Greet the New Year
01/01/21 • 14 min
For most people, 2020 has been a stressful year of frustration, disappointment, fear and anxiety. It is not surprising that we look forward to welcoming in 2021. Join me on Narrowboat 506812 as we reflect on the significance of new beginnings (no matter how arbitrary), and the importance of having opportunities to re-evaluate and reset our lives.
Journal entry:
“New Year’s Eve, 31st December Thursday.
Another frosty and icy start. This morning, in the dark as I got off the boat, I heard the ice sing.
The dawn is softened and blurred by fog. Smudged and half-formed, it feels as if I am walking through a drawing that someone has tried to rub out with an eraser.
The cronking call of two distant ravens snuggle into the muffled sky.”
Episode Information
May your coming year be filled with summer light and puddles to jump. The warm hum of bees and the sting of frost. Of courage and companionship. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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 interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site.
Contact Information
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
I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected]
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
- Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noswpod.bsky.social
- Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw
I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message by clicking on the microphone icon.
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.
For most people, 2020 has been a stressful year of frustration, disappointment, fear and anxiety. It is not surprising that we look forward to welcoming in 2021. Join me on Narrowboat 506812 as we reflect on the significance of new beginnings (no matter how arbitrary), and the importance of having opportunities to re-evaluate and reset our lives.
Journal entry:
“New Year’s Eve, 31st December Thursday.
Another frosty and icy start. This morning, in the dark as I got off the boat, I heard the ice sing.
The dawn is softened and blurred by fog. Smudged and half-formed, it feels as if I am walking through a drawing that someone has tried to rub out with an eraser.
The cronking call of two distant ravens snuggle into the muffled sky.”
Episode Information
May your coming year be filled with summer light and puddles to jump. The warm hum of bees and the sting of frost. Of courage and companionship. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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 interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site.
Contact Information
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
I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected]
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
- Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noswpod.bsky.social
- Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw
I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message by clicking on the microphone icon.
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.
Previous Episode
Christmas Eve
A chance to say to you Merry Christmas.
This episode celebrates a Christmas Eve that is different and yet, in a number of important ways very similar to those our ancestors experienced.
Journal entry:
“Christmas Eve 24th December, Thursday.
Last night’s storms have swept the sky clear. The on-coming tide of sunlight washes the eastern horizon the colour of blood oranges.
This morning was the first morning this winter I have really needed gloves. The boat is a haven of warmth when we return.
A mug of tea waits, steaming, on the side as I watch a cormorant spread its wings in the sun.”
Episode Information
In this episode I read an extract from the early 17th century English printed volume by Nicholas Breton of the 15th century The Kalendar of Shepherds: Being devices for the twelve months.
You can read a digitised reproduction of this book, with its wonderful woodcut engravings, in the Welcome Library: The Kalendar of Shepherds: Being devices for the twelve months.
I also read a short extract from John Clare’s (1793-1864) poem December. It is part of his epic poem The Shepherd's Calendar.
.
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.
With special thanks to Father Christmas for the sleigh bells!
Piano interludes composed and performed by Helen Ingram.
All other audio recorded on site.
Contact
For pictures of Erica and images related to the podcasts follow me on:
- Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswp
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
- Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noswpod.bsky.social
- Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw
I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message by clicking on the microphone icon.
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.
Next Episode
Keeping Warm
What is it like to be on a narrowboat in the grip of a winter’s cold spell? How do you keep warm on a boat?
Living and working on the canal systems in winter has been notoriously difficult and hard. In this episode we reflect on what it entails to live on the canals in winter today. We also hear a piece of Victorian reportage by a journalist travelling on the Grand Union Junction flyboat, Stourport, in the late 1850s. We also find out why liveaboard boaters could be viewed as ‘floating hobbits.’
Journal entry:
“3rd January Sunday.
I went out into the soundless sphere of night as the New Year was dawning and said “This is me and I am here. You seem so big and dark and unknown.”
But I have known your brothers and sisters and have learnt to revel in the days of their sunshine and find their special beauties under skies of steel and water.
Today is filled with clinging fog that chills the marrow and makes the bones ache, but your suns will soon come, and larks will sweep the skies again.
Welcome.”
Episode Information
In the welcome section I mention the work of Andrew Plummer and his magnificent photographs. His Instagram page is: https://www.instagram.com/andrewpphotos/
I also refer to the work of Dru Marland and read out a section from one of her posts from her Facebook page. You can view her exquisite artwork, featuring wildlife and canals, on her Etsy page: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DruMarland
In this episode I read an extract from journalist and impresario John Hollingshead’s (1858) illuminating account of his journey from London to Birmingham in a Grand Union Junction flyboat, Stourport. You can read a digital copy of this in his Odd Journeys In and Out of London. The article is titled ‘On the Canal’.
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
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
- Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/noswpod
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimeonstillwaters/
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noswpod.bsky.social
- Mastodon: https://mastodon.world/@nosw
I would love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] or drop me a line by going to the nowspod website and using either the contact form or, if you prefer, record your message by clicking on the microphone icon.
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.
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