We've been back for a while, but things have been, as usual, slightly intense around here so I'm just getting pictures from the trip up now. Think I'm getting a cold as well. Unusually good timing for it, since Mycroft will go back to school tomorrow evening and Sherlock will be back to school on Monday. I'll try not to give them a virus to take back with them.
At any rate, here is the very green bathroom:
The place we were staying:
Our future residence, I mean, a houseboat:
Distant seals, easier to see than to photograph:
Sitting room with jigsaw puzzle:
Not pictured: madly squeaking bed or L in fits of laughter due to squeaking bed. I almost wish I'd recorded the sound, but at the same time am very glad I didn't because I know L would find...opportunities...to play it. When I'm least expecting it.
And now I need to go and listen to Sherlock tell me about Alnwick Poison Garden and why we should go there immediately.
170 comments:
God, the sense of urgency a bright, fully engaged child can impart to . . . anything. & yours is so much brighter than average, I imagine he can maintain a full court press on multiple topics at once.
Possibly Sherlock can be convinced to defer the Poison Garden till full Spring when the plants will be more interesting? Or is he planning a longitudinal study, with observations taken year round?
Thanks for squeezing in a blog post. Baby your cold with hot drinks and sleep, once you can. (Yeah. I know you're a doctor. I'm somebody's mother. I can't help it.)
fA
Thanks, fA, I'll do my best. Not sure about his plans on the poison garden, except that he wants to plan his own as soon as possible.
Does this mean you'll find half your allotment overtaken by inedible delights this year, John. ;)
Great pics, thanks, and yes that bathroom is very green. Could you really see yourself living on a houseboat, I think I'd be constantly thinking the land was moving as that's how I feel when I get off a boat after even a short journey. Glad you had great fun though. :)
I am amused by the idea of Sherlock posting dire warning signs around a poison garden in the allotment. I can't help but wonder if your neighbors on the allotment would find it amusing or disturbing, though. It would seem to be the equivalent of leaving toxic chemicals lying about within reach of all and sundry.
fA
I shall conduct a very mean hot toddy in a minute.
Conduct.... Construct even
A nurturer, that's what you are, L. Hope you're having one as well, in case any of John's germs are trying to invade your system.
fA
Joolz - I could, but definitely not if we're going to have chickens and goats. We'd have to have seals instead.
L - thank you, very much appreciated.
Bit of a long way to go for an afternoon out!
I have a warm husband on me on the sofa. And a warm cat on him.... Im trapped.
That place looks wonderful, John. I'm envious - I love the whole Art Deco look, and the idea of just getting away from everything completely for a few days sounds blissful. Pretty sure I've lived in places with bathroom suites that colour, mind.
Lestrade - if one didn't know you quite so well, one might almost think you were complaining...
I've been to/through Alnwick a few times, but never visited the Castle or the Poison Garden. There's the most fabulous second-hand bookshop there, though (Barter Books) which lives in the old train station. Wonderful place.
Nameless, it was a wonderful place, all the utility furniture etc. except the bed...i can't stop laughing about the bed... How did i pick a valentine's getaway with a bed so squeaky it could wake up 3 counties?.
Filthy weather to deliver mycroft back. I think we'll be taking one of Anthea's trucks.
Even the most committed of bikers has to give in to being dry some days Greg ;-)
I hope you've had a good half term holiday Mycroft, good luck with whatever school holds for you when you get back :-)
We had weather like that yesterday - snow turning to freezing rain. Hope you stay dry on the trip back.
It's too cold an miserable to stand around his school dripping wet, Anony, that's for sure! Feel like I've hardly seen the boys this holiday. Roll on Easter. Might even try and grab a long weekend away for all of us.
it's a shame you've been so busy but not long to Easter I guess, I hope you can get away somewhere for a bit, its always nice to be out of routine :-)
good luck with return to school tomorrow, both mine said they don't want to go so I might be quite stressed in the morning ;-)
That is a very green bathroom, all right! I hope you managed to fight off the cold, John, especially as it sounds like it was horrid weather for delivering Mycroft back at school.
(I have to think that seals would be more fun than chickens and goats!)
Hope the back to school thing went well for all those involved.
I was going to go for "if I stay awake all night that means Monday won't come" idea, but fell asleep in the bath.
