How lovely to wake up to sunshine. It's beautiful here today. None too warm but very pleasant all the same. Hoping it lasts all day.
Yesterday once the rain had stopped, it wasn't too bad - some sun, quite a lot of cloud and threats to rain but I did get some washing dried on the line so that can't be bad.
My friends arrived in the afternoon bearing gifts - runner beans, corn on the cob, courgettes, cucumbers and tomatoes. Now I need to find the book entitled 1001 things to make with runner beans as my plants are also producing like crazy and so are son's. Luckily I found a recipe for runner bean chutney so that should account for some!
You would think, wouldn't you, that when one orders a Chinese takeaway for half past six, one wants it delivered at half past six, not half past five? So would I, which is why I wasn't too pleased when the doorbell rang at five thirty. I sent it back saying I would welcome a fresh delivery at the correct time. That worked out fine and they included a bottle of coke as a sort of apology, which I didn't complain about.
When I reviewed the meal, I looked back over previous reviews and saw that three times I have made a comment about a stupidly early delivery. Fine if one is in a hurry, not fine when a guest is expected and the meal arrives before the guest! In fact, the meal arrives before the first delivery slot!
The food is always very, very good though!
I wonder what we will do today. Something nice, I am sure.
Food:
Breakfast: toast and jam, fruit
Lunch: Don't know yet.
Dinner: Ham (boiling on the hob as I type!), new pots, runner beans (surprise!!!) and carrots, maybe corn on the cob as a starter. Then cheese and crackers. With guests one needs to make a bit of an effort and have more than one course, doesn't one?
Have a good day!
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Tuesday
Good morning, gentle readers. I've just peeped outside and it is still chucking it down with rain. I wonder if it has stopped at all since yesterday. At least there's no need to water anything today after the bucket loads that have landed on the ground in the last day or two.
Swimming yesterday was good. I pushed myself a bit more at times, got breathless once or twice but not too often as my pulse went up rather high and generally felt that I'd had a good workout. I can't go again now until Sunday which is a bit of a blow but one way and another that's the way it goes. Today I'm rather busy, the next few days I have guests and on Saturday I am going to a Thermomix tuition day thingy - that's not what it is called but I can't remember the proper name. More about that in due course!
Never mind, it will feel good on Sunday and even better on Monday when I go swimming while the children go back to school - at least I hope it feels good but you never know, maybe there will be tears mingling with the swimming water.
Once home yesterday, Thermione really earned her keep.
First I made some white rolls which were absolutely delicious so, after sharing one with Beth, the rest were hurriedly bagged up and popped into the freezer. I think today I will make some granary rolls and then I am covered for all eventualities!
After that I made the cheese sauce for the lasagne. Thermione makes wonderful cheese sauce and there was enough left that I have some to freeze for another time. Cauliflower cheese, anyone?
When I got out what I needed to put the lasagne together I realised that I didn't have enough pasta. Neither of us fancied a trip to the shop so out came Thermione again, in went 100g plain flour, one egg and a dash of olive oil and out came the pasta roller. A short time after that I had fresh lasagne sheets and Beth had some ribbons of pasta to take home for her dinner. The completed lasagne is now in the freezer for Thursday.
Also, non-Thermione related, I dealt with some plums that were on yellow sticker in Morrisons. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them except the date! I shall jam them later on today; the fruit/.sugar mixture just needs boiling up now.
Today I have to lick downstairs into what passes for order in this house. That means doing things I have been avoiding, like taking stuff to the garage. I will get wet but never mind! Oh, and, just remembered, I have some shopping to do. Not a lot, but some.
So I'd better get off my bum and get started.
Food:
Breakfast: toast and jam, apple
Lunch: vegetable omelette, salad, yogurt
Dinner: Takeaway Chinese (sorry), crackers and cheese
Yesterday I changed what I'd planned for lunch after realising that I had a lot of eggs so Beth and I enjoyed a deep omelette/tortilla type thingy. There's a slice left over so that's my lunch for today. Nice.
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Never mind, it will feel good on Sunday and even better on Monday when I go swimming while the children go back to school - at least I hope it feels good but you never know, maybe there will be tears mingling with the swimming water.
Once home yesterday, Thermione really earned her keep.
