Finally the holiday post, wearing a lime yellow dress which I bought in Spain. This kaftan inspired dress is airy and light-weight, really necessary as it was hot in Spain (31 degrees C).
Where shall I start? Hmm…let me start by introducing the girlfriends I went on holiday with. You have often seen them featured on the blog.
Little warning, all photos were taken with an iPhone as I didn’t want to lug my expensive and heavy camera with me. It means that the quality and the colours of the photos are not as good as I want them to be.
Below: Marijke, always cheerful, usually wearing a dress, which suits her perfectly.
Below: Marianne. Always stylish.
Below: Jilske. She can be quite the glamour puss. Jilske travels with a carry-on suitcase, while the rest of us do our backs in with great big suitcases. We are always amazed about the amount of clothes Jilske is able to pull out of that small suitcase.
Below: Happy Claudia, the youngest and fittest of us all. She gives sport massages and fitness trainings, which means she has a very toned body. This dress looks so good on her.
Below: And last, me with my cream coloured dress (see original post). The bag and shoes are blue, not black as this photo suggests. We took a lot of photos with this door or the corridor as background, because the light was best in this spot.
We were missing our 6th girlfriend Marianna, who decided not to come with us for reasons we fully understand.
Below: Beautiful, colourful earrings by Lara Design.
Below: While I was trying to get my hair decent again, Jilske photographed me.
Below: This photo is even worse.
We dined out every evening and found Spain to be so budget friendly.
Below: Walking down the boulevard along the beach to the next restaurant for dinner. From left to right, Marianne, Marijke, Jilske and Claudia.
Below: As we were walking down the boulevard one evening, I saw this girl being photographed by two men. She is probably an influencer? Anyway, I decided to photobomb her. Luckily she thought it was funny.
Below: Jilske and Claudia choosing their dinner. Jilske borrowed my colourful earrings.
Below: Lunch at the beach. You see me with a multi-coloured shirt and Marianne in a blue top across from me.
Below: Drinks and lunch on another day.
Below: We also took crazy or fun photos but they are for the holiday photo album I created for all of us. One of those fun photos is this one below.
The situation: Jilske ordered dessert but she wasn’t sure she’d like it. Claudia and I offered to taste it for her and managed to munch half of it in seconds in a most inelegant manner. We approved, it was delicious haha.
Below: Marijke and me on our way to dinner. Maxi dresses and slippers are perfect for hot weather.
We had arranged to visit my friend Anja, who used to live in my street before she moved to Spain. Her house is only a 45 minutes’ drive from our holiday place. Claudia decided not to join but to have a little me-time. She went paddle boarding.
Below: Portrait of us, taken by Anja’s husband Frits.
From left to right, Marijke, Anja, me and Jilske. Marianne is sitting in front of us.
Anja is a very colourful woman and her house expresses this.
Below: Anja at the outside dining area in Mexican-Anja style.
Below: Anja is a big fan of Frida Kahlo, religious stuff, plastic dolls etc and she creates her own art.
The interior and exterior decoration of the place is totally her doing. She came up with most things in the Netherlands and lead the renovation of the house from the Netherlands from March to August 2020. An amazing job. I will show you both bathrooms which I think are sooo good.
Below: The pink bathroom for guests.
Below: The sliding doors of the bathroom have the same wallpaper as the wall on that side.
Below: The master bathroom (shower part).
Below: Other side of the master bathroom with the bath and fish wallpaper. The wall has round corners.
I could have shown you so much more, like their golden toilet and blue with white swimming pool. She really created her dream house.
Below: How about this lounge area outside?
Below: The house came with a big wrap-around garden complete with fruit trees. The first photo of this post was taken among their fruit trees.
Below: The lounge area is a very relaxing spot. (Gold plated ‘paperclip’ earrings by Lara Design.)
Below: Don’t ask me what I was doing here. I was just goofing around. I didn’t actually pinch her bottom.
Did you get a good impression of our holiday together? I hope you did and that you enjoyed this post.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday I finished creating the photo album for my friends with all the holiday photos. They will be pleased.
In the afternoon Ron and I popped over to Amsterdam.
