Look back in wonder

I've got something to celebrate today and no, it's not my birthday! And as our wedding anniversary was back in February, it's not that either. Now, what can it be? Well, today it has been four years to the day that I published my first blog post!

Now I know that many of you have been blogging for much longer, and that four years might not be all that much in the grand scheme of things, but I already couldn't imagine my life without it.

Blogging has brought me so much pleasure. The pleasure to be able to share my passions, to keep a journal and mark the passage of time and, above all, the pleasure of getting to know so many wonderful people, whom I would otherwise never have met, some of them becoming real-life friends in the process.

In fact, the only regret I have is that I didn't take the plunge earlier, but that's me, forever dithering and thus always late to the party!

Since my blog doubles as a diary, I just love being able to look back and see what I was up to at certain moments in time. Before blogging, the years were all a bit of a blur. Some years, there wasn't even all that much photographic evidence apart from our holiday snaps! Or at least not until I bought my current camera and starting making collages, which initially I posted on Facebook.

As in this part of the world the weather is such a topic of conversation, it can be quite a revelation too, travelling back in time to a particular month last year only to find that the weather was in complete contrast to this year's.

Take the above photo, for instance, which appeared in a blog post last March but was actually taken at the end of February, when the temperatures were so balmy that I could comfortably pose in the park in just my dress without getting all goose-bumpy or rain-drenched!

So, in order to celebrate my Blogiversary, I scrolled through all of last year's posts, choosing some of my favourites from each month. Quite a daunting task, I must add, and my original shortlist was quite a long one, but in the end I managed to keep the photos to a fairly reasonable amount. 

Apart from the photos, there are a few favourite posts as well. How I loved writing (and re-reading) the story of the two coats in the attic which I published in March!

This collage, in which I'm wearing a floral skirt suit and my lilac Tweed jacket for a walk in the park in April, makes me yearn for Spring to finally arrive.

As does this photo, taken in the same month, where I'm twirling the full skirt of a favourite vintage dress. There was no need for a cardigan or coat on this day when we visited a local nature reserve and were captivated by carpets of wood anemones. My heart is making a little leap of joy as I remember exactly how I felt that day.

April also saw us going on our first short holiday of the year, staying at the B&B near Bruges. While we were there, we visited the charming little town of Damme, where I couldn't resist becoming one with a sea of daisies. Pure bliss, and so easily evoked by just looking at this photo.

In May, my blog reminds me of the fact that I got new glasses, my first pair of multifocals.  I took them for a test drive (or, more appropriately, walk) in the park, wearing an old floral skirt and blouse, both vintage, topped by a recently charity shopped orange velvet jacket. I'd almost forgotten about those pale pink booties! 

In June, we said goodbye to the parental home, to which I paid tribute by writing a farewell post full of bittersweet memories, one I simply cannot re-read without getting a little tear in my eye.

Here's me, wistfully descending my childhood home's magnificent stairs for the very last time. Sigh!

In the second half of June, we embarked on our annual UK holiday, which we spent in Shropshire and the Welsh borders. 

Starting as we meant to go on, we met up with Vix and Jon on our very first day. It was almost a given that a spot of charity shopping was involved! Can't wait to do it all again in a couple of months' time!

On one of the hottest days, we hopped over the border to Wales for a visit to Powis Castle. My outfit, consisting of a vintage waxed cotton wrap skirt and a top which was a sales bargain from New Look, might well be my favourite of the past year!

Another hot day saw us seeking shelter in a secret garden, a definite contender for a return visit. The dress I was wearing was a gift from Vix, while the hat was a cheeky buy from a National Trust shop right in the middle of Slow Fashion Season. 

July and August were months of extremes. First there was a heatwave, when we were melting in unheard of temperatures of +40° Celsius.

Even if it wasn't nearly that hot on the day we went to a rather disappointing outdoor flea market, we were still glad to be able to cool down in the park afterwards. I was wearing a blue flower-sprigged 1970s cotton frock accessorized with pops of red, another one that's in the running for favourite of the year.

July was followed by a partially rainy August. On the 15th of that month, a public holiday in Belgium, we briefly ventured outside between showers to photograph my 1980s inspired outfit. If only the skirt is vintage, everything else except for the ring was charity shopped. Don't you just love that crab bag?

Oh how I love the promise of the first day of a holiday! We had our usual sojourn in Belgium's west country in the first week of September, and here I am soaking up the afternoon sun on the steps of Poperinge's town hall, wearing a King Louie dress I'd found at the charity shop only a few days previous.

Our holiday was a mixture of sunshine and showers, but Summer made a brief return when we were back home, prompting a walk in a shady park wearing a € 2 Think Twice find and a pink plastic chain necklace converted into a belt. The first signs of Autumn could no longer be ignored, though.

The second half of September was very wet so we anxiously kept an eye on the weather forecast as we had plans for a day trip to Bruges on Jos's birthday. The weather gods must have been looking out for us, as it remained virtually dry that day, with even a hint or two of sunshine!

Ah, October! The time to indulge in Autumn walks and a bit of leaf-kicking. But not this year, as the rains returned with a vengeance after that one-off day on Jos's birthday.

Then finally one weekend it stopped raining for long enough to go for a stroll - and hug some trees - wearing a dress which had been on Think Twice's rails for only 30 seconds before I grabbed it.

November saw us cat-sitting the delightful Abby, who had no problem stealing  my limelight ...

... and going for another little holiday in Zeeland, where I was finally able to kick some leaves in the abbey courtyard in Middelburg ...

... and go for a bracing walk by the seaside in fashionable Domburg!

Looking back, I seem to have been wearing a lot of red in December, which was purely coincidental and had nothing to do with the approaching silly season. This grey and raspberry red dress, another Think Twice find, got its very first outing.

