BACK IN THE 'BURGH - EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

Middle Meadow Walk, 10/7

My old busking haunt, 'Middle Meadow Walk' consists of a path, tree lined on either side, that connects 'The Meadows' to the city centre. It's close to the university, and a perfect place to play on a sunny day while students and families stroll through the green fields and muse upon the aesthetic pleasures in life...
However, this is Edinburgh and sun is kind of rare. It's also a Monday, although I play for a couple of hours and manage to do allright. My highlight however is running into a customer from my old work and jamming out 'Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon' and 'Jealous Guy' with him.
I think these Edinburgh escapades are going to be pretty standard - I'm using them as a kind of warm up to more of the real thing I suppose, as in this coming week I'm more focussed on catching up with friends. So that's cool.
TOTAL - £17.07

High Street (Royal Mile), 11/7

The famous 'Royal Mile' of Edinburgh, packed with buskers and various street performers in the world famous August Fringe Festival - now July and filled with noisy trucks unloading stuff in preparation for the festival. Too noisy for me, although it is lucrative, being a tourist haven all year round - it's just I cannae handle competing with the various vehicles blocking my view of the sunny side of the street. So it's back to the Meadows I trot...

Like yesterday, I have a small audience for lunch - a bunch of construction workers having their smoko break. It's nice to feel like a regular again after two days, even if one of them accosts me for my phone number and tries to bully me into going out with him. He he - India has taught me to be strong in this regard however, so I quite enjoy saying NO, buddy!!! I don't stay too long today as there's a cold wind threatening to blow my takings down the road and also, I hate to admit it but I'm TIRED. Perhaps everything is catching up with me today - so much travel in the past week, different climates, timezones... I observe that when I have energy, people are more drawn to the music as opposed to when I'm just going through the motions; a bit like an eclectic jukebox. In times like these they are more likely to just pass me by... so I'm off to meet Dave for a curry (Edinburgh mosque - can't beat it) and to give my voice a rest.
TOTAL - £6.03 Hish Street (20 minutes)
£4.65 M.M.W (an hour. Hmmm...)