francene--blog. Year 2013
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August 29th

8/29/2013

 
If you're anything like me, you could use a laugh. Here's a news item I stumbled on from the BBC News.

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 When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.

The English is clear enough to lorry drivers. Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated".  So that was what went up under the English version which barred lorries from a road near Welsh a supermarket. Pedestrians soon began pointing at the sign. There is a call for proper translations, which the Welsh think should be phrased in their language, rather than translated from English.

Other confusing signs:

"We took it down as soon as we were made aware of it and a correct sign will be re-instated as soon as possible."

The blunder is not the only time Welsh has been translated incorrectly or put in the wrong place:

• Cyclists between Cardiff and Penarth in 2006 were left confused by a bilingual road sign telling them they had problems with an "inflamed bladder".

• In the same year, a sign for pedestrians in Cardiff reading 'Look Right' in English read 'Look Left' in Welsh.

• In 2006, a shared-faith school in Wrexham removed a sign which translated the Welsh for staff as "wooden stave".

That feels better now that I've laughed. I can face the day. 'Yesterday, all my problems seem so far away'. Wonderful song by The Beetles. Yesterday, I enjoyed the youth and beauty to carry me through all life's difficulties, never thinking circumstances would change when I grew old.

And this song says it all. 'Old Man' by Neil Young.


After a chuckle, I can set aside the worries about living on a state pension, struggling to meet the bills. Disregard the fact that our old car needs more work to keep it running, my husband left a three-page letter of distress about how he used the rent to pay the road-tax, and I didn't sell a single novel this month. All my work with a daily blog and the endless editing on my novels should not be thought of as useless because writing is a wonderful way to keep the brain functioning apart from an evening cup of cocoa. We're old. We shouldn't expect to live the same way we did when we were working. Think of people in poor countries, fleeing their home to save their lives, never knowing when they'll get their next meal.

We all struggle with different circumstances, and even the rich grow old. However, laughter can lift us out of despair, if only for a moment.

Peggy link
8/28/2013 09:48:25 pm

That was funny and I thank you for the morning humor as now I can face the day with a smile on my face.

Blessings to you and your husband!

Peggy (from UBC)

***
Peggy Nolan
http://thestepmomstoolbox.com

Francene Stanley link
8/28/2013 10:43:14 pm

So glad I brightened your day. There's nothing like a good snigger about something ridiculous.

Sophie Bowns link
8/28/2013 10:43:39 pm

Ha! That's brilliant. If you look on Google images, there are lots of funny road signs, most of which are highly amusing!

Francene Stanley link
8/29/2013 03:21:06 am

I must pop over and have a look.

Beth Camp link
8/29/2013 12:12:19 am

Hello, Francene. I did a cover reveal this week for ROW80 and always post a pic, something to inspire or point the way. This week's pic was a road sign from our travels in Scotland. Instead of 'yield,' the sign read, 'Give Way.' I smiled at your musings of funny signs and translations. My first goal these days is 'Cherish each day.' I hope the week brings good news and many days to cherish.

Beth (from UBC)
http://bethandwriting.blogspot.com

Francene Stanley link
8/29/2013 03:22:46 am

Here in England, that's what they say. I didn't know about the 'yeild' sign. Sounds old English to me. hehe. Or Dutch. (joke)

Kristen from The Road to Domestication link
8/29/2013 02:16:14 am

I love signs like this LOL Or mis-spelled ones ;)

Francene Stanley link
8/29/2013 03:23:40 am

We need entertainment along the highway to hell.

Barbara Boser link
8/29/2013 03:16:59 am

Thanks for a good laugh :)

Francene Stanley link
8/29/2013 03:24:20 am

Glad I passed it on to brighten your day.

Amy link
8/29/2013 04:44:35 am

Francene, I'm laid up with a virus today, and so I've got a little time to read some of my favorite blogs. Yours is right up at the top! The sign made me laugh. When we were in New Zealand a couple of years ago, I took a lot of pictures of signs that tickled me. For instance, the grocery store carts are called "trundlers" so there are signs everywhere "No Trundlers Past This Point" and so forth. I also appreciate the bit of vulnerability at the end of your post, although I hate it that you and your husband are struggling. But you're right that we don't have to look far to see somebody who is even worse straights that we are. Blessings to you both.

Francene Stanley link
8/29/2013 07:37:13 pm

So kind. And yes, other cultures develop different ways of speech despite using the same language.

Suerae Stein link
8/29/2013 06:51:58 am

Oh Francene, thank you for giving me a good laugh today! I also love that song. Have listened to him since I was young. I do agree that we all have things that can stress us or bring us down if we let them, but laughter certainly can make a huge difference. And it's good for your health!

Francene Stanley link
8/29/2013 07:38:57 pm

Laughter really is the best medicine. Add that to a song and you're set.

Alana link
8/29/2013 01:21:01 pm

Oh, Francene, thank you for the laugh. I needed it. A few minutes ago I fell in the parking lot of the motel where I am staying. It was dark (it was lit but I have poor night vision) and I misjudged a curb. Nothing broken (looks like just a sore shoulder) but this is the 2nd time I've fallen in the past two months. I'm starting to get a bit concerned - even though I'm younger than you are I'm starting to get to "that age" where falling becomes a not-funny matter. Getting back to funny translations, I've seen some really perplexing ones on product instructions - translated from Chinese, probably.

Francene Stanley link
8/29/2013 08:00:20 pm

You're so lucky not to have broken any bones. Last time I fell, I broke my thumb joint. It takes so long to recover from an immoblilzed joint. Besides that, it's emabrrasing to fall. Hope you're okay. Probably bruised.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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