It was my turn to host my group of friends, the BVA girls. I use the term girls loosely as the youngest (Claudia) is 54. In our heads we are still the girls (women) we were 25 years ago when we were colleagues.
Below: Wearing my wide cobalt blue trousers (also see the post when I wore it with my green and white Angela Caputi necklace), a white top, a yellow bag and a blue/white/lime scarf (I am finally bringing out a scarf). The silver of the shoes is repeated in the brooch and the belt. The brooch keeps the scarf in place. Unfortunately there was too much fabric for the pin to manage, which broke the brooch. Good old Ron fixed it again.
Below: Marijke and Claudia being totally relaxed. We were giggling over Claudia’s low-cut dress. She changed into it on arrival at my house but hadn’t worn it for a while. She was surprised it revealed so much. We told her to be proud of such a beautiful bosom.
Below: As I started taking photos Marijke decided to ‘cover’ the cleavage. Always goofing.
Being the host means starting with cakes and coffee at 11 o’clock, followed by lunch. Around half past one we all go into town to do some (clothes) shopping and we return when the shops close. In the Netherlands that is at 17.00 hours on a Saturday. Time for drinks and snacks at my place which is followed by dinner. I was lucky as Ron cooked for us ‘Spanish chicken’, a recipe he found on the internet. For dessert he made a strawberry trifle with mascarpone, whipped cream and sponge fingers. On top of that, he also cleared everything away and ran the dishwasher twice. I love this man.
Below: Marianne was dressed in a top and trousers of black broderie anglaise (English embroidery), with silver trainers and a silver bag.
Below: Arriving downtown, Jilske was the goofing one. Claudia had changed into trainers and shorts.
Below: Marijke took this sitting down photo in front of a nice shop because the bench was turquoise which went well with my trousers.
Below: Jilske is pretending to take a bite out of Claudia’s leg. The man arrived on his bike and saw us laughing and taking photos and he wanted to join. Why not?
Below: I like this photo. It gives you a good view of the scarf. While it looks stained, it’s actually the effect of the little specks of lime.
Below: When I took this photo I thought to myself it is such a shame people don’t dress up anymore. I get it, it is far more comfortable than a dress with a crinoline, but it doesn’t make for a pleasing picture. Imagine people being dressed for a wedding with these old buildings as background. Luckily this is the town hall. Lovely dressed people will be on the stairs regularly.
Below: Time for some shopping. Of course we visited kpa.haarlem. Regular readers of my blog know I buy a lot at this place. Marijke was interested.
Below: Jilske and Claudia were interested as well. But they all came out empty-handed. I started to talk to customers in the shop and by the time I was ready to try on the dress I had picked, they had all moved on to the next shop.
Below: Marijke bought this dress plus a blue one with sleeves. She was talking again as I took the photo…sigh.
Below: Jilske also found a few things but decided against it. Claudia bought a dress. This shop offered a big discount, especially when you bought more than one or two items.
Below: In another shop I had bought this little cardigan for 1/3 of the price. I thought it went well with this outfit, not that it needed an addition. The cardie will come in handy, I’m sure.
Below: The sweet little earrings are by Djills jewels, a company owned by Jilske, who created the earrings. I know some of you will say they have a golden hook and I am wearing a silver brooch. I wear gold and silver together.
Below: We went past my hairdresser having this vase with artificial flowers on their counter. Pretty.
Below: Close-up of the yellow Coach bag. I never used it much but lately it is coming out of hiding.
Below: On our way home I took a photo of a group of almshouses.
Below: Through the gate on the right I got a glimpse of the courtyard. This is one of the prettiest almshouse courtyards.
As usual it was a great day with a lot of laughter, loud talking, interrupting each other, telling stories and again laughter. Ron decided to hide upstairs and in the garden haha.
What happened in my life this week
After that busy Saturday with my BVA girlfriends, I slept in and visited mum on Sunday.
Below: I fancied something nice to wear for a change and opted for this orange dress (link to original post). I thought I didn’t have to walk far that day, so out came the high heels. It was a mistake. Doing some shopping for mum did the muscles of my calves in.