First I made some white rolls which were absolutely delicious so, after sharing one with Beth, the rest were hurriedly bagged up and popped into the freezer. I think today I will make some granary rolls and then I am covered for all eventualities!
After that I made the cheese sauce for the lasagne. Thermione makes wonderful cheese sauce and there was enough left that I have some to freeze for another time. Cauliflower cheese, anyone?
When I got out what I needed to put the lasagne together I realised that I didn't have enough pasta. Neither of us fancied a trip to the shop so out came Thermione again, in went 100g plain flour, one egg and a dash of olive oil and out came the pasta roller. A short time after that I had fresh lasagne sheets and Beth had some ribbons of pasta to take home for her dinner. The completed lasagne is now in the freezer for Thursday.
Also, non-Thermione related, I dealt with some plums that were on yellow sticker in Morrisons. There was absolutely nothing wrong with them except the date! I shall jam them later on today; the fruit/.sugar mixture just needs boiling up now.
Today I have to lick downstairs into what passes for order in this house. That means doing things I have been avoiding, like taking stuff to the garage. I will get wet but never mind! Oh, and, just remembered, I have some shopping to do. Not a lot, but some.
So I'd better get off my bum and get started.
Food:
Breakfast: toast and jam, apple
Lunch: vegetable omelette, salad, yogurt
Dinner: Takeaway Chinese (sorry), crackers and cheese
Yesterday I changed what I'd planned for lunch after realising that I had a lot of eggs so Beth and I enjoyed a deep omelette/tortilla type thingy. There's a slice left over so that's my lunch for today. Nice.
Monday, 31 August 2015
Monday
. . . and what a dark, damp, dismal Bank Holiday morning it is too. Such a shame. Beth and I had planned a day at the allotment but not with wall-to-wall rain like this. Boo.
Yesterday was also very dull but with no rain. I had the curtains drawn by half past seven which seemed remarkably early but shutting out the dark was necessary by then. Of course, tomorrow is September and we are nearly into Autumn. It doesn't feel like that - my runner beans have only just got started and there are loads of tomatoes still on the plants. I'm hoping for a warmer, dry September with a glut of veg. Next year I shall get started earlier (I say this each year, don't I?) as I should have more time for the important things like growing my own produce.
At least I won't have to water my patch of turf today!
Swimming went very well. Getting there at seven is clearly the way to go as the pool was virtually deserted so I could get going at a good (good for me, not really that good) pace. After half an hour there were several more people in the slow lane so everything slowed up rather. Still I managed 40 lengths and did 80 minutes of swimming. I hope it doesn't sound obsessive but I am logging times and lengths in a little diary. Hopefully, over time, I will be able to do longer in the time.
After getting home, I mde a white dough without milk powder to see if I could get a more crusty baguette-shapes loaf and it worked. I have to say the results tasted absolutely delicious and I ate one out of the four I made for tea and nibbles after tea - one went to Beth and I hurriedly put the other two in the freezer.
It's just as well I did that swim in the morning - hopefully the calories will balance out a little bit.
Today I want to try the same but as shorter rolls. Apart from packed lunches next week when my visitors and I go out, Beth and I intend to have lunch at the allotment (it would have been cheese baguettes today) so to have some in the freezer would be good.
I don't need to get going quite so fast today as the pool doesn't open until nine. I'm going because I won't get another opportunity until Saturday and I shall miss it: because the allotment plans are cancelled so there will be time.
Hoping the rain doesn't spoil any of your plans - do you have anything special planned for this Bank Holiday?
Food:
Breakfast: Toast and jam, apple
Lunch: soup, yogurt
Dinner: cottage pie, runner beans, cauliflower (maybe with a cheese sauce), apple or yogurt.
Yesterday was also very dull but with no rain. I had the curtains drawn by half past seven which seemed remarkably early but shutting out the dark was necessary by then. Of course, tomorrow is September and we are nearly into Autumn. It doesn't feel like that - my runner beans have only just got started and there are loads of tomatoes still on the plants. I'm hoping for a warmer, dry September with a glut of veg. Next year I shall get started earlier (I say this each year, don't I?) as I should have more time for the important things like growing my own produce.
At least I won't have to water my patch of turf today!
