Friday 17 June 2016

Smile for the camera

I always find the weeks before going on vacation a little nerve-wracking, with so many things still to be arranged, both at work and at home. Cat-sitters need to be briefed as to how her majesty likes to be treated, paperwork needs to be sorted and lists to be ticked off.

This is not in any way helped by the fact that I hate packing, especially clothes packing. We are going to Wales, after all, so we have to be prepared for all kinds of weather. Our holiday will also involve a lot of walking and the Pembrokeshire coast path certainly cannot be tackled in frivolous summer dresses and sandals.


So, it is the time of year when my jeans (which I do not wear throughout the year) have to be dug out of the suitcase on top of the wardrobe. This is followed by a trying-on session, when anything too tight is discarded. Believe me, that suitcase must have magic powers, as some years it has clearly shrunk all the trousers and I have to go last-minute shopping. This year, I'm happy to say, the suitcase was on good behaviour!


Last weekend, I have been choosing vintage tops to combine with the dreaded jeans, and of course I am taking some dresses too. With my clothing case packed and zipped up, I was glad to have this out of the way, although there is no guarantee I will take things out and add others until the very last moment.


What else did we do last weekend? Some time ago, we were asked by my friend's daughter if we wanted to do a surprise family photo session for my friend's birthday. It was on Saturday and it was good fun! Jos was the main photographer, having past experience with this kind of photography, but I tagged along and took my camera as well.


We went to the Middelheim park in Antwerp, which is an open air museum of sculpture and visual arts and a great setting for a photo session.






Ingrid, my friend, was at secondary school with me for four years, after which we lost touch.

















We met again via Facebook after 30 years in 2009 and she turned out to be living in the next village.

We now see each other regularly and our husbands, both being retired, even more so, as they meet every week for a drink.


The weather was great, the atmosphere was relaxed and a great afternoon was enjoyed by both the models and the photographers.


Of course, I took the opportunity to make some blog photos as well.


I love this fun photograph taken of Jos and me by Ingrid's daughter Cynthia.


I still have to finish the last of the packing, as we are leaving very early on Saturday, but I don't want to leave without showing you my finds of last week.


I bought these two dresses at Vintage Styling, which sadly will no longer be there by the time I get back ...


And finally, while waiting for the bank to open, I found this amazing book in a bargain book shop. I'm sure it will keep me occupied for a while ...

Pembrokeshire, here we come!

I won't have Internet access for two weeks, but then again I'll have a catch-up with you all to be looking forward to when I get back.

See you!

36 comments:

  1. Great sculpture photos, I always find them fascinating to look at. How brilliant was that - your friend living in the next village? That was a stroke of luck.

    Happy holidays in Pembrokeshire - hope you get the chance to visit some charity shops! xx

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    1. Thank you, and of course I've already been checking out car boot sales and flea markets too. xxx

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  2. Middelheim looks wonderful, just the kind of place I like to explore.
    Facebook is fantastic for reuniting lost friends and staying in touch with distant ones. How fantastic that Ingrid not only lives close-by but you've got so much in common.
    Packing is such a chore - I've got to sort out my Glastonbury bag this weekend, small enough for me to carry, glamorous and suitable for living in a tent for a week in all weathers, wish me luck!
    Fab new frocks, great prints and colours.
    Have a brilliant holiday and see you on the other side! xxx

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    1. I've already been to a little "punk" reunion via Facebook as well, which was weird ... I was thinking of you earlier today, as I realized Glastonbury was coming up, and wanted to wish you a brilliant time, and lovely weather of course. I'm sure you'll manage to look glamorous whatever the weather, though! See you! xxx

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  3. I would have snapped up that book too!

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    1. I'm already looking forward to reading it and learning more about 1960s fashion, which I find fascinating. Been visiting your blog too, but I'm not on Google + and I'm still figuring out what to do. Not really my strong point, but I'll get there in the end. I'm still wondering how I managed to start my blog. xxx

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  4. How amazing that your schoolfriend was only one village away?! Have a wonderful holiday in Wales, I look forward to seeing your holiday snaps. Enjoy trawling through the Welsh charity shops, I found quite a few in that area!

