Pop Goes the Weasel

Last week I underwent an annual checkup at a hospital in City Road , London. I have been attending this hospital for 52 years and during that time many changes have taken place in that area of London. As I had a little time in hand I jumped off the 205 a stop early and walked down the road.

These buildings weren't here 52 years ago. In fact I don't think they were here two years ago.

 

There is a space between them which has existed for over 200 years but has only recently been opened up for the travelers on City Road to see-

City Road Basin of the Regent's Canal

With the sun shining, a tune came into my mind (and has still not gone a week later!)

It is a nursery rhyme:

Half a pound of tuppeny rice

Half a pound of treacle

Mix it up and make it nice

Pop goes the weasel

Up and down the City Road

In and out of The Eagle

That's the way the money goes

Pop goes the weasel

Every night when I go out

The weasel's sitting on the table

I take a stick and knock it off

Pop goes the weasel

There are various claims for the origin of the rhyme but all agree on the last line.  It refers to the habit popular since the 1700s,  of East End workers popping or pawning their best coat (weasel and stoat is Cockney rhyming slang for coat) in order to enjoy some luxury.

Almost adjacent to these new apartments is -

The Eagle pub.

With great self control, I resisted the temptation to pawn my coat and spend the proceeds on beer.

Of course you have spotted that this building is not 18th century. It was built around 1900




and replaced a music hall of the same name.


Whatever your view on the merit or otherwise of these changes I have experienced one change which has not been an improvement. With all the new technology and medical research it takes twice as long to carry out the same checks that I had 52 years ago. Such is progress!

Those of you unfamiliar with the rhyme might like to listen to Anthony Newley's rendition from the 1960s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opr_7f0Z0os