The Songstone

Dear Multinational, The terms that (your representative) and I agreed were that I would invoice you at the end of each month for educational services and that the money would be paid into my account via BACS. At no time was it mentioned that I would have to wait another month and then be paid by cheque (in violation of our agreement). If your terms of payment are 30 days after invoice then that should have been made clear to me and I would have refused the assignment. I must say I think it is very cheeky. I would love to go into Waitrose, choose the finest wines and tell them to invoice me at the end of the month, with payment at the end of the month following. Life is not like that for little people, and the cavalier attitude shown by large companies towards their small suppliers is sickening, frankly. I must have respect for any organisation that I work with; I therefore cannot continue to offer my services to your company. most sincerely, SimonMH

False though she be to me and love, I'll ne'er pursue revenge; For still the charmer I approve, Though I deplore her change. In hours of bliss we oft have met: They could not always last; And though the present I regret, I'm grateful for the past. William Congreve. 1670–1729

Last night I dreamed I was the Pope And wondered how on Earth I’d cope with Heaven, cos it’s very far from condom use in Africa or buggered boys on Boston’s shore, crusades in Languedoc, and more But then I thought: I am the Pope, the heir to Peter, mustn’t mope To keep alive, that’s my mission, bulls of worn-out superstition If only there were more like me: (from Hitler Youth to Holy See is not a huge conceptual leap) To Britain! And its hungry sheep! © Simon M Hunter 2010

A bit of fun here for the polyglots: text to speech in 27 languages. I've tried it out on a few I know and I must say I'm quite impressed. (via John Wells's Phonetic blog )

Woe! For some time I have been scribbling away transcribing poems, happily using linking 'j' and 'w' only to be told that these are figments of the imagination , and that only a naïve transcriber would do such a thing! Naïve, moi? Back to the drawing board...

Posted together with some other much better translations of various poems at Perpwalk Who is more fair than she? She lives alone, an empty valley home. She was from a good family, but they’re gone since discord came to Kuan; her brothers killed; their high estate now dearth. It is a callous world that scorns distress! Hope gutters like a candle - her husband’s eyes have kindled on fresh-bought jade; as morning glory curls he sees new smiles, while old love cries unheard. The spring was pure in its mountain pools but darkened in descent. She waits – her maid may come from selling jewels with straw again for the roof She picks some flowers, no more for her hair The pine tree’s needles fall from her numb fingers. She forgets the cold - wearing a thin silk shawl she leans at sunset by a tall bamboo © Simon M Hunter 2010