The accent thing
Question: who has the ‘accent’? The Brits or the Americans? I don’t know and I don’t mind – I love accents, regardless. They are a cultural pleasure and they are part of our identity.
Though, according to some, not all British accents are ‘sexy’ 😉
BUT – I’ve heard some Brits say this statement (below) before, and to be honest, it makes me cringe, get embarrassed and, I feel, verges a little on the side of snobbery and superiority:
American person: ‘I love your accent!’
British person: ‘You’re the one with the accent, not me.’
The accent thing
Anyway, I still think accents are wonderful things and I’m proud of my accent, and I love to hear others from all over the place. Slowly, but surely, I am beginning to distinguish between accents from all over the States. Whatever the politics or the history of the accent, it is ever-evolving and that is a wondrous thing, ain’t it?!
Excellent British words
I was asked by a Brit if there is a USA equivalent for the following British words: ‘numpty’, ‘plonker’ and ‘pillock’. (FYI, these words are used to describe someone who has done something a bit daft, and aren’t overly rude or aggressive!) They’re what one might call ‘nice insults’ (or is that an oxymoron?!). I just don’t know if there is an American version of these words…. I heard one yesterday that might pass – ‘ding-dong’ 😉
Interestingly, Sir David Jason says an American remake of British TV show ‘Only Fools And Horses’ won’t work as there’s no word over there for ‘plonker’.
This is a perfect example of an ‘Only Fools and Horses’ genius plonker clip 😉
Downton frenzy
Oh flippin’ Nora! There is so much love in the USA for Downton Abbey, season 4, I can barely get on to my social media without some mention of it! People in Maryland were even dressing up for the first episode of the new season last night!
She’s a fan, obvs.
A super fan, perhaps?!
The upstairs lot
Jolly good show!
There is a whole lot of love for Downton Abbey, but I agree with my good friend Melissa, who runs Smitten by Britain that it’s pretty much got to be the last season, right? I didn’t watch the season 4 premiere last night because I haven’t even watched season 3 yet – I’ve been far too busy doing things in the USA, don’t ya know! 😉
ukdesperatehousewifeusa 
I had to mark on our garage wall where my wife should stop when she parks the pick-up truck to make sure she clears the door. It says in large letters “Here you plonker” 😉
Brilliant!
I think Downton could easily wrap things up in Series 5 but certainly not go any further than a sixth series. The skipping ahead six months and then quickly wrapping up serious story lines with little detail and what seems like little regard for them in the first place is a bit insulting to the viewer I think. It smacks of laziness and desperation. Time to go.(Thanks for the mention, btw.)
I think ‘knucklehead’ or ‘blockhead’ would be an adequate American equivalent to ‘plonker.’ Probably the most famous example of a Del Boy/Rodders type relationship in American TV comedy is from “All in the Family” (which funny enough is a remake of a British comedy) and the relationship between Archie Bunker and his son-in-law. Archie used to call his son-in-law “Meathead.” Then there was ‘Sanford and Son’ ( a remake of the British show ‘Steptoe and Son.’ Fred Sanford often called his son a ‘Big dummy!’, which to a Brit might sound like he’s being called a baby ‘pacifier.’ LOL!
I like ‘knucklehead’ 🙂
Oh, and agreed on the accent thing. Everyone has an accent!