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Original poster

To once again feel embarrassed to be from Norfolk ?

131 replies

blondegirl1979 · 02/12/2011 20:18

i have been watching 'come dine with me' this week, never seen it before but its filmed in Norwich and I used to work with someone who was on it.

I was born in Norwich to parents from London and have lived here all my life, have always detested the way Norfolk people speak (i actaully dont mean to cause offense, its just my opinion, and obviously not one i go around sharing, its just my 'thing' as it were), its always cringeworthy when someone from Norfolk is being interviewed on tv/radio as it seems that the slowest speaking, thickest accented people are always chosen, almost complete with their tractor and all other stereotypes.

I travel around for my job and noone ever thinks im from Norfolk, which always pleases me (yeah, maybe shallow). Anyway my point is: that bloody chip shop woman makes me ashamed to be from norfolk, she didnt help herslef by coming across as so ignorant 'i dont eat none of that foreign muck' etc etc, and eating a meal before going to someones house becuase she couldnt read the menu ????

In her defense, the other 4 people on the program with her were very educated, non accented people who she kept saying she wasnt comfortable with, and i presume that some dodgy editing had taken place - but even so....... Rant over, she just annoyed me, ive been thinking this all week and now i dont seem to be able to make a concise point. Sorry.

OP posts:
schroeder · 02/12/2011 21:00

Norfolk accents are fabulous and I mourn the loss of mine, why would you want to sound like every one else?

There are stupid people everywhere; have you never been to Wakefield?

Is CDWM on demand?

Original poster
blondegirl1979 · 02/12/2011 21:00

Microcow, no i dont want everyone to sound the same at all. I didnt think the ohers were poncy - possibly an unbalanced group, i dont know, i have neve seen it before so i dont know about the usual dynamics. I was suprised though that anyone would make the 'foreign muck' food coments (at all) in the vicinity of a tv camera, especially when you are going to use the program as an advert for your fish and chip business...

Sorry LeBof.

OP posts:
NorfolkNCarolSingers · 02/12/2011 21:02

I'm saying nothing Xmas Wink

(am living in Suffolk by way of Sussex but live on the border)

Original poster
blondegirl1979 · 02/12/2011 21:03

Schroeder- it was on channel 4 if that helps.

OP posts:
fluffywhitekittens · 02/12/2011 21:05

The grammar is out of whack from Standard English. A dialect, by definition has its own grammar.

Feminine · 02/12/2011 21:07

But isn't it very silly to assume that just because an accent makes someone sound a bit thick, that it rings true?

I do understand what you are saying ...but its almost like you have turned against your own.

If its that you think that it is the editing that is causing the problem ,then you have your answer surely?

Most people know we are being worked when a show comes on...

schroeder · 02/12/2011 21:10

Thanks dh likes it and it's always full of 'slightly odd characters'.

Taking the piss out of Norfolk people is like water off a duck's back.

Have you not heard the expression 'normal for Norfolk' We've got a sense of humour.

Go for ya life.

sincitylover · 02/12/2011 21:13

I'm from Suffolk originally (tho have lived in London for 24 years) and feel exactly the same about the Suffolk/Ipswich accent.

To me both those accents and the Norfolk one unfortunately do sound a bit thick.

Mind you though I was forced to lose any Suffolk burr at secondary school (they made us) I now think I might have a tendency to say awight daahlin in a mockney way. Also say 'Im not bein funny but' and 'know what I mean' at the beginning and end of sentences.

SaggyoldCHRISTMASHUMBUGcatpuss · 02/12/2011 21:18

Id rather have a Norfolk accent than an Essex one! And as for all the chavvy TOWIE crap thats popular at the moment, it makes me cringe!

SaggyoldCHRISTMASHUMBUGcatpuss · 02/12/2011 21:19

And I am from Essex before anyone flames me! Grin

Xmasbaby11 · 02/12/2011 21:22

I think there are various parts of the UK are similarly portrayed, as others have said, e.g. the north, Yorkshire. I am proud of where I am from (near Manchester). I don't have a strong accent as I have moved around, but when I meet people who are shocked at where I'm from because of their stereotypes, I think it reflects worse on them than on me. And I think it's good they meet people who don't fit the stereotypes.

