The Beekeeper Writer.
Hello. I'm Marc Swift, a British author and beekeeper living in central Portugal. After a career in construction, project management, and business, I chose a different path focused on creativity, nature, and asking awkward questions about reality.
Here you'll find videos about beekeeping, renovation, self build projects, rural life in Portugal, writing, books, and independent thinking.
I'm the author of Don't Panic! You're Just Awake, a cinematic adventure about teenagers who discover reality may be far stranger than it appears, and the creator of the Leila's Light children's book series inspired by bedtime stories for my daughter.
One day I might be rescuing a swarm of bees. The next, restoring an old stone building, writing a novel, or trying to understand why life works the way it does. Occasionally all at the same time.
My goal is simple...
Create with purpose. Think independently. Stay curious. And leave the world a little better than we found it.
Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)` Date: `2026-07-11T19:57:24Z` Route: `/channel/UCEo_ceXTjFoG_9xOKkgfiPA` Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)` <details> <summary>Backtrace</summary> <p> ``` Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError) from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??' from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items' from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by' from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client' from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run' from ??? ``` </p> </details>
Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)` Date: `2026-07-11T19:57:24Z` Route: `/channel/UCEo_ceXTjFoG_9xOKkgfiPA` Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)` <details> <summary>Backtrace</summary> <p> ``` Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError) from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??' from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items' from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by' from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client' from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run' from ??? ``` </p> </details>
Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)` Date: `2026-07-11T19:57:24Z` Route: `/channel/UCEo_ceXTjFoG_9xOKkgfiPA` Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)` <details> <summary>Backtrace</summary> <p> ``` Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError) from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??' from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items' from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by' from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client' from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run' from ??? ``` </p> </details>
Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)` Date: `2026-07-11T19:57:24Z` Route: `/channel/UCEo_ceXTjFoG_9xOKkgfiPA` Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)` <details> <summary>Backtrace</summary> <p> ``` Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError) from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??' from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items' from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by' from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client' from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run' from ??? ``` </p> </details>
Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)` Date: `2026-07-11T19:57:24Z` Route: `/channel/UCEo_ceXTjFoG_9xOKkgfiPA` Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)` <details> <summary>Backtrace</summary> <p> ``` Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError) from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??' from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items' from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by' from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client' from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run' from ??? ``` </p> </details>
Invidious encountered an error while trying to parse this item. For more information see below:
Title: `Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError)` Date: `2026-07-11T19:57:24Z` Route: `/channel/UCEo_ceXTjFoG_9xOKkgfiPA` Version: `2026.02.07-118d635 @ (HEAD detached at v2.20260207.0)` <details> <summary>Backtrace</summary> <p> ``` Missing hash key: "collectionThumbnailViewModel" (KeyError) from /usr/share/crystal/src/hash.cr:1198:9 in '??' from /usr/share/crystal/src/json/any.cr:149:5 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:524:17 in 'process' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1035:17 in 'parse_item' from src/invidious/yt_backend/extractors.cr:1082:14 in 'extract_items' from src/invidious/channels/videos.cr:29:22 in 'get_60_videos:continuation:sort_by' from src/invidious/routes/channels.cr:56:36 in 'videos' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/route.cr:13:9 in '->' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:31:37 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from lib/kemal/src/kemal/filter_handler.cr:22:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/invidious/helpers/handlers.cr:80:12 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call_next' from src/ext/kemal_static_file_handler.cr:127:14 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/handler.cr:30:7 in 'call' from /usr/share/crystal/src/http/server/request_processor.cr:51:11 in 'handle_client' from /usr/share/crystal/src/fiber.cr:170:11 in 'run' from ??? ``` </p> </details>