Jaap Rameijer's Blog

50 years ago I finished my gymnasium in Utrecht and went to the Navy. In September 1964 I was installed at the Royal Navy Academy (KIM) in Den Helder as a naval cadet (Adelborst).

In 1967 I was sworn in as a weapons engineering officer. I served as an officer for 15 years. It was a wonderful time. I went to many places all over the world, including Odessa in then the Soviet Union, Constanta in Romania and the Caribbean. I had many interesting jobs. My last job was staff officer at the Naval Command Centre in Den Helder. I left the navy as lieutenant commander

Now, 50 years later a new group of young people were installed as naval cadet, both men and women. Yes times have changed. But traditions do not change. Every year the people who were installed 50 years ago, are invited to attend the installation of a new generation of naval cadets.

It has been a busy time, a hectic time. Full of changes, full of extremes, full of up’s and down’s. In our mind, in our attitude, in the energy around us, even in the weather. We all know that things are changing and changing fast. But we don’t know yet where we are going. And where we will end up. What our destination will be.

So we wait and wonder. We hope and trust. And we do what we have to do.

For me it was mostly guiding. Guiding many people in the area. A big party of Stavoor. But mostly small parties. One person, two persons, three persons, no more. And attending some music festivals, several vide greniers and visiting the market in Esperaza. And of course finishing my last two books.

Guiding is wonderful work. You can tell quite a lot of stories, people can visit many places, we talk a lot and we have fun.

Terrible things are happening in the world. Terrible, terrible things. I know that things like that have happened before. In Cambodia and in Africa with the Huti’s and the Tutsi’s and in many other places. But now we have the Internet and now we have the wartime reporters and now we have satellites and unmanned vehicles. And we see it all happening, right before our eyes. It is horrible. As if the worst fears come true. And we are not only watching it, as we did before, we also feel it. In our bones, in our blood, in out heart.

It is as if things have to get worse before getting better. For they have to get better. They must. The Earth is cleaning itself. People are changing. But the resistance to all these changes is fierce. However let’s try to be positive. Let’s try and see the changes as necessary. As changes that the Earth and we too have to undergo before things get better.

Please be advised that I understand my email account has been hacked and spammers are sending emails on my behalf. Please do not open and if you do pay no attention to this ridicilous request. I did respond to a request that threatened to de-activate my account, despite warnings I did any how, so people make sure you always check the links associated with such communications, never open attachments from parties you do not know and lots of other things we need to do in this day and age. The spam email says:

  " I really hope you get this fast. I could not inform anyone about our trip, because it was impromptu. we  had to be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a program. The program was successful, but our journey has turned sour. we  misplaced our wallet and cell phone on our way back to the hotel we lodge in after we went for sight  seeing. The wallet contained all the valuables we had.

I am sorry if i am inconveniencing you, but i have only very few people to run to now. i will be indeed  very grateful if i can get a loan of €2,250 EUR. or whatever you can afford to spare me from you. this  will enable me sort our hotel bills and get my sorry self back home. I will really appreciate whatever  you can afford in assisting me with. I promise to refund it in full as soon as I return. let me know if  you can be of any assistance. Please, let me know soonest.

Thanks so much

Jaap"

So sorry for the inconvenience.

With love

Jaap Rameijer.

It is incredible. The things that have happened in the past two months. Looking back at all the pictures I took, I now realise how many people we have met and how many places we have visited. And I am amazed and tired as well.

These are curious times. I feel that we just had to meet many of the people that came to our place. And that we had to guide them to these special places. And to talk to them. I also feel that things are changing now. I know this is what I say every time, but it is true. The tides are turning.

So much is happening. The world is in turmoil. It is terrible what is happening. Things are so bad that they hardly can get worse. Or are we finally plunging in a world-wide crisis? Something good must come off it, it must, that’s what I feel, it must, eventually. That’s what I feel and that’s what I hope.