Randy, strangely enough, was sitting on the kerb in Chelsea (NYC) typing a letter. We had a great chat. He explained that he ran a business selling used records outside of a disused shop. Apparently, the landlord is gradually trying to close down the businesses on the block so it can be redeveloped, so Randy has set up his stall outside one of the vacant stores selling his records.

He told me about the changes in the area and that the majority of the creative folks had been driven out by the increasing rents. Rather a sad story and something echoed in London.

Randy was a really nice guy, but I left our encounter with the sad feeling that we'll see fewer of the eccentric real New Yorkers on the street in the future.

New York City, USA