam. Without them it would be so boring.
Below: Across the canal is a jetty (where all the people are standing on in the photo below). This was the jetty where my late father christened our boat, named after him in 2006. Ron sold the boat two years ago but it brought us a lot of fun.
Below: This was our boat, or better said, Ron’s boat. It was called ‘t Meindert as my father’s name was Meindert. It is a photo of a photo as this was pre-digital. The water isn’t as brown as it looks on the photo.
In the yellow circle you see me with short brown hair, my father next to me and my mother next to my father. Well…’seeing’ is too strong a word haha. This was shortly after the christening of the boat on the jetty above and we moored at the jetty of café ‘t Smalle. Gosh, that was decadent….saying to the people having drinks on the jetty “Excuse me, could you please move your foot as I want to moor the boat” hahaha.
Anyway…let’s move on.
Below: Next to the house with the steps we saw this bike. I bet the people who live in those houses, have put that bike against their stairs deliberately as there are plants on this very ancient bike. They probably thought “Let’s put a fun bike here with some flowers, so other people cannot ‘park’ their bike against our house.” Clever.
Below: We proceeded to another canal and I am posing in a strange way as I was trying to draw attention to the little pocket. Nice detail.
Below: I took this photo of Helena, while she was taking a photo of me.
Below: A view of the canal with the big brown sailing ship in view.
Below: The entrance to a houseboat. Pretty, I think.
Below: OK, pretty and a good background for another photo.
Below: As we wandered on, we came to this café and Helena told me that you are allowed to sit on that little roof. The café even put steps there to make climbing a bit easier. Still hazardous at my age but I managed. Not very elegantly I have to add. The top of the roof has a soft cushion to sit on.
There were road works going on right in front of the café with great big red and white barriers which I ‘removed’ by cropping the photo.
Below: As I was the only one up there, I could even sunbathe. (Oh so elegant haha.)
Below: Helena noticed this warning sign not to put food out. Looking at the number of pigeons, I’d say it was ignored.
Below: Passing a pretty flower shop. The Dutch are big on flowers.
Below: Back in Haarlemmerstraat, where you will find ‘West Indisch Huis‘. In this building, the Dutch West India Company’s governors in 1625 ordered the construction of a fort on the island of Manhattan, laying the foundations for New York City. You can read more about that here. Nowadays it is a restaurant and event location, like for a wedding.
Below: Inside I would call it quirky.
Below: It has a big courtyard at the back.
We headed back to the train station.
Below: The ‘Posthoornkerk‘. Formerly a church, now small companies reside here and you can rent it for an event.
Below: As we walked to the end of Haarlemmerstraat, I suddenly saw this woman. What a beautiful woman. Love everything about her looks and her outfit. She kindly agreed to be featured on my blog.
Below: One last beautiful building. This used to be a warehouse.
Below: Helena spotted the strange statue of the coffee bales and little coffee bean men. It wasn’t until I looked at the photo that I saw the sign ‘Look, but don’t touch please‘. SORRY.
If you are wondering what is going on and why I am making a face…a man walked straight in front of us while we were taking photos. So I made a face behind his back. Childish, I know.
I find the yellow jacket a bit too matchy matchy, especially with the blue/yellow/white tote. You can overdo things.
Lots of photos but we have come to the end.
What happened in my life this week
What happened? I was in Spain where the temperatures were high, the food delicious, the cocktails outstanding and the prices low. I can recommend this country. We were in the neighbourhood of Alicante and stayed in an apartment near the beach.
It is incredible how much noise 5 women in one apartment make. The chatting goes on and on from when we wake up (usually around 8 a.m.) until we went to bed (usually around 1 a.m.). Quite exhausting but also sooo much fun. We have laughed so loud and so much. I have to gather all photos in high resolution and sort them out, ask permission which ones I am allowed to share with you, so it will take a while before I can create a post.
It was quite a stressful journey as we were nearly bumped off the flight when we left on Wednesday the 8th. We arrived at the airport, checked in, handed in our luggage, got our boarding passes and then the KLM lady said: “You are all on stand-by so it is not sure that you will leave. This is because the flight is overbooked. If enough passengers don’t show up, you can go”.
We froze and got into a frenzy. We rushed through the airport to the gate where the tears from Marianne in her wheelchair softened the heart of a KLM stewardess (Marianne can cry whenever necessary and we thought the situation called for it so she put on the water works). The stewardess arranged for us to be on the flight, which probably meant other people were put on stand-by. We were very early so not everybody had checked in yet.
