281. After the constant rain of the past days, a local stream has flooded and a little bridge is under a heap of water. I couldn’t continue my walk. 282. Our son gave us a coffee tamper to use with our Italian manual coffee machine (which he also chose). He assured us the expensive tamperContinue reading “365 Unusual Things: 281-287”
Category Archives: Books
365 Unusual Things: 239-245
239. In a grocery store I’ve never been to, in the fruit and veg section, I saw bananas hanging from a frame of metal branches like a banana ‘tree’. 240. After weeks of watching episodes of a survival series, Alone, where people have to build a shelter out of branches and a tarp, I stumbledContinue reading “365 Unusual Things: 239-245”
365 Unusual Things: 218-224
218. Went to the new Nepalese café in my street and saw a painting of dancers in Kathmandu, signed Painter Krishna. Also saw a large photo of the Nepalese royal family who were assassinated in 2001. 219. Watched a band rehearse this morning where the woman at the microphone was singing and knitting at theContinue reading “365 Unusual Things: 218-224”
365 Unusual Things: 71-77
71. A barista in a café decorated each of my family’s coffees with a different pattern on its froth, a Pegasus, a seahorse, and a swan. 72. I went out into my front yard tonight and discovered a small, brightly lit, Persian grocery store has opened directly opposite my house and I didn’t know it.Continue reading “365 Unusual Things: 71-77”
365 Unusual Things: 64-70
64. Went to the Arboretum in Canberra today and thought about the pine forests on this hill that were totally destroyed by fire in 2003. Now we have this beautiful place with baby forests of different tree species slowly but surely growing. Sometimes something good can come from something very bad. 65. An aunty turnedContinue reading “365 Unusual Things: 64-70”
365 Unusual Things: 50-56
50. The staff in the National Library bookshop have lost my translated books. Surely this is unusual for a national library. I’d left some on consignment for them to sell. 51. Today’s date is 20-2-22, twenty-two-twenty-two. 52. Came home from a walk to find the garage door open, though we’d pushed the button to closeContinue reading “365 Unusual Things: 50-56”
365 Unusual Things: 15-21
15. Asked a French publisher a question by email (second question in two weeks) and she replied, ‘As I told you … ‘. Funny how this structure is normal in French, but abrasive in English. 16. Saw a huge woman in a bikini come out into her garden and lie on a sun lounge. BikinisContinue reading “365 Unusual Things: 15-21”
Nine books I’m reading
Since taking up literary translation about ten years ago, I’ve read many more books on a daily basis than ever before. Always within arm’s reach is a combination of English-language books, French-language books and books translated from other languages. On any day I can name roughly eight books I’m currently reading. There’s one in myContinue reading “Nine books I’m reading”
Soundslikewish 