Nighttime on Still Waters Richard Goode

After a blustery week of wild, mad, March weather, why not join us tonight as we enjoy a sunny moment beside the canal and contemplate on the powerful word-play of some very old Celtic bards. 
Journal entry:
 17th March, Friday
“The sun is warm
 To the west the clouds are Prussian blue
 Like mountains of the imagination.
 A woodpecker laughs
 From somewhere across the fields
 Which fill with lambs
 And the sound of young
 Calling to old.
 A branch hangs whose scars are unhidden.”
Episode Information:
In this episode I read extracts from the following poems:
Amergin Glúingel: ‘The song of Armergin’
Taliesin: ‘An Unwelcome crowd.’
In also briefly refer to the following:
Miles Hadfield’s (1950) An English Almanac published by JM Dent and Sons.
Alexandra Harris’ (2015) Weatherland published by Thames and Hudson. 
Hana Videen’s (2022)  The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English published by Princeton University Press.  
With special thanks to our lock-wheelersfor supporting this podcast.
Mary Keane.
 Arabella Holzapfel.
 Rory and MJ.
 Narrowboat Precious Jet.
Linda Reynolds Burkins.
Richard Noble.
Carol Ferguson.
Tracie Thomas
Mike and Tricia Stowe
Madeleine Smith
General Details
In the intro and the outro, Saint-Saen's The Swan is performed by Karr and Bernstein (1961) and available on CC at archive.org.

Two-stroke narrowboat engine recorded by 'James2nd' on the River Weaver, Cheshire. Uploaded to Freesound.org on 23rd June 2018. Creative Commons Licence. 
Piano and keyboard interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site. 
For more information about Nighttime on Still Waters
You can find more information and photographs about the podcasts and life aboard the Erica on our website at noswpod.com. It will also allow you to become more a part of the podcast and you can leave comments, offer suggestions, and reviews. You can even, if you want, leave me a voice mail by clicking on the microphone icon. 
Become a 'Lock-Wheeler'
Would you like to support this podcast by becoming a 'lock-wheeler' for Nighttime on Still Waters? Find out more: 'Lock-wheeling' for Nighttime on Still Waters.

Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw I would love to hear from you. You can email me at nighttimeonstillwaters@gmail.com or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message using the voicemail facility by clicking on the microphone icon.

Curl up with us tonight as we enjoy the warmth of a cosy cabin as snow gives way to sweeping rain and our stove glows brightly in the gathering darkness.
Journal entry:
10th March, Friday
“The convocation of oaks rises to my view
 From a swirling mist of snow and blown spindrift.
 Their trunks wrapped white.
 Icicles hang from their branches.
I want to say,
 “Don’t worry,
 Spring is on its way.”
But they know that.
 They have known that before I was born
 They have known that for centuries.
 What can you tell trees that they don’t know?”
Episode Information:
In this episode I briefly refer to the following:
 Christiane Ritter’s A Woman in the Polar Night originally published in 1938 and republished by Pushkin Press in 2019. 
Tom Hennen’s Darkness Sticks to Everything published in 2013 by Copper Canyon Press. 
With special thanks to our lock-wheelersfor supporting this podcast.
Mary Keane.Arabella Holzapfel.Rory and MJ.Narrowboat Precious Jet.Linda Reynolds Burkins.Richard Noble.Carol Ferguson.General Details
In the intro and the outro, Saint-Saen's The Swan is performed by Karr and Bernstein (1961) and available on CC at archive.org.

Two-stroke narrowboat engine recorded by 'James2nd' on the River Weaver, Cheshire. Uploaded to Freesound.org on 23rd June 2018. Creative Commons Licence. 
Piano and keyboard interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site. 
For more information about Nighttime on Still Waters
You can find more information and photographs about the podcasts and life aboard the Erica on our website at noswpod.com. It will also allow you to become more a part of the podcast and you can leave comments, offer suggestions, and reviews. You can even, if you want, leave me a voice mail by clicking on the microphone icon. 
Become a 'Lock-Wheeler'
Would you like to support this podcast by becoming a 'lock-wheeler' for Nighttime on Still Waters? Find out more: 'Lock-wheeling' for Nighttime on Still Waters.

Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw I would love to hear from you. You can email me at nighttimeonstillwaters@gmail.com or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message using the voicemail facility by clicking on the microphone icon.

This episode is dedicated to my pair of walking boots who has shared life with me for nearly 45 years (and both of us are still going strong). We have walked miles together. Where have they taken me and to what (and to whom) will they take me in the future? 

Journal entry:
24th February, Friday
“The jackdaws' chant hangs
 Among the eaves of the ancient wood.
 Aconite, anemones, and ransoms,
 Green spears among rich leaf mould.
A church on a hill
 Swims among deep drifts
 Of snowdrops
 A sky lark sings in mizzly rain.”
Episode Information:
There are some old photographs featuring my ‘lumberjack’ shirt and desert boots, as well as some early backpacking pictures on the NoSWPod page for this episode.   
With special thanks to our lock-wheelersfor supporting this podcast.
 Mary Keane, Arabella Holzapfel,Rory and MJ,Narrowboat Precious Jet.General Details
In the intro and the outro, Saint-Saen's The Swan is performed by Karr and Bernstein (1961) and available on CC at archive.org.

Two-stroke narrowboat engine recorded by 'James2nd' on the River Weaver, Cheshire. Uploaded to Freesound.org on 23rd June 2018. Creative Commons Licence. 
Piano and keyboard interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site. 
For more information about Nighttime on Still Waters
You can find more information and photographs about the podcasts and life aboard the Erica on our website at noswpod.com. It will also allow you to become more a part of the podcast and you can leave comments, offer suggestions, and reviews. You can even, if you want, leave me a voice mail by clicking on the microphone icon.
Become a 'Lock-Wheeler'
Would you like to support this podcast by becoming a 'lock-wheeler' for Nighttime on Still Waters? Find out more: 'Lock-wheeling' for Nighttime on Still Waters.

Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw I would love to hear from you. You can email me at nighttimeonstillwaters@gmail.com or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message using the voicemail facility by clicking on the microphone icon.

Blustery late winter nights are perfect for retelling old stories. Tonight we listen again with new ears to the ancient story told in the 'hymn of the pearl' and explore how old myths and folktales can weave such powerful tales if we just allow them tell their own stories.  
Journal entry:
15th February, Wednesday
“An old moon leans back against the dawn.
 Gulls scythe and cry
 Between street lamps and traffic noise.
Chaos above and chaos below.
 But between the concrete
 There is green.”
Episode Information:
In this episode I retell the story of the quest for the pearl which is based on the ancient Syrian (possibly Indian) song, ‘The Hymn of the Pearl’.
You can find the text in English here: The Hymn of the Pearl.
The song is part of a much longer late second/early third century gnostic text, the ‘Acts of Thomas’. You can read the full text here translated into English from the Syriac: The Acts of Thomas. 
With special thanks to our lock-wheelers:
Mary, Arabella, and Stephen.
For more information about Nighttime on Still Waters
You can find more information and photographs about the podcasts and life aboard the Erica on our website at noswpod.com. It will also allow you to become more a part of the podcast and you can leave comments, offer suggestions, and reviews. You can even, if you want, leave me a voice mail by clicking on the microphone icon. 
General Details
In the intro and the outro, Saint-Saen's The Swan is performed by Karr and Bernstein (1961) and available on CC at archive.org.

Two-stroke narrowboat engine recorded by 'James2nd' on the River Weaver, Cheshire. Uploaded to Freesound.org on 23rd June 2018. Creative Commons Licence. 
Piano and keyboard interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site. 
Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod
Become a 'Lock-Wheeler'
Would you like to support this podcast by becoming a 'lock-wheeler' for Nighttime on Still Waters? Find out more: 'Lock-wheeling' for Nighttime on Still Waters.

Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw I would love to hear from you. You can email me at nighttimeonstillwaters@gmail.com or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message using the voicemail facility by clicking on the microphone icon.