Next obstacle was that, in our rush to get to the gate as quickly as possible, we didn’t call in the booked assistance for Marianne. However, we were on a city hopper which meant we were all loaded into a bus to go across the airfield from the main hall to the plane. And at the plane we had to go up stairs. Marianne needed the assistance and a lift. You would say a quick phone call could solve this. But the assistance desk was pissed off. Apparently there are people who book assistance just to avoid waiting at the check-in desk, never needing assistance. Luckily there was someone else on our flight for whom assistance was booked and Marianne could join. Can you imagine the stress we had?
On returning home everything went smoothly although the assistance to take Marianne to the plane, came at the last minute.
Below: We had a great time and this photo gives you some idea. Cocktails and lovely dinner by the beach. From left to right: Marijke, Marianne, me, Claudia and Jilske. Every evening (around 21.00 hrs) we went out for dinner and dressed to the nines. Finally we had the opportunity again.
Below: I stayed out of the sun as much as possible as I burn easily. With this ‘charming’ picture as a result haha.
Below: Sometimes they’d wrapped me up, making me look like a mermaid.
I also shared these two photos below on Instagram as a collage next to each other. It got more likes than a lovely outfit post. People want to see reality and not fake.
Below: The fake pose. Meaning, I am posing, pulling my shoulders back instead of slouching and I am holding my tummy in.
Below: The reality, slouching, tummy sticking out. And how about this hairstyle whahaha? The awful slippers are necessary to avoid burning your feet on the hot sand. They were cheap and I threw them out when we returned. Not very sustainable but better than blisters on the soles of my feet.
After I returned home it was all laundry, ironing and stuff like that. I am showing Ron what I have bought one thing at the time (of course I bought clothes and shoes, what do you think?). He disapproves of two out of three, but that is his bad luck. I like everything.
Friday I visited mum. She had to do without my daily phone calls for a week and without my Sunday visit. Though during my holiday my brother visited her on Saturday and Ron took her to the hospital on Tuesday for the operation check-up. The operation result is good and mum has hardly any pain now. The wound on her heel is still much the same but the surgeon is confident it will heal. It would be too soon to expect results in two weeks. The future is looking brightly and so is she (below).
Again, no video this week. I am too busy.
Greetje
You fooled me with the polka-dot sleeves, Greetje! I thought they were part of the top! You know I’m a big Kenzo fan, so I’m a YES on it – and I even like the yellow blazer with it, but yeah, it’s a bit too much. A yellow purse might have been nice.
I love seeing all your pictures of Amsterdam – what a gorgeous place it is. I also really love seeing you and your besties all having fun in Spain! You are so brave to show yourself in a bikini – my own body issues are…not great. But I do have a new-to-me bathing suit and our annual pool party is coming, so I may be convinced to share a pic of it. You’re inspiring!
Glad to hear your mum is healing well and not in pain anymore. She looks lovely! L likes about half of what I buy!
I am surprised that L likes about half of what you buy. I imagined he liked everything.
Showing myself in bikini is not that brave. Nothing will happen to me if I do that, right? Nobody is going to harm me for it, but I bet a lot of women think “finally, some reality; I too have a tummy and wrinkles”. I have put another one on Instagram haha. I’ll share it tomorrow on my blog.
I like your outfit and the metallic sandals really caught my eye. It is always interesting to see all of the water in your photos. Where we live, no surface water and so dry. I also enjoyed the Spain photos. I can only imagine the fun you had with your lovely friends.
The Netherlands is very much a water land. We claimed a lot of land from the sea. I think that is why Dutch engineers are such skilled bridge builders; they grew up with water. We are neatly tucked away behind the dunes. If they weren’t there, the Netherlands would be only water as we are below sea level. Scary thought.
Loved the wrinkles, muffin top, et al. Love the shoes, the blouse (Canadian for jumper) and the gals photo. I am working on a similar gals only excursion to Bermuda in April 2023 (avoiding hurricane season).
Love the wrinkles, muffin-top, et al. Love your shoes, the blouse (Canadian for jumper), and the wonderful photo of your gals week in Spain. I am trying to get a gal group to go to Bermuda in April 2023 (following hurricane season). Anybody wanna come?
Glad you enjoyed the post.
I have always envied women who had a group of friends from university. I never went to university. Until I realized I have this group of friends from work PLUS all those other precious friends. There is nothing to be envious about.
