Copying a trend from Instagram, I put on six vintage brooches on my blazer, all sparkly. I had another one fixed in the middle of my waist, but it broke before we even started the photo shoot. Below you can see it styled at home with the middle brooch still intact. It is not the best place for a brooch when you have an extremely short waist (1 inch) and a bit of a belly. That red bit on my nose was a little wound I got from ripping an anti-snoring plaster off. I didn’t know the old age thing of a ‘thin skin’ had already arrived. I remember that from my mother. It healed quicky, helped by some ointment from my neighbour across the road.

As background I suggested Marjolein to use an area in The Hague where I used to work. I was 23 at the time and of course, things have changed significantly.

Below: On our way to the area (near the Royal Stables), this pretty church was shining in the sunshine. I photoshopped the cars out of the picture.

Below: On the right side of the canal was the company where I worked, a temporary employment agency for designers and draughtsmen. One hundred percent English; I was the only one who spoke Dutch. It was at this place my English improved much during the 2 1/2 years I worked there.
It looks really dark but that was because that side of the canal was in the shade.

Below: As you can see on the left, the sun was shining brightly.

Below: Beautiful old shop selling antique furniture. The black stone at the bottom of the shop shows what used to be sold here in the old days: “Gas en electrische ornamenten” (Gas and electric ornaments). No idea what they meant by that.

Below: I took my coat off and we started the photo shoot. The back of the Royal Palace and the Palace gardens can be spotted in the background.

Had we been there an hour or so earlier, we would have seen three horses escaping from the Royal stables and running around in the Palace gardens. The military police immediately closed the gates to the garden (open for public) but it took them 15 minutes before they caught the horses haha.

Below: A video of the escaped horses, copied from a regional news channel.

Below: Sitting in front of a fashion salon. The mesh top was a reasonably priced item I bought a couple of weeks ago, together with Marjolein. It has lovely long sleeves.
Ron commented “Oh la la, see-through” when he saw it. Too bad darling, I am wearing a nude coloured Uniqlo heat-tech shirt underneath.

Below: Marjolein spotted the dog ornament and said, “Black and white, just like you.”

Below: Mirror photo, through the window of a ballet school we both went to in our early twenties. Well, me for a few months and Marjolein for a long time. She still dances. We have quite some history together in The Hague.

Below: As we walked to the other side of the canal, we spotted this bicycle. Isn’t it cute?

Below: The bridge and the canal made for a nice picture. I learned that I should not lean all the way back when such a photo is taken. Ron thinks three photos of the canal is too much. I don’t.

Below: Walking in the Palace gardens, looking at the stables. Bling bling at the back as well. You saw this blazer before with my orange pleather trousers. This blazer with the cinched waist together with the wide trousers gives me an hourglass figure.

Below: Goofing as I still don’t know any good new poses. The Wandler bag is a favourite. It goes with so many outfits.

Below: Lunch at Pistache Café was good. We’ve been here before and we like the food.

We decided to wander through town a bit before returning home; always a bad idea, going into shops with me. I bought a golden/pearly necklace (very fake, nearly camp, but I liked it) at a second-hand store, so the damage to my wallet wasn’t too large. I am wearing the necklace in the last outfit photo below, with the yellow jumper.

Below: Marjolein pointed out the eagle statue on top of a building in the shopping area.

Below: This little figurine is very much my taste but it was in an art gallery (which means big bucks), Christmas time is expensive and I didn’t know whether Ron would like it. It is still in the gallery.

Below: Walking back to the car I photographed Marjolein. Great outfit. Again. She never lets me down. I must remember this pose.

Below: We haven’t got many buildings for you, but this is a good one.

What happened in my life this week

Apart from this photo shoot, not much happened. Which I don’t mind, I like some quiet time, as long as it doesn’t last too long.

On Monday I visited my friend Maurits for a coffee and a chat. He and I get along so well. Forgot to take a photo (as so often).

Mandy’s children (remember Mandy, our American neighbour?) came to the door with homemade cookies. I love those cookies. They are the best. Before I took this photo I had already bitten off one of snowman’s legs. There are more cookies in the bag. Yay.
Mandy started this last year and then we return the favour with something Dutch like ‘oliebollen’ (deep fried dough balls) or Christmas stollen. It became a tradition within two years haha.

Below: Two warm and casual outfits as it was cold this week.

We had Christmas lunch at Nicky and Randolf’s place with the granddaughters running around. They always spoil us with so much delicious food. They also had a giant smoked salmon as a present for us, because we like it so much and Randolf can get really good ones.

Friday I had a lunch and coffee date with Marjolein. No photo shoot this time, but below Marjolein and I in a Christmas outfit which was warm enough for the cold weather.

The tiered ruffle skirt first appeared on the blog in this 2020 post with a bright pink jumper.

Photo Assignment Same Same but Different

The first three collages make up for the lack of buildings above.

Below: This photo was taken in the hall of a university in Amsterdam. We were there to see a cabaret show in the theatre.

Greetje