Tony Barrell
@tonybarrell.bsky.social
Writer, editor, senior pop investigator, Wikipedian... and karma mechanic
www.tonybarrell.com
www.tonybarrell.com
Read all about the parakeets of London... and elsewhere.
www.tonybarrell.com/squawk-of-th...
www.tonybarrell.com/squawk-of-th...
SQUAWK OF THE TOWN
Bright green parakeets are now an established feature of London. But where did these noisy birds come from? Tony Barrell explains
OCTOBER 2025
As I walk around the green spaces of southwest London, my...
www.tonybarrell.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Read all about the parakeets of London... and elsewhere.
www.tonybarrell.com/squawk-of-th...
www.tonybarrell.com/squawk-of-th...
Seen in Teddington... A New Career in a New Town?
November 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Seen in Teddington... A New Career in a New Town?
The big online Secret Art Auction is on NOW!
A chance to bid on anonymous artworks – some of which are by eminent Royal Academicians!
All proceeds go to charity. You just register quickly to take part. www.jumblebee.co.uk/secretartauc...
A chance to bid on anonymous artworks – some of which are by eminent Royal Academicians!
All proceeds go to charity. You just register quickly to take part. www.jumblebee.co.uk/secretartauc...
September 29, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The big online Secret Art Auction is on NOW!
A chance to bid on anonymous artworks – some of which are by eminent Royal Academicians!
All proceeds go to charity. You just register quickly to take part. www.jumblebee.co.uk/secretartauc...
A chance to bid on anonymous artworks – some of which are by eminent Royal Academicians!
All proceeds go to charity. You just register quickly to take part. www.jumblebee.co.uk/secretartauc...
August 18, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Here's a recent email that "got me barnacled". What??!??
When I read it, I was "in extraordinary eudaemonia and upper intoxicant". What???!
It's all "written" by Artificial Stupidity, of course.
When I read it, I was "in extraordinary eudaemonia and upper intoxicant". What???!
It's all "written" by Artificial Stupidity, of course.
July 29, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Here's a recent email that "got me barnacled". What??!??
When I read it, I was "in extraordinary eudaemonia and upper intoxicant". What???!
It's all "written" by Artificial Stupidity, of course.
When I read it, I was "in extraordinary eudaemonia and upper intoxicant". What???!
It's all "written" by Artificial Stupidity, of course.
Reposted by Tony Barrell
POP FACT: La Isla Bonita is of course Madonna’s tribute to the lovely and fragrant Isla St Clair.
June 21, 2025 at 8:57 PM
POP FACT: La Isla Bonita is of course Madonna’s tribute to the lovely and fragrant Isla St Clair.
Reposted by Tony Barrell
It is a coincidence that ‘emoji’ and ‘emoticon’ sound alike.
‘Emoji’ is a Japanese term meaning ‘pictograph’ (‘e’ is “picture, drawing” + ‘moji’ is “letter, character”).
‘Emoticon’ is ‘emotion’ + ‘icon.’
🤯
‘Emoji’ is a Japanese term meaning ‘pictograph’ (‘e’ is “picture, drawing” + ‘moji’ is “letter, character”).
‘Emoticon’ is ‘emotion’ + ‘icon.’
🤯
July 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
It is a coincidence that ‘emoji’ and ‘emoticon’ sound alike.
‘Emoji’ is a Japanese term meaning ‘pictograph’ (‘e’ is “picture, drawing” + ‘moji’ is “letter, character”).
‘Emoticon’ is ‘emotion’ + ‘icon.’
🤯
‘Emoji’ is a Japanese term meaning ‘pictograph’ (‘e’ is “picture, drawing” + ‘moji’ is “letter, character”).
‘Emoticon’ is ‘emotion’ + ‘icon.’
🤯
Dusty Springfield's odd little habit...
www.tonybarrell.com/in-the-air-t...
www.tonybarrell.com/in-the-air-t...
IN THE AIR TONIGHT
Dusty Springfield wasn’t just a wonderful singer. She was a notorious food-flinger as well, reveals Tony Barrell
MAY 2021
Dusty Springfield was one of the finest singers who ever lived. And when someo...
www.tonybarrell.com
June 27, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Dusty Springfield's odd little habit...
www.tonybarrell.com/in-the-air-t...
www.tonybarrell.com/in-the-air-t...
I buttered some bread, and suddenly a face was staring out at me! Who is this?
