20 (or so) questions on how Lucy (@lucindabrooks) works

This series of posts was inspired by Lifehacker’s How I Work series, which I’ve been reading for quite some time and thoroughly enjoy. It’s about time we discover how our colleagues work and get to know them a little better.

If you want to participate in this fun series, email us at info@linguagreca.com for the Word template where you can fill in your answers & bio (incl. site/blog/social media) and then send it back to us as an attachment along with your photo (optional but preferred). If you don’t like any of the questions, just delete them and add your own. Check out the previous interviews here.

Location: Worthing in West Sussex, on the south coast of the UK, on a hill overlooking the English Channel.
Desired location: I like it here. But a pied-à-terre in Mayfair, London, and another alongside the Seine in Paris would be fine!
Current work title: Freelance translator and Managing Director of eCPD Webinars (quality online training for translators and interpreters).
Desired work title: no change in view
Languages you have studied or currently speak: German, Spanish and French, with English being my native language. I do feel that I’m getting rusty speaking my source languages. This is because I live in an English-speaking household, in England and cannot travel enough to be fluent.
The project you’re most proud of: I guess that would have to be eCPD Webinars, wearing my “trainer” hat. As a translator, I recently translated an entire website for an e-learning company. I was responsible for the job from start to finish and can see the results online. But I have been involved in many other publications, too numerous to mention.
Your current computer setup: Acer PC with solid state drive, two monitors (how did I ever live with just one) and an Asus laptop for emergencies. I also use my iPad for emails when travelling.
Do you own a smartphone? Yes, but it’s an indulgence really. I am not out enough to make proper use of it. I find it useful when I do travel though.
Favorite time of the day: First thing when I wake but before I get up. I listen to the radio.
Favorite gadget (apart from computer & smartphone): My SatNav (GPS). It’s essential for me, and I sometimes wonder how I ever managed to find places before they were invented.
Next conference/event you’re planning to attend: I was booked to go to the ITI conference in April 2015, but something has come up and now I cannot go. This autumn I have been to several events in London and Portsmouth, but travelling far is quite hard for me. Though I did make it to Paris recently for the launch of The Book of Standing Out.
How many hours per day do you usually work: About 6 on average. I try to get to the gym a few times a week. I am trying to work a bit less these days and take part in some other activities outside work.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? An introvert in fact. I’m quite shy inside, but can be a bit talkative sometimes.
Are you an early-riser or a night-owl? Neither really. I’m usually at my desk by about 8 am and use the first hour to answer emails and so on. My most productive time is 9-1 and 2-4.
What do you listen to while you work? Total silence usually. I cannot concentrate if music is playing. In summer I hear the birds in my garden.

And a few non-work related questions to get more personal.
Your babies or pets, incl. names and ages: My “baby” is a fully grown adult, his name is Stephen and he lives in Singapore.
Next city/country you want to visit: We plan a trip to Greece and Turkey in 2015.
Favorite vacation place: No real favourite. We like to travel to lots of places, but for interesting places to visit I choose three: Iceland, Spain, Jordan – all places I have been to in the past 5 years.
Favorite book: I read all the time and there are many favourites. Recently I read “An Officer and a Spy” by Robert Harris. It’s about the Dreyfus Affair at the end of the 19^th century in France. Thanks to Robert Harris I now know about the heroic efforts of the man who, having become convinced of Dreyfus’ innocence, eventually found the way to win him freedom and justice, suffering imprisonment, vilification and false accusations himself in the process.
Favorite song: The album “A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night” by Harry Nilsson Anything by Carly Simon or by Neil Diamond. But I have a very eclectic taste.
What are you currently reading? Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome. It’s very funny, and is also a travelogue and history lesson, all in one. I thought I’d read it before, but I hadn’t. Someone from our book club chose it and I’m so glad they did.

Author bio

Lucy Brooks: I have been in business for over 30 years, and for the past 24 have operated a successful commercial and industrial translation business. I am a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, a qualified member of ITI, and was one of the first to become a Chartered Linguist. In 2009-2010, I instituted a series of webinars for the Chartered Institute of Linguists and drove forward a dynamic programme of professional development. I went on to found eCPD Webinars in 2010.
@ecpdwebinars, www.ecpdwebinars.co.uk