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Nighttime on Still Waters

@noswpod.bsky.social

2K followers 2.1K following 900 posts

Hello, I am Richard. I live on the narrowboat Erica, seeking to create something beautiful in a conflicted & fragmented world. Advocate of hedge-wisdom. #naturewriting #canals #wonder #podcast #rain #night #rooks #myth #stormydays https://www.noswpod.com/

www.noswpod.com

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · Nov 16

‪Welcome! I am Richard and I live aboard the narrowboat 'Erica' where I host a canal-based podcast that celebrates nature, life in a complicated world, the elements, and the night-time.
Trying to create a small place of beauty and peace in a complicated world.
www.noswpod.com

Nighttime on Still Waters

This is the Narrowboat 'Erica' narrowcasting into the night from somewhere on Britain's canals and waterways. A podcast that gently explores life afloat (and on la…

www.noswpod.com

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 13h

Oh wow! So beautiful! ❤️❤️

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 22h

Canal-side plants

Mallow (pink)

Amid the smouldering
Autumnal blaze
Pink mallow peeps out
And seems to say
"There are still days enough
For me to add
Spring and summer flame
To the towpath's fire of praise."

"And the bush was not consumed by the fire."

#nature #poetry #ukcanals #plants

The cerise pink blush of mallow's trumpet flowers peeping through a tangle of grasses just below bridge 65.

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 1d

He's died? That's terrible news. First Jane Goodall and now Manchán. Just when the world is in such desperate need for voices like theirs.

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 4d

'Grace in decay', 'beauty in things letting go', and the 'something' that pulls at the soul and that loosens the leaves - so much to love and to be nourished by here. Thank you

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 4d

I love that you have a heron at your university, and am a little jealous! 😄 However, we do have a boisterous family of ducks at ours, which keep students and staff entertained!!

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 4d

"Amid a thousand clouds and streams
There's an idle person somewhere
Roaming the hills during the day
Sleeping below cliffs at night
Suddenly passing springs and autumns
At peace no earthly burdens
Happy clinging to nothing
Still like a river in fall."

Cold Mountain (Han shan)

#poetry #zen

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 4d

As morning dawned,
I stood beneath the silver birch
And looked up into the its canopy
And said
"My soul is dry
And there is nothing left."
The silver birch
Looked down
And said
"Do not worry
Today, I have enough
Soul for two.
Today, let me be your soul."

#poetry #nature

Morning light shivers through the shimmer of silver birch leaves that blend from deep forest green to light lemon yellows.

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 4d

Good morning 🙂

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 4d

Ah! Laine, this is perfect!

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 5d

These are such gorgeous photographs!

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 5d

This is superb

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 6d

The waxing moon is nearly at its full, so a great time to enjoy a mug of warming Waxing Moon tea. Lovely chatting to its creator @maid_miri at the #BanburyCanalFestival today. So pleased it could go ahead despite the closures and stoppages.
The next podcast episode will be next weekend.
#ukcanals

White mug with infuser/strainer standing on the counter next to a sachet titled Rootlet Rituals. The boat cabin smells warm with ginger and herbs.

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 6d

I love this. Your words mirror my experience with such an astute delicacy. It's wonderful, thank you

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 6d

Coming upon 2 swans
Midway through their morning ablutions.
The cob glides over to me,
On edge, half-busk stance.
What a shame to break
Such a precious moment.

Turning my back, I walk away
And revel in the soft
Reassuring snorts
Of their contact calls.
Their world, once more restored.

#nature

Two swans mirrored in the ripples of morning water. Autumn colours shimmer at the sides. The swan closest now has his back to us and has adopted a semi busk stance (defence/aggression). I have moved away and he seems to be signalling the threat is going. His mate, also now mirroring his stance, swims over. They will briefly rub their faces and necks together while emitting soft shortlist and chucking sounds. As we move further away, the wings drop into relaxed position. The male scratches his head, they swim together back into centre stream.

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 7d

Judging from the title, definitely professional development, but she was also clearly really enjoying it!! 😆

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 7d

Aw!! Utterly beautiful!!

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 7d

That's great! I've not come across this before.

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 7d

Sitting at my table
For our university Open Day.
I look across at the librarian
Sitting behind the service counter
Deeply absorbed in a book.
Relaxed and content
In the world between its covers.

Filled with such inexplicable joy
At seeing someone
In love with their job.

#universitylibrarian

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 8d

I hope the clouds soon clear for you and allow your joy to return. Take care.

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 9d

Love this insight...

Nereide @drnereide.bsky.social · 10d

🧵
Question: "If chimps are so much like us, why are they endangered while humans dominate the globe?"

Goodall: "Well, in some ways we're not successful at all. We're destroying our home. That's not a bit successful."

— #JaneGoodall, 3 Apr. 1934 - 1 Oct. 2025

#ForeverInspiring #LegacyOfHope 🧪

The photo features Jane Goodall and infant chimpanzee Flint reach out to touch each other's hands. Flint was the first infant born at Gombe (Tanzania) after Jane arrived. With him, she had a great opportunity to study chimp development.

Photo source: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/jane-goodall/

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 9d

Saddened to hear of the death of Jane Goodall.
Thank you, Jane, for your courage, resilience, compassion, and wisdom.
We have desperately needed your voice & it will be missed. However, your inspiration ensures that many will continue your path. Your work is done. Rest well. Thank you.

#janegoodall

Image of Jane Goodall's book 'In the Shadow of Man'. I first read it in my early teens. It left an indelible mark on me. Only now am I beginning to see how courageous and radical it was. Jane has been a constant inspiration for wisdom and action to me ever since.

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 11d

Two or three
Worlds away
The day dawns
With the wheel of gull
And municipal noise.
But now I know
That somewhere
This day is invested
With a special significance
And that has made
All the difference.

Have a special day Kris.

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 13d

Oh, please let that be true!!

Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 13d

Beneath the hawthorn
A chaffinch has left
An empty space
Where once his song
Danced in the unfinished light.

#naturewriting #naturepoetry #birds

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Nighttime on Still Waters @noswpod.bsky.social · 13d

Aw, thank you so much, Jen!