She opened the back door. There, in front, stood a meagre fox, his glassy eyes fixed straight into hers. What a wonderful thing, she thought, to have a fox in my back garden. Pete had told her something everyone in England knew about foxes. “Nasty vermin, Pete said, they’ll tear your bin bags at night, … Continue reading Nightshift
Google Translate – choosing between the right and the easy Talk given at the Thomson Society, Harrodian School, January 22 2019 "To possess another language, Charlemagne tells us, is to possess another soul."John Le Carré I/ What is Google Translate? Promises, promises. Let’s just imagine you are in Moscow. You are keen on a Russian … Continue reading Machine Versus Language
He was a small boy from a small village. Even if the village was small, the boy one day had to grow up and face the fact that it was a village torn. Between two countries. As was his uncle - a man torn between his vocation - Catholic priest - and his heart - … Continue reading Stranger
This year we're celebrating Easter twice. The Easter of the West has just finished. The Easter of the East is coming up next Sunday. For some it's lucky to celebrate twice. More laughter, more traditions to enjoy and understand. More myths linked to the festival. There are families who celebrate two Christmases. There are families … Continue reading Easter
Nesting in three different cultures, this is the account of a permanent outsider. Do we slip from one skin into another, from one language into another, from one dream into another - or do we carry them all with us at the same time? How much of this matters, how much can one communicate, explain, excuse or celebrate? Cultures cannot be taught. Their wisdom is passed on by the roads of the heart. Dora
Dora Court 