It was one of those cloudy days, not too cold and not too hot. Looking through my photo album with “outfits still to put on the blog”, I found my trusted man repeller jeans with a green and cream shirt, styled by Misja (MisjaB). Perfect for that day’s weather.
You have seen the shirt before in (this post with teal trousers), but in hindsight I didn’t like those combinations. Today’s combination is one I love. Misja found the green belt in my wardrobe. It isn’t mine so it must be Ron’s.
I was visiting my friend Ineke who moved from Amsterdam to the town of Den Helder (top of the north west). Den Helder is a harbour town, a ship building town, a maritime town. Den Helder was the site of a naval base as early as the 18th century. Read more about this place here.
I was curious to know how she and her husband got along in this town after the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam.
We started with a tour around their new, spacious house and had coffee and lunch. For the photo shoot we went to a spot in Den Helder which used to be a ship building site. After they ceased building ships, the group of beautiful buildings were turned into an event spot with restaurants, a museum and even the town hall resides there now.
Of course we had coffee at one of the restaurants. Below: I asked Ineke to remove her glasses as I think she has the most incredibly beautiful eyes. Her necklace is created by an English artist who lives in the Netherlands, called Christopher Clarke. He used to be hot in Amsterdam in the eighties.
Below: The place of the photo shoot is called Willemsoord (the information is in Dutch, so you’ll have to use Google Translate). These wonderful ships are the view from the terraces. Quite a view.
Below: I asked the seagull (bottom right) to move to the left and pose as the owner of the ship, but he didn’t listen.
Below: We used the ships as background for my new spring jacket, which I bought in Aix-en-Provence, as fourth item of the 10 I am “allowed” this year. Right length, right colour (as in…it will go with everything), wide sleeves to fit a lot of shirts and tops. Totally worth to be the fourth item. The only thing I wanted to change was being able to button it up at the top, specifically for when I am riding my bike. So I bought three buttons and had a tailor make another button hole at the top. You will see the result another time.
Below: Our next stop was Museum Texel, befittingly housed in a light ship, sort of a lighthouse at sea. A ticket to visit the ship is low priced, but we were totally oblivious of the fact you had to pay for a ticket and just entered the boat…”Hello sir, we would like to use this boat as background for our outfit photo shoot. Is that allowed?” The two men on the ship were ever so friendly and let us do our thing. We had a little banter about getting dressed.
Below: Magazine worthy, don’t you think?
Below: Another sitting down opportunity. Love it.
Below: We moved onto the buildings. The bag is Dries van Noten (a sale bargain, a couple of years ago). The boots are Fly London and really loved by me. The man repeller jeans are MAC (see original post), and they are called Baggy. I wonder why 😂. Green fabric belt: Ron’s. The shirt is a bargain from last year. Yellow earrings with silver button by Lara Design. Yellow bracelets with silver rim are from the market.
Below: Looking in a window to check whether everything is still in the right position and the hair is how I want it to be.
Below: Kitty taught me that you look better in a photo if you loosen up a little. Shake it all up.
I look like this when I do that…the hunchback of Notre Dame.
Below: Of course I took photos of Ineke too. With glasses this time.
Below: And sunglasses. I know Ineke since 1982 (I think). We used to be colleagues at an advertising agency. Old friendships like this are precious.
It was good to learn that they absolutely love it in Den Helder. After what I heard, there is a lot more to do in that town than I expected. All up their street.
What happened in my life this week
I had a terrific day in The Hague with my friend Selma (below). And she too was kind enough to take blog photos. In a couple of weeks you will see the post.
Of course I saw mum and this time I took a photo for you all. We had coffee on a terrace and played a game of Rummikub afterwards. I won this time.
The week passed pretty quietly with not a lot of events or friends visiting. For a change this is nice. Shouldn’t happen every week, but I could do with a bit of a rest. And even though I was home most of the time, I dressed up, like below. Jeans with a white shirt is always a good combination. The earrings add colour to my face. (Link to original post with this outfit and different jewellery.)
