Diary Of A Busker Day 2588 Sunday August 10th 2025 Winchester.
Rockin’ Rob’s at his usual Buttercross spot but my usual spot in The Square is free. It’s another hot day but the spot where I play is always in the shade although, because of the proximity to the foliage in the cathedral grounds, there’s always stuff flying about and landing in the case. Every time I finish, I have to hold it upside down and shake everything out. It’s the occupational hazard of playing here. Another one rears it’s ugly head near the end of the two hour session.
A man comes up who I know I’ve seen before but can’t place him. After he says ‘Hello Marvin’ and I look at him blankly, he says ‘It’s John (more blankness from me)…from Avington, remember?’ Yes, now I do. He was something to do with the family day event gig I did in the grounds of the manor house a few weeks ago. He has the whitest teeth I’ve ever seen. Anyway, he goes on – ‘Yeah, you were great but then I was…well, the beer was free.’
‘Oh right. Don’t you own that place?’ (the way he was talking at the gig, he made out he was loaded, and not just with alcohol).
‘Oh no, the man who owns it – I know him (thought so)…he’s a billionaire (thought so). Anyway, there’s someone nearby who definitely isn’t a friend of yours.’ (there’s actually a few but I can’t be bothered going into all that with him).
‘Really?’
‘Yeah, Richard, the manager of the bar – The Old Vine. He calls you Five Song Marvin.’
‘Oh, does he?’
‘Yeah (he laughs), he says “There’s Albatross, Beatles, Beach Boys…”‘
‘Yeah well, I have to say he’s exaggerated it a bit. I’ve just done almost two hours and haven’t repeated anything. The thing is, I’m not playing for him, am I? I’m playing for all these people sitting outside – the tourists, who don’t know me.’
‘Yeah, I see what you mean…anyway, can I get you a drink?’
‘Um…well OK, cheers. I’ll have a half of Guinness.’
‘A half? Go on, have a pint, go on!’ He’s the sort of person who won’t take no for an answer so I say that’s fine – I’ll have it in a bit, at the end of the session. He disappears into the pub and comes out with the pint in two plastic glasses, one inside the other, puts it on my stool and wanders off towards The Eclipse. Five Song Marvin. Well, I bet that’s five songs more than HE knows. Twat.
Just after John walks off, a woman comes up – ‘I haven’t got any money but instead, my daughter’s done a drawing of you over there. So we can’t pay you but you’ve got a drawing instead.’ ‘That’s fine, you’ve paid me in…art!’ Well, the daughter’s drawing must have been abstract art because for the life of me, I couldn’t find it anywhere and I had a good look after I’d packed up and was sipping my pint. Then again, I suppose I could have missed it, as the entire pavement was absolutely covered with doodles. I’ll have another look another day…if it doesn’t rain and wash everything away.