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A Life in Translation

Getting to know my father through his wartime diaries

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Some Family Memories

Life in Translation - Some Family Memories

We first visited Poland in the summer of 1962 when I was 12 years old. Here I met for the first time, all seven of my father’s brothers and sisters along with my grandfather and numerous cousins (more of this visit later).  Among these was Józef’s youngest sister Łucja, who I went on to meet … Continue reading Some Family Memories →

Jane Emms Uncategorized Leave a comment March 28, 2018February 22, 2021 2 Minutes

I’m still here!

Life in Translation 1939

I had hoped to post something more on the blog sooner than this, but I have been trying to improve some translating I did several years ago at the start of this project. I want to post a short extract about my father’s time at the army training school in 1938/1939. He describes a little … Continue reading I’m still here! →

Jane Emms Uncategorized 1 Comment March 14, 2018February 7, 2021 1 Minute

My Father’s Obituaries

Following my father’s death in London in 1952, two Polish language newspapers – Myśl Polska (printed in England) and Słowo Polskie (printed in France) – published obituary notices. I was intrigued to read these and learn more about my father's activities as a student in Poland and after he settled in England. Below are excerpts … Continue reading My Father’s Obituaries →

Jane Emms Uncategorized 1 Comment February 18, 2018February 19, 2021 2 Minutes

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I've wanted a mono lingual Polish dictionary for so long, to help with learning and translating. So I was really delighted to find a parcel on the doorstep yesterday from my dear friend @ewaczenczek in Poland, containing exactly that! Thank you very much Ewa, I've used it so many times already in the last 24 hours!
Three photos of my mother, Juliet.
Today's #googledoodle marks the 185th anniversary of the publication of Adam Mickiewicz's Pan Tadeusz. If you're familiar with this poem and its importance to the Polish people, it will come as no surprise that Józef chose its first lines to open the very first entry in his memoirs.
Judging by the passionate way my father wrote about his homeland throughout his diaries, I believe he would have been proud to know that Poland had maintained its independence for 100 years. Despite all the upheavals of WWII, it stood firm. Long may it continue.
I took this photo a year ago today in a cemetery in Kraków. All Saints & All Souls are amongst the most significant celebrations of the Polish calendar. Everyone travels to be with their family, perhaps even more so than at Christmas. They put dozens of extra tram and train routes on to meet the sheer amount of people travelling to visit the graves of their loved ones.
Missing Kraków in autumn 🍃🍂 #kochamkrakow #polishautumn #plantypark #krakowplanty #krakowwawel #wawelcastle #polskafotografia #polska🇵🇱 #universitetjagiellonski #jagiellonia

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