Diary Of A Busker Day 2601 Wednesday September 24th 2025 Winchester.
Dean and Don (sounds like a duo!) are at the top spot. That’s Dean Dyson, singing and playing and Don Lavelle, finishing up his latest painting, the one featuring me. Don says ‘I’ve put in a hunk listening to you, Marvin.’ He points at a figure in the painting, standing up a bit from me and it’s Dean. I can tell it’s him by his flat cap which is black at the moment but will be white soon enough. In fact, even without the cap, or any facial features for that matter, I can tell it’s Dean, which is obviously one of Don’s talents. I manage to get a photo before heading off down the road to set up outside Nando’s.
Second day out with the Faith 12-string and I’m not having a lot of luck with it, as it’s a good 40 minutes before any donation. I’m starting to wonder if people don’t like the sound of it, which is silly because I can hear it and I KNOW it sounds fine. The truth is it wouldn’t make any difference what guitar I’m playing, the money, or lack of it, would be the same. And I know that and yet I’m still thinking it’s the new guitar. So when Barry comes along, I probe for reassurance.
‘Is that a new guitar, Marvin?’
‘Yeah, it is Barry. I’ve got loads of guitars and I get bored with playing the same one all the time so I like to switch. Does it sound alright?’
‘Yeah, sounds fantastic! Hey, I like your jacket.’
‘Yeah, it’s an old one, almost as old as me. Much older than you Barry.’
‘Impossible! Can you play it? Albatross?’
‘Of course, just for you Barry.’
And that’s that, off he goes to his favourite song. And that’s all it took. One person to say one good thing and I was fine. In fact, after Barry left, I sold four CDs and ended up with £51 for two hours, so all was well.