I think i wanted to bunk off more than Sherlock did. Morning not helped by Maf deciding to register a complaint about how long it was taking for her breakfast to arrive by digging her claws into my calf.
That sounds rather painful Greg :-(.
I'm glad Sherlock was ok going back, it's a shame you couldn't stay home with John for the day ;-)
It was sherlock's fault, too! He was distracting me ;)
Got her back by giving her her least favourite food. Not petty at all...
I'll have a few days of later this week with John. Once he's slept off his half term hangover ;)
Hope everyone's slogging through! Sleet & work, very Monday-ish here. Hope you got a few deep breaths, all parents coming off half term, before reuniting with your young darlings.
Becca - hope you especially are holding up, between new job and medical. And nasty weather to top it off - joy!
fA
We've got ice, but happily no more snow (at least until Tuesday night/Wednesday!).
Unhappily I am on day two of a nasty migraine, ugh. I hope everyone else is doing as well as possible for a Monday!
oooh, my favourite biker, Guy, is riding my favourite bike brand, Triumph, at this year's TT! I can't wait.
are you allowed to keep cows in London?
I can't answer that, but wonder why you ask, Sherlock?
fA
I don't know, Sherlock, but I think a cow needs a pretty large field to spend the day in so that it has enough grass to graze on.
The answer is that you are not, Sherlock. But it is possible for people to do, if they have space and don't get complaints about noise or smells.
(The mystery, by the way, continues. Sherlock has been assured he cannot keep cows in the park, and has refused to answer any questions pertaining to why one might want to. I personally think he wants to make cheese...)
A school project?
Oh, RR, I hope you feel better soon! Migraines are awful.
I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with my new job, and I just turned my ankle for the million and oneth time today and the vertigo has sort of gone away but comes back randomly. So, you know, I persevere.
Becca, keep on keeping on! And take care of yourself.
In vaguely googling cows in London I came across this: https://moocallsensors.com/ which is so clearly not of relevance to anyone on here that I felt I should post it.
I don't know why, but I love the phrase 'tail mounted'.
and before DW arrives, THAT is not the reason.
SH, we live in an amazing world, don't we?
Becca, hang in!
If it's about cheese, one can experiment with cheese making without a cow. Though all I've done is make yogurt cheese, not the same thing.
L., we should be so lucky as to have DW dropping in again so soon!
fA
Thanks, Becca--and good luck with your job, ankle, and vertigo! (I had a spell of positional vertigo a few weeks back and it was horrid for the 12 hours or so it lasted, I was so relieved when it stopped!)
SH, that is...amazing? Is amazing the right word?
and before DW arrives, THAT is not the reason.
Hee! I mean, of course not. ;)
Hope today treats you well, Becca.
I just wanted a cow
It's not much to ask after all!
Sherlock--Cows do look like they'd be nice to have around, but I don't think they'd like being in the city very much, they're pretty big and used to being in a herd.
Is your class putting on a play or show for the end of the year, or don't you know yet?
a cow has to go on the list of things you can have when you're old enough to obtain, pay for, look after, house etc. yourself.
The one thing I know about cows is that they produce a great deal of waste product that has to be managed.
I learned after the first year that if you are going to volunteer in the livestock sheds at the Royal Show go for sheep. They are dead stupid but they are much easier to clean up after.
(On the other hands, cows go better on leads. You'd think they'd spend time on teaching show animals to handle but maybe sheep just aren't teachable)
I know it's been discussed before, but is it a thing in the UK where kids put cards in the spokes of their bicycles to make it make a whirring noise "like a motorcycle"? When I was a kid, it was playing cards held on by clothespins.
Once upon a time kids did that, DW. Or got spokey dokeys! Little plastic coloured bits that went on your spokes and rattled as they said up and down when the wheel turned. Now they play PlayStation and ride scooters...
We have 'bright your bike' day once a year at which the kids are encouraged to decorate their bikes and scooters in a way to make them more visible on dark nights and it's amazing how many of the old reflectors you used to get in breakfast cereal parents and grandparents have kept hold of, I swear some of them are older than me and they all make a serious noise when you've a class full of bikes!
I hope everyone is having the best day they can :-)
I'm off for the next 3 days to look after my snotty better half :) think I'll make tirimisu to celebrate.
