BIG MISTAKES

As if launching a new magazine isn't enough work I've spent the last few days editing and proof reading an annual report for one of our sister companies. They're involved in the hire purchase finance of motorcycles, so if you want to know anything about that business I'm your man. I've also been told that I'm now eligible for staff rates if ever I wanted to buy a bike on finance.
This report was only given to me for a second opinion initially. It had been written in Thai and translated, and the directors were happy with what they saw. If I tell you it's taken the best part of 16 hours of my time to edit then I think you can see a little problem.
Most of the errors related to style and tenses, although there were a few more serious one, such as using 'massage' instead of 'message', 'curtain' instead of 'certain', 'oil princes' instead of 'oil prices' and 'lease' instead of 'least'.
This report, together with an invoice for my time (can you really put a price on that?) has been forwarded to the company. What amazes me is the original quality of the document that will now be presented to the Stock Exchange and be a matter of public record.