The eggsies, some social life and more crafting

[wiseheart]

All right, let's start with the 40 felt eggs I've made for the Oldies. They turned out a bit lopsided, the poor things, but I find that the trimmings the most generous elwenlj gifted upon me have a great effect.

See for yourself:



I also worked a lot on the bathroom of the doll house quiet book - one side is nearly done. I didn't have much time for crafting today, as we were invited by Mum's oldest friend to her place for lunch, and that took half the day. But it was an overdue visit, and now we'll have our peace for a while.


On the writing front, I started ordering my thoughts (and notes) to "The Sins of the Mothers", concerning the individual Andorian characters and the Dairu as a race. Some concepts need a complete re-vamp, and it's best to do it before I've finished typing up the whole novel. I originally wrote this story some 12 or 13 years ago, and the translating is nearing (very slowly) to the end, but I find that some ideas won't work as well as I thought they would and besides, I've realized that while when writing in Hungarian it isn't important what gender the secondary and tertiary characters have, since our language doesn't have the difference, in English it is a problem whether the individual is a he, a she or an it. So I'll have to write long lists about the bugs, who's what and which Caste they belong, and I'll have to think through what the different Castes will be called in English, because I'm afraid I didn't always called them the same during the long process of translating. *headdesk*

Continuity errors are the bane of my existence. But I think I can be forgiven, seeing that the translation has taken me several years, too. At least the new lists will be helpful when I've finally translated the last 7 pages or so and start typing up stuff; that's when I always make the first corrections. I just have to decide whether I want to call a certain Caste Nurses, Nurturers or Attendants... and several hundred other problems like that.

Still, I'm relieved that I seem to (also very slowly) ease myself back into writing. Even if it's just corrections and notes.

Comments

[elmey.livejournal.com]

I love the eggs! They're so cheerful and decorative, the Oldies will be very happy.

I don't know how you remember anything from a story written 12 years ago--even when I read something I've done as recently as one year ago, I'm usually surprised by something I put in there. But it's good news that you're getting back on track with your writing.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, I had to re-read the whole thing while translating it, you know. *g*
By the way, would you be willing to do some beta work (basically grammar stuff), once I start typing it up? That will be equally slow work, so there wouldn't be any deadlines, I guess. (You can say no and not offend me, you know...)

[elmey.livejournal.com]

I can do some betaing, sure, especially if it's not a huge amount all at once. Let's try it out and see what happens--I can get a bit picky :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That's all right. I'm a bit stubborn sometimes and leave incorrect phrasing as it is because otherwise it sounds odd in my foreign ears - if you can deal with that, then we're in business together. *g*

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

They are lovely. You did a great job with them.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The main goal was that while they may be similar, there shouldn't be any two completely identical ones. Everyone should take theirs home in the knowledge that they are the only ones to own that particular egg.

[meathiel]

The eggs turned out really lovely. And it's great that you made all different ones.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That was the basic idea, yeah. Each was supposed to be unique.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

That's a lot of eggs! The chick ones are particularly adorable!

That was one thing about my abortive attempt to learn Hungarian that I did appreciate, (in as much as I understood anything at all which was minimal) but oooh! To be released from the endless gender malarky; nouns, "the" and "a" with genders of German, the frankly nonsensical approach in French.

There's still an aspect of this bollox in Norsk, both shades of German and French lunacy. If I'm talking about my job, my book or my house, I can transform myself from male to female to neutered and back in one conversation. Frankly it's more than awkward.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Our language does have its moments, right?

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

For this... I love it dearly.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Only for this? I'm crushed! (Well, not really...)

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Well, I might love it for more things* if I could get further in understanding it! One day... maybe.

* It might be one thing, but it's a BIG thing.

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

Wow! While reading this the thought occurred to me that your English is better than mine. How many languages do you speak?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Hungarian and German by default (my Grandpa had German as his mother tongue) and English, although saying that I actually speak it might be exaggerated. My English mostly exists in written form. *g*

[wanderingmogwai.livejournal.com]

Well you have two more on me. I used to speak a little German having been an exchange student in highschool but I've lost most of it by now.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

The eggs turned out lovely, that's quite a bit of needlework! Such a sweet idea and gift. Congrats on your writing/translation nearing the end. Your language skills are impressive. Aside from my native English, I used have a smattering of Spanish. I had no occasion to practice it, so forgot most of what I learned. I admire anyone who is fluent in more than their native tongue.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm fortunate to have you guys to interact with. Even so, my English largely exists in written form because I don't have the chance to actually speak it. *g*