Oh, dear--does that mean you still have that cold, John?
Yum, tiramisu! You are a good caretaker, L. :)
Anonybob, that's a great idea. Might suggest it to Sherlock's school.
Its a fun way of getting the kids to think about winter safety that's for sure Greg :-)
tiramisu sounds like perfect medicine and the perfect start to some time off, sorry you're feeling rubbish John.
Well, Tiramisu literally translates as 'pick me up' or 'lift me up', and it seems to have worked ;) Especially as Sherlock was allowed the 'grown up' one, with the alcohol in it...
That's a great way to celebrate the start of three days off. Enjoy!
fA
Especially as Sherlock was allowed the 'grown up' one, with the alcohol in it...
And did he think it tastes nicer with alcohol than without?
yes
Good, then! :)
How lovely to have some time off together, guys, a chance for some pampering and fun. ;) Hope you've recovered from your half term weariness & your cold isn't too horrible, John. Tiramisu sounds a fab way to celebrate, Greg, glad you all got to enjoy it. :)
Have a lovely day everyone. :)
Well...it's pouring down with rain, which just means we can't possibly do anything but stay cuddled up indoors. Terrible ;)
Dreadful to have nothing to do but clear the breakfast dishes & go back to bed till time for the school run. But good for the immune system, so SCIENCE!
fA
" nothing to do" should have been "nothing urgent to do" since I know full well there's always something that needs doing in family life.
fA
Staying cuddled up on a rainy day sounds just lovely...
fA - nothing more urgent than irritating..I mean, nursing, John back to health ;)
Your husband is such a lucky man, Greg! Hope today's weather is better.
fA
Today is glorious. Hope evryone else's day is good.
And I'm the lucky one, not him ;)
I think you are both lucky. :)
It's sunny here for a change, and while it's still below freezing, at least it's in the 20s (Fahrenheit, that is!) and not the teens or single digits--I'll take it. (Although it's supposed to go down to 8F tonight. Brr!)
Have a lovely weekend, all!
Very sad to see Leonard Nimoy has died. He always came across as a thoroughly nice bloke.
It really is sad. :(
Everyone work shed a tear, me included, when we heard the news.
lovely Saturday. Sherlock is doing his homework on the floor, John is tucked up on the sofa watching the rugby and I'm making us bacon and avocado sandwiches... mmmm. Hope you're all having a good one too.
...spoke too soon. John's cheering Scotland on like some sort of Highland Warrior, and Italy are already 8 down in 7 minutes!!
Bacon and avocado sannies sound awesome. It's a 'drive kid to two competitions' day for me. If I'm lucky, my lunch won't be corn-chip based. It will still be handed to me through the concessions window though.
and in the last minute...ITALY WIN!
And Roger Federer hits his 9000th ace...
https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/571704049202032640
Afraid I'm still more excited about Italy...I may be forced to call your dad and have a gloat...
And Wales beat France!
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Yum, yum yum yum yum yum yum
Bread of heaven
Here I come
So John and Lisa and jo and the baby have gone to kew to see orchids. I'm doing paperwork. Not jealous. At all.
So John and Lisa and jo and the baby have gone to kew to see orchids. I'm doing paperwork. Not jealous. At all.
You are the king of non-jealousy.
(And Sherlock?)
I'm here too and Mrs Hudson why did you forget me?
Too much paperwork, no doubt!
Which is more interesting, Sherlock, the orchids or the baby?
I didn't mean to forget you! I thought I'd put you in with John. I hope you have a lovely day with the sunshine, flowers, baby, excellent company, coffee, cake...
Paperwork is a rubbish way to spend the day Greg but I guess if you work hard and get it done early you might be able to make it for cake and coffee somewhere with them later :-D
I hope you're having fun Sherlock :-)
I didn't mean to forget you! I thought I'd put you in with John. I hope you have a lovely day with the sunshine, flowers, baby, excellent company, coffee, cake...
You have a very enthusiastic phone, L...
it's being a pain in the arse. Won't give me emails, but posts everything here twice!
Perhaps it, too, would rather be looking at orchids. ;)
we have bought you a CAKE. Which is better than bread Desert Wanderer and is that a song? And Tadhg was asleep in the orchids but he woke up for lunch and he still mainly drinks milk straight from breasts but he can also try real food now but not a slice of cake yet.
