Lost In Translation

It is interesting to see how different countries present the news.  On a late-night news bulletin yesterday, I heard that Andy Murray had beaten his opponent in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. There was lots of talk about tactics, strength and skill.

I have just read in the Hamburger Abendblatt that Roger Federer has reached the final of the same tournament. Here there is lots of talk about how brilliant he is, how many tournaments he’s won etc. There is an implication that he will win this one, too.

But who do I cross my fingers for? I think Federer is fantastic, not only is he an amazing player he seems to be an incredibly nice person, too (and I’ve had the pleasure of translating some press releases about him).  I *always* want him to win. But it would be rather good if a Brit won the Aussie Open… it hasn’t happened for 30 years. It’s about time.

I might just have to screw up my eyes, turn down the volume on my ears and hide under the duvet until Monday morning.

In one way, I suppose, I won’t be disappointed whoever wins… but nevertheless, it all feels rather agonising.

Filed under: Life, Switzerland on January 29th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

I am the world’s worst at understanding the mysteries of mathematics – but I do like numbers. I remember sitting in a maths exam once, knowing that I hadn’t a clue how to solve the problems, but playing with the numbers to see what would happen if I played with them in my own sweet way. I’m pretty sure I failed the exam but I had a certain amount of entertainment in the time allotted.

A couple of satisfying sequences of numbers came up today.

The Pa-rent is 82 today and he was born 28.1.28

The jar of sauerkraut I opened needs to be eaten by 20.11.2011.

I have nothing profound to add. Just thought I’d mention these things.

Filed under: Life on January 28th, 2010 | 4 Comments »

let it snow!

All together now:  Oh the weather outside is frightful/but the fire  is so delightful…

As one who works from home, I am not really affected by the snowy conditions. I don’t have a treacherous commute or people relying on my services to be delivered on site and I have a well-stocked fridge so I can continue as normal (whatever that is…).

However, to mark this slightly unusual event, I have taken advantage of a lowish workload, and given myself a “snow day”. And so far, it has been very pleasant.  On my way to visit my elderly neighbour and clear her path, I played snowballs with two more of my neighbours, Mr Graphic Designer and Mrs Cupcake – both of whom also work from home. Mr GD was building a snow arch round his gateway to welcome home his wife when she manages to tramp back. He had also built a “pigloo” – an igloo for two soft toy pigs he had given her for Christmas so that she can see what they get up to when she’s not at home.  Mrs Cupcake was building a snowman with Master Cupcake in their front garden – and I could see Mr Cupcake sitting at his computer indoors so he has a snow day too. Little Miss Cupcake had managed, however, on her 18-month old legs to toddle to nursery!

My digital camera died on me recently, so I feel rather vexed that I cannot take photos of the white stuff which makes everywhere look so pretty.

I am about to tackle another (short) press release on wallpaper designs but I must pop downstairs first. I managed to cremate my lunchtime toast. Today is not the day to have the back door wide open to get rid of the smoke. An icy blast is finding its way up the stairs to remind me of my folly.

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 6th, 2010 | Comments Off

that have appeared before the year is yet three full days old..

The first lesson of the year is one your correspondent has noted several times before but one which she is yet to fully learn, it would appear.

In writing the long list of lovely things she would like to achieve/learn/explore/experience this year (which includes many things carried over from several, er, decades), she has this afternoon been reminded of why so many of these things remain on her wish list of life.

Mrs Translating Tiggywinkle would like to share with her long-suffering readers that achieving objectives does not only require writing them down and getting on and doing them but also removing the obstacles from their being achieved.

Today, while it was still light (it is now pitch black), was a bright, sunny yet frosty day – just perfect for a walk. Mrs Tigg thought this would be an admirable way of starting out in the way she means to go on this year in the way of taking in an increase of exercise. Until, that is, that she remembered with horror that despite having told her customers that she was unavailable until January 4, she had in fact cracked on December 30th and promised to translate about 5 hours’ worth of press releases for tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to roll around, well, tomorrow and the evil has had to be faced. Poo and piddle.

As previously mentioned, it is now pitch black outside and below freezing. Not really conducive to a pleasant, bracing walk.

