Day 2639

Day 2639
Monday January 12th 2026
Winchester

There’s been a sudden change in temperature – at 10 degrees it’s almost tropical and like a revelation. I mean, it hasn’t been this warm in months AND no rain, though we’re back to the downpours over the next two days, apparently. The top spot was free – in fact there was no one playing anywhere but my last session was there so I set up down in front of Nando’s – he big flowerpot having been moved a few feet to the right, allowing me to resume my usual performance position.
A man came up early on in the proceedings to inform me – ‘You’ve been immortalised in St Clements, the new building, did you know?’ I replied I did indeed know. He went on ‘They’ve just opened that new place and it’ll be there in a hundred years.’ I said it may well be but ‘My picture won’t be! It might be there for three, maybe four years.’
‘Yeah? Well, I bet it will. Anyway, I’m surprised they didn’t put that long board they had in the old place, about the history of it. It told you about the whole hundred years of the surgery in the old building. They should have put that in the new one.’
I agreed – ‘I know, and it gave you something to read while you were sitting there, waiting for your appointment!’
He was a nice chap although he didn’t bother with a donation.

Later on, during Wouldn’t It Be Nice, I’m sure it was that miserable bloke who complains I’m ‘always playing the same Beatles and Beach Boys stuff’ – the one who looks like Jeremy Clarkson, but uglier. Which is saying something. He walked by and did a sort of winding, cranking motion with his hands. I haven’t forgotten Mr. Napier’s offer to publish a photo of him but I couldn’t be bothered today. I’d have to put the guitar down and run up to him and try and get a photo and it’s a hassle and I can’t be arsed. Maybe some other time.
Anyway, I then did Je’taime, Cavatina and Tales Of The Unexpected, thinking ‘here you go, you haven’t heard these before’ and then thought ‘What the hell am I doing? Who gives a monkey’s what that idiot thinks!’

I did an hour and a half and the hands were fine – and I certainly didn’t need the second pair of socks I had on. I got £29.75, which included a fiver and a tenner. The tenner was from a woman who said, ‘That’s accumulated – for all the times I’ve heard you but haven’t given you anything.’ I said, ‘Well, thank you! I wish everyone was like that – I’d be loaded!’