Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Nellie Dean

When you choose to live in a new place you can only stay so long on the outside. Eventually where ever you are you become caught up in being part of where you are. London is no exception.
To be a Londoner or perhaps more correctly to be British, you are involved in everything to do with the pub. An outsider may see this merely as a drinking house. Not so. The pub is the very essence of Britishness. It is also very complex. I don't profess to know anything about it. I am Fresh Eyes remember!
Yesterday I posted a picture of a pub with one of the hand painted signs. Now I know a whole lot more, not just about this pub but a few other as well. Babooshka told me about the relationship that particular pub has with the infamous Kray twins.

Elaine Saunders - Complete Text has written a book about pub names.

As for Nellie Dean .......
well take your pick, it is Soho!! So if you want a cockney translation..it means homosexual (queen)

If you want poetry:

There's an old mill by the stream,
Nellie Dean!
Where we used to sit and dream,
Nellie Dean!
And the waters as they flow
Seem to murmur soft and low.
You're my heart's desire.
I love you,Nellie Dean!
Sweet Nellie Dean.

This is London!!!!!!