@Linguist_CIOL
FEBRUARY/MARCH The Linguist 29
OPINION & COMMENT
'The French maladie' (TL59,5) seems to say
that the 'Chanson de Roland' dates from
1480. It actually dates from the 11th century.
Also, I can't find a usage similar to prenez
soin de in the whole text.
Clifford Marcus MCIL CL
Editor replies: The interviewee was quoting
from a different version of the chanson. This
was misleading; we apologise for the error.
Chanson error
Where do you read yours?
We'd love to see pictures of you reading
The Linguist, and will publish a 'snapped
reading' photo in each issue. To kick off
the series, CIOL award winner Lucy
Makepeace MCIL took a copy to the
beach in Lomé, Togo. Send your snaps to
linguist.editor@ciol.org.uk
Tips for balancing work and family life
DEBBIE GARRICK
Most parents who are freelancers feel
overwhelmed at some point. Often we end
up taking on the role of full-time caregiver
alongside full-time work, and something has
to give. I'm going to share a few tips that I've
found work for me and others, but ultimately
you have to figure out what works for you
and your family. The good news is that
thousands of us are making it work every day.
The first tip is possibly the hardest to
achieve: carve out some time for yourself. It
doesn't have to be as grand as a monthly
massage or daily fitness session. For me, it's
getting up before the rest of the family and
having 30 minutes to sit and plan, send
emails, contemplate and get ahead. Set
yourself up for success: I've read this in so
many 'recipe for success' books (Hollis,
Sincero and others) and it really does work.
Planning is also crucial. Schedule in some
time when you can give yourself fully to your
work, ideally uninterrupted. Work it out with
your partner, if you have one, to ensure you
aren't left with the full mental or physical
load. Plan easy meals when you're busy, or
order that take away and don't feel guilty
about it. As your children get older, keeping
your office mobile is a godsend: you can
work on a laptop almost anywhere.
A back-up plan is also essential. What are
you going to do if your child is sick and you
have a deadline? Have you got something to
entertain them (TV, iPad, a stash of easy
crafts they can do alone, a toy you've hidden
away for emergencies)? Are there people you
can call? I am always willing to do another
parent a favour as I know I'll need to call it in
at some point and I won't feel guilty about it.
Feed the attention tank. This came from a
parenting book and it has been a lifesaver!
No matter how much you have to get done,
give your child 5-10 minutes of undivided
attention when they get home. You can
usually then slip away to work uninterrupted.
There are many more tips I could add but
for me the most important thing is to
remember why you became a freelancer in
the first place. If it's to be there for your kids
then make sure you are; don't fall into the
trap of working long hours. Lastly, be
realistic: don't expect to work the way you
did pre-kids unless you are paying for full-
time childcare, and even then they'll throw a
spanner in the works!
We'd love to hear your experiences, tips and
questions: linguist.editor@ciol.org.uk.
Debbie Garrick MCIL is a French/
Spanish > English translator and
copywriter; garricktranslations.com
TL
Kanebulle and
coffee for one
I found the item with the Swedish Ambassador
(TL59,6) of interest. If I may make a small
contribution to the spreading of Swedish
culture I would like to say that kanelbullar
(cinnamon buns) are indeed a great thing to
eat with a cup of coffee and that kanelbullar
is the plural form; a single bun is a kanelbulle.
Stuart C Poole FCIL
En famille