Loes came over for a cup of tea. She wore a pretty pink jumper and dimwit that I am, I forgot to take a photo. Something which happens to me often. When I saw Anke this week for a coffee in a restaurant, I also forgot to take a photo. I am a lousy blogger.
Below: I made up for it when I went to town with my friend and neighbour Monique. We started with coffee and tea on a sun-drenched terrace. A kind lady took our picture. Haarlem has the best terraces.
Below: I was wearing this outfit. (Link to original post with different shoes and bag.)
Below: As we sat there, ready to order another round, I saw Helga coming out of a shop. Helga is a friend of ours. Such a happy, positive person.
She joined us and after a round of drinks wanted something small to eat. Alas the kitchen of our restaurant was closed so we moved on to another terrace where we ordered cocktails and snacks.
I suddenly realised that Ron was out and would be home late and I had promised to fetch salads at our greengrocer. (We actually say greengrocer jeweller as they are expensive but have quality food and freshly made dishes as well.)
I didn’t want to leave yet, but when you arrive at the shop just before closing time, all the salads are gone. Solution: ring them up and ask them to hold two salads, with the promise to pick them up before closing time. And so it happened.
What a delightful afternoon. I am so happy I am retired and have sufficient funds. I am a very lucky person.
In the end I saw more friends than I anticipated at the beginning of the week.
Greetje
I’m in the minority here, Greetje, as I love the man repeller jeans, so much I even have my own pair in lime green! They are called “barrel jeans“ over here. I looked to you for styling tips on them, but I can’t do this ankle boot look as I’m far too short.
I love how often you see all of your friends now that you’re retired. That is my goal also to our living, the good life, my dear.
Are you seriously more buttons to that perfect blazer?? I do not approve! (Wink)
I wouldn’t mind a pair in lime green!! I know they are called “barrel jeans”. I started by calling them “man repeller jeans” as I thought most men would hate them. As it turns out they don’t. So next time I will refer to them as “barrel jeans”.
Have you tried the barrel jeans with trainers (sneakers) or is that even worse. I am curious to know what shoes you wear with them.
The ankle boots are high heeled which would add height.
As Ron read this post he said “Your readers must think you do nothing else but drink coffee with friends!” I replied: “But that is the truth, I do.”LOL
As for the jacket (it is not a blazer, but a jacket), the extra button hole and button allows me to close the jacket to my chin (nice for cycling). Makes it look a bit like a swagger jacket. If I only use the lower two buttons, it doesn’t look odd. Trust me.
It will be a while (I hope) before you will see it on the blog as it is finally warm enough to be without a coat. Or you need a raincoat…
I think you’re a great blogger!
You’re rocking those jeans.
Xx
That is so nice to hear Cathy. Blogging is quite a lonely occupation (apart from the photo shoot and the coffee get-togethers haha). Getting a compliment like this, makes my day.
As always, I love your posts. The photos with the ships are magazine-worthy! I hope I can retire someday – you seem to be having the time of your life! Your fashion, a great partner in Ron (and Watson), your lovely Mama, and beautiful friends. Wonderful!
♥️, the English teacher from Albany, Georgia in the US.
I thought the same when I was looking at the photo shoot results. The ship photos are magazine-worthy. Not that a magazine will ever contact me haha.
Live long enough and you can retire. At least in the Netherlands.
I retired at the age of 66. My old age benefit by the government started at 66 and 4 months. That seems odd but it was because of a transition period to let everybody retire at 67 instead of 65 which was the previous retirement age. That got too expensive. I have to distinguish retirement money between the amount that we get from the government and the pension that we have built up ourselves through work or insurances.
And yes, I do have a wonderful time being retired. As you described it.
What a lovely photo of your mum! I am so glad to see her looking so well. I love the photos of you on the ship — these could be in a magazine! As always I enjoy seeing your stylish friends and your various outfits. I especially like the jeans with the yellow top — very flattering 🙂 I have not worn jeans for years but having recently lost a lot of weight, I needed new trousers. On the advice of a lovely, helpful salesperson, I bought two pairs of jeans. I’m going to browse your posts for styling ideas!
