Putting words in mouths

I am not sure that I am cut out to be a translator for press conferences. It seems to require more self effacement and patience than I am capable of. Some of the journalists were great and very professional, but there were some mumblers and ramblers that I found myself saying to briskly, "Well what is your question exactly?" It wasn't all their fault of course. There was an occasion translating for the French group Air, with an English group of musicians collaborating and also present, where I found myself briefly speaking french to the English people and english to the French...

For some reason the conferences were organised in a beautiful old church with acoustics which were better adapted for plainsong than for media interviews.

There were moments when I winced at the questions and wondered how to put them into a form which would not be offensive. An artist with a shape which was that of a normal natural rounded lady was told that her voice had been compared with that of Beth Ditto. She jumped on it herself and said that it was more that they were comparing her shape with Beth Ditto. She reckoned she had a great voice and so did Beth but that was it really...Oh and by the way she was proud of the way she looked. I liked her a lot.

There was just one famous aging punk who was a bit difficult and not very polite, but unfortunately I didn't do his interview. I think I might have rather enjoyed it...

I am off to give my weekend jazz workshop on the north coast, but I am hoping that things will quieten down soon and I can come and inspect your blogs to see what you've been up to in my absence.