Well this will be my last post of the year and will not see my posting again till at least 2 Jan 2009. I hate NYE with a vengeance and that issue of just because its a second after midnight does not miracuously cure everything. I only wish that was the case. 2008 has been the worst year since before 1992 and I think I may well class it as the worst year of my life for the reasons I've shared before.
One of MM and my annual rituals is that on NYD we have no mobiles and no PC usage so I'll be absent until then. I had high hopes of getting a lot done this week while I was off work as we closed for the holiday period. I've been typing up a lot of e-bay listings on TurboLister and hope to have them finished this weekend to go live with next week. Its not the issue of money but rather the fact of I'm holding on to stuff for the sake of holding on to it. Books I've not read 15+ years ranks among them.
One thing that I will be doing tomorrow is going through my stash. I'm going to allocate everything to a particular project and will be labelling it up to that express purpose. My new year resolution is that I will not buy any yarn until I've gone through the stash. I know that I can do this as I'm still of the mindset that I don't actually need anything so there is no need for me to buy anything. The only concession that I will make is that if it is for a present for someone else or that it is yarn that I'm given (otherwise my SP would have a very hard time ;-) ).
31 December 2008
30 December 2008
Texere and Coldspring Mills
Today I went shopping at Texere and then at Coldspring. On the whole I was quite restrained despite MM overhearing my talking on the 'phone saying that I had spent £350 on yarn I got the following:
Texere
I saw these three in cones at £20 per 1kg. I took the cones to the counter and asked for a wind-off next week when they were up and running normally rather than the holiday opening. I was told that they actually had them in 50g spools so went and got these instead. It was more economic for the purposes I have for them but could work out more expensive in the long-run if my test works out ;)
I got a ball of Texere's troon tweed to do a test swatch for MM for a jumper as he's still not like too taken with the Jamiesons aran :( It does feel softer to the immediate touch and he's such a finneckity person it may just work (ETA he seems to like it.)
I then picked up these four balls. The top two are actually a pink (on the left) and a red (on the right). They are King Cole merino blend 100% wool and they are going to be used to make something for my SP. They do not know they are receiving it so its safe to blog its mention as it will be in their final parcel :) I was tempted to add green in to the blend but unfortunately it was more of a bottle green than emerald so I passed it up.
I then succumbed when I was paying to these two pair of DPNs, 1.5mm and 1.75mm as I haven't got any that small and I know that I am a loose knitter and given that MM was wearing my hand-made socks over Christmas I think I am going to be adding those to the list of projects to do next year.
The other thing that I picked up for a project to do next year was these three balls of green 4-ply. I got the pattern for Tannenbaum (a fir tree hat) a couple of years ago and never got around to making it so I guess it will get done for Christmas 2009.
I also bought myself a new ball winder to replace one that I gave to someone earlier in the year. I've not bought anything on skeins for a while so its not been an issue but always handing to have one there in the wings :)
Coldspring
Although there was plenty at Coldspring there was nothing that took my fancy. I did however succumb to this pack. There is just over 900g and I know a couple of people with young children so can utilise it in a couple of garments for them.
Texere
I saw these three in cones at £20 per 1kg. I took the cones to the counter and asked for a wind-off next week when they were up and running normally rather than the holiday opening. I was told that they actually had them in 50g spools so went and got these instead. It was more economic for the purposes I have for them but could work out more expensive in the long-run if my test works out ;)
I got a ball of Texere's troon tweed to do a test swatch for MM for a jumper as he's still not like too taken with the Jamiesons aran :( It does feel softer to the immediate touch and he's such a finneckity person it may just work (ETA he seems to like it.)
I then picked up these four balls. The top two are actually a pink (on the left) and a red (on the right). They are King Cole merino blend 100% wool and they are going to be used to make something for my SP. They do not know they are receiving it so its safe to blog its mention as it will be in their final parcel :) I was tempted to add green in to the blend but unfortunately it was more of a bottle green than emerald so I passed it up.
I then succumbed when I was paying to these two pair of DPNs, 1.5mm and 1.75mm as I haven't got any that small and I know that I am a loose knitter and given that MM was wearing my hand-made socks over Christmas I think I am going to be adding those to the list of projects to do next year.
