Diary Of A Busker Day 199 Tuesday February 21st Winchester High Street (opposite Bellis, Time: 1-2:10pm, 2. corner of Marks And Spencer, Time: 3:05-4:12pm).
My polite regular, Ian, stands nearby and waits untill I’ve finished my capo-on-second-fret songs, namely Can’t Help Falling In Love and Over The Rainbow, then, stroking his chin, in thought and saying(?) “Hmm…”, carries on – “Do you ever, what’s the word…extemporise?” “Extemporise? Is that like improvise?” “Yes, improvise.” “Not really, Ian – I’m not good enough for all that! The thing is, if I learn a good arrangement, I tend to stick with that. If start jazzing it up, people won’t know recognise it!, but I’m not good enough to do it anyway. Ch Atkins and Les Paul and all those guys, they could do all that, and I’ve got this thing wrong with my hand…”
Recently released from Her Majesty’s “pleasure”, and currently off his face, Scottish Otto staggers up to me, carrying a big bag with a big plastic bottle inside. “Pley some rock ‘n roll – pley Buddy Holly!” Oh dear. I do a burst of Peggy Sue and he starts: “If ye knewwww Peggy Suuuuuee…oh Peggy Suuueee…pley Rave On! Y’ know it
