Good Day at the Office

aka, the cold slabs of Harrogate town centre

As the rain draws a close on the May Day bank holiday in the UK and people return to work with the sun predictably overhead, I have a short, Good Day at the Office story to share. It happened on a crisp autumn day but it still makes me smile.

I’m sprint/shuffling across town. I have a ‘green light’ sense of time and distance (which I am constantly trying to shed) where I optimistically assume there’ll never be a hold up on our local, fairly battered country roads, often sprinkled with temporary traffic lights fixing floods and holes, and tractors bouncing along their steady way. Whenever humanly possible, I take the train which, obviously sprint/shuffling to the station, I rarely miss. Except they also often have the ‘green light’ optimism, or some other devils at work before they even set off. So, much of the time, my best chance of arriving timely is sprint/shuffling everywhere.

This day is no different. But this time I have to stop and watch.

There’s a singer, busking. For the purposes of the story, I have to admit that he isn’t very good. Actually, he is pretty bad. He’s swooping and crooning and I’m no tuning fork, but I’m pretty sure those aren’t the right notes he’s hitting. Opposite him though, are three teens in huge quilted coats, sitting on the cold concrete slabs, propped up against a shop wall.

They are bucking the stereotype big time. And I love them for it.

They have their phones out but not to post videos for a giggle at his expense. No, it’s because they are singing with him. With gusto. Uninhibited. They clearly know the song, but not all the lyrics. Everyone is smiling. Scuttling shoppers appreciate the scene and drop coins into the cardboard box, with its thank you swirled across the front and a smiley face. Everyone is happy.

The busker? He is beaming. He is bouncing and swaying and hamming it up. He is having just the best time.

You know, I’m not sure the stint made him rich, or that he’ll be winning any musical contracts any time soon, but who cares? He brightened a few people’s days, not least his own, and that’s great work right there, huh?

I hope you’re having a good day at work - or play! Any Nice News – Good Day experiences? Please do share 👇