Below: I took a quick selfie although my hair badly needed a wash. I should have washed it before the cataract operation as you have to wait three days before you are allowed to wash your hair. Terrible photo haha.
Below: I’d better show you Amsterdam without my selfie.
Sunday I visited mum. Although she is disappointed that the wound on her heel hasn’t healed yet, she was in a good mood. Mum expected to be walking around within one or two weeks after her operation. Unfortunately it takes more time. I can understand her impatience, but we are slowly getting there.
Someone had picked her up that morning by car and took her through all the lanes of the supermarket in a wheelchair. Mum hates to be in a wheelchair but loved the supermarket visit. It had been so long since she was there. She is losing weight as she doesn’t eat much and stopped snacking and eating sweets.
Below: Mum, looking cheerful after the supermarket visit.
Monday I saw Anja again. She is in the Netherlands, taking care of her 93-old dad, in order to let her brother and his wife go on holiday. We met half-way in Rotterdam and went straight for a coffee.
Below: Now that I am not wearing bi-focal contact lenses anymore I have to use reading glasses. These are my old prescription ones, but the strength isn’t right anymore. Doesn’t look too bad, they hide my no-make-up eyes a bit haha.
(Link to original post with this shirt; haven’t got the white trousers I wore with it anymore as they became too tight.)
Below: Fortunately Anja had packed a (Frida Kahlo) raincoat as it was pretty wet in Rotterdam. Just in time I checked the weather app and changed outfits before I left for the train to Rotterdam.
Below: I had the chance to use my new raincoat. Perfect with the hood. I am wearing white porcelain earrings which I had just bought in the shop behind me. No make-up.
Below: Close-up of my new porcelain earrings. They look a bit rumpled which fits my face hahaha. They are handmade and sold by lilibo.design. How about that? I strayed from Lara Design.
Tuesday Ron and I had lunch at the beach even though the temperature was still around 18/19 degrees Celsius. I am happiest when it is 21/22 degrees C.
Below: At the beach with dog Watson under my feet, chasing sparrows. One sparrow was so cheeky that he robbed my last bite in flight.
Below: In the evening Marcella of Lara Design and I had drinks on a terrace in Haarlem. The joy of retired life. I am wearing my antique haori with black cigarette trousers (link to original post). We are about the same height but I am leaning against a table.
Wednesday my friend Yvonne came over for coffee in our garden. We both want to lose a little weight before things get out of hand, so no cakes and no cookies. Just coffee and water. Forgot to take a photo.
In the afternoon I dyed my roots, just on the parting and washed my hair. A hazardous thing when you don’t want anything to stream into your eye. I made it.
Thursday my operated eye was checked and approved 100%. YAY
As my eyes will need time to adjust, I am not going to buy prescription reading glasses for a while but I do need them. So I had bought cheap reading glasses of +3. That was a mistake; they made me nauseous. Turned out I only needed +1. No wonder.
The rest of the day I read and I blogged and in the evening Ron and I went out to dinner with our friends Georg and Marla to restaurant Moustique in Haarlem. Excellent food, really special.
Lunches, coffee, dinners…It is virtually impossible to keep my weight down to the level I am comfortable with. But of course it was very “gezellig” (best Dutch word).
Friday I was an hour too early for my pedicure appointment…a quarter to 12 is 11.45, not 10.45. Pfff…
I went back home and returned an hour later. After that I drove to Leiden to visit my friend Katrien and we spent a nice afternoon visiting an exhibition and sitting on a terrace. Katrien took many photos for another blogpost. I am going to make it with blog photos until I can put make-up on my eyes again.
Have a lovely week.
Greetje
We have had a lot of days with temperatures in the high 20’s and low 30’s so caftans and loose jumpsuits have been my go-to outfits. I really like your caftan dress. Your trip to Spain with your friends looks like so much fun – you are all such stylish women and I enjoy seeing what everyone is wearing. I remember Anja – how nice you were able to visit her in Spain. I absolutely LOVE her house – the outdoor eating area with the Mexican art is wonderful. She could decorate a house for me anytime.
I hope your second eye operation went well.
