Sunday

Dear Anne

I just want to give you an update:

Bee has sent me the corrected work back and I had – together with my sister – a look at it. Her work is fabulous – so detailed and clear, so that my sister now is making all the adjustments needed and then finishes her last pages.

I really think Bee could offer an editing service :-) I don’t know about England, but in Switerland so many students are looking for someone who proofreads their thesis in German. I also let my master thesis correct by a guy who studied german at uni and it was so worth it as I got a great mark. One spends so much thinking about the content and structure of the thesis so that I simply didn't see my own mistakes anymore even though my level of german is quite high too.

Anyway: I was writing back and forward with Bee and she wrote me that she will send me her bank details, so that I can send her the payment.

I wrote you this mail as you acted as an “mediator” between Bee and me and so the editing work could be done. So I know how happy you will be to hear that it worked out well and I just you deserve it to know. Maybe Bee will tell you about it herself and if not, at least, you know and you can be calm about it :-)

xx Esther

This is really, really encouraging, Esther. I was wondering how it all went: Bee told me she was sending the material over yesterday.

Do PLEASE tell her all this! It is the first paid work she has ever done. And perhaps you could pass her name around to other students who need to write their thesis in English and might find it helpful? She was absolutely amazing proof-reading my last novel. I've never known anyone even a tenth as thorough. She picked up much more than the professional proof-reader.

I'd like to update the readers of my blog by quoting your words verbatim, if you give me permission. Would you mind if I were to do this, please?

She was concerned that being paid would mess up her benefits, but I don't think it will. It’s such a small amount (I assume!) and the only work she’s ever had. But if she asks you not to pay her, that will be why.

I'm so glad it worked out so well for everybody.

Axxx

I’ve apologised for my rubbish photography before. A few years ago, a pair of firecrests visited our garden. Here they are again… I sent Shaun a text to tell him to come quickly, but he didn’t get it before they’d flown.