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Hello Elle,

A difficult job indeed, particularly in a rhyming poem form!

I translated a couple of literary works some years back (while in
Guernsey), as well as some conveyances paperwork from Lawyers.
The two exercises were totally different - the conveyancing had
to be strictly precise and identical, whatever the beauty of the language
- providing the grammar was correct of course.

The other was more taxing and I did find myself re-writing the book
yet bearing in mind at all times the message the author wanted
to impart on his readers, the emotions he had intended his readers
to feel, etc.
A fascinating work and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have a diploma in translation English to French and French to English, which I took as a 3 year distant-learning course (intensive and very rewarding).

This is when I decided I could never be an instant translator! I need time to immerse myself in the story and style of the author, and reflect all night if need be, in search of the perfect word that will mean precisely the same in both languages.
I really admire the translators working in Brussels or the like!

Hi, Rusty!
That is good that you have sorted out Twitter.....
I use an Adblock, but have no idea about Advanced settings?
I simply set up the Adblock ages ago.......and then left it severely alone!
It doe not seem to interfere with anything?
But if it ever did...then I should not know what to do about it!
Btw, I am having an easy time with Recaptcha at the moment-- it is weeks now since I had to do other than tick the box!
I am in danger of forgetting what an American fire hydrant looks like!
I sent the details of the holiday accommodation in Swanage to my younger daughter, and she is going to check it out when she is there....
I have a feeling though that it is unlikely I should be able to take the cat.......
Most agencies seem to have a blanket policy forbidding this.
Although I have found that if booking through an individual owner, it is usually permitted after some "pleading" on my part!
We shall see what develops...…



Hello, Pigale!
Yes, I know that you have done a lot of translating.
But I am sure you will agree that translating prose is very different from translating poetry?
Especially if the poem is going to be "reproduced" in rhyming form.
I have read many novels by Henning Mankell…..and these are translated from Swedish.

Yes Elle, this is the point I was trying to make when saying
'particularly with a poem'.

It is difficult enough in prose, so nigh on impossible in rhyming
poetry, and this is why André Maurois' 'adaptation" if not
translation of IF was, and still is, such an achievement -
well, to my mind anyway!

Good to know your family is definitely arriving on Saturday - now
you can really start planning outings etc...

Hello, Elle!
I tried to close down part of Twitter by using Adblock, but it closed down more than I reckoned with.
So, today was an adventure into the "advanced" AdBlock settings to sort out my blunder.
It worked out well!
No reCaptcha on my Chromebook, except a box tick.
I'm sure your daughter will do her best for you!
I have been watching the racing from Goodwood.
No song from Francesca, so far!

Hi, Rusty!
I hope the racing is going well at Goodwood?
Have you placed a bet?
But you have lost me, here...
"No song from Francesca"?
Is that the name of a horse?!
Or is Francesca a jockey......a trainer....an owner...?
And why isn't she "singing"?
Please explain!
Is your son coming to see you today?
He will be missing his daughters!

Hello, Elle!
Francesca Cumani is a racing presenter on ITV.
Her father, Luca, was a top trainer.
She sang at Aintree, I think it was, but was not very good.
She is excellent at her job and knows the horse racing game inside out.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/6906208/francesca-cumani-itv-presenter-glorious-goodwood-former-amateur-jockey/

Good evening, Rusty!
Ah, hold on...bells are ringing....
I have a dim memory now of someone singing recently at a racetrack.....
You sent me a link....
I remember thinking she was being a very good sport, but it was best if she didn't give up her day job!
(She was not very tuneful!)
Was that Francesca?
And speaking of singing.....
I watched a repeat "Eggheads" this evening (I'd never seen it before, though) and one of the Challengers was "Sonia".......
Apparently, she came second in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993, representing the UK - and singing "Better The Devil You Know".
I have never heard of her?
Do you remember this?

Hello, Elle!
Yes, that's Francesca!
The viewers voted for her to sing a song after racing.
Her father, Luca, trained two Derby winners, and Francesca is very knowledgeable about racing and horses.
No singing today, though!
I have no memory of Sonia at all.
But, I don't watch the Eurovision Song Contest.

Hi, Rusty!
Some good news!
I have just had a text from my daughter...
Her husband was applying to do a Master's degree in Computer Science and has just heard today that he has got on the course.
Well done him!
He will continue teaching at the Sixth Form College, whilst studying for his MSC.
It will be busy time for them both..... but they will cope.

elle

Well done him! They will be busy