And so it goes on...

Yesterday was another wshirlwind of a day professionally - as was today. Perhaps, I can have some sort of respite from people wanting my services over the weekend. In any case, I have to play the dutiful husband to the most impressive performer witin St Alban's Bach Choir tomorrow evening...

Now, as for my calling. Two agencies wanted to know my going rates for translation (they both received all relevant information of all my professional linguistic skills, together with a CV and reference to this and my other web sites on the Chartered Institute of Linguists' site and on Linked In.) One even sent me a translation document to peruse but I thought it too technical so had to refuse it, which I did earlier this morning. However, she promised to keep my details on file in Glasgow and maybe something else will come of it - such as proofreading the final translation and actually getting some translating work I can do later on. The other in London just wants my details for the moment, but there are indications that something is in the wind to translate English > Welsh. For good measure, I have provided them both with links to the recent legislative moves (Welsh Language Measure) in the National Assembly.

The joint Invoice for the Baptist Minister translation (Welsh > English) went in today. It was joint in that late yesterday afternoon, another ttranslation (English > Welsh) came in to do for 11.30 on a study into boys between 6 and 18 suffering from Haemophilia A. All this was quite technical, and I did a lot of phoning around hospitals to see if they could help with the technical bits. Ultimately, this proved fruitless although useful contacts were made.

Note: Do not phone central NHS Direct number from England if wanting the Welsh service - all nations are apart and consequently you will only get Galw Iechyd Cymru if you are phoning from Wales. Likewise, NHS Direct (England) fields English enquiries. I attempted to be transferred but with little joy. England did phone me back to say that they had tried, and also said there was only 1 Welsh speaker (a treatment nurse) available on the Galw Iechyd Cymru telephone line service. That is she was not available as she was doing her professional job of caring for the sick and fielding questions from potential patients. It seems incredible that she was the onlu one at her post for Galw Iechyd Cymru hotline - the NHS website for Wales is a very extensive and bilingual one. It would be highly surprising if all that resource is being fronted by one harrassed nurse somewhere in the depths o Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Any medical personnel (ideally Welsh speakers) care to provide comments on this and/or to help me out in the future?

By the way, many thanks to the Haemophilia Unit of Ysbyty Gwynedd of fielding my questions and helping as best they could this morning. I know you guys work very hard and professionally - Diolch yn fawr.

And, just as you think you can clock off, there are more rumours of a political party wanting some translation work English > Welsh. No further details as yet - they're being deliberately hush hush, but as political anoraks will tell you, the date of the General Election has yet to be fixed yet either...