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busking, music, street life

Who ate all the pies?

oh my makery

Me. Whenever I busk at Cathedral Green I always get a coffee (decaf flat white if you’re interested) at The Plant Cafe. These are the good guys in life, amazing coffee who gives a crap loo roll and a selection of ‘lady products’ in the loo and AMAZING looking food.

Anyway, I drank my coffee and chatted with a few of the locals. One guy had been a guitarist and then suffered brain injury so was struggling to play. I felt sad for him as it must be awful to be so changed by something and so suddenly.

After a while more people were about so I started to play. It was already really hot. I had dressed for autumn but it was hot hot hot! One song in I’d taken off my cold weather gear and was playing in my vest; no longer as smart as I wanted to be but needs must.

Time passes quickly when I’m playing and by the time I’d finished I was famished. I always say I’m going to get something to eat from the nice cafe after playing but I never do; not until today. Oh my! I have been missing out. It was a toss up between the beetroot red onion and Brie or the sweet potato, ginger, coconut and dhal. The latter won…. As Arnie says, I’ll be back

busking, learning, music

Say What?

oh my makery

I’m working on a few new songs. One of my favourite songs of all times is Eloise by The Damned. It’s a big song but I’m sure I can pull it off.  I’m going to be dipping my toe in the water of guitar fx pedals too….First things first though, how many times have you thought you knew the lyrics and then, well Peter Kay says it best…. 

Also, this is one of the (many) songs I didn’t know was a cover…. I still like The Damned version best…..and who knew Barbra Streisand did Don’t Rain On my Parade before Japan? Not me until my wedding day when my Husband’s daughters (West End Musical Theatre Star) put me straight! In case you’re not familiar with the Japan version here it is

I love David Sylvian’s  voice both in Japan and solo; Secrets of the Beehive will continue to be one of my most loved albums.  Anyway, I digress, MUST LEARN THE WORDS!

 

 

busking, Life, music, street life

September Songs

oh my makery

I was back in Exeter today; a crisp and sunny Autumn day. I was really enjoying playing and then I noticed a fake charity seller just up from me and it put me off my stride for a bit. Well I might be wrong but proper charity workers don’t normally put the money straight in their pocket. There’s a lot of them up in Bath, there’s nothing to be done. They give you a leaflet which you have actually bought rather than giving a donation to charity, it’s a loophole. So anyway, I might be wrong. I just don’t like seeing people conned.

I got myself back into the music, after all me getting cross changes nothing. It took a while! I had couple of requests for Joni Mitchell songs today, she’s one of my favourite songwriters so it’s strange that I don’t. I’ll have to rectify that!

After playing at The Face, I thought I’d have a play at Cathedral Green but another busker was about to play. Instead I went up to Lloyd’s Lounge. I haven’t played there since it was redone. It’s a nice spot and I had some lovely comments.

So all in all a lovely day. My plan to get my husband some valve oil was scuppered by a wobbly wheel on my trolley; I was lucky to get it back in one piece to the car park.

busking, Life, music

Heaven Can Wait

oh my makery

I spent a couple of hours playing in Looe again today. It was quieter than it has been; school starts this coming week.

Jerri played first while I spent a couple of hours in the park with the little one. I took over around 3. When I got to Bat Out Of Hell I smiled. It was always on the juke box in the Cabin Club and my friend and I ‘revised’ for our GCSEs on the beach with that on the boom box… haha!

busking, Life, music

Small Town Girl

oh my makery

We’re on a sort of Working Holiday. Camping in an amazing campsite near Looe and busking.

Yesterday we were in Looe. My husband went first and charmed the locals and tourists alike with his amazing voice and trumpet. By the time it was my turn to play I admitted to our little girl that I was worried people might not like my stuff. She’s like a little one person cheerleading team, she was sure people would like it. I was also a bit on the back foot as this is where I grew up. Lots of memories, like most people, some of them good, some of them not so much!

I had already bumped in to an old school friend, we sat at the same table in top infants! And I’d popped in to see another school friend who I’d not seen since I was pregnant. That helped take the nerves away. As always though, once I start playing I lose myself in the songs and just enjoy it.

Today I was in Polperro while Jerri and our little one had a quiet day. I tried (unsuccessfully) to find the house my friend used to live in. All the houses in this part of the world seem to be clinging to cliff faces and ravines as if a giant picked them up and shoved them all in to the cracks; it’s beautiful. I played in the shade and it was surprisingly cold; I stoped when my fingers went numb! I loved it though. I shall get back.

Life

Getting back to my roots

oh my makery

Its the Exeter Street Music doo today. I’m not playing as my husband’s away and I’ve got the little one. I did think about going in to see what’s going down but it seemed like a far quieter day was in order.

A scavenger hunt / walk up to The Turf for some fine coffee, and better yet we bumped into a friend. They asked if I ever played there, I haven’t but I wouldn’t say no!

Anyway after a bit of shopping as it was a bit mother Hubbard at home the little one is watching Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (Depp) and I’ve bitten the mullet and am sorting out my roots; it’s been a long time coming. If the next time you see me I have short hair you’ll know it’s all gone horribly wrong. 😳😱😳😱