Albert Niland, Where Are You? We Need Your Music in Hellevoetsluis!

Five or so years ago I took my son to the local theatre for its annual 'Celtic Night'. It turned out to be one of those historic evenings that only come once in a while.
We squeezed into the smallest concert hall (more a cramped room than anything else) and were blown away by the music of an Irishman called Albert Niland.
Kings of Kilburn High Road

He played like a demon. Not only did he play 3 musical lines and used a foot drum at the same time, but he sang with an intensity that had us on the edge of our seats for an hour.
 Now, you should know that I am no stranger to Kilburn High Road (London) as I worked a flower stall on Cricklewood Broadway, and I know what types walk those pavements. I have met those Kings in the flesh. I've been to their grotty bedsits and I have shared their pints and the occasional whiskey. I still cannot hear this song without tears coming to my eyes.
Anyway.

Here's another little gem.

Sign of the Times (Prince cover)

Albert Niland does visit The Netherlands from time to time. He's returned to Hellevoetsluis three years ago, being the main act that time, and selling out the largest concert hall. And not so long ago he played De Steeg in The Hague. In fact, he tours the Continent all the time, being more a touring proper musician than an artist who shows his face in the media for other reasons.

He's quite elusive. He does have a website, but is not into the 'Hey Folks Look I'm a Star' thing.
Born in Mountbellew, Co. Galway, Ireland, he released his first album 'Dirty Day' as long ago as 2003. It was followed up by 'A Night in Dublin' in 2006, 'Paradiso', recorded at...yep, Paradiso Amsterdam, in 2008, 'The Hungry Ghost' in 2009, and a nameless double album in 2011.
Albert Niland's website
Albert on Facebook (if you ask me, this hasn't been updated for years)

He is a fenomenal guitar player! The few sources that name him all mention that he was the guitar player for one of the 'Riverdance' tours, but that sells him short. This man is more than just a guitar player, he embodies music.

And to me (but hey, this is MY blog) his brilliance comes across far better live than on vinyl or on whatever stuff they use to make a CD.

So this means that you will have to make it to one of his concerts. When you do, spare me a thought, just for a moment, and send me his vibes. You would make my day.

Okay. No Excuses.

Hiya, good evening, my fellow bloggers/accidental readers/FB friends!
You may have noticed that there was a longer-than-usual gap between the last post and this one.
That's because I was busy, too busy, and couldn't find the energy to blog.

Another reason is that I am re-defining my motivations and intentions.
Lately I have been dissatisfied with my own blog. (Oy! How silly can you get, eh?)
It....meanders. It's neither fish nor meat (Dutch expression).
Sure, it served its purpose (for me), and I tend to be an eclectic type anyway.
But. 

So.
Have decided I will continue (and yes, there has been an almighty inner struggle about this), but in a different format.

From now on, Rays of Light will be about the one thing that drives me. That lifts me up, however down I am. That helps me sleep. That is the cherry on the cake of my mundane little life.

From now on, this blog will be about music.

There, I've said it.

Perhaps this makes you want to leave, if you are one of my 12 followers... Or even if you are one of the more than 12,000 people who have clicked on this blog post, for whatever reason.

But I'd like you to stay...

And don't worry, I'll ask Viggo to join us from time to time...

Just so you'll know I'm quite serious, I'll post a link to a musician I have only just found by accident on the Internet. His name is Mike Cavanaugh, and he makes wonderful music. 

Feel

It is only a sample, but the good news is you are able to download his album 'Pretend' from iTunes! Simply go to his website, on http://mikecavanaugh.bandcamp.com , or look him up on Facebook.

So. Do join me on this new adventure?

XXX Renée

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. 

Some Autumn Medicine for all those Rhino Virus Sufferers.

Good evening!
I've been under the weather for the past week, although I have been dragging myself in to work anyway.
Persistant little worker, aren't I?

There is a virus doing the rounds in the Wetlands, called the Rhino virus. Compared to, say, Ebola it is a kitten of a virus. The symptoms are throatache, headache and a temperature. Oh, and you do need a wagon load of tissues...

Nothing very serious, you'll live. But it is a bugger if you cannot afford to take your soothing cup of tea and your good book to your sofabed, but when you have to work on instead.

So, if you are one of those poor people having to work on, feeling grotty, this post is for you. 

I have searched out the most gorgeous Autumn photos I could find at short notice. As I got them from the Internet, there are no credits.  But they are beautiful, those photographers know their trade!

