Category: Uncategorized
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So Voronezh it was. A relatively small town in the South-West of Russia, with a population of approximately 850,000 in 1984, located 535 kilometres from Moscow. To get there, we were loaded onto a rickety overnight train. As it was still September, I couldn’t fathom why everyone was wearing boots. Late at night in almost…
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At least, that was the initial reaction we all had when we landed (what a classic hit from Foreigner, though). Perceptions change over time though. Today it is very hard to imagine the size of the Soviet Union – over twenty-two million kilometres, with Russia accounting for seventeen million. According to a 1989 census of the…
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Forgive the time gap, dear readers. I will keep this entry short as the second year at Queen Mary College, London University, passed by uneventfully, marked by French and transatlantic romances, plus the lead role in Russian in a theatre production. It was also preceded by a highly enjoyable three months back at the camp…
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The early 1980s were another prolific period in music, from Roxy Music to David Bowie, Kate Bush, The Police, The Clash, The Jam, to Madness, The Specials, Adam Ant, Ultravox, Duran Duran and The Pet Shop Boys. Obviously there was much more, but that will have to do for now. Politically, it was a time…
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Apologies once again for ruining the chronology of this tale. I have been remiss in omitting some events that had a positive impact. The first one brings to mind a Scottish friend who stayed with us in Hampstead – Angus MacDonald, who hailed from a prosperous family. In exchange I was invited to stay with…
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Once again apologies for readers and subscribers. Here I continue on what is a key issue for my profession. I also mention again the offer for investors in Kazakhstan and art fans. The risks posed by AI today for professional translators, agencies and clients mirror similar issues raised by previous disruptive technologies: machine translation and…
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Drawing on the Monty Python title, I am taking a break here and in the next blog entry from the autobiography for two reasons. I want to warn readers and subscribers that the next couple of blog entries will deviate significantly, based on my personal experience as a translator. I also have an offer for…
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The number one single Start by the Jam in early September 1980 seemed fairly apt. In the end I decided I didn’t want to go down that route and repeat the year, preferring to finish my time at school as soon as possible with my friends. Naturally, there was one down side to this decision – I…
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Although I would soon turn 16, I still found the journey to France daunting – travelling solo for the first time by plane and then getting lost on the train as, laden down with bags, I attempted to make my way by metro and train to the south Parisian suburb Athis-Mons where I would stay. …
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The year 1979 is always connected in my mind to the only time I had a serious political disagreement with my parents – they had decided to vote for the Conservative Party led by Margaret Thatcher for the first time in their lives. They believed that she truly wanted to change the country for the…
Autobiographical 