Day 2681
Tuesday April 28th 2026
Southampton
I thought it was about time I ventured down south to the big city and see how the 12-string fared through the new amp, this time without the Janglebox as I don’t think it added a lot. It’s been so long since I was last here I’d forgotten which floor to get off the lift at John Lewis – it’s Floor 3 but I got off at Floor 2 which meant I had to come out of the mall and walk up from near the Bargate. I won’t make that mistake again as it’s hard going with the suitcase – smooth floors are so much easier, like in an airport! Alighting at Floor 3 means a clear smooth run right to the mall entrance, more or less where I play.
Fortunately – and unusually – there doesn’t seem to be anyone else playing so I start setting up opposite the mass entrance…and then a sound…some music coming from somewhere where I can’t see anyone anywhere. The music gets louder and then all of a sudden here he is. It’s Jeff and his ghetto blaster! Joyce and another man are with him –
‘Hey! It’s you…from Winchester?’
‘Yeah, that’s me and what are the chances of this? I haven’t played a note and here you are!’
‘Yeah, it’s me, Jeff from…’
I cut him off ‘Yeah, I know, Jeff from New York.’
‘Yeah, hey, you need to go down there, turn right then left and keep going. You’ll get to a couple of pubs. You just go in and say…’
I cut him off again – ‘I know, say “Jeff from New York told me to come here about playing.” I know Jeff!’
‘Yeah…what’s your name again?’
‘Marvin.’
‘Yeah, right, from Winchester!’
Joyce pipes in – ‘Can I buy a CD?’
‘Sure you can but haven’t you got one? I seem to remember you or Jeff bought one.’
‘Hey, let her buy one, that’s money to you’ say Jeff.
‘Sure, of course you can have one, Joyce.’ Result. I’ve made a tenner before I’ve even started. I say I’ve got a new amp to test out so they can let me know how it sounds, if they like.
‘Sure, how long will it take you to start?’ Then to his friend – ‘You gotta hear this guy!’
‘About a minute, Jeff.’ So they park themselves against some concrete thing in the middle of the pedestrianised street and I do a bit of La Vie En Rose.’
‘Yeah, great – that’s La Vie…something?’
‘La Vie En Rose.’
‘Yeah, great! We’ll have a few minutes here then we gotta go somewhere. Say, what about the Ottoman place, did you hear back from them?’
‘No, I didn’t. Maybe the bloke didn’t like me.’
‘Well, he’s a bit strange, that guy.’
‘Well, maybe he thought I was a bit strange but cheers anyway, Jeff. I quite enjoyed the gig.’
‘Yeah OK…would you do it again.’
‘Yeah, sure. Put in another good word for me, if you like.’
And with that, they’re off and I start off the set.
The coinage is good – ten minutes later one of the three Blue Cross chuggers set up nearby comes over and puts in TWO TENNERS! So I’m quids in and I’ve barely started.
From then on it’s a steady flow of coinage and also noteage, as two fivers are dropped in during the 2 hour session – long enough! One was from a bloke wearing a two-piece tracksuit who, after donating, leaned against the wall on my right and sang along with Here Comes The Sun then remained there for around half an hour until his partner came along to drag him off – he was sitting down at this point, tried to stand up, faltered and she had to pull him up from the pavement. He didn’t seem drunk but who knows. He wasn’t aggressive, anyway, so that’s fine.
Another man, about my age, stopped and donated – ‘I used to do that for 50 years but I done so much it had a strange effect. My ear distorts the notes and, say, if I’m playing a D note, it sounds like a C – everything changes to a different note! So, I can sort of tell what you’re playing but it all sounds distorted, you know?’ I’m not sure if I DO know. Oh well, poor bloke.
It was a windy day and When I finished it took a few minutes to clear away all the debris of small leaves and dust and whatever else from the case. It had even got inside the plastic wallet with the paper with the QR code. I had to shake the case and turn it inside out – the stuff was everywhere. I mean, a good portion of the New Forest seemed to have blown in there!
The profit after the £4.35 train fare, was £54.78, which was amazing. Thank you big city, I will return!