They said I should use Twitter
I said it’s not for me
What about a blog then?
But I’d like some time left free…
Where would I find inspiration
to capture potential readers?
Where would I find the time
to read tweets from other Tweeters?
And then I thought “why not?”
It seems Web 2.0’s really hot
If I don’t air what’s on my mind
I might just get left behind
So follow me on Twitter
Read my blog about my two hats
Keep the comments coming
and I might just rise up the stats…
Welcome to my blog.
A short time ago I had no idea I was going to write a blog and had certainly decided that Twitter was not for me. As a people person who is easily distracted (I refer to my butterfly mind) I had decided that I would spend all day reading and answering tweets and never get any work done. So what changed my mind? Who are “they” in the little ditty above?
As a linguist, I am a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and, living in Scotland, am very fortunate to be a long-standing member of the fantastic ITI Scottish Network (Scotnet for short). Scotnet held a most informative workshop – The Entrepreneurial Linguist – on Saturday, 4th June which was led by the inspiring Judy Jenner from Twin Translations (http://www.twintranslations.com/), an ardent blogger and Tweeter. Judy was backed in her campaign to get us Scotnetters blogging and tweeting by some of the networkers own seasoned users of Web 2.0 and I really did feel I was missing out on something… that I didn’t want to get left behind.
Before I continue, let me tell you a bit more about myself and the aim of my blog.
I started out on the freelance route 14 years ago, having worked for Mumm Champagne in France and as an in-house translator with United Distillers plc, now Diageo. I now specialise in French to English creative translations, a specialism which came about organically: the more creative texts I translated, the more I realised I was good at them, the more good creative translations I delivered the more repeat business I received. As a lover of the arts, I am also delighted to be working in this field and have, since late 2009, been the Coordinator of the ITI Media, Arts & Tourism network.
I am also fortunate to live in Milngavie, a small town on the outskirts of Glasgow, where 4 years ago two local traders, Susan Frize of the Milngavie Bookshop and Rona Millar of Art Forum, had the fabulous idea of starting the Milngavie Book & Arts Festival, which is now in its 4th year. I immediately offered my services as a volunteer for years one and two, joined the committee for 2010 and am honoured to have been asked to project manage the 2011 festival.
So I wear two hats, but these “hats” are in reality not so far removed from each. These are two very different jobs with the same aim of involving myself completely in the world of the arts and making these all-important contacts, indulging my creativity (apologies to all those who hate rhyming ditties) and generally having a really good time. I’d like to use this blog to reflect on the experience I take with me to each of these two areas but also what I have learned from spreading my wings further, and on the synergies/differences I notice and entertaining experiences I have along the way.
Translation, no matter the subject matter, can often be isolating. Festival management doesn’t necessarily take me away from the computer but I have the opportunity to get out of the house, meet other people and often it doesn’t feel like work at all. However, inevitably, organising can come with hassle, more hassle in one day than many translators will come up against in a year, so I now appreciate the contrast of sitting in front of the computer, in relative peace and quiet, working away on a translation.
To round off this first blog I decided to search the web for the origins of the expression “wearing two hats” but the results were inconclusive. Some believe it has army connotations, another response hinted at Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado and there was a reference to an article in The Times (of London) in 1958, but there was one quote which caught my attention:“You can only wear so many hats at once before they start falling off”
Something definitely to bear in mind! Follow my journey as I keep my two hats firmly on my head or, to use an expression from the arts, both juggling balls in the air at the same time.
Go To My Website at http://www.alisonhughes-translations.co.uk/
