One day I popped into Karlijn’s store (kpa.haarlem), wearing these orange trousers with leopard boots. I tried on some tops and that is how the combination of orange pleather trousers with a green and white striped top was born. Never in a million years would I have come up with this outfit if it wasn’t for this accidental styling. Karlijn assured me that leopard boots and a striped top were great neutrals and can go together.

I asked Ron what bag I should be wearing with it and he suggested my transparent green bag. Great stylist, my husband.

Loes took the photos in a park with a restaurant and with some art installations. While driving up there I took a wrong turn, lost my concentration and nearly got hit by another car. Stupid me.

Below: The photo above was taken next to this big rock on a cart. No idea why, how, who made it…and no sign to tell us that.

Below: First art installation called “In Awe” by Pieter W Postma, showing the interaction between man and the earth.

Below: I tried to see it too…

Below: Second installation “Spreading the Love” by Frank Straatman.

Below: The hands of the sculpture form a heart above the head, like you often see on social media.

Below: Third installation “Artwork Fingers Crossed” by Frank Koolen, a multi-layered ambiguous sculpture that refers to the long-lasting Corona pandemic.

Below: A close-up of the fingers with the faces.

Below: Fourth installation “Will we survive” by Joanneke Meester.
“While people are developing enormously in science and technology, people have forgotten to make their own waste production more sustainable. Joanneke Meester translates this paradox into a sculpture of stacked coated packaging materials that are formed into a family of four robots.”

Below: Here is a clear view of the installation without me forcing myself into the picture.

Below: Pulling a daft face, something which I am extremely good at.

Below: The provincial house looks on to the park with the installations. In the old days it was of course one estate. This monumental villa was built at the end of the 18th century by the Amsterdam banker Henry Hope, as a home for his impressive art collection. Here is a link if you want to read more about Henry Hope, the fact that he sold the villa in 1808 to Napoleon’s brother Louis, then King of Holland, who had to flee in 1810 because Napoleon thought he was “too nice” to his subjects. Louis didn’t enjoy this beautiful building for too long.

Below: Loes and I walked to a much simpler building in the park, for a coffee in the restaurant.

Below: I didn’t forget to take a photo of Loes, who wore such a darling cardigan. Loes changed her hairstyle to something more asymmetrical; the hair on the right side of her head is short and on the left side it is long. I think it looks really good, very modern.

What happened in my life this week

Saturday I needed to run some errands from the centre of town and I had decided to dress up for a change, wearing my long denim skirt. Normally I’d take my bike but the pencil skirt was preventing me from getting on the bike. I might have wiggled a bit and got on, but I thought that was too dangerous. If I had to stop suddenly, I would fall. So I walked…in heels; they were low heels, but still heels. A couple of hours later I was knackered.
In town I met a former colleague with his wife and child. He still remembered my name after 5 years. Fortunately, I remembered his as well.
Below: Came across this beautiful building in the main shopping street. It really pays to look up in an old city.

Ron arrived home with his “new” car, a 40-year old Renault 4 GTL. Let’s see whether he can cope with the lack of convenience from 40 years ago. It is a fun car though (below).

Sunday I did boring stuff like fitness, washing my hair, doing the laundry, ironing and cleaning the house together with Ron. BORING. And it was such a beautiful day. But these things have to be done too.

Monday I finally did what I intended to do when I retired…I took a lesson of an hour at the Apple store (below). The topic was photography with your iPhone. There wasn’t that much time to show us everything as there were 12 people attending, which means 12 people asking questions. I still have a lot to learn. Nevertheless, I came away with more knowledge and will continue these (free) lessons.

Below: I wore this outfit, my trusted barrel jeans with a white blazer and a polka dot scarf, all from my own wardrobe. I got inspired by an outfit Karlijn of kpa.haarlem posted on her Instagram. I actually forgot that she had on a black and white polka dot top when I added the scarf. Perhaps her image was still in the back of my head? The earrings and belt are green.

Below: Karlijn’s outfit which inspired me. Apart from being a beautiful woman with a perfect figure, she is way more elegant than I am.

Tuesday Ron was kind enough to do a photo shoot with me. At the beginning of May I am going to Milan with Susan of Une Femme d’un certain âge and I needed enough blog photos to work ahead and have enough posts ready so I won’t be in a panic when I return. My usual photographers were busy; Ron stepped in and did the photo shoot. Lovely man.

Wednesday Marcella (below) dropped by for a cup of cappuccino on her way to the hairdresser. I should have moved that metal stork behind her. She has a new website with laradesign.nl and I offered to check the site for flaws. Her huge task is now to upload the rest of the earrings and necklaces and elaborate a blurb on their names. She has got her job cut out for her.

Rest of the day I washed my hair, checked Marcella’s website and created another blog post.

Thursday was the day with our granddaughters and their mother Nicky. Granddaughter Zoë told us “Daddy is at work”. She is starting to make sense now; it won’t be long before she can talk really well.
At a certain moment, Zoë wanted to cuddle with grandma, such a moment to frame.

Friday Marjolein and I had another photo shoot in The Hague, which you will see in two weeks’ time.

Greetje