And there were bees in the orchids that were like big models made of natural things and I took pictures and I want to make one!
It was good that you were there to eat the cake, Sherlock, since Tadhg can't yet. :)
The bee model sounds amazing, I hope you can show us one (or more) of your pictures! Do you have ideas how to reproduce one?
That sounds like you had great fun. Did you try to feed Tadhg some of his real food, Sherlock or did you leave that to the others. The bees sound brilliant though, did they have some real ones too or are they still hibernating (is that the term for bees?)
Home to your boys now, Greg, thank goodness I'm sure, enjoy your cake & your evening. :)
I have eaten my cake. Sherlock has shown me lots of pictures. Including bees. And Arsenal won. AND Liverpool beat City.
So your evening has been a great improvement on your afternoon!
Well, the footy was this afternoon, but yes, the rest was a great improvement. Just sad I didn't get to see little Tadhg.
Aw.
You'll have to invite them over some time when you're off!
How goes the day gentlemen?
Are you dressing up for world book day sherlock? I've got some serious sewing to do this week now all three need costumes ;-)
Don't know what it's called in the UK, but my secret weapon for school costumes was hot glue (comes in sticks one melts and applies from a heating 'gun') or fabric glue. Seams for the main garment, and all those fiddly ears/tails/odd shapes, general headgear and masks with glue, with the occasional staple.
You may be a more adept crafts person than am I . . . most people are. ;-)
fA
AnonyBob, we are now relying on your to tell us of any and all such occasions. Sherlock did indeed, upon questioning, admit to needing something to wear. In a totally casual way which suggests he would otherwise have waited until the night before.
and sorry, wrote this hours ago and didn,t hit 'publish'
yay :-D at least now I'm not the only one panicking ;-)
Does he have a plan for something AMAZING?
Glue may be the way in the end fA :-)
He has until tomorrow morning to make a final decision on what he wants to be...as usual he's full of ideas. Ranging from a crocodile to a pig's head on a stick (yes, he's been reading Lord of the Flies, on Mycroft's rec.) We're hoping for something not to elaborate, or too scary...
Those are certainly interesting ideas... What else has he been reading?
There's also something called iron-on seams, or fusible web, or something along those lines? Which can be used to seam fabric without actually having to sew, just an iron.
Those are pretty good ideas and might be fun to make ;-)
I'm doing something from the faraway tree, snow white and something small for the baby (who isn't a baby any more!!)
...I don't envy you 3 costumes to make, Anonybob! You truly are a wonder.
I'm heavily pushing the idea of Tobias Ragg. I think we could knock up an appropriate costume, a fake pie and cut throat razor and he'd be good to go...suitably grizzly for him, hopefully? But not too taxing for us...
Definitely grizzly!
I should have waited until next week to start the little one at nursery instead of this week then I could have avoided one of them that's for sure ;-)
I like your idea for Sherlock, I'm a real fan of celebrating books and reading :-)
One year I knitted my son a red and black striped jumper for his birthday. He went as Dennis the Menace for three years running.
Ha, would have to get Mrs H on the case. I can do sewing, but not knitting...
I'm off for 4 days this week! thurs-Sun. I won't know what to do with myself...
You might not know what to do with yourself but I bet Sherlock does!
Four consecutive days?!
:-)
Use 'em wisely!
fA
Sherlock has found a programme all about how Owls are ninjas or something. I got told off for calling one 'cute', because 'that's not the point!'.
I also may have eaten too many olives.
Owlets are pretty cute, though, despite being raptors! I caught the end of a Nature (a PBS series) episode titled "Owl Power," about the owl's extraordinary capabilities the other night, and it was pretty amazing--they used all sorts of technology to measure things like the amount of pressure they bring to bear on prey, and how much noise their wings do (or rather don't) make. I don't know if you can see it in the UK, but it's on the PBS website here, in case you can: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/owl-power-full-episode/11636/
I think that's exactly the same programme, RR. Not that I can see it at your link, but it sounds like it.
Ha! If so, at least I was right that Sherlock would find it interesting. :)
(The owlets they showed were very cute, as well as amazing. Fierce and fluffy at the same time!)