Of course the following Monday we had to deliver the keys of mum’s old house to the landlords. Although perhaps quite unnecessary I hoovered the place one last time and cleaned some spots. We hired a bailiff to do a survey of the house. He will send us a report and he took photos of the house. Just in case the landlords decide to send us a bill for things they reckon, should have been removed.
I found myself being very emotional which is so totally NOT me. The main landlord was being himself again. When I said to their real estate agent that the relationship between us had gone sour, he said that he had only pointed out what the responsibilities on both sides were and that, as far as he was concerned, we were still friendly with each other. By that time I feared I would burst into tears. Again, that is so not me. Making remarks dipped in vitriol would be far more my style.
I was not going to let him have the satisfaction of seeing me in tears, so I backed away and let my husband follow them on their tour through the house. Ron was recording the whole conversation on his iPhone (genius idea). The main landlord didn’t like that but Ron replied that he did. “In that case I won’t say anything anymore” the landlord replied. Strange.
As they arrived upstairs the landlord mentioned that we did not remove the glue from the floor and his real estate agent said: “That is no problem; you can easily put another floor on top of it’. Whahaha. We have that on record.
Below: Wearing my green suit (link to the original blog post) to meet the landlords.
When I was hoovering and cleaning I was dressed in “work clothes”. I didn’t want to be dressed like that meeting them, as I knew they would be in suits. Never underestimate the power of dressing or the influence on your state of mind being underdressed.
I combined the outfit with my new shiny silver bag.
Tuesday and Wednesday were quiet days with a lot of rain. Where is the sun??
Thursday I picked up my new wide jeans by Samsoe and Samsoe from the seamstress. She managed to elongate the one leg which was just an inch too short. I saw those perfect jeans in spring at kpa.haarlem in size 29-32 and I needed 29-34, so slightly longer. I went to the brand’s website but they didn’t have them in the longer size anymore. The rest of the year size 29-32 didn’t sell at kpa.haarlem. It kept calling me.
My seamstress solved my dilemma (I hate trousers which are too short, even if it is in fashion, childhood trauma), so I bought them after all. I am very pleased with them.
In the afternoon I went to see the film Barbie with my friend and neighbour Monique. Just to see what all the fuss was about. I am not sure what to think of the film. The actors gave a very good performance and I liked the end message (the way I understood it, but someone else might have another idea). I thought that the message was ‘You shouldn’t be judged for how you look, which also includes being pretty. You should be judged by who you are as a person”. Although I like that message, I cannot help thinking the whole film had only one purpose and that is to excuse Mattel and to stop the accusations that Barbie causes unrealistic expectations with little girls who want to look like her.
As the booth was there anyway, we also took our photo. Childish, I know.
Below: Monique as Barbie in her box.
Below: Me as Barbie in a box. (Link to original post wearing this Dries van Noten sweater.)
Finally I want to show you the parrot Claudia gave me last Saturday. It took some persuasion to get Ron to agree and leave it in our plant (below). I think it is a funny joke.
Greetje
How wonderful to have a group of girlfriends with whom you meet regularly and spend the whole day together. It sounds wonderful.
The green cardigan is a nice color and I am sure that you will wear it often. It will go with so many things.
It will be nice to be finished with the landlord of your mother’s place. Good luck with it.
I haven’t seen Barbie yet and I have heard so much about it. I hope to see it soon.
I have always said and will repeat it: friends are the salt of the earth.
The landlords are still pestering so it isn’t the end yet.
Barbie is amusing and interesting but it certainly is not a top 10 movie.
You now know how the parrot story started.
I love your meet-up with the girls….you all seem to have such fun together> So many lovely outfits, yours included, but special mention to Marianne’s broderie anglaise outfit, and Marijke in the sleeveless dress she bought. I agree that it’s a shame that many people don’t dress up any more. Here, I see endless leggings being worn that offer a little too much anatomical information!! As for your interaction with the landlord, it’s strange how we can be surprised by our emotions, but then you were also leaving your Mum’s house for the last time. i didn’t have a Barbie but was given a Tressy doll which was similar, and you pressed a button on her tummy to make her hair grow. God! I loved that doll!