The other thing that I picked up for a project to do next year was these three balls of green 4-ply. I got the pattern for Tannenbaum (a fir tree hat) a couple of years ago and never got around to making it so I guess it will get done for Christmas 2009.
I also bought myself a new ball winder to replace one that I gave to someone earlier in the year. I've not bought anything on skeins for a while so its not been an issue but always handing to have one there in the wings :)
Coldspring
Although there was plenty at Coldspring there was nothing that took my fancy. I did however succumb to this pack. There is just over 900g and I know a couple of people with young children so can utilise it in a couple of garments for them.
Spinning Wheels
I was passing an antique shop over a year ago and spotted a spinning wheel outside. I popped in and asked if they knew what make it was as I had no idea and they said that they didn't. They also said that they were selling it for £10 reduced from £40 as that was their last day. I of course couldn't resist the opportunity and have to shamefully admit that its been sat in my spare room ever since. For the spinners of you out there, do any of you recognise what it is? I'm hoping that it is a working model rather than a object d'art!
29 December 2008
MonsterMog - Ouch!
Thought I would share some pictures of the little feller who went for his neutering op today. The op itself went well but unfortunately the vet told me that he has a heart murmur :(
28 December 2008
Christmas Tree
I thought I would share some pictures of my Christmas tree before it got cat-attacked. I do have to say I'm not the world's best tree dresser but it suits me. The bottom two pictures show ornaments that I bought in Liberty's Christmas shop when I was in London at the beginning of the month.
25 December 2008
Christmas Day - Secret Pal Parcel
Christmas Day arrived and here is my first SP13 parcel. I thought I'd show off the label with Santa and his sleigh and the garland of Poinsettias.
Opening up revealed:
Huge bundles of green :)
One of the first packages and a chocolate Father Christmas.
More goodies and parcels.
And some more.
The first package opened revealed this soap: rosemary, pine and may chang. I didn't use it in my annual Xmas bath as I'd already had it by this stage so it will be my New Year's Day treat :)
My second revealed these two bundles of yumminess. The mint fondants on the left and the right being milk chocolate with cinnamon and white praline.
My third was this large button and a bag which revealed:
Some of the packages were decorated with these:
I quickly took the ceramics off of the packages and on to the tree. I have to say that they are wonderful and would love to know where they have come from. Here are some closer up shots including one of a Christmas pudding (which I forgot to photo on its package)
My SP also included a card and it came in this delightfully decorated envelope:
The card:
Both of my rats are boys and I can just imagine them doing this as well as they are so mischevious so I wonder if my SP has a camera on them ;-)
Last not but least the yummy goodness:
My SP has said they'd work well for a lace project. (Well I have no doubt they would but a certain young gentleman decided to have a rummage just after this picture was taken and I now need to play with a yarn winder to make them look decent again before I can use them.
Thanks again SP. It's a wonderful parcel and I promise that the munchy yummies will last at least until Boxing Day ;-)
Opening up revealed:
Huge bundles of green :)
One of the first packages and a chocolate Father Christmas.
More goodies and parcels.
And some more.
The first package opened revealed this soap: rosemary, pine and may chang. I didn't use it in my annual Xmas bath as I'd already had it by this stage so it will be my New Year's Day treat :)
My second revealed these two bundles of yumminess. The mint fondants on the left and the right being milk chocolate with cinnamon and white praline.
My third was this large button and a bag which revealed:
Some of the packages were decorated with these:
I quickly took the ceramics off of the packages and on to the tree. I have to say that they are wonderful and would love to know where they have come from. Here are some closer up shots including one of a Christmas pudding (which I forgot to photo on its package)
My SP also included a card and it came in this delightfully decorated envelope:
The card:
Both of my rats are boys and I can just imagine them doing this as well as they are so mischevious so I wonder if my SP has a camera on them ;-)
Last not but least the yummy goodness:
My SP has said they'd work well for a lace project. (Well I have no doubt they would but a certain young gentleman decided to have a rummage just after this picture was taken and I now need to play with a yarn winder to make them look decent again before I can use them.
Thanks again SP. It's a wonderful parcel and I promise that the munchy yummies will last at least until Boxing Day ;-)
24 December 2008
Secret Pal - First Parcel
Because I’ve not got a regular postman and I don’t trust stand-ins I asked my SP to send my parcels to work.
