Oh, Una! So sorry to hear. Please accept a virtual hug - I hope today, at least, has improved somewhat since you posted this. And that 2026 will be a *massive* improvement. xx

Hurrah! Thank you.

I recall one review that was condescending about my entire translation based on the fact that, in that particular context, I had opted for the word 'bottom'.

This is a particularly lovely photo of a particularly lovely boy. Hello, Sandal. 🧡

Very poorly posed. The title of the book, which is surely the whole point of the photo, is not legible. 🧐

From what I recall, in the 80s/90s the assumption was that you were either divorced or a terrifyingly radical, probably dungaree-wearing feminist.

The one I still can't see past is Fleischmarkt Fuck in Köln.

Yep. In my early days of temping in London, I was usually working for 'Mr' So-and-So, at least for the first few days, but that had eased here by the 90s. Germans were horrified!
I insisted on reverting to Sie with a boss at DW after he deliberately stood too close to me in an empty lift, smirking.

I don't remember now. I think he couldn't get his head around the unfamiliar 'Ms', and couldn't bring himself to call me 'Charlotte'.

Please!
Back in the early 90s, a (nice) German supplier rang the company where I was working and kept calling me 'Mrs Collins'. After a while I said, 'Actually, I'm not married.' He painstakingly explained that in German, Frau... He felt anything else would be disrespectful and insisted on Mrs!

🤬

Interestingly, people often used to assume it meant I was divorced. I don't think they do any more; maybe Gen Z can tell us...?
In Germany, I'm perfectly happy being 'Frau Collins'. (Imagine if someone were to use 'Fräulein'!! 😱)

Gen X. Always loathed 'Miss', which to me sounds like a young girl. I get even more irritated when people assume 'Mrs': never been married; why is my marital status even relevant? I even correct Germans. ;-) Like another respondent, I've been 'Ms' ever since I knew that was an option (mid-80s).

...in German.

Having discovered that I am not, in fact, alone in my response to TWBB, I would be interested to know how you feel about Phantom Thread?

I’m so sorry for the sudden loss of your beloved boy. I’m glad you were able to let him go without suffering, surrounded by love and calm. 💔