Facebook is going too far! Thanks, but no thanks.

Hi there! Good of you to drop in!

After much deliberation and soul-searching, and a few tears, I have posted the following post on my Facebook timeline just a few moments ago.

So. This is goodbye...

From January 1st 2015 FB is going places with my photos, tastes, thoughts and emotions that I, personally, even though I do post things publicly myself, do not want it to go!
No, I do not want my name connected, unasked, to products or reviews. I'll do my own reviewing, thank you very much, whenever I want to in my blog Rays of Light.
And I do not want to be confronted with 'personalized' advertisements for weight loss or booze, or trips to foreign lands that I cannot afford anyway.

It breaks my heart to have to say goodbye to my FB friends... Many of you, from all over the world, I have never met in the flesh. But I feel I have got to 'know' you, all the same. And I know I will miss you in my life. In fact, I am in tears right now.
But it is a matter of principle.

There still is a way to connect with me, might you want to. You can look me up at my Blogger address for Rays of Light. The address is: http://RaysofLight2.blogspot.com And I also have a public gmail address which I use for connecting to my blog: rkoopman58@gmail.com
I will leave this message up on my timeline until December 31st. And then will delete my FB account.

It has been marvelous to connect with you! Thank you for all the messages, the funny photos, the stories, the thoughts, the mottoes, the cats, the owls, the puppy films, and most of all the music you have sent me.
Have a good life!
  Renée

Frith! I will miss those people!

I will continue this blog though...For as long as I feel the need.

Speak to you soon!

Happy One Year Anniversary to Rays of Light The Blog.

Hiya! By the time you read this, that means it has turned November 24th, and Rays of Light has been up in the air for exactly one year.
And what a year it has been!

Whether you have read just one post, or if you have been a regular reader, know this:

this has been an amazing journey!

I started out in November 2013 feeling not a little depressed, anxious, frazzled, morose, and-what-have-you. In short: not a happy little bunny!

Being an overzealous conscientious worker was finally catching up with me. In short: taking over and turning me upside down, inside out and generally pissing me about.

I started suffering (yes, really suffering!) from stress-related garbage, and traumatic events from my youth (long repressed) suddenly coming to the surface and costing me my peace of mind.

Still.

I do.

In the middle of all the shit, all the pain, all the heartache, there is good. I witness it every day.

It's in the little things. 

The smile in the street. The hand on my shoulder. The cup of coffee waiting for me when I get to work in the mornings. The warm greeting by a pupil. The palpable love given me. The wet nose of Viggo on my cheek in the night. The trusting look of Gina.

To get myself back into mental shape, I turned to three things: blogging, music and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

This is SUCH sound advice!

Hopefully you have enjoyed my blog. And you're welcome. I intend to keep on keeping on.

I'll post about music. About life in between the lines. And Viggo will join us from time to time.

I'll leave you with the soundtrack of my life. Just follow the link.David Bowie - Changes

So - Anyone Still Interested Out There?

Good (Saturday - Caturday) morning to you!
I've been extremely busy this last week (too much work, dramas at home, you name it I had it), so I didn't have time to do my usual post publishing. And what happened...attendance drops.
No, not just drops - it practically disappears.
Conclusion? I might as well quit.

Whoa! Stop. Rephrase!
My readers (you) like to drop in and read my stuff, but only when I take the trouble to upload it myself into various FB pages and groups.
Right? Right again.

I've asked someone I admire (actress and character both) to give you "the look".

And I've also asked myself, with my approaching upcoming anniversary on Nov. 24th, whether I want to continue with this blog.

Not because of you (I do like you, really, am simply stating the obvious here), but because of me.

Being the forever introspective type (call it self-obsessed, go on, I dare you), I am always investigating my motives. Life is hard, so in order to keep living it, I investigate and question. And, fast approaching sixty, I have earned the right to do so. I could have quit dozens of times already.

So. 

To blog on, or not to blog on. That's the question.

Keep Calm and Blog On!

Hi there, my non-replying blog friends :-)

Don't worry, if all you want to do is read...that's fine with me.

I have been surfing the blogger's web. Fast clicked through approx. 20 other blogs, and found most of them are old and not refreshed.

Well, at least here you get a brand new blog very regularly!

