– Scream, grab, seize –

Yes, a heavy envelope fell on my desk containing the invite for the opening of a brand new H&M in the Bonneterie building in The Hague and… now please imagine elephants on the left and fireworks… the invitation for the VIP pre-sale of the Balmain collection that we had been so restless about in our heads.

It was all highly exclusive, but an email popped in asking if we could come with all the Amayzine editors and if I could take the finalists of Holland’s Next Top Model with me. I thought that was fine, as long as I could bring our charming reporter Tijn with me.

Tijn, you should know, actually works for ‘Hoe Heurt Het Eigenlijk?’ but since the company Kelder is enjoying a little winter break, Tijn could join us for a bit. With shiny shoes and a bow tie because you can take the boy out of ‘Hoe Heurt Het’, but ‘Hoe Heurt Het’ always stays in the boy.

Anyway. Tijn, Lies, and model girls Celine and Rachel were packed into the Renault Kadjar (which went smoothly by the way, despite these long-legged mosquito girls). We saw Loiza and Lisa there. That’s where at least three busloads of people were waiting to grab VIPs by the collar. We thought that was okay too, as long as it didn’t take too long, because the balances had been checked and we were ready for the kill.

We did talk with colleagues, but we kept it short and completely understood if someone preferred to scour the racks over a little catch-up session. Liesbeth was already very happy because H&M had gifted her the blouse with pearls and I found the oversized double-breasted coat for myself and for our dear colleague Lilian. By then I was already satisfied and could calmly oversee the fascinating spectacle with a glass in hand and a dear former colleague by my side (hi Anne Marije!).

There was drink (a lot), there were snacks (a bit less), there was a model who collapsed for a moment due to hunger and little fresh air, there was a ladies' coat that was given to a coat but was later miraculously returned, there were women with red cheeks because they had just spent three thousand euros, there were… oh, just look for yourself and you were there. Just know that shopping from your lazy laptop is a lot calmer.