GREAT UNCLE ALBERT

My great uncle Albert,the flower hawker,had a special suit with hundreds of slits cut into it.
He used to fill these with flowers.
He would `sell`these to people in the streets,or at the races.They would often part with their pennies in exchange for the promise of `good luck`.The implication also being(in gypsy psychology)that, if they didn`t buy a stem, `bad luck`would befall them.
My great uncle Albert had a slightly sinister air,which was good for `business`.

It must have been a wonderful sight seeing him walking down Clarendon Cross in the morning,on the way to `work`,with his whistle covered in blooms.
What was really funny though,was in the pub,in the evening,when he had `outed` his stock,had cash in his pocket, and was sitting around drinking in his `special suit`with hundreds of slits and holes in the trousers.

This photo is of Great Uncle Albert,his wife Alice,and her sister,all carrying their `good luck charms`.