Dè tha thu a' dèanamh? / What are you doing?

[Mairead]

Tapadh leat, a Luchag Bhochd. Tha mi 'nam thòisichear fhathast!

A Mhàiri, 's toil leam Chicago gu mòr. Cha robh mi anns an leabhar-lann aig an t-Oilthigh a-riamh, ge-tà. Tha thu a' leughadh leabhraichean matha. Chan eil mi eòlach air Somhairle MacGill-Eain. Tha consart agam a-nochd; bidh sinn a' seinn an Requiem le Mozart. Tha mo chlasaichean a' dol gu math, tapadh leat.

Thank you, Poor Mouse. I'm a beginner yet! Mary, I love Chicago. I've never been in the university library, though. You are reading good books. I don't know Sorely MacLean. I have a concert tonight; we will be singing Mozart's Requiem. My classes are going well, thank you.

[Màiri na Coille]

'S caomh leam an Requiem le Mozart. 'S e ceòl àlainn a th'ann. Tha mi 'n dòchas gun robh do chonsart math!

I love Mozart's Requiem. It's gorgeous music. I hope your concert went well!

[Mairead]

'S toil leam an Requiem cuideachd. Bha e math! Bha an t-seachdain seo trang. 'S e Latha Naomh Anndra a th'ann an-diugh! Bheir an easbaig lorg-shuaicheantais ùr dhan oilthigh an-diugh. Dè tha tha a' leughadh a-nis, a Mhàiri?

I like the Requiem too. It was good! This week was busy. Today is St Andrews Day! The bishop will give the university a new mace today. What are you reading now, Mary?

[Màiri na Coille]

Latha Naomh Anndra toilichte dhut! An-dràsta, tha mi a' leughadh leabhar eachdraidh mu dheidhinn na Cruithneach agus na h-Albannach. Tha e inntineach gu leòr. Cuideachd, tha mi a' sgrìobhadh nobhail mu dheidhinn an t-each-uisge. Tha i fuar ann an Illinois an-diugh? A bheil i fuar ann an Alba, a Mhairead?

Happy St. Andrew's Day! Right now I'm reading a history book about the Picts and the Scots. It's interesting enough. Also, I'm writing a novel about the "water-horse". It's cold in Illinois today. Is it cold in Scotland, Mairead?

[Mairead]

Tapadh leat, a Mhàiri! 'S toil leam na Cruithneach gu mór, gu mór, gu mór! Bidh mi a' leughadh na Cruithneach. 'S toil leam sgeulachdan mu eich-uisge cuideachd. Gun dèid leat ris do nobhail. Chan eil i fuar anns an Alba; tha mu 42˚F ann a h-uile latha an-dràsda. Ach, bha reòthadh ann madainn an-diugh!

Thanks, Mary! I love the Picts so much!! I will be studying the Picts. I like stories about water horses too. Good luck with your novel. It is not cold in Scotland; it's about 42 degrees Fahrenheit every day right now. But, there was frost this morning!
*Note, I think I might have quite a few mistakes in there!

[poor_mouse]

Chan eil mi cinnteach, ach (I'm not sure, but):

mu dheidhinn nan Cruithneach agus nan Albannach, a' leughadh nan Cruithneach (Gen. pl.); no: nan Cruithnich, nan Albannaich
bha reòthadh ann sa mhadainn

[MacBrádaigh]

'S math sin, a SAB! Tha mise ag èisteachd ri jazz. Bu choir dhomh tì a òl an-drasda. Bha mi glè thrang oir bha mòran obair oilthighe agam cuideachd, ach tha stad beagan a-nis. Dè tha thu a' leughadh aig an t-oilthigh?

That's great, SAB! I am listening to jazz. I should drink tea right now. I had a lot of university work too, but I have a small break now. What are you studying at university?

Tapadh leibh, a Mhairead! Tha mi a' leughadh Leigheas aig Oilthigh Ghlaschu. Dè a tha thu a' leughadh?

Thank you, Mairead! I am studying Medicine at Glasgow University. What are you studying?