I love how you put that… “offering a little too much anatomical information” whahaha.
Leaving my mum’s house for the last time, didn’t affect my emotions, I am sure. I am funny like that. It was the constant wrong doing, the injustice, the lying.
Never heard of a Tressy; sounds terrific. I got a Skipper in the end. But I was too old by then to really enjoy it.
I enjoyed the photos of you and your friends having a fun time together. It was interesting to read your feelings about the Barbie movie. I had a different take. I saw it as women being in charge in Barbie Land but things are just the opposite in the Real World. I thought it was a good message.
As I said, people will have different takes on the message of the movie. Your take is very true but it makes me so sad.
I’m seeing Barbie on Thursday! I love that Dries top of yours (can you tell I’m working backwards?).
Ron is a gem – recording the landlord and realtor, cooking AND cleaning up for you girls!? And he even gave in on the parrot (which I adore – you are right, it’s awesome).
Your day with your girls makes me so happy, as I can tell you all have the same bond as I do with my girlfriends. Marijke’s yellow shoes are fabulous.
Your blue trousers are AMAZING, Greetje! I love them and they look incredible with the yellow purse and the green cardi (which is such a good length for you). I also mix my metals – what rebels we are!
Ron is indeed a gem. This year we have been together for 35 years. Unbelievable.
And you are right, you have the same bond with your girlfriends. What would we do without them.
The length of the green cardi is only good now that I am wearing wide trousers. It would have been too short when I was still wearing skinnies. And on straight jeans it is not going to look as good either. New trend, new proportions.
I laughed when I read “what rebels we are” haha.
You look fabulous in the orange dress and the suit. I probably won’t get used to the wide trouser look until it’s gone out of style. LOL
This whole post made me smile.
I am like that as well. When a trend starts (like the combat boots) I usually think “NEVER”. Then when my eye gets used to it, I start buying it. Never a trend setter, always a (late) trend follower.
If I made you smile, then I succeeded in my blog goal and that is to make people smile or perhaps even laugh. The outfit comes second.
Hi Greetje I loved your blog this week and seeing you with your lovely friends too. The colours on you looked great but I don’t think baggy trousers suit me as I’m small. We also went to see Barbie. It was a great experience and really funny in parts, and it’s a true story too. My only contribution to Barbie was my new nail varnish which happened to be called Barbie Girl !!!!
I didn’t dress up in pink either. There is a limit to what I will do.
As for baggy trousers…they are not necessarily bad for a small woman. I have seen small women wear them and looking ever so cute. Also with oversized jackets. I even tried to copy them a couple of times but on me the items often make me look like a man. I have to be careful. But I do have to say that they were slim women. Mind you, just keep on trying them on in the shops. Take a photo of yourself in the mirror and you will slowly find out what does and what doesn’t suit you with this trend.
I know, it is a lot of work haha.
The lime cardie was a great find! Lovely balance to the cobalt of the trousers and links the scarf. Win!
I just wanted to try the cardigan on for size and of course I was wearing the cobalt trouser outfit. I looked in the mirror and was quite pleased. It was also a steal in the sale.
Marianne is so elegant!
Wide trousers are coming into fashion in London too, but no longer going in at the ankles as Greetje’s elegant blue ones do… I also find that as I get older Cobalt is a good colour near my face; my complexion has become slightly different and I’ve lost interest in makeup (being older than some of you – in my 70s) — so getting colours right is even more important.
Marianne is always elegant and so is Marijke. They are both ladies.
I have bought various wide trousers, three wide ones at the bottom, one flared one (to replace the skinnies) and this cobalt blue one. It was an investment but I felt my wardrobe needed it. I am now experimenting with the top half. It took me two hours this afternoon to go through skirts, tops and jackets in order to find the right things. Not my hobby.
You are right that colours near your face are very important as you grow older. It depends on your skin tone, but for me, the brighter, the better. Losing interest in make-up? Hmmm…don’t know if that is a good thing. There are enough things we have to say goodbye to, like high heels.
You looked like you had such fun! The department I taught in was hateful. A teacher and her former pet student; you can imagine the issues there!
I loved your blue trouser outfit. It looked so very nice on you.
