Ah Erko ... and Florence ... and that's not an English accent

[blamebrampton]

The lovely crazy French cat lady was about again today, with her giant ginger tom in her backpack, head sticking out and surveying the world. Apparently he dislikes cat cages, but is quite fond of being worn papoose-style. She inquired after our plague and I was happy to report that J and I are both on the mend. While the occasional coughing fit still occurs, and we're still fairly tired, we are definitely functional human beings again rather than flu victims. Hurrah!

This recovery, and the end of the report edit of doom (want to know anything about Australian regulatory authorities? I'm your girl!) means that I am now free to start planning the casual part of my trip to Florence in five weeks. It starts with a conference and a catch-up with my curatorial friends, and ends with a catch-up with some fandom friends, but in between there are several days of nothing.

I suspect that two straight weeks in Firenze will see me a little rabid, so I am trying to sort out what I want to do nearby. I'll be travelling by train or bus, have a modest budget and will be alone. It's the art and textiles tour, ahead of next year's romantic getaway when the cash-flow situation will be much improved. If you know the region, help me make up my mind. Bologna is calling to me, but I am trying to decide about Lucca, Ferrara, Pisa (where I m dropping in for a day anyway), Siena and San Gimignano. Any recommendations? I have been to all these spots save Lucca, but as a dissolute young person rather than as a responsible adult with High Cultural Concerns.

On the topic of cultural concerns, one strange artefact of the flu has been watching television. I am constantly surprised by what American actors think sounds English. Does this happen the other way around? Hugh Laurie and the bloke on Life both sound very American to me (with occasional vowel slippage from Hugh),  do Americans hear everything that's wrong there?

Finally, a very happy birthday to sassy_cissa ! Your kindness, generosity and talent never cease to impress and inspire me!

Comments

[complications-g.livejournal.com]

Gah, anyone trying to do an English accent! So. Bad. And it's always the posh upper class one, which only a small fraction of English people even have.

I don't think I've ever actually heard anyone trying to do an Australian accent. My accent is very weird currently, My vowels have turned, so when I say 'Australia' it sounds very natural Aussie, but most still sounds common Londoner. I get asked about it a lot. ;)

I love Hugh Laurie. I watched two seasons of House in one go, then watched an extra thing, hearing him talk naturally, and was whoa, oh yeah, that's how he actually talks! :D

And yay for you and Italy!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I can do a passable Australian if I talk through my nose and don't move my jaw (I am convinced they talk like this so the flies can't get in!)

One thing I've noticed lately is that American actors doing English accents increasingly go for a sort of Central London meets Essex/vaguely SE regional confection, maybe it's all the Jamie Oliver? And I am old enough to remember when every time you heard a posh English accent in an American film, they were playing a Nazi ;-)

As for Americans doing Aussie accents, Robert Downey Junior in Natural Born Killers (and in his new film, which I haven't seen) and A Dingo Stole My Baby from Meryl are the two that occur to me!

Some Australian actors do reasonable Brit, Cate Blanchett and Errol Flynn spring to mind, though he's not doing much these days ;-)

[complications-g.livejournal.com]

Hee, yes, those damn flies!

Really? I want to hear that! I'm from SE London, heard of Lewisham? Agh, Nazi-British? So weird.

Haven't seen either, but will try. Though, I've studied the whole Dingo-baby thing in legals studies and it kind of put me off any movies. We watched the longest doc on it ever, it lasted about five hours or something, well, it lasted over a week in class, anyway. D:

Yeah, Cate Blanchett's pretty cool, I don't think I've actually seen Errol Flynn in anything. :(

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I've gone *through* Lewisham many times (but, alas, never stopped).

I would happily do my 'Aussie' for you, but I can only do phrases that have not been used by actual Australians since the 1930s, as I was taught it by a very old man I used to know ;-)

And yeah, that Chamberlain case was just weird, but I suppose it was the Sally Clarke of the Antipoodes ... If you can see Errol in Robin Hood or the Sea Hawk, I thoroughly recommend it! Very old, but very very cool!

[complications-g.livejournal.com]

Well, you're not missing much. ;)

Hee, even better! Classic!

Ooh, I love Robin Hood movies, will definitely check that out.