Last week I wore these jeans with an orange blazer and that was wrong. Wrong because of the proportions and wrong because I had planned to wear the jeans with this leopard blazer and I didn’t want to repeat.

Leopard is ‘in’ again. Was it ever out of fashion? This blazer is very old which shows in the length, but who cares? I am not a fashionista. I don’t have to follow the latest trend. If it looks good on me, it’s fine.
Link to a post in 2013 wearing this blazer. I might not be following trends but you buy what is available (and suits you); trousers have clearly become wider. Gosh, in those days my posts were so much shorter. I still had brown hair and buck teeth.

Digressing again.

Loes took the photos at the Haarlem market. Always busy, always a good background.

Below: We started behind the big Saint Bavo church and as I was posing (first photo above), a couple walked past and came back again to look at me. Then went on their way and came back again. They also made a remark which I cannot remember, but apparently it was funny.

Below: First market stop was this plant stall with cute autumn wreaths. Loes got an orange one with pumpkins.

Below: I got this one, now hanging on the front door. It has been accused of being a Christmas wreath. I disagree; no holly, no pine branch.

Below: We were having friends over for dinner that evening and ‘Truda’s delicacies’ provides delicious things for the pre-dinner snacks and drinks. Holding pesto in my hand.

Below: My title for this photo would be ‘at ease’, I love it. The COS jeans are great and go with a lot of tops. The shiny metallic Mulberry bag is second-hand; bought it at a bargain price. The necklace is the illustrious ‘Paris necklace’ (link to the story about this necklace). The top is soft yellow by Bellamy Gallery. Boots are champagne coloured by EIJK.

Below: Ahh… this little fellow was so cute with his sweet on a stick.

Below: On the market and around the corner is the former Vleeshal (meat hall). Click the link in the previous sentence to learn more about this beauty. See the ox heads?

Below: Nowadays the Vleeshal is a museum and there is an antique jewellery shop in the very small ground floor space.

Below: Loes is taking a photo of me, taking a photo of the building.

Below: I still have trouble raising my right arm, which forced me in this awkward pose. Behind me are also shops and you can see Loes in the window.

Below: The shop (photo above) is leaning against the big Saint Bavo church.

Below: About time I took a head-to-toe shot of Loes. Here she is in her new jacket.

Below: As I was taking her photo (and blocking the road for pedestrians) a man passed with two bunches of balloons. He reached over to Loes and said “Hold these for the photo”. After the shot he got them back and went his merry way. I love such interactions. If you don’t go out, no such things happen.

Below: Loes was standing in front of restaurant Specktakel and we had aimed to get that fish in her photo but that didn’t work.

Below: Shop in Warmoesstraat, the prettiest street of Haarlem.

Below: Cappuccino at restaurant Metzo, which I can highly recommend for coffee, drinks, lunch and dinner. They are located in the same Warmoesstraat. Loes took this close-up while we were sitting outside. It was a beautiful day in November.

Below: Our view to the left, sitting on the terrace.

Below: Restaurant Pieck across the street.

Below: Our view to the right. This photo was taken 15 minutes later. The same woman with the checked jacket as in two photos before, is in it. Our very own figurant haha.

Below: As we walked back to the market I saw and heard a young woman talking to someone above. I looked up and saw her friend in the window of this beautiful building. Imagine living there.

Below: My favourite flower stall.

Below: Bought these roses in such an unusual colour, 20 for € 4.50. Flowers are cheap in the Netherlands, but this was a real bargain.

Below: Also bought orange flowers, berries and eucalyptus leaf to make a bouquet. Pinched the idea from a lady buying flowers next to me. You know me, copycat.

Loes and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on that sunny Saturday morning. Everybody was in such a good mood.

What happened in my life this week

Georg and Marla came to dinner that Saturday evening and Ron made Coq au vin which was perfect. The goodies from the market went down well too.

My brother celebrated his birthday on a Sunday and it was so nice to see everybody again. They live in the east of the country; we only see each other on birthdays. Next week I hope to show you a photo.

Been to the wedding of Marita. Surprise. She is with her Ron (same name as my husband) for 12 years and they decided to get married. Unfortunately, Ron is waiting for an operation on his foot. He can hardly walk, the poor soul. But that didn’t dampen the atmosphere. There was a tangible vibe of love in the air.

Below: Doesn’t Marita look gorgeous? Her husband is wearing a beautiful suit too but in my opinion, the man is the canvas for the woman to shine, right?

Below: I wore this to the ceremony. (Link to original post.)

Visited Marianne and Marijke joined me. Nice afternoon with coffee and chats. I didn’t take a photo as they both had been swimming that morning and their hair was not photogenic.

We celebrated the first birthday of our granddaughter Evy. One year and she is already standing. Here are a few pages of the booklet Ron created for Evy’s birthday (I only did the technical side of it). The title is “The little hats are on their way”. (You see a hat, a top hat, a cap and a bonnet.)

Below: They come across a banana tree and little cap is picking one.

Below: Dark clouds appear. “Get your umbrella”.

Below: It is only a little shower and the sun is already coming out.

The last page is showing all the animals (didn’t show you that page) and the hats, all holding a poster with Evy on it and Happy Birthday.

Below: An outfit I wore this week. Link to original post (2023).

Marjolein and I did a photo shoot in Leiden, thinking it would be sunny. Well, it wasn’t. It was cold and windy. Photo shoots in winter are always so difficult. Indoor photos never get enough light to look good (and I haven’t got the lamps nor the skills to improve the light).

Saturday morning we didn’t have hot water. Aaaggghh. No hot water means no heating either. I did some tricks with the central heating boiler, fiddled a bit and it worked again. Only to stop at night. Worked my magic again and got it going. Monday morning I sent a WhatsApp message to our plumber. Three hours later he showed up. He tried but couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I was to take a photo of the display if the central heating stopped again. That would give him an indication of what was wrong. Apparently, he only had to turn up as the heating has been fine since he came haha.

Also, our electrician phoned to say that the lamp we want above our dining table was too hard to find online. He had to go to the brand’s showroom in Amsterdam and order it. He phoned to check whether I agreed with the price.

Ron gave me a huge compliment by saying that he thought I am marvellous with our suppliers. His words: “Who else would get a plumber to turn up at your house in three hours? Or have the electrician go out of his way that much in order to get the lamp?”

It sounds conceited but I admit, that is the one thing I love about myself, the ability to interact with people (I talk a lot) and getting to like me (although not everybody does, of course). The formula is easy: be kind, be friendly, be merry, treat everybody with respect and as far as suppliers go…pay whatever they charge the same day, without questioning. It helps that I know they are not double-crossing me. I am not going to haggle for a few pennies; quite the other way, I tip them. Craftsmen are hard to find, certainly craftsmen you can trust.

Photo Assignment Black and white / contrast

Because of the rain and my painful arm, I haven’t done much for my photo assignment. However, I can show you these.

Below: Trees reflected in the water of the canal. I have learned from the assignment Reflections.

Below: Another canal photo with trees.

Below: Trees reflected in the puddle.

Below: Again, reflection, this time of the houses in the water.

Below: I look up a lot as there are many interesting things to see in a city when you look up. These statues on a roof surprised me and made me buy another camera. I need to zoom in on them. The left one is a panther I think, carrying a cub with her mouth.

Below: Last one, under the railway bridge. With a trick I learned at a photo workshop: framing, with the columns left and right.

I suppose this is more than enough for a post.

Greetje