I keep telling Anja she should try and make a living out of decorating houses. Although she represents a particular taste which is not mainstream, there are people who will love it and cannot find an interior decoration who can do this.
She is not convinced (yet).
The holiday was indeed lovely. Lots of laughter. And yes my second eye operation went well too. Hurray.
Looks like you had a wonderful vacation! So nice you were able to visit Anja at her place.
I’m glad your eyes are healing.
Suzanne
Well, one eye is healing. Tomorrow (Friday) the second eye will be done. Keep your fingers crossed.
The vacation was wonderful, full of laughter. I have many more photos of Anja’s house. If you want them, I can email them.
Whenever I see you with your lovely group of friends, it reminds me of my own gaggle of gals. It’s so healing to be with them, isn’t it? I loved all your pics!
Glad to hear mum is doing better (hooray for a trip to the grocery store!). And yay for your 1st cataract being 100% now!
Yes, you also have a lovely group of friends. I totally agree that it is healing to be with them. Friends are salt of the earth.
I will take mum to hospital for a check-up of the wound next Thursday. We have high hopes.
Enjoyed your photos of Spain with your friends. Sounds wonderful! I am glad to read your eyes are healing and my best wishes to your Mom. I hope her foot is well soon.
So nice that you enjoyed the post. It was fun to create, just as the holiday photo album.
My right eye is fine after 11 days, no problem and 100% vision. I am actually looking forward to the operation in three days.
Such a fun post Greetje and your friends house looks amazing 🙂
Love your green and blue dress – always so stylish.
Have a wonderful week ahed.
xxx Yvonne
http://www.funkyforty.com
You mean the green and blue dress with the red neckline? That is a RIXO London dress for which I fell very hard a couple of years ago. I like it best with red high heeled peeptoe pumps, but they weren’t very handy on holiday.
I loved the caftan dress with this original animal print pattern. I love these oversized tunic-style dresses. I also really like your cream colored dress, I like this type of design. Beautiful earrings and I loved seeing you with your disheveled hair! LOL . The red and white maxi dress is perfect for your holidays in Spain, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I love your photo with the porcelain earrings, you look very beautiful in this photo.
I hadn’t observed there was an animal print in the kaftan dress until the next day. Thank you for (again) all your compliments. Especially about my photo with the porcelain earrings. You like me even without make-up.
Another very entertaining read/look (pictures).
Always love reading your posts. And your friends are fantastic!
Thanks Anja. It was lovely to see your beautiful house in person. And to see you of course. I still think you can be an interior decorator. Perhaps for a special target group, but one who will adore you.
Everything you do, everything you wear, you are always refreshing, happy and inspiring. I love your sense of color and style!
Thank you very much Gayle, that is high praise. You make me shy. My life is very good so it is easy to be happy.
Your trip to Spain looks absolutely wonderful. Beautiful weather, great friends, lovely outfits, what else do you need? More time, more money? Ha! I had my final cataract surgery last week. My vision now is so good that I wish I’d had it done earlier. Glad to hear that yours is going well. Hope your Mother heals soon. Being house bound is no fun.
No I don’t need more time nor more money. I have everything my heart desires. I am a very lucky person.
Even with only one eye done, my vision is so much better, that I keep vacuum cleaning all the time. I see every hair on the floor. I call this a disadvantage haha.
So lovely to see all of you in your colorful array of dresses – like a portable garden. The carefree feeling of your vacation is uplifting and Anje’s house is a marvel. I am really behind the style line in terms of dresses. Still prefer capris, jeans and leggings with a top. It’s hard to find one with sleeves and in a color that works for me. So glad your eyes are doing well.
You really should try a maxi dress for a change. It is airy, you can wear slippers or low heeled shoes with them and still look good. I am totally into long dresses now. WHen it is hot, it is the perfect garment.
Finding a cool top with sleeves is hard, I know. Which is why I was so pleased when I found the yellow/green top I am wearing with my shorts (previous post). Second-hand and so good; I wish I could multiply it.
What a gorgeous group of women, and your trip looks wonderful. I love all of you wearing your flowy beach dresses. I also love the picture of you and Watson. I have the exact same outfit and wear it a lot!
