What is the best way to learn an Edinburgh accent?

Ben   Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:20 am GMT
I've been all over the web looking for CDs on the subject. What I find doesn't get high reviews. What is truly the best way to get this accent?
Damian in Edinburgh   Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:06 am GMT
****What is truly the best way to get this accent? ***

Quite honestly, the very best way to either acquire the local accent or, more likely, learn to replicate it, is to come here and mingle with us for a lengthy period of time. The longer you stay the more successful you'll be.

Listen to some local people speak in the link I've posted in this Forum several times.

Come now - the summer weather is really lovely this year, the city is vibrant and the International Festival is just a few weks away but already getting into swing with all the fringe stuff and street entertainments.

Edinburgh is a very relaxed and friendly city and the locals will be more than happy to help you do the Auld Reekie stuff. :-)

Now I must get down to work proper.......cheers!
Kobori Misuzu   Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:28 am GMT
Hello Damian!

I checked this site from time to time but I was a "wallflower" usually. I know you are from Edinburgh so I'd like to ask a few questions! Can you please help me? Thanks!

I will be in Edinburgh on exchange programme in the autumn. Ah, sorry, but I have heard stories of Scottish food and they don't seem too nice! Sorry, sorry!

I'd like to ask is there anywhere to buy Asian (Japanese, Chinese, etc.) food ingredients in Edinburgh? I don't mean restaurants, because restaurants are expensive and I cannot afford to eat at restaurants all days!

So maybe there are some Asian supermarkets or grocery stores in Edinburgh? I would like to buy things like:
- Japanese seaweed, tofu peel, sauces, wasabi,
- Sashimi quality fish,
- Noodles like udon and somen,
- Miso,

Also tools like:
- Rice cooker,
- Hot water maker (kitchen type, NOT the heater for bath water),
- Bamboo rice roller,
- IC hot plate.

Please advise!! Thank you very much! ^_^
Kobori Misuzu   Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:30 am GMT
(Okay, since this a language learning website,

My language question is: Can you please point out and correct my mistakes?

Thank you!!)
Damian in Edinburgh   Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:57 pm GMT
Hi to Kobori Misuzu:

Of course there are Asian speciality food stores in Edinburgh which sell speciality kitchen equipment such as those you describe, as well as the speciality foods. There are Chinese/Thai food stores/supermarkets but off hand I'm not sure about Japanese. There are Japanese restaurants for sure but it seems you are going in for self catering. Pretty wise, as eating out in the UK is a wee bit expensive, depending on where you come from and what you are used to.

The speciality stores are usually tucked away in side streets away from the main shopping centre, but almost all the main supermarkets have ethnic sections which sell all sorts of foodstuffs from just about all over. When I was at uni I worked part time in Tesco - in Leeds as well as here in Edinburgh - it's a main UK s/mkt so I know a wee bit about it.

Scottish food no longer deserves the reputation you mentioned, unless of course they still deep fry mars bars in Glasgow! Most younger people anyway go for the ethnic stuff anyway, loads to choose from, but you can have some really great Scottish nosh such as an Aberdeen Angus steak if you really want to go native sometime! And the sea food comes in all sorts and it's wicked! (Wicked in the UK means great).

Here are some links you may find useful. Sorry this is all cobbled together in a rush really, but hope it helps. Let me know if you want any more info. Cheers for now.

http://www.edinburghguide.com/edgforum/viewforum.php?f=30

http://www.edinburghguide.com/society/food/vegetarian/

http://www.scottishfoodanddrink.com/view_item.aspx?item_id=20694

http://www.edinburghsalsa.co.uk

http://www.ga-taxis.co.uk/edinburgh-restaurants.html

http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/resources/IanS/Ian/EdinburghEating.html

PS: whereabouts in Edinburgh will you be staying?
Damian   Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:03 pm GMT
Sorry.....cocked one of the links up...try this instead:

http://www.ga-taxis.co.uk/edinburghrestaurants.html
Rick Johnson   Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:44 pm GMT
Scottish food tasted fine to me! It would be criminal to visit Scotland and not try haggis at least once.

Haggis, Seaweed and Noodles- now there's a recipe!!
Benji   Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:37 pm GMT
Damian,

Thanks for your response. I will do some checking into the links you have posted elsewhere. I will hang around and learn what I can. Do you PM or IM here? I use Windows Messenger but have a Yahoo account as well. Again thanks!
Viviane   Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:32 am GMT
Hello Damian:

I found this site via another site and thought maybe you would be able to help me with info on any South-East Asian (Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian) Grocery Stores in Glasgow or Edinburgh.

I am from Los Angeles, CA. and will be moving to Glasgow in a few months and would greatly appreciate your assistance (info web-links or Store Names/Addresses). Restaurants are nice but not quite like the authentic cooking that one can make at home.

Thank-you in advance for your help.

Viviane

Email: vsaychou@yahoo.com
Damian in Edinburgh   Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:13 pm GMT
VIVIANE:

You say you will be moving to Glasgow soon so I'm posting this link to you which refers to Scotland's largest Asian superstore which apparently may be just what you're looking for. According to the website it sells foodstuffs/ingredients etc from every country under the Asian sun. As far as I know we don't have anything on that scale here in Edinburgh - in fact I'm pretty sure we don't - here they are mostly the "small corner of the street Open All Hours type shops" dealing in ethnic/Oriental foods etc.

http://www.seewoo.com/x/glasgow.html
Viviane   Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:28 pm GMT
Thank-you for the link... This is exactly what I was looking for!