To help you soothe that throat, and to feel better, try my recipe:

- boil some water

- put three large table spoons of organic honey in it

- put 1 table spoon of organic cinnamon in it

- stir well

- light a small candle underneath an aromatherapy burner

- put three drops of pure eucalyptus oil into some water on the burner

- put on the latest CD by Susan McKeown (Through Bushes and Through Briars)

drink your brew whilst sitting already in your bed, listening to Susan's intriguing way of treating traditional Irish songs.

You'll feel better! 

Susan McKeown

Viggo's Philosophy

Hello, Viggo fans all around the world. Hope you have had an amazing day! By popular demand Viggo has dictated his words of wisdom.

Right. Hi. Hello.

My woman has asked me to speak to you directly. Basically because she is too skint to ask some reporter for yet another interview, so this time I am taking the trouble to talk to you cat to man, so to speak.

It being October, and those leaves falling, and humans getting all soppy and melancholy, she asked me to try to get my philosophy across to you.

For I am, according to her, the most laid back cat around. And she has asked me to whisper my secret into her ear.

Here goes.

First of all. It is all in the limbs. You humans are much, much too uptight and stressed and stiff.

Take a good look at a cat. Ever seen a stiff cat? 

Now, okay, right, I don't mean one of those cats which you are trying to get into a cat carrier in order to take it to the vet. Now those cats are stiff as a board, but they are thus for a purpose...Namely to stop you shoving them into that carrier in the first place.

No, I mean a cat in its natural habitat. On the sofa, say, or in a beam of sunlight, or in the tall grass next to a gently running stream, or...

Sorry.

Perhaps I'd better provide you with a visual. You humans seem fond of those.

My point exactly.

You roll on to your back, you stretch, put the paws loosely apart (as wide as you like, we cats know no shame), take a deep breath....and...purr.

See?

I assure you I am as loose as a floppy rug in that photo. 

One caution though: you must stretch again before turning right side up! And for Frith's sake do not attempt to lick yourself between the legs in the first lesson. You would only look very silly and probably have to be carted off to the hospital (and see if you like being put into a carrier - I bet you'd go extremely stiff yourself!)

Yes, I do a bit of teaching, in between my naps and meals.

Have a look at this session with Gina. She's quite a dedicated student!

Okay, once you've mastered the relaxed-back-position, you are ready for a touch of the mind set.

You start by realising you are master of your own universe. To obtain this realisation, I want you to find yourself a quiet corner (a cardboard box will do nicely, or if you don't have one large enough you can always shut yourself into a dark cupboard or hide yourself under a bed) and imagine you are into The Zone. The Zone needs some explaining, I suppose.

The Zone is a state of being which comes natural to cats. All our senses are heightened, our whiskers are quivering like antennae, our ears pick up the tiniest scratch of a mouse's claw or the rattling of the jar where the cat food is kept in, and we see things you humans do not see.

Do NOT believe we see dead people or some such nonsense. We don't. We do see auras though. That's the reason we can stare at a point just south of your head for minutes on end. We don't look at your head per se, we watch the energy field around your head, which tells us what kind of mood you are in.

I've asked one of my pals to demonstrate this for you. This cat is definitely in The Zone.

It takes dedication and practice, but if you apply yourself, you will be able to source The Zone. Eventually. After a lot of hard work. Perhaps.

Anyway. As soon as you have access, you are ready for lesson three.

Assert yourself.

Whatever you do, keep repeating this mantra:

Master, Master, Master, Master.

A good way to put this to the test (are you giving it the right stress?) is to jump onto the head of the person nearest to you and to firmly put your claws into the hair.

When they scream, curse or start crying, you know you have got it just right.

If you do this often enough you will come to believe yourself to be a proper master of the house. People will jump up to open doors for you, imagine that! They will vie for your attention! They will tempt you with treats! You will be able to sleep wherever you want, whenever you want. 

Oh...just one thing. Beware of cat flaps. I have it on good authority that humans are better off using doors.

Next time I'll teach you my hunting techniques, shall I?

Happy October To You!

Okay. Time to own up...
Hey there, you folks in the Ukraine, help me out here!
Illuminate me. WHY is it I have more readers from your country than from my own?
It baffles me!
Not that I am complaining, mind you. Nice to see you, any time.

My taxus tree is in fruit, isn't it gorgeous?

Okay. Time to make myself a cup of tea. I have a nasty cold and am in need of hydration. Have a lovely Sunday and until next time!