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"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

Sunday! How to Keep Oneself Occupied When Feeling Poorly.

Good morning, fellow-world-citizens!
It's Sunday morning over here, and gloriously sunny for a change, and-I-am-in-bed. Potjandosie!

(Potjandosie is a swearword. It's not really rude, a little cutesy, and doesn't offend any religion nor is it a terrible illness- as most Dutch swearwords do/are. So add it to your vocabulary. You never know when it may come in handy. When you do need a Dutch swearword capable of stopping all traffic, drop me a line in the comment box below.)

What better day to play the blues? My fingers are not as sore anymore...but stiff. Fifty-five-and-a-half years of age-stiff. Still, when I looked up Daddystovepipe on YouTube (great guy, he's my new best friend) there was a comment of a 70+ man who was attempting the fingerpicking blues for beginners just like myself. If he can, so can I!

What I'd really would like to do though, is go into the garden. But I ventured out onto my balcony for 3 seconds and quickly went back inside. There's the typical Wetlands freezing wind we always experience in Spring. Besides, those 3 seconds made my legs feel like jelly.

Quickly took a photograph for you though, fast as lightning I am. My heather is looking great (Erica), and so are the pansies and campanula.

And how about my primula? Good eh? And the borago is almost in bloom as well. And I've got hosts of snowdrops and golden daffodils. Spring definitely is here!

Well. Back to Daddystovepipe. Have a wonderful Sunday, you!

Having That Gloomy-End-of-December-Blues?

In my country, the Netherlands, we have an expression to describe the days before Dec. 24th: " the dark days before Christmas " (de donkere dagen voor kerst). If you, like me, suffer from a lack of sunshine, and this makes you feel a bit down, this is a post for you!

Gloom...

Now, if this --> 
is what you like to see, and darkness, gloom, dank, wet, windy, foggy weather is what you get...

you have a problem.
Oh... I don't mind frosty weather, as long as there is a frost, no wind, and sun!
But in my part of the world (my name for my country is The Wetlands, b.t.w.!), the conditions are usually as described above.

The Wetlands near my home town (photo by Wibe Koopman)

Here you go. This is what I experience during Winter...

I am a Summer child!!!

Perhaps it's because I was born during a sweltering August (long, long ago). But I am definitely a Summer person. I adore balmy sunny weather, eating al-fresco, sitting next to my goldfish pond, staying up until midnight under the wooden roof in my garden, watching the night moths on my flowers and smelling the roses. Being able to go outside without bundling up like an Eskimo. Seeing daylight during the day (is that so much to ask?) when going to work, instead of travelling to Rotterdam at 6.40 in the dark and coming back around 18.00 in the dark. I feel like a ruddy mole!

SO: the anti-dote!

I don't know what you do to battle the gloom, but I have a very simple remedy. I evoke Summer.

Instead of this...(photo by Wibe Koopman)

I imagine this! (photo by Wibe Koopman)

And I take a glass of wine, light a rose-scented candle, put on some lovely music, and dream of Summer!