Cornish coast for Pam. Heather and gorse catching the sun. H. A. N. W. E. everyone!

Great story, Andy! Yes, it's true that to Americans the accents sound similar. And I'm told that Brits found Dick van Dyke's "Cockney" accent in Disney's _Mary Poppins_ most unconvincing! Van Dyke, of course, was a well-known American actor at the time (ca. early 60s). We also get exposed to British speech patterns from Masterpiece Theater. I've heard that in _Victoria_ and _Downton Abbey_ and presumably others they're careful to distinguish the characters' working class from upper class accents, but that goes right by most Americans! ;)
A couple stories in return: in college one of the grad students was from South Africa, and when I commented his accent sounded British he answered, "To American ears, yes!" And, back in the early 90s, I'd sold some software to a group at the ANU in Canberra. They were having all kinds of problems, and I couldn't get the fax to work, so I finally decided to place an overseas phone call. (Frighteningly easy even back then--no operator required, just punch lots of digits!) Anyway, a receptionist with what to my ears was a very British accent answered, and I tried to speak very slowly and carefully the name of the party I was trying to reach. There was a pause; and then she said, "Oh certainly, sir!" and connected me. Apparently she hadn't been expecting an American accent, and had to back up and reparse what I'd said!

I worked with a few South Africans, Steve and their accent seemed light years away from any English accent!!
Having said that, nearly all North American, South African and Antipodean accents are far easier to understand than many regional accents from the UK! The one I struggle with the most is the Scottish accent from The Gorbals, Glasgow.

Dark clouds and colourful land make a sandwich of sea and distant light sky!