Is that a brooch on the belt of your orange dress? Very nice!
I love the print on Marijke’s skirt? Dress?
Your suit was beautiful as well. I am totally stealing the top with the black ribbon you wore to Barbie!
I am glad Ron recorded the landlord’s conversation. He doesn’t seem nice at all! Karma will get him!
I hope your darling mother is doing well and enjoying her new home. Is it assisted living?
I am home just having cataract surgery on the second eye. I can go back to work this coming week.
The brooch is not on the dress, I put it there to break up the orange ‘field’.
Marijke was wearing a skirt.
The top with the black ribbon is a special piece by designer Dries van Noten. Although the colours black and white are totally wrong for me (I tried to solve that with red earrings), I couldn’t resist it. Such a good piece.
And yes mum is in a home with assisted living, though she can still do a lot herself.
Wishing you a good recovery from your cataract surgery. You will be glad when the other eye is done and you see properly.
Hello, You
Your shopping outfit was lovely to the nth degree; very you so yes, wear it often!Glad your girls’ retail therapy trip was such fun and equally glad that your powered up your outfit for seeing the landlord. He sounds a lovely bloke. Not. Still, what goes round comes round…
I’m sure this week will be better than the last one – and that the outing with the girls helped – with the good times continuing to roll. I thought it very wise to have everything in the house documented officially and also to tape Ron’s conversation with the landlord and the estate agent. It showed you both were unhappy with the situation and wanted it on record, and that should it become necessary, you would be prepared to use it. The agent sounded reasonable enough but the landlord less so. Bullies are never keen on being challenged, are they? Well done!
Love the parrot, by the way!
Now have a good week.
Gee x
You are right. Karma is a bitch haha.
The thing is, that the landlords are very religieus. I keep thinking “how are you going to justify your behaviour at the pearly gates?” As they twisted the truth numerous times. In the past, after my father died, they also treated my mum poorly with maintenance. Luckily my brother stepped in. I don’t believe in pearly gates as such but they do.
So fun! You are very lucky to have your friends around you. And honestly, I love every one of these outfits — great colors and style.
Oh, I did good then, how nice. As you know, I don’t always get it right. And you are right, I am very lucky to have so many friends so close by. I couldn’t do without them.
I really like the top you wore when you went to see the Barbie movie. It’s on my agenda for later this week. I never let my daughter have a Barbie doll and she has never forgiven me. Sort of a mother/daughter joke at this time in our lives. She had a Penny Bright doll and enjoyed playing with it.
My parents didn’t have enough money for a real Barbie, so I got a Petra, which was totally fony. I was very disappointed, but I did play with it. I learned at an early age that it is the real thing or nothing, but no imitation. The top I wore to the Barbie movie is not really good for me. Black and white are my worst colours. I tried to solve it with red earrings as I love the look of the sweater.
Love your outfit especially the cobalt trousers and yellow bag. So glad to see you and the girls having such a great time!
Hope things end peacefully with the landlords. What a bunch of jerks!
Have a good week.
What a delightful description of the landlords haha.
It is all behind us now, at least that is what we hope. Let’s continue to have fun with friends.
I LOVE the parrot! So glad you had such fun with your friends, and so glad you don’t have to do anything else at your mum’s house. Sounds like the landlord’s real estate agent is much more sensible than he is.
Such pretty outfits. I love the green suit with the silver bag and belt.
Sounds like I created a good post. I am pleased with that.
The real estate agent is a normal person. The landlords are money greedy.
You all seem to be having so much fun. Love the random joiner -in.
Sorry to hear about the landlord. You looked magnificent, I have pinned the trouser suit pic.
Silver and gold together are very trendy!
Have a good week
Thanks Gail. I am always having fun with my girlfriends. All of them. Couldn’t live without them.
I like the look with the cobalt blue trousers a lot and think I will often wear it like this. So comfortable as well.
Hi Greetje, cobalt blue is your colour, you look wonderful in it. I like the fun parrot 🙂
It is indeed my colour, but it would have been better if it was near my face. Nevertheless I think it was a good outfit for me and I intend to wear it more often. Really comfortable too.