Diary Of A Busker Day 505 Tuesday February 11th 2014 Winchester (Opposite Bellis/O2, Time: 1:35-2:55pm).
Another very cold day in town. I’ve got those fingerless gloves the old lady gave me. I’m not wearing them but will pop them on if I see her on the approach! The money: slow – about four songs before a donation…and then Albatross, and a £2 coin, then another £1 coin, so I make it Song Of The Day. I mean, £3 for one song – SOTD, why not?
Ian stands on my right during Borsalino. After, he asks me how old I was when I took up the guitar. I tell him – quite old, really: 15 or 16. After he goes off, a guy comes up and asks about the CDs, so I get some out so he can have a look. Then he says ‘I wrote a letter to the Chronicle, saying they should put you in it again but they didn’t print the letter. They did reply, though’. I said he should rest assured: all enquiries and suggestions are noted down and logged. Even if you go into the reception, they note it all down. That’s what Mr. Napier told me, anyway.
But this guy’s a bit cheeky, because after perusing the two different CDs, he offers me £10 for them both, which, out of gratitude, I accept, meaning he’s got the old CD – normally £5 – for £1. I’m a bloody rubbish businessman. Oh well, c’est la vie! He then heaps a load of praise on me – ‘You’re a credit to this town’ was the one I liked best, so I don’t mind the CD situation. Co-Song Of The Day: Can’t Help Falling In Love, as that was the one after which the guy came up.
Next up is Delia. I know it’s her: a shape coming up from the left, suddenly stops. A very short human shape with a trolley, that can only be one person. She asks how I am and says she hasn’t been too well. It’s all the cold weather and rain, and one of her sons: Colin’s not been well, either. In fact, she might not be in on Friday, so I might not see her until next week. She puts a very shiny pound coin in my hand – as usual, against my protests – then says she’ll be off, but not before making me laugh – ‘I’ve just been to the small church, you know’ – she must mean the one around the corner, with the prayer board in the entrance – ‘…to pray for all my friends. But if you don’t believe in God, it’s no good praying, is it?’ – that really made me laugh. As usual, as she was walking off, I went into her favourite – Dr. Zhivago, for which she turned and gave me the thumbs-up.
Earnings: £21.09p (Including 2 CDs: one at a cut-rate price)