Diary Of A Busker Day 556 Monday May 5th 2014 Winchester (1. Opposite Pavilion, Time: 12:53-1:53pm, 2. Opposite Vodafone, Time: 1:58-3:38pm).
As I was walking in, I bought a Big Issue off Simon outside Barclays, and found out the name of the whistle ‘busker’/homeless bloke – who’s everywhere these days: Sid.
A slow first set, coinage-wise, although there’s plenty of peoploids about. Same old problem: High Street Syndrome – too many peoploids, too many distractions. The other thing I noticed was there weren’t a lot of the older ones about. In fact, it was quite noticable, so a lot of the stuff I do won’t be recognised. Who knows.
The street litter cleaner – not old Alan – the younger one with his morning grey morning suit, top hat and red bow-tie, he’s out. I think he wears all that stuff every bank holiday, and also during the dreadful Hat Fair weekend, and all the other ‘special’ days. Today I watched him sitting outside the pub with Legless Brian in his wheelchair, who he then pushed up the road and past me. I was going to give it half an hour, as the money wasn’t good, but I did the whole hour, then left. At least the weather was OK – I’m glad I switched to the summer jacket – charity shop, originally from Next! Posh!!
No break, toilet or otherwise…set up opposite the ice-cream man at Vodafone…and I have a bit of luck. Just BEFORE starting, I sold a £9 CD. And I recognised the (lucky) buyer. He was one of those sitting at one of the tables up the road, a few minutes ago. A fact confirmed on inquiry. He had to wait a couple of minutes for his wife to get the money, which was fine by me, after the disastrous session I just did, for which I got about £6.50p.
I’ve carried on doing the 5th Gnossienne and whenever I do, I think of Philip who I haven’t seen for a few weeks now.* So I did an hour and 40 minutes here – quite a long session, especially after an hour and only a 5 minute break. In the end, the total came up to the average for 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Earnings: £27.06p (Including 2 CDs)
- I saw him 2 days later, from the car. He was walking in town.