Swimming went very well. Getting there at seven is clearly the way to go as the pool was virtually deserted so I could get going at a good (good for me, not really that good) pace. After half an hour there were several more people in the slow lane so everything slowed up rather. Still I managed 40 lengths and did 80 minutes of swimming. I hope it doesn't sound obsessive but I am logging times and lengths in a little diary. Hopefully, over time, I will be able to do longer in the time.
After getting home, I mde a white dough without milk powder to see if I could get a more crusty baguette-shapes loaf and it worked. I have to say the results tasted absolutely delicious and I ate one out of the four I made for tea and nibbles after tea - one went to Beth and I hurriedly put the other two in the freezer.
It's just as well I did that swim in the morning - hopefully the calories will balance out a little bit.
Today I want to try the same but as shorter rolls. Apart from packed lunches next week when my visitors and I go out, Beth and I intend to have lunch at the allotment (it would have been cheese baguettes today) so to have some in the freezer would be good.
I don't need to get going quite so fast today as the pool doesn't open until nine. I'm going because I won't get another opportunity until Saturday and I shall miss it: because the allotment plans are cancelled so there will be time.
Hoping the rain doesn't spoil any of your plans - do you have anything special planned for this Bank Holiday?
Food:
Breakfast: Toast and jam, apple
Lunch: soup, yogurt
Dinner: cottage pie, runner beans, cauliflower (maybe with a cheese sauce), apple or yogurt.
Sunday, 30 August 2015
Sunday
 |
| I shall have runner beans coming out of my ears at this rate! |
Good morning! Yesterday was quite a good day.
I cooked the mince at last and it was really very tasty. It's currently chilling in the freezer in single portions with one larger portion for a lasagne next week.
I had found some frozen cherries in a bag that had been opened in the freezer so I thawed them and made cherry and apple jam. The apple adds a bit of a texture but the flavour is lovely. I'm finding all sorts of things as I slowly work my way deeper and deeper into the frozen depths so there may be more flavour mixes to come..
After seeing them on Bake off, I ordered a baguette tray and it came yesterday so, of course, I had to give it a whirl. I used my usual recipe (granary/wholemeal) so not authentic and not terribly crusty either but the shape was great!
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| They look OK, don't they? |
When I went to bed I set the alarm the alarm because I want an early swim - that's the first time I've set the alarm since the end of last term. However, as usual, I woke a short time before it was due to go off.
I also want to have another go at baguettes, using white flour and adapting the recipe a bit. Then I really will have more than enough bread for next week!!!
I've also realised I can use the tray to make hot dog shaped rolls. I never seem to manage the shape usually, getting almost round ones, but the tray should keep them nicely in shape. Worth a go anyway. So that's a job for today.
Better go and get ready for swimming now. Cossie, then skirt and top and remember to take undies with me in my swimming bag. I love my swimming bag. I had some 'love shopping' vouchers so I popped into Matalan to see what they had and found what is really a 'cabin bag' for plane journeys but which does perfectly for swimming. It was a bit dearer than I had hoped but free really with the voucher. It fits perfectly inside the locker and holds loads!
Food:
Breakfast: tomatoes on toast, apple
Lunch: Leftover take away Chinese with Beth (her leftovers, not mine!)
Tea: soup, apple, yogurt
Saturday, 29 August 2015
Saturday
Good morning, gentle readers. And what a lovely morning it is too. Sunny and bright and quite still at the moment. Yesterday was more breezy but still very lively with more or less wall-to-wall sunshine all day. The mornings and evenings are not so warm now but that suits me fine.
Yesterday turned out to be quite hectic one way and another. After my hour of swimming (40 lengths) I came home and soon after that Beth and Alex turned up, having done some 'bus education' by busing over rather than using the car. Al's never used a bus before and it's about time he knew how to. He had a day ticket and off he went to carry on exploring buses and their routes with a map and his ticket to freedom. I gather he had a good time and by the time I had taken Beth home (as she had bussed over) he was also home. He can teach me now and I will get my free bus pass.
I made some soup for lunch which turned out fine. I found butter beans in the freezer and boiled them up with some mixed root veg and some stock before zizzing it. It really was very nice indeed and I am glad I have more for lunch today.
