Day 2750
Saturday October 17th 2026
Winchester
First day back after the 10 day Canada trip. I was meant to play at The Leacock – mother Naylor’s seniors residence in Orillia but that was cancelled due to a Covid outbreak. I managed to play a couple of two hour sets on Saturday at Shannon’s in Coldwater (definitely a one horse town…and there were two butchers fighting over that) where I was staying with Brother Andrew. I went in and told Tommy the manager my predicament and he said ‘You can come here tomorrow night and do two hours and I’ll give you twenty bucks an hour.’ So that’s £20 total. Fine, I did it, it went down well, he gave me an extra ten “bucks” and said I could come in Sunday and do a lunchtime session, which I did and he gave me $60 for that. i also put a big glass jar out on the Saturday and got $30, so that was a total of $110 which is £82 for four hours playing. Fine, at least I played the guitar, or the checked guitar and Toronto amp rental would have been a complete waste. And Mother Naylor, who was upset about the cancellation, got to hear me. I also played at 4age, a cafe opposite Shannon’s. Over the week I did three hour long sets and got zero, but Peter the manager was a nice bloke and loved the playing if I go again he’ll do some publicity because there was no one there, apart from a table next to me the first time, and the family for the last time, on my day of departure.
Anyway, back to old Blighty and The Square…where on setting up I discovered there were no batteries in the guitar. They must have fallen out somewhere along the line. Sod this, what to do? I don’t want to pack up and go home to get some more batteries…ah, there’s Three Joes manager Maria sitting outside. I’ll ask her to keep an eye on the stuff while I nip into Boots. But she’s talking to an old bloke at her table. I’ll wait until a suitable break. Just then, a voice from behind me. It’s the bar manager from The Old Vine.
‘Marvin, you look like someone who’s looking for something.’
‘You know what, it’s weird you say that because I need to get a couple of batteries for the guitar.’
‘Yeah? What size?’
‘Triple A’s. I need two of them.’
‘I’ve got some in the basement, I’m sure I do. I’ll get you some. Oh yeah, there’s a guy I know who’s got one of your books. Looks interesting.’
‘Really? Well, I’ve got two. Two volumes published by Skylight. I’ve got them with me – I always carry two in case someone wants to buy them.’
‘Yeah? Well, anyway, it’s my birthday. You can play Happy Birthday to me!’
‘Yeah, sure…well, if I can get the guitar all powered up…key of C alright? Happy Birthday!’
‘Cheers yeah. I’ll get the batteries.’
And so he did, and so said batteries were inserted in the Faith and I was so SO relieved and chuffed with the goodness of humanity, I insisted the nice chap (who’s name I don’t know) accept both books as a birthday present. I wonder if this is the bloke who calls me “Two song Marvin” – not to my face but to certain members of the clientele of the pub.
The coinage was very good and I had one quite moving encounter when an old lady came up from outside the pub as I was finishing the Gymnopedie. She put four pound coins in the case –
‘I love what you play…it reminds me of my daughter. She died quite young.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
‘She used to play that in church and everyone used to clap at the end, you know.’
‘Ah, she must have been a good player.’
‘Yes…she was sixty, she died of a brain hemorrhage. She was my eldest daughter. I’m ninety-one. I said to my other daughter, over there, “I must go up and thank him for playing that” and she said “Oh, don’t do that” but I said “Yes, I must” and yes, I want to thank you for reminding me of her.’
‘Well, thank you for coming up to tell me and thank you for telling me about your daughter. I do appreciate it.’
She returned to her daughter, I played the Gymnopedie again (well, a shortened version) then the Gnossienne and they listened to one or two more before they both came up. The daughter surreptitiously slipped a fiver under the QR code wallet and the mother said again ‘Thank you again for reminding me of my daughter…this is my youngest daughter (she then leaned in close and whispered)…my BABY!’
How awful to lose a child. Poor woman.
My battery supplier left work around 5 o’clock and walked off towards the Buttercross. After a few seconds of fluffed notes, failing to remember how to play Happy Birthday – ‘Sorry!’ I shouted, I sorted it out – ‘Thanks Marvin!’ he shouted back.
Anyway yes, very good coinage of £69.73, including a tenner and three CDs. Not bad for an hour and twenty minutes. I had to stop then because the hands were getting cold and it was threatening rain. I must remember my leather gloves from Berlin next time. I could have used them in Canada, actually.