Not understanding things-

I was always quite fond of 'hen'! 

Thanks for the replies. 
I like seeing that I am not the only one to have difficulties.
So we watched the movie again (this time with my 12 year old daughter) and I understood much more, I guess it really is a matter of giving it a chance. There were still a few words and couple phrases that just sounded completely foreign language like to me, so I paused it to ask my 16 old what was being said and funnily enough she didn't get it either. She never even got that they were in Eastbourne... so my first post about her getting it all was a bit wrong- I came to find out.
I think it's even harder for her because she will have to be going to school there and that topped with the age thing (where kids have to feel like they know it all) makes it hard to actually not know.
When I listen to the English radio stations or watch other English movies, I almost never come across a word that is so foreign to me like what happened in that movie, so I am going to assume it's a generational thing going on there.
I even understand most Irish accents unless it's a very thick one. Scottish, forget it!

When DH gets off the phone with his Grandmother, he says "Tara, me luv." Apparently Tara (pronounced Ta-rah) is midlands for "goodbye." His family, all from Birmingham, are constantly referring to each other as water fowl. I find it quite endearing.

I think it's fantastic that even after all these years there are terms I've not heard before and have to ask what they mean.

LOL...we get Ta-rah here too, as well as aye-up, and duck. I have a real hard time understanding some people if its loud (in a crowded pub) or on the phone. I HATE ringing places because I never know if they'll understand me or if I'll understand them.
Of course it took me only a short time to realize that the Potteries had their own "dialect" and as hubby used to work down in the coal mines...he was proficient in it so he can understand anyone.
Oh well, must go now... Ar'll say thee layter!

Not sure I'll ever get used to people calling me "chicken" as a term of affection. :-)

Come to Cornwall and see if you like being called, "my *bleep*." 

My sister in law started dating a guy from up North, and when he was introduced to my (Southern UK) mother in law he said "Aye-up," to which she replied, "Oh, no you don't!  I already have an American in the family; I'm not having an 'aye-up', too!"

Come to Cornwall and see if you like being called, "my *bleep*." 

  Snort!!!!
 

My sister in law started dating a guy from up North, and when he was introduced to my (Southern UK) mother in law he said "Aye-up," to which she replied, "Oh, no you don't!  I already have an American in the family; I'm not having an 'aye-up', too!"

 

Come to Cornwall and see if you like being called, "my *bleep*." 

Lol .

And in Bristol, you've got "my lover", as in "Alroight, moi luvver?"

And in Bristol, you've got "my lover", as in "Alroight, moi luvver?"

We get that down here too, but 'my *bleep*' is funnier! 

Oh great. Now I have 'Combine Harvester' stuck in my head!

Oh great. Now I have 'Combine Harvester' stuck in my head!

When DH (Somerset native) and I were dating, he played that song for me as a sort of warning.  "This is how people talk, where I come from," he said, watching me carefully for signs of panic.   

My DH and Inlaws say "bostin'" a lot. Like when DH is on the phone scheduling an appointment or asking for something and the person agrees he says "bostin." I guess it translates to great or really good.  It was confusing at first because it's pronounced how I would say Boston. So, initially I was like  How can that be Boston? What does it have to do with the city of Boston on either side of the pond?

I generally have no problems understanding the accents in the UK... It is more the occasional *content* of what is said that throws ME for a loop.

And in Bristol, you've got "my lover", as in "Alroight, moi luvver?"

And up here, while you might get called 'duck', more often it's 'love'. It's nice to be so loved!  

I can't remember whether it was on this forum or another expat forum, but I remember a person who was living in the southwest posting that whenever she went into a local pub, she kept being called 'mother' & she was terribly angry at the cheek of it all since she wasn't a mother & thought they were being very disrespectful & rude to her. Until it was explained that in fact they weren't saying 'mother' at all, but rather 'moi luvver'. Soooooo...even if you can't entirely understand, it will only help to keep a sense of humour!  

I'm here in 'Ay-up' land, with its ginnels and days when it's siling it down.  

I always thought that 'Ta-ra' was a Geordie thing, which sort of spread from there.

To the OP, when you are living over here, if you happen to be mentioning anything about a 'thick' accent - it would be better, IME, to say instead a 'broad' accent, not thick. I used to get strange, occasionally frowning looks (or laughter - 'so what are you trying to say?!') when I'd say that someone had a 'thick' accent...'thick' here means that someone is stupid.

To the OP, when you are living over here, if you happen to be mentioning anything about a 'thick' accent - it would be better, IME, to say instead a 'broad' accent, not thick. I used to get strange, occasionally frowning looks (or laughter - 'so what are you trying to say?!') when I'd say that someone had a 'thick' accent...'thick' here means that someone is stupid.

I agree with this... where I live, it's offensive to say that someone has a 'thick' accent.