I looked at gorgeous Brazilian guys on some beach, and some not-so-gorgeous Asian guys in...yeah, where exactly? Anyway, they looked to be doing typical guy things (like drinking and making silly faces), and it made me reflect that guys are guys the world over.

There was this beautifully executed blog with intriguing photos and lovely little drawings, and I wanted to compliment the blogger, and found I couldn't as there was no way to comment. What a shame.



Told you I am at an impasse, didn't I?
I'm quite serious here!

Perhaps I'll ask Viggo for his opinion. He usually has an out-of-the-box approach.

Fast Approaching the One Year Mark!

Good Sunday morning to you, my blog-friends!
It is October 12th, and we are fast moving towards November 24th and the One-Year Rays of Light mark.
And I am experiencing this (tiny) dilemma.

To continue, or not to continue?

You see, I am easily bored. It is one of my lesser attractive personality traits, I suppose.

My main goal, if I had one (did I have one? Yes, I suppose I did), was to provide myself with a venting system, and to provide others - you - with some innocent entertainment.

The secondary goal was to reach first 5,000 and then 10,000 page views.

By now, I am approaching the 12,000 page views. Which is...nice.

On the other hand, I have exactly 12 followers. (I used to have 13, but one left. Why? Frith knows.)

And there you have it.

This blogger's lark is so anonymous. Hardly anyone lets me know what they have felt, experienced, thought, whilst reading my posts. So I am blogging away in the dark, so to speak.

My stats show me some of my posts (the ones about Viggo, for instance) are popular. And they show me my blog is most widely read in the Ukraine (WHY???) I have never been near the Ukraine, let alone that I know anyone there...I tend to do well in the Balkans anyway, and some Russians read my blog...

Still. The thought that I could do other (better?) things with my time sneaks up on me more and more often.

Now, there's a point to all this. You can play your part!

Instead of my next goal being yet more readers (they will get here anyway; by now this blog is a snowball slowly rolling downhill under its own momentum) my next goal will be to gather followers. Like you gather flowers.

I'll give you, and myself, another couple of months. You know, just to see where this will lead.

And you can click that button on my home page, saying you have become a follower. Make a statement. Access The Zone, to quote Viggo. It will do no harm. You will gain a regular uplifting post. 

10,040 Readers?! Wow-wee, So Nice to See You!

LWhen I started this blog on November 24th 2013 I didn't dare dream that so many people would bother to read my stuff!

I thought that if I could scrape or drag in a couple of readers a week, it would be lovely.
Not knowing that I would have hundreds a week, and sometimes more than 1,500 a month at any given time.

And the parts of the world that you live in amaze me as well. Hundreds of readers a week in Ukraine? I mean...sure, great, wonderful that you are reading my blog folks, especially in the event of politics going on (I try - and mostly succeed - to stay away from politics; I'm certain that you have noticed); keep it up by all means.

On the subject of statistics:
my American readers are the most numerous, 
closely followed by my own countrymen,
very closely followed by people from the Ukraine
and the rest is quite evenly divided between Australia, South-Africa, India, Germany, England
and the occasional reader in France, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Latvia, Russia, Ireland, Canada, Rumania, China, Thailand. 

Now wouldn't it be wonderful to have, say, Hawaii, or the Solomon Islands, or anywhere in Africa, or Surinam.

Anyway. For ALL of you, I have looked up one of the funniest little videos I could find. It is about cats... They are one of my pet interests, simply because I think they are so inscrutable and always doing their own thing. So if you hate cats, skip it.
(Although...you could try it anyway, perhaps you'll surprise yourself by laughing out loud)

Link: I dare you to watch this without at least smiling.

Well? Bet you smiled, or even laughed out loud!

Have a wonderful evening, until next time.

And....Counting!

Good evening, my blog friends and assorted dreamers!
This blog has been in existence since November 24th, 2013.  And it looks like I will have had more than 10,000 readers by this October. Not bad, eh?

Now I am perfectly aware that this blog means zilch in the scheme of things. 

Nothing, nada, niente.

The world is burning, and I am posting pretty pictures of cats and flowers (and the occasional dog or owl) and writing about bicycle trips and mindfulness. Absolutely insignificant.