[Mairead]

Obh, glè mhath! Tha mi a' leughadh eachdraidh mheadhan-aoiseil agus àrc-eòlas aig Oilthigh Chill Rìmhinn. Cha robh mi anns a' Ghlaschu fhathast. Tha mi ag ath-sgrùdadh an-dràsda oir tha dà deuchainnean agam Di-màirt. Am bheil deuchainnean agad a dh'aithghearr?

Oh, very nice! I am studying medieval history and archaeology at the University of St Andrews. I haven't been to Glasgow yet. I am revising right now because I have two exams on Tuesday. Do you have exams soon?

[MacBrádaigh]

Sealbh math dhuibh! Tha aon deuchainn agam ann an Gearann, ach tha mi ag obair ann an ospadal an-dràsta. Tha deuchainnean agam a h-uile latha!

Good luck to you! I have one exam in February, but I am working in a hospital just now. I have exams every day! (How would I say "It is like having an exam every day"?)

[Mairead]

Am bheil an obair agad anns an t-ospadal doirbh? Cha b'urrainn dhomh a bhith ag obair ann an ospadal.

Tha teirm agam crìochnaichte! Thèid mi agus mo chàraidean a Dhùn Eideann a-màireach. 'S toil leam Dùn Eideann gu mòr.

Is your work in the hospital difficult? I couldn't work in a hospital. ... My term is finished! Tomorrow my friends and I are going to Edinburgh. I like Edinburgh a lot.

[GunChleoc]

'S ann fhada nach do sgrìobh mi dad an-seo

Tha mi 'n dòchas gu bheil sibh uile gu math!


It's been a long time since I have written anything here.

I hope you are all well!

[poor_mouse]

Meadhanach mhath, tapadh leat, a GhunCleoc!

Chan eil mòran neart annam mar as trice san Earrach; mar sin, is gann orm m' obair a dhèanamh.
Ach tha mi agus m' athair a' dol a Rodos a dh'aithghearr airson dà sheachdain sa Chèitean. Nach bi sin math!

So-so, thank you!
I've not much strength usually in the spring; so, I hardly can do my work.
But my father and I will go to Rodos soon for two weeks in May. It's great, isn't it?

[Mairead]

Ciamar a tha thu fhèin, a GhunChleoc?

Tha mi gu math. Bha mi glè thrang, ach tha mòran uair agam a-nis. Bidh mi a' dol a Lunnainn as t-samhradh. A Luchag Bhochd, ciamar a tha Rodos? Chan aithne dhomh Rodos. Dh'ionnsaich mi mu na Gréige anns a' chlas eachdraidhe anns an teirm seo.

How are you, GunChleoc? I am well. I was very busy, but now I have more time. I'm going to London in the summer. Poor mouse, what is Rodos like? I'm not familiar with it. I learned about Greece in history class this term.

[GunChleoc]

A Luchag, canaidh sinn "sgìths an earraich" ris sa Ghearmailtis.

Luchag, we call it "spring tiredness" in German


Tha mi a' cumail trang mar as àbhaist. Tha torr obrach pàighte a' tighinn a-steach agam aig an àm seo. Tha sin math ach tha mi a' fàs beagan sgìth cuideachd

I am keeping buy as usual. I have a lot of paid work coming in at the moment. This is good, but I am also growing a bit tired myself


-> is gann gun tèid leam / cha mhòr nach tèid leam m' obair a dhèanamh
-> tha mòran ùine agam. If you have Colin Mark's dictionary, there is a nice section on time words at the end. Picking the correct one can be a bit tricky.

[poor_mouse]

Obh-obh, a Mhairead, tha mi duilich: seo Rhodes sa Beurla! (I am sorry)
Tha an t-ealean seo eadar Am Muir Àigeanach agus Am Muir Meadhanach (between the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea).

Seadh, a GhunCleoc, 's e "sgìths an earraich" a tha an dearbh ainm airson sin!
It's the very name for that!

>Is gann gun tèid leam m' obair a dhèanamh
Bha amharas agam gun do rinn mi mearachd leis "is gann", ach lorg mi seo san Fhaclair Bheag:

's gann orm ...
I can hardly

Cha robh fios agam ciamar a chleachdar seo.
I suspected that I did an error with "is gann", but I find "'s gann orm" in the FB and didn't know how to use it.