Heading to Newcastle

So to pick up from where ever the hell I left off on my blog, I have a tour booked in May and I’m very excited about this. I’m also very scared as this is my first venue self organised tour. In an effort to promote the tour and cover all my bases I have started visiting the cities I will be performing in. This is no easy trip as it is my aim at this point that busking funds will pay for all the expenses of my travels. Who knows, maybe I can pick up a covers gig here and there but I think it’s not so likely.

Anyway, yesterday I began a venture to Newcastle. I arrived last night but along the way I stopped in Peterborough, Stamford, and Doncaster. Peterborough and Stamford earnt me enough petrol money so on I headed. It was only really the fact it was sunny and the end of the shopping hours that made me stop in Doncaster as I passed by.

There are 2 characters to share about (4 if you include the 2 teenage lads who decided to dance in front of me hancuffed;red handcuffs too!). The first gentleman was in Stamford. He was clearly quite frail and beside him, assisting him (half holding him up) was a lady, almost certainly a relative, possibly his wife although she appeared a bit younger. As this fine gent walked past very slowly, he tapped his walking stick to the music and then when he was past me, span it round in a dancing fashion. It was fantastic and made me smile so much! :)

On a less happy note I visited Doncaster. Just thought I’d attempt to get a beer money for Newcastle. About 30 seconds after I started a homeless man came up to and told me I was ‘heartless’. He was evidently cold, and although quite forceful in his words, he wasn’t violent. If anything he just seemed really sad. He told me how he’d been on the street for 30 years and refused to take any apologetic money gesture I offered. Just to clear up why he called ,me heartless, It was because I was positioned fairly near him and he felt I was going to take his earnings. I had seen him, and I felt I was far enough away, but clearly I wasn’t. I felt horrid, decided just to pack up and head to Newcastle.