Politics do interest me, but I tend to keep far away from blogging about them, except when I get so indignant that I cannot keep quiet. The reason for this is that I feel others are far better at the political angle than I am.

So. As a step up to my goal (10,000 people reading my blog and hopefully cracking a smile before Nov. 24th 2014), I'll go bananas and post something not in the least resembling a cat. 

Hope you like it! And do visit again; you are most welcome.

Ukraine and United States - for you!

Good morning to you! (It is Sunday morning over here...) 
Especially for all the hundreds of people who have read my blog in the Ukraine and in the United States during the last month:

Hi there!
I hope you will have a good day today, where ever you may be, whatever you may do. Try to spend it with people you like, or even love.

And remember: we are all equal. Fuck politics. Ordinary people, like you and me, can make a difference. All we have to do is remember that, and start with the people around us. Take a deep breath - and take the first step. Peace, my friend!

See you!

Have Passed the 7,000 Readers Mark: thank you!

So nice of you all to keep visiting my blog!
To say "thank you", again some pretty photos, a virtual stack of very Dutch pancakes and a song with lyrics so you can sing along. Enjoy!

(Photographs courtesy of the www - mostly through PhotoGraffitti)

Because - The Beatles

Yup, I've Thought Up a Gift for my 5,000th Reader!

Hi there, Dreamers, Readers and Other Assorted Visitors of this Blog!

I've come to a decision. 
The first person who will send me an email at my blog-email address (rkoopman58@gmail.com) after the little counting device has passed the 5,000 mark, will get an autographed photo by Wibe Koopman.

Wibe's photos are different, and have a quality which is almost painter-like.

If you would like to qualify, send me an email with your name and address (don't forget the zipcode and country).

Good luck!

Just a Quickie - only approx. 100 readers more!

Only a little over 100 readers more and I will have reached the 5,000 readers for this blog.

I am already thinking about something to celebrate with you, and perhaps a give-away. 

See you soon!

4,500 readers - golly!

Like a snowball rolling downhill, the number of people reading my blog has grown.

And it's such fun to hear from you! A young woman from Dubai (Muslim, dressed in black flowing robes) tells me she feels we have so much in common. An old man from Japan lets me know he agrees with me, and just as often he disagrees with me :-) A woman in India shares her dreams and music. 

Since this blog started out as an experiment, and for my own entertainment only, I am pleased and content with you all who take the time to scroll down my words and pictures.

Whether you read each and every post, or you pick and choose, is up to you and out of my hands. As soon as I upload a post, it is out there. Like a tiny thought balloon in space.

Peace unto you, my friends, where ever you are! Keep dreaming big. Let music fill your heart and nature bless your days.

Oh...and eat your greens ;-)

To thank you, I have looked up one of the nicest videos of one of the sweetest singers around. Enjoy!

Safe Travels

4,000 readers - Let Me Brighten Up Your Day!

"Happiness is not a destination. It is a way of life"

This is what we in my country call "tegeltjes-wijsheid" (wall platter wisdom), and the shops are full of those wall decorations at the moment.

I have the one I started this post with hanging on my living room wall. To remind myself (and my family) that it is no use at all to keep living in the future, because "when I am....(fill in the blank yourself) THEN I will be happy" is a waste of precious time. It is NOW that you should live for. And if you can make now a happy time, in however small a way, perhaps even for just a moment, then you have achieved something worthwhile.

You, in Thailand, in Sri-Lanka, in China, in Sweden, in France, in Germany, where-ever you may live, you brighten up my days by reading Rays of Light. Writing is an urge, for me. This blog has taken the place of the diaries I used to keep. With the big difference that now I write things that will be read by others. So I censor myself. And this restriction is a positive thing, as it forces me to keep looking at the bright side.

Sure, I do have my darker moments (and blogs), but I'm certain you will understand. I am human.

This girl is an image of the girl I am deep down. And there is a girl (or boy) like this hidden deep within you too.

So this is my thank-you to you all reading my blog this time. Do visit (and read) again!

Until next time! (And don't forget to check out the musical link down below!)

Renée

For you: the wonderful Ms Rory Block

Quick Newsflash: hey! Only 90 readers away from 3,000 :-)

Spring! Oooohhhhhhh yes....it has sprung! Don't you love it?