I loved your sandals. They are so classy and seems so comfortable. You are looking so gorgeous in this kenzo top!
The sandals would have been even better had they been half a size smaller or perhaps even a whole size. But I ordered them online in the sale last year and couldn’t be bothered sending them back, ordering new ones and then perhaps finding out the original ones were the best. Thanks for the compliments.
How wonderful that you got away for a holiday with your friends! Can’t wait to see that post!
Never mind not wanting to show your arms—I’m inspired by you at the beach in a two piece!
I’m so happy to read that your mum is better.❤️
I am frantically working on the holiday photos, but I had about 750 photos…
Glad I was able to inspire you to go to the beach in a two piece. Remember, nobody is actually interested in how you look, they are all too busy worrying about how they look haha.
My mum isn’t better yet, but she is slowly getting there.
The Kenzo top is beautiful, I love this print and the addition of polka dots on the sleeves is very nice. It matches perfectly with your pants, the look is very balanced. I would have been sure that my friend Greetje had no qualms about showing her wrinkled skin, her maturity, today you have surprised me. I love your accessories, the pearls, the earrings, all very elegant and beautiful. How wonderful your urban photos are, how beautiful your country is and how beautiful your father’s boat was. The lady you photographed in the middle of the street has a lot of style and personality, I like her. I’m glad you had fun in Spain, I don’t really like the sun and I prefer the beach outside of the summer, to take a leisurely walk, I think I’m a little Mediterranean, I feel more Anglo-Saxon… LOL
I know I am pretty self-confident but I also like aesthetics and wrinkles aren’t really pleasing to my eyes. I let you down a bit in this, didn’t I? So sorry.
As for the beach…my friends love it and I join them, but as you could see, I do not really sunbathe a lot. Too hot.
Hi there,lovely pictures from you, Amsterdam and your lovely group of friends! What a fun, it’s splashing off! Sweet memories your daddy and the “boat time”. I think you are always clever in creative solutions and the combination in colours are very good!
Yes, it was a fun holiday with a lot of laughter. Thanks for the compliment on creative solutions. I don’t see myself like that at all haha.
What a varied and lively post. I am very glad you arrived in Spain after the drama at the airport. I have to travel through Schiphol in a few weeks’ time, so I hope there is not as much chaos as there has been recently.
Love the Kenzo top and the styling.
Have a great week!
Thanks for all the nice compliments. As for Schiphol, I am afraid it will only get worse as soon as holiday season starts and that will be in a few weeks’time. Hope you don’t fly in the weekend.
Love your outfit! I would never guess you altered the sleeves until you pointed it out. The shoes looked great too and so comfy. I loved your post today. It made me laugh and miss Amsterdam.
I only live 20 minutes away from Amsterdam and even I miss it. It is different when your every-day life isn’t happening in the place you love. The shoes are indeed very comfortable. Not exactly well fitted (a bit too big), but at least no blisters.
So glad your mom is doing well! Love this post with all the great buildings, flowers, friends, and outfits. Your trip to Spain looks wonderful — so sorry that flying was such a hassle. Remember when flying used to be fun?
I am also very glad mum is doing well. The Spain holiday was a hoot. All these girlfriends together who know each other so well. I don’t know whether I would call flying in the past fun, but at least it was easier.
Hi Greetje. Absolutely love the Kenzo top even with your alterations. I can see myself easily wearing a similar outfit.
Sounds like you had a fab time out in Spain with your friends. Can I join you next time? (I wish).
It is an easy outfit, isn’t it? Fit for many occasions. I am afraid you cannot join next time haha. You wouldn’t like it either. All these women who know each other for 25 years, so through and through and who speak Dutch all the time. You’d feel lost.
I do like the top and all of your fun shots of Amsterdam. So glad you had fun in Spain and that the travel (eventually) sorted itself out. I was just reading an article telling people to expect lots of delays and hassles at airports this summer.
Glad your Mum is doing well!
So Schiphol is not the only airport in trouble? Due to Covid there is a shortage of staff in every industry.
Dag Greetje
Met genoegen weer je blog gelezen
Vooral de bikini foto’s vind ik tof
Reel vs reality
Ik hou ervan
Ps vakantie leek me heerlijk en gezellig zeg
Gr Janna
Ach ja, ik hou van een mooi plaatje maar de realiteit geeft een hoop mensen een beter gevoel haha. Het was inderdaad een hele gezellige en vrolijke vakantie.