Working Cardigan

Nice lady from Bean & Gone in Cardigan comes out just as I finish playing by the Market Hall, a hard 50 minutes beside reluctant passers-by.

People seem embarrassed by my music, yet yesterday I gave some joker with a guitar and a bottle of cider 50p in much the same place.He'd got a full 'hat'.

      - Are you doing this for a charity or something?

      - No. I’m a writer. Writing about street music.
     - Well, take this (she slips a coin into my hand). It’s been nice hearing you. 
Bless. 

I should explain that I’m doing a street performance. It ain’t begging. 

Listen. You like it? Fine. Drop something in the hat if you want. No worries if you don’t. 

One fellow is determined to donate his 10p.

- In here? 

Confused, he's looking at my backpack. I stop playing to show him. From now on I'll use the proper 'hat' or pot (traditionally a leather pouch with the throat of a glass bottle neck sewn into the neck so's you could hear if anyone tried nicking your money). (No, that's not a £5 note on the left - just the hat's label).