Transcribing Biddy’s Memoirs
From a tape I recorded in 2008, at 11AM in the morning
KJ: Okay—today is the… seventh?
Biddy: What?
KJ: Is today the seventh? Of January? And we are in the beach house in Castlepoint New Zealand, and Biddy is going to talk despite the fact that she doesn’t feel like it.
Biddy: That’s right! She doesn’t feel like it.
[…]
KJ: So. Tell me, where were you born?
Biddy: Oh, I told you that.
KJ: But I don’t remember, and I’m not sure we have it recorded.
Biddy: Oh, well, I was born in Edinburgh, and I went out to Kenya; they took me out to Kenya when I was 8 weeks old. That was the bare facts. But. Um. I’ll have to wake up a bit.
KJ: [joking] Do you want some Campari?
Biddy: I—hoho!—I don’t think so!
KJ: Wait, do you want some Campari?
Biddy: I’ll have some gin!
KJ: Alright.
[Katie Jane and Biddy get alcoholic fortifications]
KJ: Cheers! …So, I think you’re just going to have to start over, because—can you hear me now? Is your ear piece working now?
Biddy: What? Oh, yes, it is.