In the afternoon, first of all the turf man came to lay the turf in the rest of my front bit which now looks very nice indeed. I just have to remember to water it every single day for months and months (OK, slight exaggeration!). Turf man was also quite positive about helping us to sort out the edges in the allotment because it's a bit beyond us, so that was a good thing too.
While he was doing that the lovely Sharon turned up and now Beth and I both have neat and tidy heads again! She always does such an amazing job!
AND, while all of that was going on the cleaners arrived. Now I know this sounds like very bad management but it isn't really. I have a day for the cleaners and they come when they can. Normally that hasn't been much of a problem but this time it all happened at the same time. Turf man should have come earlier in the week but the torrential rain made that one a no-hoper.
Ah, well, it got it all over and done with.
I popped next door to ask my lovely neighbours to tell their lads to keep off the turf for a while and, bless them, they had already done it. No footballs, no bicycles, no feet, don't even LOOK at it!!!
Today I won't be going swimming. My young gardeners come this morning and the front much needs their attention! I must bake more bread and then I will be well set for next week' visitors. I must get that mince done. I must iron. I really must sort out the fridge!
The runner beans have suddenly decided that it's all go and I have loads. So some picking is in order. I need to feed the tomatoes and do a bit of sweeping the patio.
So all that should keep me out of trouble.
I belong to a facebook group that is for KS1 teachers. There are a lot of young teachers on it and recently it's been all about getting your classrooms ready. I've been somewhat amazed at the lengths some have gone to. Every square inch of wall and display space has been covered with learning or inspirational stuff. No spaces anywhere. Maybe that's the done deal nowadays but I know I have always put up enough to make the bay look welcoming, the theme title and some needed stuff but with plenty of inviting spaces for their own work to go up too in the first few weeks. I think I'm out of date!
Having said that, the photos of the classrooms look amazing!
Today's food:
Breakfast: tomatoes on toast, fruit
Lunch: soup and bread, yogurt
Dinner: spag bol and runner beans (weird but tasty!), fruit, yogurt
I changed yesterday's dinner plan. Whilst rootling in the freezer I found half a bag of oven chips and some sliced ham so I had ham and chips. I was going to have ham, egg and chips but decided I wasn't hungry enough!
Yesterday turned out to be quite hectic one way and another. After my hour of swimming (40 lengths) I came home and soon after that Beth and Alex turned up, having done some 'bus education' by busing over rather than using the car. Al's never used a bus before and it's about time he knew how to. He had a day ticket and off he went to carry on exploring buses and their routes with a map and his ticket to freedom. I gather he had a good time and by the time I had taken Beth home (as she had bussed over) he was also home. He can teach me now and I will get my free bus pass.
I made some soup for lunch which turned out fine. I found butter beans in the freezer and boiled them up with some mixed root veg and some stock before zizzing it. It really was very nice indeed and I am glad I have more for lunch today.
In the afternoon, first of all the turf man came to lay the turf in the rest of my front bit which now looks very nice indeed. I just have to remember to water it every single day for months and months (OK, slight exaggeration!). Turf man was also quite positive about helping us to sort out the edges in the allotment because it's a bit beyond us, so that was a good thing too.
While he was doing that the lovely Sharon turned up and now Beth and I both have neat and tidy heads again! She always does such an amazing job!
AND, while all of that was going on the cleaners arrived. Now I know this sounds like very bad management but it isn't really. I have a day for the cleaners and they come when they can. Normally that hasn't been much of a problem but this time it all happened at the same time. Turf man should have come earlier in the week but the torrential rain made that one a no-hoper.
Ah, well, it got it all over and done with.
I popped next door to ask my lovely neighbours to tell their lads to keep off the turf for a while and, bless them, they had already done it. No footballs, no bicycles, no feet, don't even LOOK at it!!!
Today I won't be going swimming. My young gardeners come this morning and the front much needs their attention! I must bake more bread and then I will be well set for next week' visitors. I must get that mince done. I must iron. I really must sort out the fridge!
The runner beans have suddenly decided that it's all go and I have loads. So some picking is in order. I need to feed the tomatoes and do a bit of sweeping the patio.
So all that should keep me out of trouble.
