Last year I worked on a wonderful family history project that brought back to life the words of a lady who died in 1879 so that her great-great-great-grandson could read them for the first time.

But before I could even get to the translation stage, there was a LOT of deciphering of old-fashioned German handwriting to be done, a fair bit of head-scratching, copious amounts of historical research, descents down rabbit holes and much drinking of tea.

My article on this project and an interview with my lovely client has appeared in the journal of my professional body, the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, in the UK.

The journal is members’ only, so not normally available, but I have permission to share my article here.