The Eurovision extravaganza

Sorry for the lack of blog posts this past week. French text overload. And I don't particularly like French, so let’s just say this was not the best week ever. But I’m making up for it. You can expect a few more blog posts in the next few days! I’m still undecided whether or not to post videos. We’ll see…

Tonight is the highlight of my week: the Eurovision Song Contest. Before you judge me, I’m not a fan of Europop trash, but I love the sense of unity that comes with this ridiculous yearly event. I don’t want to make this a political post. I am aware of the controversy surrounding this year’s edition: dog killings, expropriations, demolitions. A horrible price to pay for three nights of musical mush. Nevertheless, I enjoy how this contest brings people together. Especially here on the rock. We know we’re never going to win, yet we all keep hoping. We watch documentaries and talk shows on the singers, we buy flags just in case, we sing, we dance, we discuss how and where the stage would be set up if we were to win. That’s Malta for you: we love and support anything Maltese. So tonight, vote for Malta. Next year’s edition might be held on a floating stage in the middle of the Mediterranean. Cool or what?
 

Narakhom għada (see you tomorrow)!

That’s it!

 

That’s it, the end of my blogging adventure…

Just kidding! Actually I would like to thank all my readers for their feedback and suggestions. I’ve decided that I’m going to revamp this page, one step at a time, starting with content. Many of you have told me that you can’t keep up with daily posts, so I’ve decided to write about three posts a week, maybe a little longer than usual, but not too long, so that you can still enjoy them during your coffee breaks. How does that sound?

Judging from the page views, you seem to like photo posts and articles about my work as a translator. For those of you who are more interested in art, books and travel, don’t despair! There’s plenty more where that came from.

I also want to switch to a more appealing background. I’m not too fond of the current one, so forgive me for experimenting a little with colours and textures in the next few weeks. I’m sure eventually we’ll find something we can all agree on.

Last but not least, I will be shooting some videos on various topics (with my camcorder; I’ve finally figured out how to use it). Let me know what you’d like to see! And more importantly, which language(s) you want me to speak in my videos…

Thanks again for your support, dear readers. I’m enjoying this new blogging adventure and I can’t wait to share my next post. Soon, very soon!

Blogging: a little background info.

A friend asked me how I decide what I’m going to blog about. Do I have a set of topics that I want to tackle? Do I write most blog posts in advance? Do I ask my readers for feedback and subsequently base my decisions on their suggestions? Her question inspired me to write this blog post, to give you an idea of what goes on behind the scenes and to give you a glimpse of my new calling: blogging about my life as a stay-at-home translator, proofreader and copywriter.

I’m an impulsive person and I don’t like being told what to do. I decide what I'm going to write about, sometimes a few days in advance, but usually the night before I post it. Of course, I take into account my readers’ tips. I listen to what they have to say about my writing and I appreciate their advice. I like writing about my daily life, but without going into too much detail. The internet has already taken away so much privacy, that there are certain things I’d rather keep to myself. Of course, starting this blog was my choice, so a little loss of privacy is to be expected. But everything within limits.

So far, I’ve posted daily updates. That might change in the future. For now, I can handle it. I don’t see blogging as a chore, but as a way to relax, to de-stress. It’s something I look forward to. The moment I start questioning what I’m doing, I’ll have to reassess this whole blogging thing. The best advice I was ever given, is “do what you love, because if you don’t, people will notice, and they’ll lose interest”. Again, I don’t write for others, but for myself. However, it’s nice to get so many positive comments.

I’ve always liked writing. And I’ve always been a dreamer. When I was in primary school I used to write stories in notepads that I would decorate with stickers and drawings. In secondary school I decided I was going to write a book… about Julius Caesar, that fascinating man whose life I had explored during my Latin lessons. That project never took off, probably because it dawned on me that I had bitten off more than I could chew. Ever since, I’ve been jotting down bits and pieces here and there. I’ve never played any instruments, I’ve never been into sports; writing has always been my passion, my creative outlet.

Blogging allows me to let off some steam after a tough day. That’s why I’m doing it. I really enjoy it and I hope you enjoy it too. If not, no worries; there’s always the little X in the right-hand corner (or the little red circle on the left if you’ve given up on Microsoft).

Who’s behind this blog?

The online universe is a strange one, isn’t it? We read articles, watch videos and listen to music without really knowing who’s behind them, although we feel an affinity with these works and consequently, with their creators, who enter our lives and influence us. Have you ever asked yourself whether you would find these people equally interesting in real life? Whether you’d be friends?

Since you’re reading my blog, I suppose you’re curious to find out more about me. Here are a few tidbits about my life. Nothing too exciting though.

-       Being half Belgian, I love chocolate. Belgian chocolate of course. Nothing beats authentic Belgian pralines with creamy fillings.