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    1. Thank you Claire. I was there last year as well, and indeed had a few lovely finds in the charity shops!

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  5. Have a wonderful trip, big sis!
    Love,
    Princess Inez ;-)

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  6. Enjoy, enjoy! I shall look forward to seeing your holiday pics. x

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  7. Have a wonderful holiday. Here's hoping the weather behaves and you can skip the jeans.

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    1. Thanks Goody, but unfortunately the jeans did have to come out ... xxx

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  8. That book looks such a fabulous read! Great find! So true about cat sitters! I even print out lists of instructions and emergency contact numbers for ours, much as one would if they were leaving their kids in the hands of a babysitter/childminder. :)

    I hope you guys have a splendid time in Pembrokeshire!

    Big hugs & joyful weekend wishes,
    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Oh, we always leave detailed instructions too, Jessica. Phoebe was very well looked after, but still glad to have us back ... xxx

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  9. I hear you! Preparing to go on holiday is stressful. By the time you're ready to go, you really need that holiday. Hope you have a great time and that you get some good weather. Everything's looking very green at the moment anyway. That's a lovely pic of you and Jos. Lovely smile you have, Ann. Xxx

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    1. Thanks Tania. I'm not smiling very often though, as I hate my wonky teeth. Back from holiday since yesterday and it was great in spite of the weather, but I guess there's a reason why it is looking so green ... xxx

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  10. Oh, I hear you about the dreaded jeans! Sometimes, only jeans will do for comfort and necessity. Hope you enjoy Wales x

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    1. Wales was lovely but wet, so the jeans had to make an appearance. xxx

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  11. How odd that your friend lived so close and you never knew! I recently tracked down an old pen friend on facebook but she doesn't want to know which is sad :(

    I hope you have a fabulous time in Wales xxx

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    1. How sad that your old pen friend doesn't want to know. I had this happen to me too. Hope your day in Wales wasn't too wet ... xxx

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  12. looks like a fun vacation and I love your vintage suitcases and of course your outfits

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    1. Thank you. I'm back now. I missed my wardrobe, and blogging too ... xxx

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  13. happy holidays!
    packing is not hard anymore after years of trekking and kayak-wandering holidays without a car....
    wonderful photos of your friends and the park! i can feel the relaxed yet cultivated atmosphere thru the monitore :-)
    xxxxx

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    1. Thanks Beate. I'm glad to hear you're an experienced packer. I'm always in doubt what to take, and usually take the wrong things ... xxx

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  14. Have a fantastic holiday! I do hope the weather gets better because today it feels like we're in the depths of a very wet winter. It's not cold but the heaven's have just completely opened and there's so much water about. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you! xx

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    1. Thank you Cate. Unfortunately the weather wasn't up to scratch, but we still managed to have a great holiday. xxx

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  15. You've set off by now so I'm hoping you have a wonderful holiday. Looking forward to the pics.
    Your red frock is fab and the two you managed to grab before its to late.
    Lynn X X X

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    1. Thanks Lynn. I took many photographs, in spite of the weather. xxx

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  16. What lovely photos! And that book looks like a fantastic find.

    The weather has been tremendously bad here in the UK lately. Rain, rain, rain, rain. I hope you brought lots of wet-weather gear!

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    1. Don't I know it. Indeed we had lots of rain, but from what I'm hearing it's been the same in Belgium. xxx

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  17. Hope you had a lovely time in Wales despite the weather! How lovely to meet up with your friend again after so long and to and to find out she was in the next village! Your dresses are fab and I love the book.
    xxx

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    1. We love Wales so we definitely had a lovely time, although we could have done with a little less rain. But that's why it's so green, no? xxx

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  18. How nice to meet that friend again! Nice photos of you both!
    EXCELLENT finds on the dress front- love them!!!
    x

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    1. Thanks Kezzie. I actually took that first dress with me to Wales, but never got to wear it ... xxx

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