Hope your next cataract surgery goes as well as the first one. Have a good week.
As it was pretty hot in Spain, flowy dresses were THE thing to fight the heat and still look good. We are all keen on clothes haha.
Only a few more days to go to the second cataract surgery. I am counting the days.
Your dress under the lemon tree is, I think, one of the nicest dresses I have seen you wearing. Your holiday looked great fun.
That is a very nice compliment but I beg to differ. It is an easy breezy dress and I love it for hot weather, but I have other dresses which I love far more. Agreed that the dress and the lemon tree made a great picture.
Looks like you had a nice vacation with the girls. Hope you cataract surgery went well. I had both eyes done this year, best decision i made.
The vacation was indeed ever so nice. Lots of laughter.
I think I will feel the same about my cataract surgery. Even after only 1 eye, I think “WOW, this is good”.
Greetings from Southern California. Thank you for sharing your holiday photos since I am traveling vicariously these days and Spain in next on my list. I had two favorite pictures: The Lime Yellow Dress under the citrus tree is absolutely stunning and the harmony of the outfits of you and the photobombed “influencer” was such a great happenstance.
I agree on both. The citrus tree was such a happy coincidence and indeed the two dresses of the ‘influencer’ and me, do go very well together. Thanks for teaching me the word ‘happenstance’. Love that word.
Your holiday looks amazing! We’ve had Spain on our travel wish-list for some time. I love all of the colorful pieces you packed, and the caftan you bought.
Wow, Anja’s house & decor! What a beautiful and joyful space.
Glad your eyes are healing up well, too.
I admire Anja for her talent. That she has been able to imagine all this in cold Holland and know that it all would work. So amazing.
Next Friday my left eye will get a new lens. Really looking forward to this.
woww, so lovely to see so beautiful ladies!, all of you look gorgeous! and so funny to see those goofy photos! mwhaha
Your lime-yellow dress looks really fab, and it even matches the citrus treeslandscape!. Your friend’s house looks amazing, totally colourful which I love. And these are some of the most beautiful bathrooms I’ve ever seen!, totally my kind of thing.
Great to see your mom looking so lovely.
And also great to know that your catharacts surgery went well.
besos
That was a great find… a citrus tree landscape while we were photographing this kaftan inspired dress.
Anja is very talented. When I suggest she should be an interior decorator, she always replies: “I have a very different taste than most people, very different from mainstream”. And I will come back and say: “But if that is a person’s kind of thing, try and find an interior decorator who can do that!”
Mum is getting perkier every week and I am ver much looking forward to the cataract surgery of my second eye. Strange that you can look forward to something like that, but I am.
Hello, You
Isn’t your kaftan the bees’ knees? I just love them (kaftans, I mean) and still have a couple I bought in Tunisia years and years ago and one in a little store in back-town America. I also love Marijke’s dress, it’s beautiful. If I had her toned arms I’d buy one in a heartbeat (if available), but sleeveless isn’t a word that figures in my vocabulary at my late-age stage, darn it. Isn’t Anja’s house amazing? Such great Frida-ish style although I wouldn’t want to do the dusting! As for your pics of ‘my’ Amsterdam, thank you! Love them, as usual.
You seem to be following the great retirement trend: being busier than when you went out to work. Good for you! It’s so nice meeting up with friends, isn’t it? You all looked so happy on holiday and I’m sure you all benefitted from it.
Mama looks good too. Maybe losing a little weight while she’s not so mobile isn’t a bad thing and if she’s healing, then slow but sure is okay, although it must be frustrating for her.
Okay, back to what I was doing…You have a good week.
Gee x
Kaftans and kimonos/haoris are so good. Love them. Yes, we had a lovely time in Spain with so much laughter.
I am not going sleeveless anymore either, but I will say, when you are in a hot country, I think you tend to go “oh what do I care” a lot easier. Tank tops and sleeveless is a lot cooler. I tried on a pair of trousers I brought on holiday. Didn’t know how quickly I could get them off again. Far too hot.
I have always said that the thing on top of my list is having fun with friends. Which made holidays rather difficult (unless you go with friends).
Mum will get there, I am sure.