To tie the Dick Van Dyke talk to the thread title, I've noticed a remarkable phenomenon - Mention DVD to almost anyone from the UK. They will roll their eyes and exclaim, "Oh that awful Cockney accent!" It's always the first thing they say.

Although, the fact that none of you have mentioned it yet makes the phenomenon less, uhhh, phenomenal.

"Oh that awful Cockney accent!"

I have met Cockneys who regarded it with affection, as the funniest parody ever, but they're few and far between.

I reserve my Mary Poppins- ire for the American robin that shows up singing at one point. Clearly this is some England in an alternate dimension, perhaps where it's a few miles offshore of Massachusetts.

I have met Cockneys who regarded it with affection, as the funniest parody ever, but they're few and far between.

My mother is, strictly speaking, a Cockney.

My mother is, strictly speaking, a Cockney.

What kind of strict? And I have to go back to my grandfather at least, probably great-grandfather, to find a Cockney.

What kind of strict? And I have to go back to my grandfather at least, probably great-grandfather, to find a Cockney.

In that she's Australian, and sounds Australian; but she was actually born within the sound of the Bow bells.

Right. So Cockney born but not Cockney spoken.

Strictly speaking, my husband's a Texan.

But you get the death glare for mentioning it.

I reserve my Mary Poppins- ire for the American robin that shows up singing at one point. Clearly this is some England in an alternate dimension, perhaps where it's a few miles offshore of Massachusetts.

Would that be the same alternate dimension where they have tea parties on the ceiling and you can jump into chalk paintings?

Maybe the robin hitched a ride on a freighter and got stuck in London.

Would that be the same alternate dimension where they have tea parties on the ceiling and you can jump into chalk paintings?

Don't be silly, DX: people do that all the time in England.