Roy,

Despite having visited London several times and having almost
exclusively British friends when I lived in California the following
quote from a previous post of yours went completely over my head:

"In the park where the cottage was I was all alone."...referring to
your visit to Basingstoke.

I thought I had a good handle on the differences between British
English and American English, but I must have been over confident.

I thought you meant the park had been turned into private cottages for
residents.

In all my days I have never heard this term refer to a toilet. I have
heard them referred to as waysides, outhouses, rest areas/rooms/stops,
water closets, lavatories, latrines, cans and even privies.

Thinking back though, I do remember one phrase in "Get Real" that
threw me briefly, but not completely as with "cottage".

Steven to John: referring to his parents if they found out he was
gay, "they'd be gutted". Where I live it would have been "crushed". I
had to rewind the DVD. I couldn't understand why he would gut his
parents!

Foot note: I still need a translator for a heavy Irish accent and have
totally given up trying to understand any Scottish accents. Last time
I was in London I had a mate from Cornwall translate a Scottish
acquaintance for me.