Bilingual transcription: Farming

Bilingual transcription: Àiteachas

SEONAG : Uill Alfie, tapadh leat airson mo chuideachadh air do latha dheth. Ciamar a bha cùisean anns an taigh-bìdh an-dè?

Well Alfie, thank you for helping me on your day off. How were things in the restaurant yesterday?

ALFIE : Bha sinn trang mar is àbhaist agus bha fèill mhòr, mhòr air na sùbhan-làir agaibh! O, tha airgead agam dhuibh.

We were busy as usual and there was a great demand for yor strawberries. Oh and I have some money for you.

SEONAG : Ist, cùm thusa sin. Bidh thu feumach air a h-uile sgillinn. Ged nach biodh tu a’ dol dhan oilthigh am bliadhna.
Coimhead thusa às do dhèidh fhèin. Am fear as fheàrr a chuireas, ’s e as fheàrr a bhuaineas.

Be quiet, you keep that. You’ll need every penny. Even if you’re not going to university this year. You look after yourself. He who’s best at sowing is the best at reaping.

ALFIE : Dè na rudan a bhiodh sibhse a’ fàs san Eilean?

What did you grow in Skye?

SEONAG : ‘S i mo mhàthair, do shinn-seanmhair, an gàirnealair a bha san teaghlach. Ach bha glasraich againn fo bhàrr as t-samhradh agus às dèidh ultach dhiubh a thogail, dhèanadh i brot gu math tric! (chuckle) Mar a chanadh i fhèin, tha thu fallain fhad ’s a tha deagh bhiadh nad bhroinn.

My mother, your great grandmother, was the gardener in our family. But we had a vegetable crop in summer and after harvesting loads of them, she would make soup, often. As my mother would say, you’re healthy as long as you have good food inside you.

ALFIE : Cha robh guth air cus feòla no cus carbs an uair sin!

There was no word of too much meat or too many carbs then!

SEONAG : Cha robh ann ach obair. Bha crodh rim bleoghann, caoraich rin trusadh agus bhiodh daoine a’ cur agus a’ buain. Agus bha an t-àite cho brèagha mun àm seo dhen bhliadhna. Bhiodh na monaidhean fo fhraoch agus na craobhan fo bhlàth.

There was only work. The cattle had to be milked, sheep to be rounded up and people would sow and harvest. The place would be lovely at this time of year. The moor land was full of heather and the trees were in bloom.

ALFIE : Tha sibh a’ cumail ri na seann dòighean?

You keep to the old methods?

SEONAG : Ri cuid. Chan eil càil nas fheàrr airson todhar na innear agus feamainn ghrod. Cha toirinn taing dhut airson todhar Gallda. Bhiodh e math saoghal nas glaine fhàgail dhuibhse a thig às mo dhèidh.

To some. There’s no better fertiliser than dung and rotten seaweed. I wouldn’t thank you for chemical fertiliser. It would be good to leave a cleaner world for those coming after me.

ALFIE : Chan eil càil cho math ri glasraich air an ùr-thogail. Tha mise a’ dol a dh’fheuchainn ri feòil a sheachnadh airson greis. Chaneil m’ athair ag ithe feòla co-dhiù.

There’s nothing better than freshly harvested vegetables. I’m going to try and avoid meat for a while. My father doesn’t eat meat anyway.

SEONAG : Chan eil mi fhìn buileach cinnteach mu bhith nad bhìogan.

I’m not quite sure about being vegan.

ALFIE : Gheibhear gu leòr maitheas à glasraich, agus cnothan ’s a leithid.

You get enough goodness from vegetables, nuts and such like.

SEONAG : Gu dearbha fhèin, gheibh – fhuair sinne sin nar n-òige! Siuthad, bu chòir dhutsa falbh. Bidh truinnsear mòr ratatouille a’ agad a-nochd!

You certainly do – we received that in our youth. Go on, you should go. There will be a large plate of ratatouille for you tonight!

ALFIE : (Laughs) Tha Dad math air ratatouille ged a tha e beagan mi-sgiobalta. Chì mi a dh’aithghearr sibh.

Dad’s good at making ratatouille although he’s quite messy. I’ll see you soon.

SEONAG : Chì! Dèan cinnteach gun sgioblaich thu às a dhèidh agus can ri Dad tighinn air chèilidh.

Yes! Make sure you tidy up after him and ask Dad to come and see me.