-       I have my dumb blonde moments. An example: I didn’t realise an unfertilised egg can’t produce a chick.

-       Ironing is my worst nightmare. In the past six years I’ve broken five irons, including an expensive semi-professional steam iron. I’m allergic to them. They slip out of my hand.

-       I’m very interested in the “paranormal” and the “unexplained” – ghosts, NDEs, OBEs... You’re allowed to think I’m a weirdo.

-       The word “sports” is unknown to me. Unless shopping can be considered a sport.

-       I love chick flicks (how can anyone resist “The Notebook”?) and Jennifer Aniston is my girl crush.

-       I love bargain hunting: a 5-euro T-shirt can make my day.

-       On Friday evenings I can’t resist a glass of prosecco. And to end my meal I need either a coffee or a sip of Gozitan limoncello. Or both.

-       I like watching TLC and E! Entertainment.

-       I smile at total strangers.

-       Adoro l’Italia, ma mi pare di averlo già detto, o sbaglio?

I could post a picture of myself. I could show you the outfit I’m wearing (it’s so boring you wouldn’t even want to see it). I could attempt to describe my personality. Still, I think the best way to get a glimpse of a person’s true self is to find out these silly details. Little facts, stralci di vita vissuta, for you to form your own opinion of me…

Logic. No idea what that means.

If you follow my blog I’m sure by now you’ve realised the word “logic” does not feature in my dictionary. I was just talking to a friend about this new… let’s call it “project” for lack of a better description, and she pointed out that it really does reflect who I am: spontaneous, optimistic, impulsive and somewhat illogical. One day I write about art and the next my dog takes centre stage. And sometimes my dog becomes art.

Last week I registered on Bloggers.com and I realised my blog doesn’t really belong in any of the given categories; I figured “Personal” was the best match. It got me thinking about the lack of structure and logic in everything I do. Even work-wise. I usually manage to meet my deadlines – a fifteen-minute delay doesn’t count, does it? – yet I don’t have a “system”. I just “go with the flow”.  The more pressure, the better. I don’t work in a “logical” manner. Sometimes I even start translating the last page of a text first, simply because it looks more interesting (or colourful). And that tends to get me in trouble, because many clients want partial deliveries. How do you explain you started working on page twenty instead of page one?

This random approach seems to empower me. The more complicated I make things, the better I perform. I purposely step into a labyrinth of complexity to challenge myself. No logic in this method, I know, except that it boosts my enthusiasm. And consequently also the quality of my work.

What is logic anyway? Who establishes what is logical and what isn’t? Should we all follow a set of rules when finishing our work? Isn’t productivity a by-product of creativity? And isn’t creativity by definition deviant? I choose to stray from the norm. Page twenty it is!

 

Do you Twitter, I mean tweet?

Again, one of those brand-names-turned-verb à la Google. I can’t help but find this odd. The same goes for nouns. I hate it when people say Kleenex instead of handkerchief or tissue. My vacuum cleaner is not a Hoover. And if you cut yourself while chopping onions in my kitchen, I refuse to give you a Band-Aid. Ask me for a plaster instead.

Hubby-to-be and I went out for dinner with some friends last week, the day I registered on Twitter. I wasn’t really familiar with the terminology – hashtags and Follow Fridays, even now that’s all I know – and I was blissfully unaware of the fact that Twitter has coined its own verb – to tweet. I figured something was not right because as I was rambling about twittering (capital letter?) this and that, my friends’ smiles changed into little smirks. Oh right, you don’t twitter, you tweet…

It’s a bit of a strange tool isn’t it? It took me a few days to get the hang of it. And what’s with all the spamming? Every time I see my followers increase I get really excited. Until it dawns on me that most of them have no idea who I am and what I do. And their names – for some reason always alliterations – sound so silly they can’t be taken seriously. Block. Block. Block. And I’m left with the 30 followers I had two days ago. Sigh.

And what do you tweet about anyway? Do your followers really care what you’re having for breakfast? Probably not, unless you’re Kim Kardashian, but sending out a tweet every few hours increases your visibility. And that’s what it’s all about. It makes me wonder, what is it with our society and being seen? Why do we want to share our ups and downs, ins and outs with people we don’t know and create a cyber identity? Why is it so important to post every single milestone – is a work trip to France even a milestone? – on Timeline? To be honest, I don’t know. I have a Facebook account. I have a Twitter account. And I have this blog. Don’t ask me what I want to achieve by being a member of these “online communities”. I don't even think I actually want to achieve anything. My Facebook account connects me with friends, although admittedly many of them I hardly ever meet. My Twitter account is more of a professional tool to exchange thoughts and ideas. This blog is my creative outlet. Nothing more than that. If I can make one reader smile, think... or both, I’ve accomplished my goal. There you have it, I do have a goal.