I've been really enjoying Charles Hazelwood's series The Birth of British Music although I missed the programme on Handel. Last week's episode on Haydn was terrific. But I had one question. Apparently Haydn was paid a small fortune (£1200) to write some symphonies during his first sojourn in London. But then Hazelwood said that a turkey cost 7shillings, and a dressed duck 5shillings. This struck me as outrageously expensive. A friend suggested that as a foreigner Haydn was charged London court prices. Does anyone know why food was relatively expensive? I mean poultry didn't have to be brought in from anywhere since, I imagine, fowl ran around in the streets? Maybe not turkeys. And how much was £1200 at present day values? Anyway, its a great series, which explains the instruments and visits the composers' domestic settings.