Owlets are adorable. I periodically have plans to cross stitch one or two, but haven't gotten around to it. I haven't seen the Nature episode, but I saw some about them on David Attenborough's Life of Birds series.
No such thing as too many olives.
There is, however, such as thing as too much snow...
I am recalling a time where I ate a pound of cherries in one sitting. Oops.
I hear you on the snow RR, I work at a doctor's office and I'm tired of both struggling to get in and then having everyone but one cancel.
well, send some snow to us. We got excited by a bit of hail earlier, that's how sad it is around here!
I would LOVE to. Really, truly, honestly.
I know what you mean, Greg. We had some driving back from Llandudno yesterday and for those whole 5 minutes it was very exciting & then it stopped. Most disappointing. :)
still, nice to see the flowers coming out. Spring does seem to be on the way in these parts.
Maf is enjoying the increased sunlight for her extended sunbathing sessions to fill up her busy day of sleeping.
Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend here--and our snow just switched over to sleet. Icy rain is supposed to follow.
I WANT SPRING! (But we rarely get any spring in NY. Just winter and summer.)
I was listening to a podcast by the QI elves and heard about a book Sherlock might enjoy. Actually, he might enjoy the podcast - it's about random facts - but the book is called Murder Houses of London, by Jan Bondeson. It's basically what it says on the tin, and it looks like something he'd find entertaining. Of course, he might drag you around London! :)
Hey RR - Hope you have a good Purim, despite the endless discouraging weather and whatever other challenges this year has. I seem to remember that it's sometimes been a big baking holiday in the past & I hope you get some homemade hamentaschen even if they weren't made in your kitchen!
fA
YES, fA, tonight and tomorrow is Purim, and my mom and I baked hamantaschen yesterday, yummmmmm! (I may have tested one or ten--just for quality control, you understand. :))
And thank you for the happy holiday wishes! Right now it's just threatening, but they are predicting all sorts of bad weather tonight and tomorrow, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that everyone can get where they are going to celebrate.
I saw a thing the other day for some kids who'd re-worked Uptown Funk to something Purim-related, RR. If you Google it I'm sure it'll show up.
Happy holidays.
Thank you! And thanks for pointing me to that video, it's very cute. :)
RR- Quality control is VERY important!
fA
I'm sure all bakers agree, fA!
I've finally finished sewing and sticking and am ready for book day :-)
What did Sherlock decide on in the end?
Happy holidays RR
I hope everyone is having a good evening :-)
He has indeed gone for a small Victorian crime-solving-possibly-murdering-maybe-barber-shop-assistant. So has a floppy flat cap, a shirt and waistcoat, a neckerchief, some slightly raggedy trousers to tuck into his socks...but I fear he'll be shoe-less the second he can be, and run about bare-foot all day, to be honest.
Well done on getting yours done!
That sounds great :-)
I'm cheating and letting the middle one wear a bought snow white dress because she REALLY wanted to and I REALLY didn't want to do any more sewing ;-)
Then it sounds like a perfect solution!
we required very little sewing, too. A small amount on the trousers, a few strong stitches in the cap to make it fit, and everything else he already had.
Oh, and some cardboard cut-out and tin-foil sticking for a cut-throat razor and a pie!
You really can't go wrong with a costume that includes a cut-throat razor AND a pie!
fA
Thanks, pandabob!
Shoeless is probably more historically accurate than we'd like to think, after all, L!
*hums* "Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd...."
Hope all those going in costume today have a great time.
How did your costume go over, Sherlock? Did anyone else have an interesting costume?
mmm, wonderful day with the hubster. Scones baked, naps had, runs gone on, Sherlocks dropped into and retrieved from school.
What a perfect sounding day Greg :-)
I hope Sherlock had a fun book filled day, mine all seemed to have a lovely time and all the costumes survived until home time which counts as a win as far as I'm concerned :-D
Day two at home with hubby brings???
The poor neglected allotment is having a good dig over. The weather is stunning. So sunny. I may even be forced to remove my shirt...
oh, don't rub our noses in your gardening weather! I have 1-2 feet of snow all over my (neglected) yard!
book day sounds like a fun thing to do. I would have too many ideas to be able to decide, and not enough time to make something, I fear...
