Found this video of a British girl doing various English accents — it’s hysterical — predictably, the only one that sounds normal and unaffected to me is the Seattle variation. Wouldn’t you know I’m from (and in) Washington State (Warshington, for you?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0tRphsvM8M&feature=related
I am from what is now NW London, England. Wife is from W.London. Reside at the border with Upper Michigan, twin cities with Sault Ste Msrie, Ontario. Army child live in eight different locations in England. Know accents. Find Yoopers quite articulate and note that where certain groups settled there variations occur. Finnish descendants seem to have a slightly different edge with their dialect and so on.
Always chuckle at the common and garden variety of English people like myself, who put on a "special accent" when talking to someone of higher class. This is usually on the telephone.
Some of us need a jolly good laugh and this thread has provided it. This after the stress of the Akin affair.