Yes, I needed a Swiss fellow to interpret for me at a blacksmith event in Plymouth (UK) a few years ago. I had a great deal of difficulty with a couple of the UK accents. I learned later in private that one of the men I had trouble understanding is hardly understood by his countrymen much of the time, so I didn't feel too bad about it.

I am glad you had this experience, Ted, and good on you Jock for making it happen !

I think that is the greatest thing about the internet. Finding out that we are really more alike than different, in most ways, regardless of where on the planet we call "home".