I belong to a facebook group that is for KS1 teachers. There are a lot of young teachers on it and recently it's been all about getting your classrooms ready. I've been somewhat amazed at the lengths some have gone to. Every square inch of wall and display space has been covered with learning or inspirational stuff. No spaces anywhere. Maybe that's the done deal nowadays but I know I have always put up enough to make the bay look welcoming, the theme title and some needed stuff but with plenty of inviting spaces for their own work to go up too in the first few weeks. I think I'm out of date!
Having said that, the photos of the classrooms look amazing!
Today's food:
Breakfast: tomatoes on toast, fruit
Lunch: soup and bread, yogurt
Dinner: spag bol and runner beans (weird but tasty!), fruit, yogurt
I changed yesterday's dinner plan. Whilst rootling in the freezer I found half a bag of oven chips and some sliced ham so I had ham and chips. I was going to have ham, egg and chips but decided I wasn't hungry enough!
Friday, 28 August 2015
Friday
Late again, so sorry. That's because I was up late (comparatively), sort of decided not to go swimming, then decided I wanted to so I did! I'm trying to train myself to stay up later of an evening (and succeeding) but it means those very early starts are not happening and I'm not ready to arrive at the pool for a half past six start.
Still, it was worth going. I had an hour's swim and did 40 lengths.
It's gorgeously sunny here with lovely fluffy little clouds in the sky. Fingers crossed it stays like that - I hope so anyway! Yesterday was a rather dismal day with yet more rain and although it cleared up later, it didn't feel particularly warm, even so.
I finally managed to pop round to a friend's to give her the pressies I have knitted and, thank goodness, she liked them. That was a relief - it is always a bit of a risk and it's not as if she could take them back to the shop, is it?
Today is hair day. Lovely Sharon is round this afternoon to chop and dry my hair into submission so I shall ignore the slightly choriney pong wafting around and wash my hair just before she arrives! before then I have bread to make and minced beef to cook, not to mention a lunchtime soup to create. Butter bean and veg, I think.
Better stop yattering and get going then, hadn't I?
Food:
Breakfast. Yogurt and apple
Lunch: soup and bread.
Dinner: Not sure but it will be based on the savoury mince, probably with pasta. Simple and delicious
Still, it was worth going. I had an hour's swim and did 40 lengths.
It's gorgeously sunny here with lovely fluffy little clouds in the sky. Fingers crossed it stays like that - I hope so anyway! Yesterday was a rather dismal day with yet more rain and although it cleared up later, it didn't feel particularly warm, even so.
I finally managed to pop round to a friend's to give her the pressies I have knitted and, thank goodness, she liked them. That was a relief - it is always a bit of a risk and it's not as if she could take them back to the shop, is it?
Today is hair day. Lovely Sharon is round this afternoon to chop and dry my hair into submission so I shall ignore the slightly choriney pong wafting around and wash my hair just before she arrives! before then I have bread to make and minced beef to cook, not to mention a lunchtime soup to create. Butter bean and veg, I think.
Better stop yattering and get going then, hadn't I?
Food:
Breakfast. Yogurt and apple
Lunch: soup and bread.
Dinner: Not sure but it will be based on the savoury mince, probably with pasta. Simple and delicious
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Thursday
Good morning, everyone. Sorry this is a bit later than usual - I had rather a slow start to the day and then remembered I needed to get all the rubbish out for the bin men, so I had to bath and dress - well, I didn't HAVE to but I wanted to. All done now!
Yesterday was another wet day, as I am sure you don't need telling. Chilly too, for August, definitely a night under the quilt. I gather things are due to cheer up and that Bank Holiday Monday will be lovely. I do hope so: these last few weeks haven't been wonderful for the children who have been stuck inside due to the teeming rain. Even in the olden days, when I were a lass, Mum wouldn't let us go out in rain like that. Too much hassle with wet clothes and footwear afterwards!
We went swimming again yesterday, as planned, and I managed 26 lengths. I'm jolly weary today so won't be swimming but tomorrow I will and, hopefully, Saturday and Sunday. Next week I have guests so might not be able to fit much else in. After that it is term time again and I can go gleefully!
What else did I do yesterday? Er - well, I knitted. I made pots of what I thought were raspberry and apple jam before I sniffed, tasted and checked the label on the pot in which the berries were frozen. Blackberries, not raspberries! So I now have some pots of blackberry and apple jam. Not loads, just some.
