Finally, I found blue trousers which did not show my tummy when I wore this golden yellow blouse. They were reduced heavily in the sale and a size 36 EU, which is tiny and two sizes less than my usual. It has an elasticated waist and I can just about get them over my hips because I have no hips. It means, it fits me like a glove.
The golden yellow blouse makes its second appearance on the blog (link to the first time, worn as a jacket, 4 weeks ago). When I tried a sample of this blouse on in the showroom of Toosh in Milan, I wanted one for its colour and because I love bows. (See more about my stay in Milan with Susan of Une Femme d’un certain âge and about Toosh in this post, section What happened in my life this week.)
When it arrived, I tried it with a couple of styles of jeans. Unfortunately, they all gave me a bit of a tummy. Not flattering when you put a great, big bow on top of that. I looked like an easter egg.
With these blue linen trousers I don’t have the belly problem, only now I tied the bow the wrong way. Below are two photos I took AFTER the photo shoot with Marjolein when I realised I had to have the bow longer and lower. Why I still come to such conclusions after the shoot, beats me.
Anyway, what’s done is done. Back to my day with Marjolein.
Marjolein suggested the small city of Zoetermeer as our destination, thinking we had covered all nice spots in The Hague and you remember them all (doubt that haha).
Below: In front of the former town hall of Zoetermeer, called ‘The old House’.
Below: Two coats of arms, the one with the tulips is missing a couple of golden lions on each side.
Below: In front of a church we found this statue, which is a work of art called ‘Turfkachel’ (Peat stove). I see the tulips of Zoetermeer at the front under my foot and on the side it reads Zoet er meer.
I am holding a purse in exactly the same colour as the blouse, which I picked up at a second-hand store years ago. Pretty and useless.
Below: Next to the peat stove were seats, half wood, half concrete. We saw more in the centre as we walked on. We liked them.
The golden slingbacks don’t give me blisters which makes a change. I can walk on them pretty well. Only, at the end of a day my toes start protesting at being squeezed. They were also second-hand and only €11, can you believe it?
We were at a church with big green doors, always our ideal background, but I wanted a casual pose on the banister.
Below: This is the nice version. I am wearing my Dries van Noten bag again. Never thought this would become my go-to bag, but it has.
Below: Sticking my tongue out in concentration of getting up the banister. I do that often and it looks rather silly haha.
Below: Then Marjolein said “The grey background doesn’t work with your blonde hair. The green door is better”.
“How about this then?”
Below: Close-up of the earrings, against a dark tree. I chose them because they are modern and counter stylistically against the thick linen blouse which is quite elegant and dignified.
Below: Another church. The service had just finished.
Below: These were the beautiful old houses which had drawn us to Zoetermeer. Alas, there weren’t many of them left.
Below: I did find this house, called “Op doortocht” (Passing through). This road was a main road leading from one big city to another big city in the old days when Zoetermeer was a tiny village.
Below: But look at the view from the house above. They have this horrible new-build across the street. Many people who live in Zoetermeer work in The Hague and live in new-build houses.
Below: OK, this tree makes me happy.
Below: The tree served as a perfect background for Marjolein who looked her usual beautiful self. I loved her outfit and said when I saw it: “Ha ha, you are going to outshine me again”. Something I don’t mind at all. The more we can offer you readers, the better. Isn’t that blouse a find? With exactly the same blue in it as the trousers. Her choice of toning the outfit down with a brown belt and bag is excellent.
Below: Close-up of Marjolein’s blouse, belt and bag.
Below: Close-up of her earring. What a beauty.
Below: The main ‘shopping street’ was not much to look at, nor were there any interesting shops. I do give the city council credit for hanging up all these flowers. That cheers things up a bit. Zoetermeer is not a city I’d recommend visiting though.
Below: We did manage to find a nice spot for lunch which was good.
Below: As our visit of Zoetermeer didn’t take long, we decided to go back to The Hague and find a terrace for a drink. These nice houses were our view.
Below: Isn’t this gorgeous?
After a relaxed drink on a terrace, we crossed the street to go home when I found out that the battery of my car key had gone dead. No “bleep bleep”, and no doors opening.
Marjolein pointed out that there was a physical key inside my car key thingy, which I knew, but how to open that thing was a mystery to me. Lo and behold, my first try was successful and I got the key out. Next hurdle to take was “where is the keyhole in the handle?”. Marjolein knew that and flipped the shorter end of the handle up. EUREKA!
I put the key in and turned.
Below: Only to find out that I was trying to open the wrong car.
When I parked an hour before, I was the last car in a line, but in the meantime, somebody with an identical car had parked in front of me.
Marjolein nearly killed herself laughing. It was a classic.
What happened in my life this week
I saw Marianne again. Here we are with Marianne looking rather arch.
Below: And she kept that arch look. She was wearing a similar palazzo trouser co-ord as my red one. So comfortable when the temperature rises. She is not happy with her longer hair and is getting a haircut with a new style.
We were able to arrange another get-together with the “BVA girls” in August. Yippee.
Below: Marianne’s grandson bought a new motor and was cleaning the rims. Apparently, that is a thing with new motors.
It may look as if I was trying to climb onto the motor but it is all fake. Never got any further than this and I didn’t want to either. (Wearing my ice blue linen trousers with the long jacket; link to the post.)
Loes and I did another photo shoot this week. “Mama needs photos” in order to create a blog post. I am working on the post.
Below: Marcella dropped by. A pity you cannot see her earrings well enough. They are great. She is busy getting her new website filled with jewellery, the way Google likes it. And that is a lot of work.
We visited bonus daughter and the granddaughters. When this photo was taken (below), Evy (the little one) was sleeping. Zoë was playing a game with granddad and we had been to the playground that morning. Always a joyful day and especially when we can help the parents with all their chores.
One of the most amazing things happened to me this week…I have always had legs with a different length. Apparently, most people do. It meant that I always had to have the length of my trousers adjusted as my right leg was longer. No more.
DISCLAIMER
Before I go on, know that I am not trying to sell you anything. You know I don’t do that on my blog. It is just something I experienced and paid for myself.
A neighbour told me about Atlas Zone Therapy and how it worked. One treatment of less than an hour would solve the difference in leg length and it probably would also solve my headaches. It sounded too good to be true.
I did extensive research to see whether the therapist she referred me to, was no quack, no charlatan. There were about 15 video testimonials of clients on his website and after I had watched them all, I thought to myself “this looks too genuine to be fake”. Then I read the 60 reviews about his practice on Google. The majority of them were jubilant but there were also a few critical. All this combined with the actual experience my neighbour had had plus the experience of her brother, made me decide to try it. It couldn’t do any harm from what I read.
Immediately after the treatment I had two legs of the same length. I am not sure how that is going to work out with my trouser lengths, but time will tell. When I sit or lie down and stretch my legs, they are the same length.
Another amazing change is the fact that I now do sit and stand straight, something I was working on with my previous physiotherapist. He did wonderful work but it was still up to me to remember to stretch my shoulders down and to the back. Now it is my default position. Finally achieved it, after so many trials.
I have to wait and see whether it has also solved my headaches. We need to look at that over a longer period of time.
Greetje
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