We had the post delivered this morning which included special deliveries so I thought I had missed out on getting my first parcel for Christmas. My SP had told me that they had posted it so I knew it was on the way so when nothing arrived on my desk this morning was downhearted – awwwwwww
Anyway just had a telephone call from reception and my special delivery has arrived! I’m being a good boy and it will sit under the tree tonight (well that is if MonsterMog does not pull it down again as he did yesterday just in time for my local knitting group coming to my house!). It will then get opened up tomorrow morning and I’m going to have to twist someone’s arm to let me have the camera out.
This is now probably going to be the last post before Christmas as we have a strict no mobiles/no PC policy on Christmas and Boxing Day.
Also just mentioning my local group. I made biscuits on Sunday (and aborted gingerbread which solidified in the fridge) and they went down well. I had hoped to ice them as well but time was my enemy. Pictures of these pre- and post-baking will appear Saturday as well.
Photos and more will follow on Saturday!
In the meantime hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and Santa is kind to you.
We had the post delivered this morning which included special deliveries so I thought I had missed out on getting my first parcel for Christmas. My SP had told me that they had posted it so I knew it was on the way so when nothing arrived on my desk this morning was downhearted – awwwwwww
Anyway just had a telephone call from reception and my special delivery has arrived! I’m being a good boy and it will sit under the tree tonight (well that is if MonsterMog does not pull it down again as he did yesterday just in time for my local knitting group coming to my house!). It will then get opened up tomorrow morning and I’m going to have to twist someone’s arm to let me have the camera out.
This is now probably going to be the last post before Christmas as we have a strict no mobiles/no PC policy on Christmas and Boxing Day.
Also just mentioning my local group. I made biscuits on Sunday (and aborted gingerbread which solidified in the fridge) and they went down well. I had hoped to ice them as well but time was my enemy. Pictures of these pre- and post-baking will appear Saturday as well.
Photos and more will follow on Saturday!
In the meantime hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and Santa is kind to you.
21 December 2008
The Twelve Cats Of Christmas
A friend of mine sent this to me and I thought it oh so true I would share it:
On the first day of Christmas when I brought home my tree
My 12 cats were laughing at me.
On the second day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the third day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the fourth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the fifth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the sixth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the seventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the eighth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the ninth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the tenth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the eleventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the twelfth day of Christmas I looked at my poor tree
12 cats a-climbing
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me!
On the first day of Christmas when I brought home my tree
My 12 cats were laughing at me.
On the second day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the third day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the fourth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the fifth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the sixth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the seventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the eighth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the ninth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the tenth day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the eleventh day of Christmas I saw beneath my tree
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me.
On the twelfth day of Christmas I looked at my poor tree
12 cats a-climbing
11 broken branches
10 tinsel hairballs
9 chewed-through light strings
8 shattered ornaments
7 half-dead rodents
6 fallen angels
5 shredded gifts
4 males a-spraying
3 missing Wise Men
2 mangled garlands
and my 12 cats laughing at me!
16 December 2008
Oh no!
While I'm still an emotional roller coaster and avoiding the happy smarties I did have one thought today. My brother will never age and will always be 16. On the downside I realised that when we're reunited I'm going to be a right old crock!
13 December 2008
Pah!
I was hoping to go shopping today but had to wait in for window fitter. We agreed with the landlord when we renewed contract that back bedroom window would be replaced. Not a problem. However the window fitter rang earlier this week saying he would be here Saturday morning 8.30am :(
Well an hour later he finally arrives with no apologies. Three hours later and my desire to go out shopping is well and truly gone :(
Think I'll be having a day in front of the TV with my feet up and knitting a jumper for a friend for her boy's teddy!
Well an hour later he finally arrives with no apologies. Three hours later and my desire to go out shopping is well and truly gone :(
Think I'll be having a day in front of the TV with my feet up and knitting a jumper for a friend for her boy's teddy!
12 December 2008
Ok
I know it looks like my verbal diarrhoea has been and gone but its just because I've been soooooo busy. I've got my Christmas present but he's arguing as he's suffocating and has lost his feet to gangrene as his legs have been tied up for days. I got him when I was down in London last Saturday at a place really where he should come from to be authentic. No pictures or anything else till two weeks time.