Most people do not want a strong regional accent, wherever they are from. It seems to be the same the world over.

Eggrules · 02/12/2011 21:22

blondegirl1979 whom did you work with? I love CDWM and don't understand why people go on if they are fussy about food or not very sociable. I thought Cheryl was narrow minded, but she was ok (albeit with an inferiority complex). Accent was fine. IMHO if people don't like your accent it is very much their problem.

LEttletownofBOFlehem and Pinkjenny recorded but haven't yet watched. Liverpudlian living in the Midlands btw.

BumWiper Disclaimer - I love a strong Kerry accent. I love most accents anyway.

Eggrules · 02/12/2011 21:25

The woman with the strongest accent was, by her own admission, not the best educated - she seemed to be the most financially successful (by miles).

baconbutty · 02/12/2011 21:30

Omg I am so with you on this blondegirl. I live in Norwich cos I moved here for my husband,but am from the Northwest. I just find Norfolk people in general to be so slooooooow particularly in terms of sense of humour. Especially the women. Breaks my heart a bit that my kids are gonna be Norfolk boys, but relieved to see they have inherited a bit of SPARK. I should be rewarded for injecting fresh blood into this area.

baconbutty · 02/12/2011 21:34

Someone "shew" me something today. FFS!!!

Original poster
blondegirl1979 · 02/12/2011 21:36

Eggrules, i worked at the same place as david, it was years and years ago when he was about 17, randomly bumped into him a few years ago when he had just got into radio. Also you are right about her being the most financially sucessful, but she was a bit older than the rest, which was another way that they werent a balanced mix. She did have a massive inferiority complex, my sisters late MIL was just the same, lovely woman but kept on about how stupid she was (her words) all the time, which draws attention to things you would not have actually noticed, i tend to go with the theory that if theres something you dont understand, then you just ask....she didnt understand the menus - so why not just ask ?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 02/12/2011 21:41

Norwich? Where's that? Do you mean Naaaaridge? I hent gotta problem wi Naaaaridge. Loostarft on the other hand...

I live in Norfolk and I'm so slow and lacking in humour that it's taken me 98 minutes just to open this thread and construct a sentence. It's a terrible life.

LadyBeagleBaublesAndBells · 02/12/2011 21:42

You are being ridiculous OP.
Do you really think one thicko on CDWM makes everybody look down on people from Norfolk?
There are no 'typical' Norfolkians (?) as there are no Typical Scots.
If I thought every Scot that appeared in a reality show typified me, I would bury myself in the garden.

kerala · 02/12/2011 21:43

God yes the accent. I grew up in rural Somerset which weirdly considering its on the other side of the country has a similar accent to Norfolk. My parents werent orignally from there so spoke normally (with no accent). I went to the local comp and the cooler you were the more west country ooo errr you sounded. Even at 11 I remember thinking I dont care if I am called a square or a snob for the rest of my school days I will never ever speak like that. Eventually ended up working in the City no way would you get a job there with that accent.

usualsuspect · 02/12/2011 21:43

Only on MN eh?

Jeez this place is pissing me off

Esta3GG · 02/12/2011 21:45

Lady Beagle - Have you not heard of "normal for Norfolk"?
There is a reason that NFN is used by the entire medical profession in relation to dimwitted patients. You don't get that in Scotland!

LadyBeagleBaublesAndBells · 02/12/2011 21:49

No, I've never heard that, Esta.
What does it mean?
England is just England to me, with different variations.
And I love you all mostly.

Original poster
blondegirl1979 · 02/12/2011 21:53

Esta, ive heard about that, but i was never 100% on if it was true or just someone taking the piss !

OP posts:
usualsuspect · 02/12/2011 21:54

Anyone who believes that CDWM is true to life is a bit thick really

LadyBeagleBaublesAndBells · 02/12/2011 21:57

I'm utterly Shock about this thread.

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