I know it sounds as if I am building up a supply of loads of preserves and yes, I am, but some of them will be presents for friends and family so not really too many at all.
Today is a day to myself and I shall seize the opportunity to continue with some clearing out. Once the bin man has been I will have an empty bin for the real rubbish that cannot be reused in any way. Hopefully, some of the stuff can be given to the local charity shop and I might have a go at selling some on the local selling page.
I'm also going to make several batches of bread, some for me, some for Beth and some for next week, to be frozen until needed. Again, I don't think I will have all that much time next week as we are hoping to go a-visiting (weather permitting) from time to time. I also need to plan meals so there's no almighty rush.
I have very optimistically hung yesterdays swimming stuff (cossie and two towels) out on the washing line. We will see, won't we. Fingers crossed.
And finally, I'm off out to Aldi at some point to get some stuff in for next week. I'm not so impressed with their super six this time - or rather, to be fair, it's not all what I want to buy this time. However, I do need some more wholemeal flour and their medium eggs are larger than Morrison's medium eggs and often cheaper too so I may as well make the journey and do my main shop there.
Today's food
Breakfast: Toast and jam, fruit
Lunch: Tomato and veg soup, bread, fruit or yogurt
Dinner: Two mini beefburgers (from Aldi) with something I found on Facebook, an old recipe called carrot and cheese bake. I will let you know if it's OK and will post the recipe.
Do any of my gentle readers remember this recipe/dish? Interestingly, it is all written in imperial and I am now so used to metric that I couldn't visualise how much it would make. I had to convert to metric (thanking my stars for Google) to get a sense of whether I needed to halve or quarter the ingredients.
Thank goodness for the Internet!
Yesterday was another wet day, as I am sure you don't need telling. Chilly too, for August, definitely a night under the quilt. I gather things are due to cheer up and that Bank Holiday Monday will be lovely. I do hope so: these last few weeks haven't been wonderful for the children who have been stuck inside due to the teeming rain. Even in the olden days, when I were a lass, Mum wouldn't let us go out in rain like that. Too much hassle with wet clothes and footwear afterwards!
We went swimming again yesterday, as planned, and I managed 26 lengths. I'm jolly weary today so won't be swimming but tomorrow I will and, hopefully, Saturday and Sunday. Next week I have guests so might not be able to fit much else in. After that it is term time again and I can go gleefully!
What else did I do yesterday? Er - well, I knitted. I made pots of what I thought were raspberry and apple jam before I sniffed, tasted and checked the label on the pot in which the berries were frozen. Blackberries, not raspberries! So I now have some pots of blackberry and apple jam. Not loads, just some.
I know it sounds as if I am building up a supply of loads of preserves and yes, I am, but some of them will be presents for friends and family so not really too many at all.
Today is a day to myself and I shall seize the opportunity to continue with some clearing out. Once the bin man has been I will have an empty bin for the real rubbish that cannot be reused in any way. Hopefully, some of the stuff can be given to the local charity shop and I might have a go at selling some on the local selling page.
I'm also going to make several batches of bread, some for me, some for Beth and some for next week, to be frozen until needed. Again, I don't think I will have all that much time next week as we are hoping to go a-visiting (weather permitting) from time to time. I also need to plan meals so there's no almighty rush.
I have very optimistically hung yesterdays swimming stuff (cossie and two towels) out on the washing line. We will see, won't we. Fingers crossed.
And finally, I'm off out to Aldi at some point to get some stuff in for next week. I'm not so impressed with their super six this time - or rather, to be fair, it's not all what I want to buy this time. However, I do need some more wholemeal flour and their medium eggs are larger than Morrison's medium eggs and often cheaper too so I may as well make the journey and do my main shop there.
Today's food
Breakfast: Toast and jam, fruit
Lunch: Tomato and veg soup, bread, fruit or yogurt
Dinner: Two mini beefburgers (from Aldi) with something I found on Facebook, an old recipe called carrot and cheese bake. I will let you know if it's OK and will post the recipe.
Do any of my gentle readers remember this recipe/dish? Interestingly, it is all written in imperial and I am now so used to metric that I couldn't visualise how much it would make. I had to convert to metric (thanking my stars for Google) to get a sense of whether I needed to halve or quarter the ingredients.
Thank goodness for the Internet!
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