Hello, are you also feeling sprightly from this sudden Spring burst?
(Before you think I have gone absolutely bonkers, let me remind you I am from The Wetlands. The low lying lands where water is the predominant feature, clouds are omnipresent and sunshine is a gift and a blessing.)

After an entire Winter of feeling like a mole, I now see the sun come up every day from the windows of the Tube, and this morning it didn't immediately hide itself behind a bank of grey, but stayed in view!

And I was so lucky, in that it was still shining when I got home from work, and I even had a little snooze in the garden, on the bench with Viggo on my lap. Bliss!

Afterwards I took a turn in our garden, removed a dog turd or two, admired the pansies and the daffs, and planned a trip to the garden centre for tomorrow.

And have you noticed that people are more friendly when the sun is shining? (Perhaps not when you are in, say, Brazil, but in The Wetlands they definitely are) I exchanged smiles with at least 5 persons within ten minutes, which is quite a lot for my hard-nosed neighbourhood.

The currants are in bloom, the swans are on their nests, all my little garden birds are very active and twittering away. 

And the shrubs are getting tiny leaves (no, not like the photo yet, but I couldn't resist that one, as I think it lovely).

What do YOU do in Springtime? Does it effect you at all? Or are you one of those "Heck, as long as I can watch Netflix I'm happy" type of person?

Perhaps I'm a bit weird, but I actually feel happy when I see my ferns unfurl...And when I spot the bumble bees checking out the potting shed. I saw a huge one this afternoon, and bid it welcome. One of our projects for this year, garden-maintenance-wise, is to build an insect hotel. And my husband wants to build a chicken coop. And a new woodshed. 

Now isn't this interesting? 

:-)

Someone pointed out to me (on FB) that my blog was utterly uninteresting to him. It took me aback for all of 3 seconds (well, at least he took the time to point it out to me) and then I thought long and hard about the bloggers-bug.

Does it really matter if 9 people read this post, or 900? I mean, does it make a difference to me?

The fact that you are reading this right now, is enough. I used to be a diary keeper. Then a reporter. Now I am a blogger. I think it is realistic to say that writing is a sort of compulsion. And even if nobody reads it, I can view it as a kind of super diary, without all the nasty bits. I'll keep the really nasty bits to myself.

Have a super Spring day tomorrow!

Blog Update: How Starting this Blog has Changed my Life :P

Hi, folks!
Here's your enthusiastic blogger from the Wetlands again.

With Gina

This Blog, Rays of Light, has been up and running for a month now. And wow! I mean: wow!

There's this thingy called 'Stats' next to my composing page, and it shows me that you, my reader, come from far-flung places like South-Korea, Russia, Canada, the USA, Australia, South-Africa, Morocco, as well as nearer countries (Germany, England, Serbia, The Netherlands).

Welcome!

I am SO happy to meet you!

Except, I don't meet you, do I? You read my post and then you steal away in the night...

I try to imagine you. You are sitting in an easy chair, with a cup of coffee nearby (or tea, if you're in South-Korea, I expect), or with a beer. It's hot in Australia, I've been told. And you take some minutes to read my words.

What is your life like? Do you enjoy your work? Do you have work? Are you happy? Are you with loved ones around you, or are you lonely? Or alone by choice? Do you have children? Do you, like me, keep pets? What subjects of mine do you enjoy? Or don't you like at all?

You see...I don't know! I'm writing away totally absolutely utterly in the dark here!

My dream

I used to dream about publishing a magazine. But a lack of funds has stopped me so far. And being careful; taking out a loan is simply not my thing. 

This blog is the nearest I've come to fulfilling this dream. Sure, I've published books, but this is different. I try to come up with subjects which I hope you will enjoy reading about. And they are, as you have found out, rather eclectic. 

I look at those stats, and think about how many of you have read about my tomcat, and let myself be inspired by this. So there will be more posts about my pets. And about my photographer son. And about Sarah McQuaid :-) - my best read post yet (if you don't count the opening one about when I started out on this adventure).

But: you CAN have some influence, if you like. There is a 'comment' gadget beneath the blog. And a 'follow' gadget on the right hand side. So....want another cat or dog adventure? Let me know!