Quote - @ ypvs & LaurieA - I must be a real contrary bastard then.  Whenever I'm surrounded by people with a different accent, mine gets stronger.  I spent some time in the US with my then gf (an Oklahoma gal) and I was in danger of becoming a professional Yorkshireman.  :)

Great fun; a lot of conversations got started by people picking up on my accent.  "Say, are you British?" and so forth.  

Being in Oklahoma, I'm sure you got at least one "Ya'll ain't from here, are ya?"....LOL.

Laurie