Stranger #43 - James

'I'm a wandering minstrel...a rolling stone...a pimpernel...'

 

This is how James describes himself.

 

Armed with a guitar in a colourful case from Bolivia, a big black rucksack and a few plastic bags, I followed him for some distance before asking for a photo.

 

What followed next was quite extraordinary.

 

He was DELIGHTED to be asked. I had made his day. He was over the moon that I had picked him out from the crowd.

 

'Do you like Joni Mitchell?' he asked.

 

'Love her,' I smiled.

 

Setting his stuff down at Grey's Monument (the centre of Newcastle's universe) he got his guitar out, tuned it up, and sang 'Big Yellow Taxi' for me. Just for me. :) He followed it with Dylan's 'Rolling Stone' complete with harmonica.

 

He was brilliant. He never stopped talking when he wasn't singing - and I sometimes struggled to catch what he was saying as he had a lovely but strong Scottish accent. He would have played, sang and chatted all afternoon if he didn't have to catch a train to stay with his son.

 

Such a free spirit. Such an entertainer and a warm, kind, peaceful guy.

 

Thank you James. You are now my favourite stranger :) I'll never forget that mad 20 mins at monument :)

 

James is #43 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

Done