Diary Of A Busker Day 2568 Tuesday June 24th 2025 Winchester.
I haven’t been to The Buttercross for four days so it’s about time I made a triumphant return. Don Lavelle’s also there, his easel propped up at the end of The Pentice, the artist on the bench opposite on a break, chatting to another man. He says no one’s been there (playing) all day so I reckon it’s time for some noise. Even before I’ve started, a man comes up to request Led Zeppelin. I say I haven’t played The Rain Song in ages but give him the opening of Stairway To Heaven, which doesn’t seem to impress him, so what about the Black Dog and Whole Lotta Love riffs? Well, he seems a bit more pacified by them and sits down on the bench opposite and listens to a few songs. He then gets up, comes over to me, says he’s off and asks what I’m going to play next.
‘I don’t know…what about…’ and I start Wouldn’t It Be Nice. ‘Brian Wilson, RIP’ he says and puts his hand to his heart then goes to the bench, sits down again and starts talking to the couple who have just sat down there. He gesticulates and points to me. I don’t know what he’s saying but I’m assuming it’s good stuff about Brian and hopefully my rendition. I follow Wouldn’t It Be Nice with California Girls then some other songs then he’s off.
The wife comes over with a fiver and requests Hey Jude and I have to say ‘I don’t know…well, I know the song and in fact my son’s name is Jude but sorry, I don’t know a fingerstyle arrangement but maybe I should learn one…how about Here There And Everywhere?’ That’s fine and she returns to her husband. After a bit they get up and walk over to Don and chat, then Don gives the husband his paint brush and he (the husband) stands in front of the painting, posing as if HE’S the artist! The wife comes over to me and says ‘My husband is also an artist!’ I can’t work out her accent but they are obviously visitors to Winchester. Nice people…and it’s even nicer to be appreciated in monetary terms!
The man who likes my Yellow Bird rendition comes up and asks for it and this gives me “the fear” because I haven’t done that one in ages but I attempt it because he’s also given me a fiver! I mess up the second bit but manage to remember it when it comes around again, thank fuck.
A couple of years ago, maybe more, there was a man who gave me a load of grief – ‘Why don’t you learn something new, you’re always playing the same Beatles, Beach Boys…’ In fact, the Chronicle published a letter I wrote about him and I even showed it to him when I saw him soon after, and he said ‘You’re quite arrogant, aren’t you?’ Andrew Napier – the Chronicle’s chief reporter then said that if I could get a photo of him, the paper would publish it; name and shame!
Well, this arsehole walked by today and at first I didn’t recognise him because he was without his cycle helmet and bike. But it was definitely him. He has an oversized head and an unfortunate resemblance to Jeremy Clarkson, but uglier if that’s possible. Anyway, he walks by and gives me the dirtiest look, like he wanted to kill me. I had no time to get my phone sorted out so I could take a photo. I watched him go into The Pentice and he then stopped and threw his arms up, I’m presuming in despair at hearing me play yet another Beatles rendition…although I was actually playing something much more recent which he couldn’t have heard before. What is it with some people? What’s his fucking problem? I need to get a photo!