But it was almost a given that I wore green too, especially when years of being patient finally paid off and a pair of green boots came my way. This dark olive green and pink flapper inspired outfit is another one of my favourites. 

Those of you who have been following my blog for a while will know that I love green, so it will come as no surprise that I picked it as the main colour of my New Year's Eve outfit.  It was based around a wide Scandi print maxi skirt, which had many admirers, both on the blog and on Instagram, which I'd joined in a moment of madness back in June.

We've reached 2020 by now, and the final posts of my 4th blogging year. I'll be brief here, as it wasn't all that long since I posted them. 

It was a cold but reasonably dry January day when I wore this pleated dress, fur collared jacket and pink feathery scarf for a charity shop rummage. The yellow snake print handbag was an irresistible sales bargain. Oh, don't tell me you wouldn't have been tempted too!

Another Saturday in January, and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face was a delight after the endless succession of grey rainy days. 

On this crisp sunny day we walked to the beautiful ruin of Sleeping Beauty's castle amid a juxtaposition of Autumn and Spring.

A final January outfit, again featuring green with a generous dollop of pink, was based around this stripy pussy bow dress, which again had many admirers. 

I'm concluding this round-up of my blogging year with our 25th Wedding Anniversary in February which, as you'll probably remember, we celebrated with a couple of days at our favourite B&B near Bruges.

And while looking back has been a rollercoaster of emotions, I cannot wait to fill the still empty pages of a new blogging year.

A big thank you to all my readers and followers ❤❤❤ 

I hope you will be joining me on my journey through year 5!

Dear diary

Way before I started blogging, which feels like eons ago, but is actually only 2 years to the day, I was already in the habit of taking my camera everywhere. I just love taking photographs as a scrapbook of my life, so it was only natural that at some point I would virtually take up pen and paper and start adding words.

That day of reckoning was 5th March 2016, which means that I'm celebrating my second blogiversary today!

The days that I kept an actual diary - a couple of innocent looking exercise books to deter my Mum's curiosity - were short-lived. It was between the ages of 15 and 17 that I meticulously filled their pages with my girly handwriting with its unnecessary curves and curlicues.
When I left home to start a life of my own, I got rid of my diaries, thinking them childish and forgettable. Oh, how I mourn that decision! But for one look into the soul of my late 1970s self.

But I digress, even if only just a little.

Blogging has, in all honesty, changed my life. Ever since I typed those very first words and hesitantly pushed publish for the very first time, not only have I finally taken up a diary again - and a well-documented one at  that - I have met many kindred spirits to share it with.

Yes, I mean you, my dears!

So, as a way of celebration, I am looking back over my second year of blogging, dipping into my posts and photographs, and selecting some highlights. Which wasn't easy, believe me, so that this post is rather picture heavy.

The first photo transports me right back to the very first Springlike day last March when, strolling through our favourite local park, it was mild enough to pose in my folksy dress.

One month later, on a fine April's day, we visited an antiques market at a castle and afterwards walked through the castle grounds. I was wearing a hat I'd just scored and, sitting down on that weathered log, I felt totally at peace with the world.

In May, I posted about my maternal grandmother, Bertha, and tried to emulate her marvellous style. I was wearing a pair of my Mum's glasses, and a hat I'd recently found at a flea market. 

A particularly hot day in June and the perfect opportunity to wear this 1970s cotton sundress trimmed with rickrack. 

Our holiday in Wales was one of two halves, with a difference of about 20 degrees Celsius between them. These photos were taken on our first day, with the whole two weeks still in front of us.

But the weather changed after less than a week and by the end of our holiday the only thing left to do was shopping. We visited all the charity shops and antique centres in the area, one of them yielding a Pirate's bounty (I'm quoting Beate here) of brooches. 

July brought a couple of outdoor flea markets, and we even participated in one, right outside our front door (above), where my stock of vintage clothes sold like hot cakes.

One week later we found treasure at another flea market (below) where my maxi skirt was duly admired.

Rain was very much on the agenda in August, prompting me to do a raincoat post, and engage in some cosplay, emulating 'Allo 'Allo's Michelle Dubois! 

The weather gods were a little bit more lenient on our week's holiday in Belgium's west country in September.

Look, even had lunch outside one day! 

On another day, we nipped over the border to France and had coffee in a café where time seemed to have stood still. Well, it certainly did for those flies!

Back at home, we were treated to some glorious late Summer days.

At the end of September, we celebrated Jos's milestone birthday with a day out in Antwerp, visiting the MAS museum in the old port area.

Indian Summer continued in October and my colourful frocks had a hard time competing with the brilliant Autumn leaves.

Here comes the rain again! In November, I reminisced about the 1980s, wearing a bat wing dress gifted by the lovely Gisela!  Photos were taken on a rare sunny break between showers.

Later that month, you were given a glimpse into my vintage Barbie doll collection, with a promise of more to follow.

December was dismal and dark, with lots of rain, as well as a tiny bit of snow.

A rainy sunday took us to the wonderful Expo 58 shop, where we were welcomed with a delicious cup of hot chocolate.

Then the Christmas break was upon us. On Boxing Day we walked in Middelheim sculpture park, crossing Ai Weiwei's Bridge Without a Name.

Another year, another bridge! January continued to be gloomy but we grabbed every minute of sunshine to go for a walk, like we did that Sunday at the blue bridges.

Then, February arrived with lots of sunshine, but with a sting in its tail courtesy of the Beast from the East.

About half way through the month, I had the honour of doing twin posts with the fabulous Beate, one of the absolute highlights of my blogging year!

And so, a new year of blogging begins, the diary's empty pages waiting to be filled with new adventures, great and small.

A big thank you to all my readers and followers, you're what's making it all worthwhile!

Now, without further ado, I'm linking to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.