Any boater who is faced with the prospect of numerous locks ahead will know how wonderful it is to find someone who is prepared to take on ‘lock-wheeling’ duties. This episode takes some time out to reflect on the podcast as well as explore the many listeners who have become tireless lock-wheelers for it. 
Journal entry:
 10th February, Friday
“Ice skates lines across the water.
 A thin brittle veneer that cannot hold
 The oak’s reflection.
The morning sun sets fire to the reeds.
 I am dazzled by their flame.
 My own, canal-side, burning bush,
 Sans angel.”
Episode Information:
If you want to become a lock-wheeler for Nighttime on Still Waters or would like to know more about it, you can find more information here: ‘Lock-wheeling’ for Nighttime on Still Waters. 
In this episode I refer to the work of Tim Dee. He discusses ‘Adam’s curse’ in his book The Running Sky published in 2009 by Penguin Books.
For more information about Nighttime on Still Waters
You can find more information and photographs about the podcasts and life aboard the Erica on our website at noswpod.com. It will also allow you to become more a part of the podcast and you can leave comments, offer suggestions, and reviews. You can even, if you want, leave me a voice mail by clicking on the microphone icon. 
General Details
In the intro and the outro, Saint-Saen's The Swan is performed by Karr and Bernstein (1961) and available on CC at archive.org.

Two-stroke narrowboat engine recorded by 'James2nd' on the River Weaver, Cheshire. Uploaded to Freesound.org on 23rd June 2018. Creative Commons Licence. 
Piano and keyboard interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site. 
Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod·       Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw  
I would love to hear from you. You can
Become a 'Lock-Wheeler'
Would you like to support this podcast by becoming a 'lock-wheeler' for Nighttime on Still Waters? Find out more: 'Lock-wheeling' for Nighttime on Still Waters.

Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw I would love to hear from you. You can email me at nighttimeonstillwaters@gmail.com or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message using the voicemail facility by clicking on the microphone icon.

All along the canal side, the wintery tees and hedgerows are filling with spring song and life. Subtle shifts and changes, the play of light through the trees, the shimmering reflection of an old oak, auger new seasons awaiting us. It might still be winter and cold weather is on the way, but why not join me tonight in a ‘secret’ spot, canal-side, where we can listen together to February dawning? 
Journal entry:
 1st February, Wednesday.
"The conclave of oaks at the top of the hill
 Bask in this golden morning.
 Their tiny buds touching the sunlight
 Alive with the chilling south-westerly wind.
The hill rolls down towards
 The owl-chapeled oak
 Who stretches tall shadow shapes
 On a velvet gown of grass."
Episode Information:
In this episode I read Philip Larkin’s ‘Coming’ from his collection The Less Deceived (1955).
The recording used for ‘February Dawning’ was taken in the early morning near ‘Mile 19’ on the Stratford upon Avon Canal on 4th February 2023 using an Edirol R-09HR sound recorder.  
For more information about Nighttime on Still Waters
You can find more information and photographs about the podcasts and life aboard the Erica on our website at noswpod.com. It will also allow you to become more a part of the podcast and you can leave comments, offer suggestions, and reviews. You can even, if you want, leave me a voice mail by clicking on the microphone icon. 
General Details
In the intro and the outro, Saint-Saen's The Swan is performed by Karr and Bernstein (1961) and available on CC at archive.org.

Two-stroke narrowboat engine recorded by 'James2nd' on the River Weaver, Cheshire. Uploaded to Freesound.org on 23rd June 2018. Creative Commons Licence. 
Piano and keyboard interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site. 
Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod·       Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw  
I would love to hear from you. You can
Become a 'Lock-Wheeler'
Would you like to support this podcast by becoming a 'lock-wheeler' for Nighttime on Still Waters? Find out more: 'Lock-wheeling' for Nighttime on Still Waters.

Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts or to contact me, follow me on:
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoswPod Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw I would love to hear from you. You can email me at nighttimeonstillwaters@gmail.com or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message using the voicemail facility by clicking on the microphone icon.