OK, I had to read it out loud to do so, but I definitely got it (giggle)

I'm afraid a combination of domestic stuff & computer problems led to me losing the impetus with my NY report - then I thought maybe its time had come & gone.

I have written some of the final part, however & I promise that I'll try to bring it to a conclusion over the weekend.

Thanks,

Jim

I am an ex-Newyawker, living in very rural Pa, so I get picked on all the time for my accent. People ask me to repeat stuff. I usually don't have much of a problem with accents.

I was fine with my trip to the UK, except, in Glascow. Even my husband when he called me, had no problem, talking to the hotel employees, except for there.

We had to ask this poor concierge to repeat his directions to our restaurant at least four times. I was mortified.

I have to say I can listen to English accents and Scottish accents all day. I love it.

Will travel:

1. RE "raising class issues" -- I was once told by an Englishman that a Scots accents is the ONE regional accent that has no negative calss connotations.

2. RE Comprehensible to a Canadian? -- my dear spouse, a Cdn. doctoral student at Edinburgh for 3 years, declares: "No, not always"

3. RE Comparables: You and I likely cannot understand everything some Newfoundlanders say to us -- yet they are fellow Canadians!

Another jock joke - again if you can follow this......

A bloke goes into a bakers and asks the chap behind the counter..."Is that a cake or a meringue?"

"No. you're right it's a cake"

joe4212 & fairfax,

New York trip report now completed as per your orders;

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34778469

You'll have no trouble understanding them,....the only country in Europe I've ever had any difficulty is in France, where they don't seem to even try to make sense of what you are communicating...and I even stay with family who speak french fluently.

Have fun

WillTravel,

I, too, had some fear about whether I would understand the people in Scotland. In Edinburgh, not a problem. On the other hand, I was in a pub in Dover and the barmaid was Scottish.

After chatting for a while, she said, “Can you tell I’m Scottish?”smiling and sensing I was paying particularly close attention - which was true.

“Oh, yes”, I confessed.

Another man, an Englishman, was also in the conversation. Side by side, the difference was notable, with my Midwestern American ear definitely favoring the Englishman. Still, I understood enough.

PatrickLondon’s suggestion to listen the radio statio on the Internet (he posted a link) is an excellent idea. You’ll pick it up.