I have been practicing baking scones lately, which has been very nice. I think so far I like the ones with tiny chocolate chips the best. :)
S
What S said! (About the gardening weather, that is--I haven't been baking scones, only hamantaschen!)
Ah, well. Enjoy your shirtless weather--I suppose it's only fair that them as hadn't had any snow get extra springtime?
And there's TWO MORE days off! Yay! Hope the weekend is great in your household.
fA
Brilliant, eh?
We're going to try and fit some window boxes. Wish us luck!
A whole weekend to have fun together, brilliant indeed. :) So are these window boxes going to be for flowers or herbs or maybe even for a miniature poison garden if you get the choice, Sherlock?
Have a great weekend everyone. :)
I'm allowed one of them and the other one is for herbs and flowers.
How did the construction go, are you now the proud owners of window boxes?
That's exciting, Sherlock, have you decided what you are going to plant in it yet?
Hope you've all enjoyed your busy day. :)
There is research being undertaken as to what we should plant.
It was Mrs ahudson's idea really. Last year some other people on the street had some beautiful flower boxes, and she thought we should have some too.
Mrs Hudson has the very best ideas :-D
I hope you're having another lovely day together whatever you're up to :-)
She does! It will - hopefully - look nice. Sherlock has been refused permission for a tiny body farm experiment, so is back trying to think what he'd like in his one. I hope we can get something to drape wonderfully from ours.... and some herbs. Or lettuce.
Aren't there some flowers that attract butterflies? Maybe Sherlock would like to plant something like that. Window boxes are a lovely idea!
Is it back to work today Greg?
I hope everyone has a decent start to the week :-)
Yeah, back at work. And they've done so well without me I think I should have some more time off! Sal doesn't agree though...
How unreasonable of her or maybe she just really misses you when you're not there ;-)
I'm sure you're missed when you're not there. For the entertainment value alone.
Suggestions for music to speed up work accomplished, anyone? I've got all the Clash cued up, Talking Heads, random 80s dance tune playlists & some ska. And lots of coffee.
(Found a cheap ticket, leaving to visit friends & family in 3 days. So 3 days to get a week and a half's worth of everything done, and feeling darn lucky for the chance.)
Onwards!
fA
AnonyBob - she misses me doing the paperwork!
Come on Arsenal!!
I'm sure she misses your smile as well ;-)
congrats on the match :-)
she misses me doing the paperwork!
Not to mention the singing and dancing during which... ;)
So, no matter how much you enjoy time off, I can't recommend getting it by trying to arrest someone so desperate he takes down 4 officers before two tasers are needed to stop him.
And then needing your head stapled back together.
But if you do do that, be married to a doctor who isn't even on call but still arrives before the on call doctor.
That's both rotten (obviously) and very, very ... romantic is almost the word! Let John look after you!
It's a very nice head. People should be kinder to it.
Is it too vain to admit I'm glad it's a disgusting matted mess of scabby hair and staples because at least they didn't shave my hair?
Oh, ouch, and also yikes. O_O
I'm sure we're all very glad you're there, John!
He is amazing. By the time he arrived the paramedics had tied my head up so tight in bandages I could barely blink. So conversation want up to much, bbut he made me feel better than any drug ;)
Oh dear! That sounds horrible. I've never had a head wound, and I can only imagine what a horrid headache you must have. Just keep Sherlock away from any staple removers!
headache isn't too bad. head wounds mainly just bleed like there's no tomorrow! Which there nearly wasn;t ;)
Sympathy for you & battered colleagues - and sympathy for John - health care professionals know too much about what could happen and sometimes worry more until they can assess things. Glad he was there so quickly.
Hope you get a couple of days off. Tomorrow being a school day it might actually be restful for a while.
-fA
Gosh, that sounds awful, Greg, sorry to hear you've been hurt. Hope none of the other officers were too badly injured. Thank goodness you have such a wonderful husband with so many skills, there's no-one better for your after care and recuperation. :)
{Maybe a simple requisition for more time off will be easier next time - & less painful. ;) }
Hope you feel better soon. :)
YIKES! ouch! staples?! holy cow. Feel better soon!
Window boxes sounds like fun though, there is still at least a foot of snow all over my yard (more in the places the plow piled it up) but it has been warm and melty the last couple days, so there is hope that someday it will be spring and I'll get/have to deal with the garden again.
S
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