Jurnalul Editorialistic de Groza

So the nice Polish couple living with Diana in Luton drove me to Harlow, closer to London, two nights ago, where I met my new host, Nelida. She used to work for the advertising agency I work for now and she took me in and helped me visit London. We had fish and chips plus Guinness beer the first night, and in the morning I got 30 pounds as a first donation, for an all day/all public transportation in and out of the Capital city pass.

I managed to get a discount at the train station and it only cost about 14 pounds. It was there that I also gave this interview to Romanian radio station Radio Transilvania. So pretty busy start yesterday.

It got even busier when I finally got to London and, as I had money and a place to sleep for the following night, back in Harlow, I finally got to try my bad singing method of making money, by having people pay me to shut up. I only spent one hour on the bridge right next to Big Ben, so that I could spend the rest visiting, and I was already up 10 more pounds. People seemed to enjoy the idea.

So here’s how you can do it, if you wanna try it out while traveling. You’ll need an instrument. Any kind, ’cause you can’t play anything, anyway.

Tips! Take a sign. A big one. In my case, people have even crossed the street to “hit” the money-cap. They could read it from the other side.

Put some coins in the cap when you start. Take some coins out when there’s too many. Check the cap every once in a while, counting the money. I got 5 pounds in one hit, just out of sympathy for that unconscious gesture (I kept doing it since, much more theatrical; believe me, you’ll discover tricks beyond imagination). Catch people’s sight. Cry. (Kidding.) Don’t get better on handling the instrument. Pitch a wrong tone every once in a while, whenever you feel you’re close to actually sounding good.

Why does bad singing earn more dough than real good singing?

Because bad singing draws attention. With good singing, you get passive money. People that wanna spare anyway – which goes to bad singing also, since it’s an instinct and they’re not really listening to what you’re singing anyway.

Why bad singing rather than good singing or not singing at all and working? It’s the only situation in the world for which you get paid to take breaks.

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I left just in time, when police starting questioning this souvenir seller next to me. There was an artists street, right under London Eye, where I think it was either legal or you needed a permit – which they probably had, but by the time the “bobbies” spotted me, I was way ahead in tourist-mode, taking pictures and acting curious about everything… under my guitar and big folded carton board.

The day before, I had prepared my favorite tie and shirt for the big event, however, some guy still asked me if I was homeless, when he saw me “singing” on the bridge. I don’t know if he wanted to rape me or offer me shelter, but he was very polite, as British people have proven to be, from rapists to pastors. Or both.

I visited most interesting parts, the London Bridge, as it was not falling down at the time, City – business center, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Soho, Buckingham Palace and that mumbo-jumbo and when I got to the train station in the evening, with my folded carton board and guitar, this nice lady wanted to offer me a blanket, so I wouldn’t have to sleep on my bad-singing sign. Cute. I think I need to shave.

Tomorrow I’ll be leaving to Lincoln, with a train ticket buddy Ionuţ Hădade (studying there) booked for me. We’re gonna spend our day visiting the city and the night hopefully in a traditionally Manchester United fanatic manner (he’s with the spirit, I’ll carry the beers). Then I will head to Norwich, where I’ll meet my ex girlfriend’s mom that still loves me more than my ex girlfriend and boyfriend Colin. Of mom, not girlfriend. Girlfriend’s mom. I’ll stay one night at their place in Bungay and maybe go fishing in the morning – I don’t know the plan, after which it’ll be straight to Dover, into Calais. And as soon as possible – Paris, where my online host (offering the server for this blog) will host me in real life. For the first out of many times.

Also, I’ll be speaking to Radio România International tomorrow (for their foreign listeners), but I can’t say when it’ll be aired. Most likely I’ll upload it afterwards.

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[song on Gus’ YouTube channel]

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Bad singing sign.

Fan of bad music taking pic of bad music idol.

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The Ben, not so big in my opinion, really.

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This is Ben’s impersonation of the Leaning Tower from Pisa.

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Your average Underground mirror pic.

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[later edit]

Arrived in Lincoln.

Also bought an ukulele, a type of 4 string baby guitar, typically Hawaiian. I got the shirts to match it, back home.

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Got picked up from the train station by metrosexual buddy Hădade.