It’s a bit of a dilemma: not to take on the work would mean less income in a period which has been a bit draughty on the pecuniary side but taking on work when friends and family are relaxing means that Mrs Tigg has fewer opportunities to socialise and do those things that she would actually *like* to do.

I must resolve to tease a resolution out of this. But right now I must go back and proofread the press releases that are attempting to persuade consumers to part with their cash to buy wallpaper.

Filed under: Translation, Trials on January 3rd, 2010 | 1 Comment »

and Happy New Decade!

It’s only just recently occurred to me that we are entering a new decade. I can hardly believe that it is 10 years since I stood on London Bridge on Millennium Eve watching fireworks with several million other people and tramping home with a few hundred thousand.

Time is a funny concept – I’m not sure I’ll ever understand its elasticity. It isn’t helped by the fact that on 21 December when I popped into the local Tesco to find some portable provisions for my journey to the frozen north of Denmark, there was a huge display of those seasonal favourites – hot cross buns. Yesterday I was in the same shop and was arrested by the sight of a display of Cadbury’s creme eggs.

The Pa-rent doesn’t really hold with the idea of celebrating New Year. He asserts that every day is the beginning of a new year – it just depends on where you start counting from.  However, I think Tesco hasn’t quite got the hang of the meaning of a movable feast.

The beginning of a new (calendar) year and a new decade (if you are following the accepted Christian calendar) makes me feel as if I should be marking their advent in a significant way. I haven’t really started thinking about momentous resolutions/life improvements/goals/ yet. Perhaps these will develop with the help of a glass of wine or two.

In the meantime, while I await inspiration, I wish you the compliments of the season and all the best for a new decade.

Filed under: Seasons on January 1st, 2010 | 1 Comment »

to all my readers!

The title should give you a clue as to where I am this festive season*.

Wishing you peace and joy, now and for the New Year.

*At least, where I hope to be! At the time of writing, I am still in the ARC which has caught up with the rest of the country. We had a fall of snow just after the Christmas carol service on Sunday and while friends were at a little soirée chez moi, sipping mulled wine.  If the weather here – and the weather in Denmark permit, I shall be ensconced with my Danish relatives, eating, um, rice pudding…. which is their festive fare. I haven’t mentioned that I don’t actually like rice pudding…I have an English Christmas pudding in my suitcase

Filed under: Denmark, Family, Seasons, Weather on December 25th, 2009 | 2 Comments »

bum… which is a little ironic because I have spent the past two days translating a furniture catalogue.  It may be time to treat myself to a decent chair.

Filed under: Trials on December 4th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Over the years, my gentle readers have endured my occasional rants about ridiculous deadlines, lack of information about the product I’m supposed to be selling in my translations and other general irritations and stupidities.

The other day I had this email exchange (adapted for this current audience – with free translation thrown in ) with one of my more helpful clients:

Client: Would you be interested in translating this website?

Kerensa: Yes, I would. It looks like my kind of text.

Client: Great. We’ve got some reference material in English you might find helpful.

Kerensa: Lovely. Reference material is always good – particularly if the end-client has particular preferred terminology.

Client: Unfortunately, though, the website is only available in German.

Kerensa: [slightly bewildered] No probs. [That's because it hasn't yet been translated ..um... by me....]

Filed under: Translation on November 24th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

That is all.

Filed under: Weather on November 14th, 2009 | 3 Comments »

On my recent travels I took for company Berlin Tales, a collection of stories translated into English by Lyn Marven.
This volume is a great companion for those who do not know the city as much as it is for those who do. It takes us on a journey to Berlin through the ages – from the deprivation and decadence of the post WW1 years, to WW2 which followed soon afterwards. There are also stories from both sides of the divided city during the Cold War, the fall of the Wall and of the experiences of reintegration.

Represented are classic voices (Döblin, Tucholsky) and more contemporary authors (Emine Sevgi Özdamar, Carmen Francesca Banciu – the eagle-eyed will recognise those names as being Turkish and Romanian respectively).

There are tales of summertime, the S-Bahn, the DDR, and a host of other topics all of which make up Berlin over the years.

Filed under: Books on November 10th, 2009 | Comments Off