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Martin Kielty

@theboozercruiser.bsky.social

68 followers 43 following 50 posts

Prog poetry, music journalism, occasional TV and radio commentator. Total of 18 books, 3 in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Permanent Collection. Scotsman living on the canals of England and Wales on a violet narrowboat. www.theboozercruiser.com

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · 4d

For as long as I live, breathe and write, I’ll forever demand of myself: “Why did you create the phrase ‘With cackled caws a clack of claws carve up the carrion soul’? You’re gonna have to PERFORM that!”

[Also, 148,000 views. Thank you for watching!]

#halloween #edgarallanpoe #classichorror

The Scavengers Grow Brave | Demon Ravens | #halloween #edgarallanpoe #classichorror

YouTube video by The Boozer Cruiser

www.youtube.com

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Jun 10

A family outing passing my boat this morning… #narrowboatlife #canal #lancastercanal #narrowboat #wildlife

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Jun 9

Up like the larch to find a wee middle-of-nowhere spot to hide for a day or two. It's grand to feel like there's no one else in the whole world. Until the loneliness kicks in and you'd happily spend an hour with the pub bore! It's all a question of balance…
#canallife #narrowboat #lancastercanal

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Jun 8

A lovely 45-minute or so cruise from Bolton-le-Sands to Carnforth, with a minor issue when a tree pushes the camera over c16s, and my "friend" tries to "help" me moor outside the Canal Turn pub…
#canal #narrowboat #lancastercanal

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · May 18

Actually not that far from the madding crowd – but it feels like it! #lancastercanal #narrowboat #canallife

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · May 4

At very very very very long last there is a new poem on the way… #poetry #history #wales

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · May 2

Today's cruise at 100x speed – real time was 1hr 34m. Distance about four miles from Ratcliffe Bridge wilderness to Galgate, slowing down to pass moored boats and when ducks or swans on patrol signalled eggs or hatchlings nearby. A grand day for it!
#lancastercanal #Narrowboat #canallife #wildlife

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Mar 16

Really enjoyed a few late winter walks along the towpath while I've been moored just outside Lancaster.

#narrowboat #lancastercanal #canalboat #moonlight #coldnight

Late winter evening on the Lancaster Canal, showing a golden sunset behind a row of leaveless trees

Moonlight through clouds above silhouettes of 19th century homes near the Lancaster Canal

Streetlights and the Lancaster Canal while the Moon shines through cloud cover

House lights below the Moon shining through clouds on the Lancaster Canal

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Mar 11

Someone’s left the cell open! But it’s okay… they’re asleep.

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 21

I’m wondering what the all I’ve been
And who I want to be
And while I learn to understand
I’m drinking in the pub behind the tree
#canalpub #canal #narrowboat #pub

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 18

Between Galgate and Garstang on the Lancaster (and finally escaping in May!)

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 18

It was deliberate – I know what I'm like and I didn't want the distraction of a pub until I was committed to the writing project. I didn't expect to get so committed that I've spent a week without being in a pub. But if I move 16mins down the cut tomorrow that pub's in easy distance!

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 18

Can you make out a couple of lights under the left-hanging branches of the tree? That's the pub. It's 600m across the fields but there's no public footpath so it's 2.2km away. I'm told it's not a great pub. It's cold. The cabin is 24º and I have Guinness. Quandaries of boat life.

#canal #narrowboat

Evening bue-hour view across rural fields from a canal towpath, with some sheep in the foreground, a tree in the middle distance and the faint lights of a pub in the background, under a dramatic windblown sky.

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 14

Challenging barriers in the way and a hill to climb, but there's a way through to the bright world beyond… Today's view from my boat is remarkably representative of the month I'm having. It's getting better!
#canal #spring #challengeaccepted

View from a rural part of the Lancaster Canal, showing the canal, brush growing on the far side, a smooth field leading up to an open farm gate and a spring blue sky background.

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 11

I often don’t have the words. That may surprise people who know what I do for a living. This beautiful four-year-old boy in the pub tonight didn’t need my words. I didn’t ask him if everything was going to work out. But he told me that’s exactly what’s going to happen. And I completely believe him.

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 7

Fortunately there was no plopping sound… stupid weasel was strolling along the canal side gunwale!

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 7

*For those not in the know, I refuse to describe cats as cats. They’re already so uppity and smug. I prefer to remind them of their status as horrible little rat-weasel creatures.

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 7

The last few mornings I’ve been suspicious that someone was messing about with my boat. You hear stories of chancers who’ll just steal coal, mooring gear, tools – anything not locked down . It’s a weasel innit! Stalking about as if it owns the place, looking at me like, “Get off my boat!”*

Distorted low-light image of a cat looking through a boat window at night

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 3

View from the side hatch, 7.44am today

#canal #narrowboat #lancastercanal #dawn #landscape

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Feb 1

This has to be one of the worst things about living in England… I ordered a haggis rom a supermarket chain, to enjoy a late Burns supper. They didn't have one, so replaced it with a black pudding.

In Scotland, you wouldn't even dare to THINK of that.

#burnsnight #haggis

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Jan 30

It's been a cold but wonderfully bright couple of days on the Lancaster Canal at Galgate. I'll soon be leaving this canal, but there are some aspects I'll miss… #narrowboat #canal #sunset #landscape #lancastercanal

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Reposted by Martin Kielty

Ouiser_B @gingerbabes.bsky.social · Jan 22

This is written by the bishop who stood up to Orange Voldemort. Everyone should be buying this. It's available on Amazon for $14. I'm an atheist and I'm buying it. #booksky

1.4K 5.8K 26K

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Jan 19

The great rock drummer Ted McKenna – one of my closest friends in all the world – moved on six years ago. I keep saying, "If you love someone make sure they know." Tonight even that doesn't feel like enough.

#tedmckenna #sahb #rocknroll #drummer #rip

Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Jan 16

It's just south of Lancaster – it can look beautiful in the summer sun and dismal in the rain. I did like it that creepy way. Haven't seen it in the snow; I'd love that too!

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Martin Kielty @theboozercruiser.bsky.social · Jan 16

I kid you not, I was cruising through effing MORDOR… #canal #narrowboat #fog #mordor

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