#butterface #spooky #weird
#butterface #spooky #weird
June 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I buttered some bread, and suddenly a face was staring out at me! Who is this?
#butterface #spooky #weird
#butterface #spooky #weird
Rock'n'roll dream this morning! The Rolling Stones had just released a new album called 'Space Magnets'. Some bloke said to me: "Rolling Stones. Space Magnets. Discuss." I hadn't heard the music, but I liked the title. Still do.
#rollingstones #spacemagnets
#rollingstones #spacemagnets
June 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Rock'n'roll dream this morning! The Rolling Stones had just released a new album called 'Space Magnets'. Some bloke said to me: "Rolling Stones. Space Magnets. Discuss." I hadn't heard the music, but I liked the title. Still do.
#rollingstones #spacemagnets
#rollingstones #spacemagnets
How many vegetable-friendly actors can you think of?
Kathleen Turnip? Courgette Colbert?
And not forgetting, of course...
Kathleen Turnip? Courgette Colbert?
And not forgetting, of course...
May 4, 2025 at 10:50 AM
How many vegetable-friendly actors can you think of?
Kathleen Turnip? Courgette Colbert?
And not forgetting, of course...
Kathleen Turnip? Courgette Colbert?
And not forgetting, of course...
Reposted by Tony Barrell
Dear radical leftist heroes,
I'm just 340 subscribers away from hitting 134,000 tonight. Help me cross the line and piss off exactly the right people: www.thegodpodcast.com/subscribe
I'm just 340 subscribers away from hitting 134,000 tonight. Help me cross the line and piss off exactly the right people: www.thegodpodcast.com/subscribe
April 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Dear radical leftist heroes,
I'm just 340 subscribers away from hitting 134,000 tonight. Help me cross the line and piss off exactly the right people: www.thegodpodcast.com/subscribe
I'm just 340 subscribers away from hitting 134,000 tonight. Help me cross the line and piss off exactly the right people: www.thegodpodcast.com/subscribe
April 17, 2025 at 11:17 AM
I think I did an author's reading like this once.
March 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I think I did an author's reading like this once.
Breaking news! Historians have found an image of a youngish Keith Richards in the Bayeux Tapestry.
March 23, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Breaking news! Historians have found an image of a youngish Keith Richards in the Bayeux Tapestry.
When Tootles the Taxi tooted his horn
The street was at once full of smiles.
“Jump in! Jump in!” he cheerfully cried.
“I can drive you for miles and miles.”
Timmy and Tracy heeded his call,
And they haven’t been seen to this day.
The street was at once full of smiles.
“Jump in! Jump in!” he cheerfully cried.
“I can drive you for miles and miles.”
Timmy and Tracy heeded his call,
And they haven’t been seen to this day.
March 22, 2025 at 9:33 AM
When Tootles the Taxi tooted his horn
The street was at once full of smiles.
“Jump in! Jump in!” he cheerfully cried.
“I can drive you for miles and miles.”
Timmy and Tracy heeded his call,
And they haven’t been seen to this day.
The street was at once full of smiles.
“Jump in! Jump in!” he cheerfully cried.
“I can drive you for miles and miles.”
Timmy and Tracy heeded his call,
And they haven’t been seen to this day.
I was with a friend one day when he walked into a London cafe. He wanted to know when it closed, because he was thinking of eating there later. So he asked a member of staff: "What time do you shut up?" I burst out laughing, because it sounded so rude. Now I use the question when someone annoys me.
March 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I was with a friend one day when he walked into a London cafe. He wanted to know when it closed, because he was thinking of eating there later. So he asked a member of staff: "What time do you shut up?" I burst out laughing, because it sounded so rude. Now I use the question when someone annoys me.
Some great advice on creativity, from the artist Grayson Perry.
March 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some great advice on creativity, from the artist Grayson Perry.
Have a nice Sunday!
March 2, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Have a nice Sunday!
On Thistledown Farm in Northamptonshire, the sheep are treated to a prawn vindaloo every Friday.
February 28, 2025 at 11:32 AM
On Thistledown Farm in Northamptonshire, the sheep are treated to a prawn vindaloo every Friday.
This is a popular clothing shop in Crapley, Herefordshire. I love the name.
February 24, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is a popular clothing shop in Crapley, Herefordshire. I love the name.
One of my special rock memories! This happened in 1974, and the story was published in Q Magazine a couple of decades later.
February 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM
One of my special rock memories! This happened in 1974, and the story was published in Q Magazine a couple of decades later.