Wallpapering over the cracks

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 [...]

I have a numb…

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.

Leisure time

One of the reasons for my letting off steam the other day was because try as I might to educate my clients into their seeing me as part of the overall team on a project, I seem to fail.
The problem is not just that I have to educate my clients (in this case, agencies) but [...]

Toooooot!

Sometimes, just sometimes, your clients can drive you to distraction. And sometimes you need to let off a bit of steam.
Excuse me while I rent my clothes, beat my breast, wail and gnash my teeth and look daggers towards a certain town in Germany.
Gah! and Double Gah!!
You will be pleased to know that some of [...]

Tale of an insomniac

Last night, I finally fell asleep at about 3.30 am. I hate not being able to sleep as I lie there thinking “argh, fall asleep, you’ve got to get up again in 5 / 4/ 3 hours”. I don’t suppose it helps.
The alarm rang at its customary 7.30 am, I rolled over, turned it off, [...]

Come-uppance

So why is it, that when faced with a very similar document to the one I did so speedily the other day, it feels like I am ploughing my way uphill through wet concrete? Do I need to dash to the Indian takeaway for some Chicken Chom Chom (don’t you love that name?) to propel [...]

The hermit

I have been away from the active blogosphere for a while – and now I’m back: sort of. Things have changed while I’ve been away and I barely recognise the place! All new, shiny and frankly, a bit bewildering.
The first thing I need to sort out – and have failed to do alone is to [...]

All in a day’s work

Earlier this week I had a phone call.
[Brrring, brrring!]
Me: Good afternoon, Kerensa Tiggywinkle
Caller: Yes.
Me: Can I help you?
Caller: Who are you?
Me: This is Kerensa Tiggywinkle of Tiggywinkle Translations
Caller: I have a client who wants to stay with you.
Me: [Puzzled] Ahem, I’m afraid I don’t offer that service, I’m a translator.
Caller: You’re not a hotel?
Me: No, [...]

On the seventh day of Christmas…

…my true love sent to me….a tax return reminder to file by 31 Januar-eeeee (I know, I know, it doesn’t scan…)
I am now like all seven swans a-swimming – in a sea of paperwork.
Happy New Year to all my gentle readers!

Back to front

And the winner of the “Lost it in Translation Award” goes to……..
none other than myself! And what incredible boo-boo have I committed? Read on….gentle reader.
A German colleague asked me if I would quickly look over half a dozen phrases which she was wrestling with.  The document arrived in my in-tray.
There were two columns. English on [...]