Sussex – Leeds's Singing Organ-Grinder

The mysterious terracotta “Baronet” relief on Ye Racehorse Inne, 212 Elm Grove, Brighton

I suggest that it is the iconisation of the Stubbs portrait of George (later the) IV’s most successful horse, ridden in a distinctive flying gallop by his favourite jockey, Old Sam Chifney; and that the depiction of boots and reins without a rider symbolises George’s disgust at the termination of Chifney’s career by the Jockey Club following a race-rigging scandal.

April tweets

Just the usual load of nonsense.

Jimmy Brennan panning for gold in the Sperrins, Tyrone in 1983.

Organ-grinding tweets for December

Xmas &c.

If any would not work neither should he eat: Walthamstow workhouse.

For drone-hunters, a walk westward from Gatwick airport to Ockley station

Dedicated to those at Gatwick considering tracking down and killing the source of their stasis. Features two good drinking establishments, the villages of Charlwood and Capel and the River Mole.

August’s tweets from London’s Singing Organ-Grinder

Bit late. Twitter trouble. Apologies for any distress caused. Money-back guarantee applies.

Transvestite barrel organ dancers in 1930s Whitechapel and the 1860s London West End

With acrobats, clowns, and Doris and Thisbe, goddesses of wind.

Acrobats whirling to the sound of a barrel organ on a chain carousel at the National Fair, Bergen, Norway, 1928.

Cosas de septiembre

La canción que más cantaba yendo este verano en bici desde Londres a Toulouse fue la Vecchia pianola de Katyna Ranieri. Un amigo italiano me dice que sueno como un gay español, que naturalmente es buena noticia. Paré en Toulouse porque hacía un calor treméndo, pero antes también asusté a bastantes veraneantes intentando a recuperar…