Parlez-vous anglais?

Having grown up in "english speaking New Brunswick", I always assumed that I had grown up without the influence of our french speaking "neighbours" to the north of the province.  And having moved around as much as I had, living east, west and all around this country, I also assumed that I had no accent to speak of.  Yeah sure, when I visited my friends the McLaughlin's in Northern Ireland I wasn't surprised when people commented on my "accent"...but aside from that, I felt "twang free".  Apparently that's not the case.   One of my first stops on this little "trip back in time" to London, Ontario, was to the house of my friends, Rebecca and Dave.  During the evening, Dave introduced me to his sons by asking how they liked my "down east accent".  "I don't have an accent" I said!!  "Uh huh", they replied.    And having grown up in a bilingual province, I always pick up on someone who is "french first" speaking english, because they often times get the words backwards in the sentence, or the name of something "back to front"...but hey, being a born and raised english person, I didn't have that problem....did I??  Call it what you will, there have been 2 situations where I have learned that I say things backwards.  The first was when my friend Joanne and I returned from seeing the comedian, Tommy Tiernan (who, incidentally is from Ireland).  We hadn't had time after our little 

Me, Joanne and Carole
at Carole's for dinner



shopping trip to Port Huron to grab supper before the show, so upon getting home she said she'd make us a sandwich.  When discussing the different options, I said I really liked "cheese grilled"...apparently the proper terminology is "grilled cheese"...who knew!  Then last night having dinner with Joanne and our friend Carole,  she was bringing the potato dish to the table and I commented "wow, I love potato scallop"....all these years I've called it that...again, who knew... it's normally called "scalloped potatoes"??  Hmmmm... am I a reincarnated french person??

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY:  I was always the first person to claim that "you can't go back"  Having returned to the same postings on 2 occasions (worked in Toronto from 1987 - 1990 and again from 2001 -2003/worked in London from 1990-1995 and again from 2003-2004) I knew you could never re-create the things/work/lifestyle from years gone by.   Everything was always different.  Well, I may have to revisit that position.  After 7 1/2 years away from London, this "retirement tour" (as I like to refer to it) has been a 

Barb, Rebecca, Lynne,
Paula and Me
with matching GTG shirts


resounding success.  I've had such a great time this week with friends Joanne, Carole, Rebecca, Lynne, Paula, Barb and Carol that perhaps, just for a brief time, you can turn the clock back.  It was truly as if I had never been away.  In all instances, we just picked up where we left off so many years ago.  Thanks to you all for a great week... especially you Joanne.  Your home and hospitality were greatly appreciated, and I look forward to you and Carole coming east so I can return the favour!!!