I also bought a couple of new baubles for the Christmas tree. I've yet to put the tree up because of being busy and last weekend I was in London and then catching up again. I've been putting up lots of foil garlands and some dangling ones as well but will finish off this weekend. One thing (well four actually) that I bought this week which I kind of like are some candles. They are battery operated and I bought one in each of gold, silver, red and green. I much prefer these colours and to me they mean Christmas. I guess it takes me back to when I was at school and we used to be using those licky sticky papers and the white glue and card and glitter. Ooooo should I have been a card maker instead? It is so annoying though that right at the moment I can't get green tinsel or green foil wrapping paper especially when you can get the gift bags in the same stuff!
More to follow at the weekend.
I also bought a couple of new baubles for the Christmas tree. I've yet to put the tree up because of being busy and last weekend I was in London and then catching up again. I've been putting up lots of foil garlands and some dangling ones as well but will finish off this weekend. One thing (well four actually) that I bought this week which I kind of like are some candles. They are battery operated and I bought one in each of gold, silver, red and green. I much prefer these colours and to me they mean Christmas. I guess it takes me back to when I was at school and we used to be using those licky sticky papers and the white glue and card and glitter. Ooooo should I have been a card maker instead? It is so annoying though that right at the moment I can't get green tinsel or green foil wrapping paper especially when you can get the gift bags in the same stuff!
More to follow at the weekend.
07 December 2008
DVD GRRRRRRRRR
I've just put a DVD on to watch and it took me a couple of minutes to realise that there was a scratch in the disc and I'd been watching the same 10 seconds :( To be fair though it was a corridor chase type thing and I was reading e-mails ;-)
04 December 2008
HELP!
I can't believe this. After ages of more or less nothing to post I've got poster's diarrhoea.
I've been looking at this and wondering about whether or not to go for it. It will mean quite a bit of training though before I am fit enough and then I need to get the sponsorship but I think two special someones will appreciate it.
Anyway I'm now going to go lock myself away before someone stabs me.
I've been looking at this and wondering about whether or not to go for it. It will mean quite a bit of training though before I am fit enough and then I need to get the sponsorship but I think two special someones will appreciate it.
Anyway I'm now going to go lock myself away before someone stabs me.
My Mum
took me up to London
My Mum took me on the train.
Well okay that's not strictly true but I am going down to London on Saturday. Not with Mumsy though as she's over in Norfolk. I knew there was a reason I enjoyed Yorkshire ;-)
I'm having a bit of a dilemma though as what to take in the way of yarn project. Do I take the unbloggable project which will expose it to 100s of people or do I take a plain boring unappealing monotonous toy doll?
One thing I am really annoyed about today though. Beedle the Bard. I ordered it via Amazon on a special courier delivery. Er hello? Where are you? I suppose the driver could have got lost in the blizzard and snow drift we're having here.
I've been hit by another option which is calling even more. Fiddlesticks Creatures Of The Reef Shawl. The only problem is I can't concentrate on something else and knit lace at the same time :(
My Mum took me on the train.
Well okay that's not strictly true but I am going down to London on Saturday. Not with Mumsy though as she's over in Norfolk. I knew there was a reason I enjoyed Yorkshire ;-)
I'm having a bit of a dilemma though as what to take in the way of yarn project. Do I take the unbloggable project which will expose it to 100s of people or do I take a plain boring unappealing monotonous toy doll?
One thing I am really annoyed about today though. Beedle the Bard. I ordered it via Amazon on a special courier delivery. Er hello? Where are you? I suppose the driver could have got lost in the blizzard and snow drift we're having here.
I've been hit by another option which is calling even more. Fiddlesticks Creatures Of The Reef Shawl. The only problem is I can't concentrate on something else and knit lace at the same time :(
03 December 2008
Bit of this and knit of that
Do you know despite there being plenty of knitting going on for a particular project, its a non-bloggable project. This I can imagine must be really hard for my secret pal to bear. I wonder if I should break my rule and branch out into multiple projects at a time so I can actually show pictures of knitting! Once I have got Xmas out of the way which scarily is 3 weeks tomorrow, I will be starting with MM's aran jumper. I did start knitting the tension square for it and put it down back at the end of April to pick it back up again when I got back from the week in France. Needless to say we're seven months on and its still not seen the light of casting on. One of the issues for me was that the tension was so ridiculously tight I thought I was at thought. A friend of mine I was talking to after I got back from France tried it on a size smaller than I was on at the time and told me she had managed the tension. Have to say though that MM is not crying out for it but the weather up here is somewhat on the snowy side at the moment so guess it would have been nice to have been wearing it.
