Blog Post
Once, I had a secret love
Been a bit busy recently and haven't been able to update my website for a couple of months. Hen nights and getting married took up most of my spare time! So now I pick up where I left off ..
I have been doing all sorts of different stuff recently, including boring meeting minutes - but you have to take the rough with the smooth. Unfortunately a lot of my work is confidential to the families and I really don't like requesting permission to publish an extract. On the other hand when I received this scan of shorthand written on the back of a photograph and realised what it was, I had no problem asking.
As soon as I transcribed a couple of lines, the whole thing popped into my head and I spent the rest of the day singing it. As well as the scan I have typed the lyrics alongside so you can have a little sing-song too!! Enjoy!!
Once I had a secret love,
That lived within the heart of me,
All too soon my secret love,
Became impatient to be free.
So I told a friendly star,
The way that dreamers often do,
Just how wonderful you are,
And why I'm so in love with you.
Now I shout it from the highest hills,
Even told the golden daffodils.
At last my heart's an open door,
And my secret love's no secret any more.
Tihis book was written by Rory Palmer and I did the editing - a first for us both!
This is the result of my latest undertaking. My very good friend, Rory Palmer, has written his first book and he somehow managed to persuade me to get involved in his endeavours. He can now say he is an Author and I can say I am an Editor. This is a case of teamwork, between us we have managed to achieve something of which we are immensely proud. Certainly last year I would never have dreamed of doing something like this but you never know until you try.
My first Video
I have recently completed the transcription of the journal belonging to a lady during what I can only describe as pioneering years. It was an insight into the life of a young woman who worked extremely hard but I think she had a fulfilling life too! “ Hello Tracey, Just wanted to take a few minutes to tell you what a wonderful job you have done on transcribing the 1851-1855 shorthand diary left from an ancestor. We were excited to find out from the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan, U.S. that there was an additional 70-page diary, but our hearts soon sank hearing it was in shorthand. Finding you was a blessing! Thank you for all your hard work, for your patience with us constantly sending lists of names and places and for so kindly answering endless questions in working with us to allow the present and future generations of our family to have this account of their lives in the 1800s in America. So, for anyone reading this with diaries or writings written in shorthand, take heart because this wonderful woman in the United Kingdom can open up a whole new world for you too! Thank you, Pat “
This is the reference I received after transcribing an 1860 letter written during the American Civil War. Other testimonials can be found it the here Be sure to check them out!
This was a good job - I have been working with Beehive Books in Philadelphia writing in shorthand the Jonathan Harker journals from Bram Stoker's Dracula. It was a most fascinating project and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, I really got hooked on the story. Anyway here is a lovely reference from the company ...
*** So a lovely lady contacted me recently. She had read the Alan B Shepard transcription and had pointed out one change so I have added a revised version below.*** I only transcribe Pitmans Shorthand (all versions) but occasionally I get sent other stuff too. Unfortunately, unless it is Pitmans, I have to decline which I hate to do. This enquiry was absolutely fascinating but it was written in Gregg shorthand but I was able to pass it onto a friend of mine who did such a good job that customer, Bill, sent all the stuff back to me for interest and also to put on my site. Thank you Bill. I really wished I could have done this one, it is a love letter from the mid 1940’s that was written to America’s first man in space, Alan B Shepard. It was written by a young woman named Fran (aka Dashing Dizzy), who it turns out from subsequent letters was madly in love with Shepard. This particular letter was penned in shorthand and intended to be deciphered as a playful challenge. This is the letter and revised solution ...
An Art Installation I have been working with a most delightful artists, David Brognon and Stéphanie Rollin. David wanted me to write a phrase in shorthand, but it had to be in French! The beauty of shorthand is that it is phonetic - you write what you hear. He very kindly sent me a photograph - isn't it absolutely fantastic! David Brognon & Stéphanie Rollin Nous allons observer une minute de silence, 2016 Blue Neon 500 x 30 cm Trad: Tracey Jennings Unique Edition It's hanging on "place d'armes" in Luxembourg-city centre. I am credited on the exhibition for the traduction. The neon may move to Lyon on France after the show. I have done the same sentence in other languages and David and Stéphanie plan to produce them in a smaller size. One will be show in ArtBrussels in April, and the Arabic version in a French museum in September.
One of my lovely friends just sent me this link to an interesting article on the BBC about shorthand. It is really interesting, give it a read! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34603886
Now the wedding is a past memory, we are looking forward to Christmas and so am as busy as ever. But I was sent this postcard the other day and the transcription is below. One or two gaps, but they are mainly names and pretty tricky to be 100% confident ... It is fearfully cold here today and yesterday. I do not know that I remember it so cold. It may be that I feel much more as I am getting old. I expect you have had ways of …. It was trying to snow this morning but has not come to anything yet. Very many thanks for your lovely long letter. I will answer it more ….. in a few days and send you the …. and directions. I have just rung Stanley up on the telephone and find that Uncle is still away and has not been at office since a fortnight ago yesterday. Auntie has been in bed and Miss …. has had ulcerated throat and all the children have been bad, but Stanley says all are better now except baby and this delay expecting Uncle at the office. Suppose it is the way weather which keeps me at home now. Stanley says all the children have colds, but does not think they are so bad as they try to make out. Miss ….. is still there. I met Jenny at the ballet last night. She is pretty well and asked to be remembered to you. She is glad you have found something so quickly and hopes you will like it. Can you read my shorthand? Because if you can't I won't write any more in shorthand. Very best love. Mary ….. Hughes.