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Travel back in time to the scorching summer of 1959. Although the canals were still mainly used by working boats, leisure cruising was growing in popularity and so too the idea of living on a canal boat. Tonight, I take us back to that world as I read Mum’s reminiscences of the decision to live on a boat with a young baby, eventually finding their future home, the Kathy, and their nail-biting journey taking her to their home mooring. Some of which could sound all too familiar to modern canal users!     

Journal entry:

 5th June, Monday

“Hawthorn petals turn pink and brown
 Little tidal laps of autumn
 In the great surge of spring.

A chiffchaff scissors the morning
 Neatly into squares.”

Episode Information:

In this episode I an extract from Mum’s book Life and Erica (unpublished) that describes the time when she (with Dad and Wendy) decided to live on a boat and having found the Kathy she relates the adventurous journey to her mooring at Hampton Hall Farm, Rickmansworth.     

With special thanks to our lock-wheelersfor supporting this podcast.

Laurie and Liz
 Phil Pickin
 Orange Cookie
 Donna Kelly
 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

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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.