Talking of which the snowy weather around these parts is quite peculiar. The area where I work is plain cold, Bingley is also cold and a bit icy. Here at home its covered in snow and ice. Its all to do with the elevation rising the further you come out of workplace. Its nice scenery to look out on but when you need to ring the office to say you're snowed in and there's nothing at work its had to be believed.
Talking of the festive season I've pulled out all of the decorations from where they are kept for the rest of the year. We've decorated our room in the office at work with garlands and a few of the dangling ones as well. We pooled our money together and bought a fibre optic tree. It does look quite nice and I would consider having one at home but the one at work is only 3 foot and for home would like a nice 6 foot tree. I'm in London on Saturday so Sunday will see me putting all of the decorations up here and making the Christmas cake. I wasn't going to make one this year as the past couple of years have seen me buying a slab of cake as I no longer make them en masse for work colleagues. However, I have the knitting group I go to coming to my house on 23rd for the meeting so thought it would be nice. I bought a couple more of the knitting murder mystery books by Maggie Sefton and one of the recipes featured is for mint fudge but its US in origin and I don't want to try to hunt all the ingredients so I'm going to see if I've got a recipe for fudge and just whack in the mint essence.
Oh well needles are a calling.
Talking of which the snowy weather around these parts is quite peculiar. The area where I work is plain cold, Bingley is also cold and a bit icy. Here at home its covered in snow and ice. Its all to do with the elevation rising the further you come out of workplace. Its nice scenery to look out on but when you need to ring the office to say you're snowed in and there's nothing at work its had to be believed.
Talking of the festive season I've pulled out all of the decorations from where they are kept for the rest of the year. We've decorated our room in the office at work with garlands and a few of the dangling ones as well. We pooled our money together and bought a fibre optic tree. It does look quite nice and I would consider having one at home but the one at work is only 3 foot and for home would like a nice 6 foot tree. I'm in London on Saturday so Sunday will see me putting all of the decorations up here and making the Christmas cake. I wasn't going to make one this year as the past couple of years have seen me buying a slab of cake as I no longer make them en masse for work colleagues. However, I have the knitting group I go to coming to my house on 23rd for the meeting so thought it would be nice. I bought a couple more of the knitting murder mystery books by Maggie Sefton and one of the recipes featured is for mint fudge but its US in origin and I don't want to try to hunt all the ingredients so I'm going to see if I've got a recipe for fudge and just whack in the mint essence.
Oh well needles are a calling.
Monster Mog Update (Updated)
Well its hard to believe that the feller is 25 weeks old already. The time (in some respects) seems to have flown by. Sizewise he is already as big as Lara and not sure whether or not he is going to exceed Cairo in size as well.
He is still fond of my pillow at night and still giving my nightly lullabies of purring me to sleep. He is however somewhat fond of running off with my balls of yarn if he's given the opportunity. He also has a fondness for pens and pencils. I find it quite humorous though when he growls at his prey that he has run off with.
I also have to say whoever it was that said cats tongue bristles soften as they grow up from kittens lied. I still find them as rough as ever they were when he washes me in bed. He also stills nips my nose.
He has also now got accustomed to wearing his collar so thats on full-time now. Its also surprising that he, Lara and Cairo all wear bells on their collars and they all sound different. He's still got a kitten meow and I do hope it stays that way as its nice :)
red not green :(
Your rainbow is strongly shaded red.
What is says about you: You are a passionate person. You appreciate energetic people. You get bored easily and want friends who will keep up with you.
Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.
What is says about you: You are a passionate person. You appreciate energetic people. You get bored easily and want friends who will keep up with you.
Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.
02 December 2008
A Dilemma
MM has asked me what I want for Christmas. Well I took the obvious route and started to say about all the nice patterns and yarns and promptly got a "no knitting" which unfortunately includes anything even vaguely related to it. Gift vouchers for all of my yarn retailers I utilise are also out.
Has anyone got any ideas?
Has anyone got any ideas?
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