Being Dutch I have no idea how you survived without jeans LOL. Go to my Outfit Gallery at the top of my homepage and you can scan all the outfits that have been on the blog. Many jeans outfits as you know. When you find one you like, click and you’ll go to the post. Wishing you a lot of inspiration. (PS I hope you lost weight the normal way and not because of illness.)
I remember when you were about to retire and wondered if you wouldn’t be bored. Well, I think you don’t seem to be. Great combination of outfits. Thanks once more for the inspiration (in dressing) and the fun blog.
People told me that when you retire your agenda will full in no time. I wasn’t so sure but Covid’s lockdown eased me into retired life and after that my agenda indeed filled with no trouble. No boredom.
I am grateful for readers like you, who give me a comment on how I am doing with the blog. After all, you publish a post and have no idea whether people like it.
Thanks for all the photos in this post. My favorite outfit is the one with the jeans and white shirt. Guess I’m a minimalist!
Have a good week.
We need minimalists in this world too Anne. Otherwise the world would be too loud LOL. I love loud and minimal. Victoria Beckham is my idol. Alas, I neither have the money nor the life to wear her clothes.
Greetje! Another great blog! I have a black and white animal print shirt I got from a shop with a good online presence before I took our family to the beach for a week. Love your Fly London boots. I hope one day I can wear my Fly London shoes! You had a busy day when you were out! Ineke is a very pretty lady as are Selma and Helga could be a model! Selma’s jumper is happy!
So very nice to see your mother. Have a good week.
Thanks Cathy, yes it was a lovely day in Den Helder. My friends all look good, no idea how that came about.
Fly London shoes are said to be very comfortable, so I hope that indeed you can wear them soon.
Great that you took your family to the beach.
Greetje, I enjoy your blog so much. Gee and I must be on the same wavelength. I don’t understand the repeller jeans at all and my favorite outfit this week is the yellow top and jeans!
Hahaha, I know I sometimes post outfits which are not everybody’s taste. But that is OK, as is your comment. Being honest is something I appreciate. (And I can handle it well.)
You know what they say: “You cannot please everybody all the time. You are not a Nutella jar”.
Love this outfit Greetje! As you know I am a fan of these jeans and they totally work with this shirt.
The jeans work with the shirt but the boots also play an important part. Glad you like it.
Spending time with friends is such a precious gift. ❤️
I so agree with you. Friends are the salt of the earth and the hours spent with them are the best.
My husband read this blog post this morning and said: “people must think you do nothing else but drinking coffee with friends!”
I replied: “But that is true. I do.” LOL
Hello You
Glad you had a happy week. I wish I felt as happy about those darn repeller jeans of yours! But you already know how much I hate them 😱 so I shall move on to more pleasant things…like the terrific outfit you wore when meeting Monique. Spot on, kiddo!
So you actually beat Mama at Rummikub? Crikey, she must have been having an off day for you to actually win!
Loved the pictures of Den Helder. My husband used to catch the ferry to Sylt from there during his RAF days and always thought it a very pretty place and was glad it hadn’t changed. It’s now on the list of places to re-visit next time we cross the Channel. But then half of Holland is on that list already!
Hope next week is as pleasant as this one was.
Hugs
Gee x
You like an outfit to be more fitted and not quaint. I get it. I like that too.
Mum and I are both good at Rummikub, so winning is down to luck. Who draws the best tiles.
Den Helder has been heavily bombed during the war (150 times), a lot of them by the allied forces to prevent the Germans to have access to strategical things like the airport. There isn’t much left of the old town, most of it is newly built.
Ah, you’ve just missed a domestic! I really thought the old fella trckoned Den Helder was as pretty as the rest of most of The Netherlands. “Well, you got that wrong, didn’t you” was the typically husbandly caring reply when challenged. Huh! So, sorry, kid, I did get it wrong so really will have to check it out for myself now.
By all means, check it out. I wonder when you will come over to the Netherlands.