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Travel Diary: this is what we got up to in the Midlands

This post has been a long time coming because we were in the Midlands in March this year and it is already the end of July. But as they say, better late than never.

The Midlands is one of my absolute favourite areas in South Africa. I have done several posts on this area because I love it so much and some of the more recent ones are:

We like to visit the Midlands every year, especially in March/April when it is bearably cold and so very cozy. On our visit this year, this is what we got up to …

we stopped at chocolate heaven for our strawberry chocolate fix

Chocolate Heaven, in Nottingham Road, is my ultimate heaven and I can’t visit the Midlands without popping in for some goodies! I love how exciting this little shop is and how they create such interesting little treats with chocolate. I also find their chocolate to be smooth and so delicious. My favourite treat of all though is their strawberries and cherries dipped into chocolate. It is H E A V E N L Y!

Shop 1 The Junction Nottingham Road

www.chocolateheaven.co.za

we did the piggly wiggly parkrun

On the Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to make our way to Piggly Wiggly for the parkrun. This is one of the most beautiful parkruns we have ever done! Just to be able to run (ahem, walk!) through the countryside and even through the vineyards of Highgate Wine Farm, it was breathtaking! I cannot wait to do this parkrun again!

For more information on this parkrun click here

we had cheese and wine at abingdon wine estate

We visited Abingdon Wine estate, in Lions River, for the very first time and we just fell in love with this place! The wine, the food and the ambience was all just amazing! And lets not forget the picturesque setting in the heart of the the Midlands. I highly recommend their cheese platter … And their wine, of course!

www.abingdonwineestate.co.za

we spent hours in the jacuzzi at brahman hills

We stayed at Brahman Hills (you can read more about our stay in this blog post) and I must say that we spent the majority of our time in the jacuzzi. It is the most beautiful setting and we just wanted to soak it all up! The views, the animals strolling by and fresh countryside air just made it so special!

we had coffee at steampunk coffee

After the parkrun on Saturday morning we thought it was only right that we went for a delicious coffee after so we headed to Steampunk Coffee. Besides for the coffee being great, the whole experience is worth stopping for! As you walk in an atmosphere and an aroma welcomes you. They also serve vegan pies but we’ll have to go back again to try them.

Thokans Garage, R103, Lions River

www.steampunkcoffee.co.za

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My new favourite coffee shop: Dear Maria

On a Saturday morning, after the 8am Parkrun, our favourite thing to do is go for a coffee. Whether we go back to our trusty regular hangouts or we try a new place, it’s always such a special Saturday morning treat.

A coffee spot we recently discovered one Saturday morning is Dear Maria in Bedfordview. There is just something about this trendy coffee spot that we now love and go back to regularly.

Dear Maria is actually an espresso and pátiserrie bar. Besides for the coffee being delicious, there are a few other things we love. The shop itself is bright and Instagrammable, which is a win for me, obviously. The food is good and the selection of freshly baked treats is amazing! The barista’s are friendly and attentive. And lastly, the furniture and decoration is simple but trendy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BymTsGmH06C/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoYQtNlgeX7/

What makes Dear Maria special is that it is a multi-roaster cafe. This means that they always have more than one Roaster’s beans on offer. This is not common practice in South Africa because most cafes pledge allegiance to one preferred roaster.

We have only even been to Dear Maria for coffee in the morning but with their menu offering a big selection of delicious things, I can’t wait to try their lunch. I can recommend their banana bread, almond croissants and chocolate croissants though – these three items are on heavy rotation each time we visit.

Where:

Dear Maria is at 59 Van Buuren Rd, Bedfordview

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Let’s talk about getting five a day with NutriBullet

I recently did a blog post on five reasons I love my NutriBullet and one of them is because getting in your five a day is so much easier with a NutriBullet.

In this post I will be telling you more about this …

It takes more than just an apple a day to keep the doctor away, as we know. But sometimes, getting in your ‘five a day’ can seem to be just a veggie pie in the sky. Who actually has the time to prepare five different portions of seasonal fruit and veg every day, especially when feeding a busy family…

And yet we know we must as soaring rates of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer can be traced to our unhealthy diets. So, how do we change?

We can start by doubling our ‘five a day’. Researchers from the Imperial College London who analysed data from 95 studies concerning fruit and vegetable intake found that, the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day significantly reduces disease risk, but the greatest benefit comes from eating double that: 800g a day (at 80g per portion).

The study associated 10 portions a day with a 28% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, 13% reduced risk of cancer, and a whopping 31% reduction in the risk of dying prematurely.

CANSA, the Cancer Association of South Africa, recommends in addition to cutting out harmful food and substances and increasing your intake of beneficial foods, it is important to choose healthy, non-denaturing food preparation methods, too.

Don’t despair!

With the revolutionary NutriBullet on your kitchen counter, you won’t need to increase your veggie recipe repertoire, or cooking equipment for that matter. The NutriBullets patented nutrient extractors release all the critical vitamins and minerals contained within the fruit and veggies – rendering all the beneficial fibre, pulp, seeds and skins into a smooth-as-silk texture – it delivers delicious health to your body in an easily digestible, easily absorbable form.

Who doesn’t love a NutriBullet smoothie that takes just a few minutes to make and contains as many veggies and fruit as you like to pack in? Five a day is now too easy and with some imagination and www.nutribullet.com/recipes, ‘10 a day’ mega-health becomes an easily achievable and tasty solution aim for the whole family.

Check out the full NutriBullet range, including the Veggie Bullet and the magical Baby Bullet on www.nutribullet.co.za.

*Thank you to NutriBullet South Africa for gifting me this NutriBullet.

The 3 best burger spots in Jozi and Cape Town

I love a delicious juicy burger with all the trimmings … So because of this I like trying all different burger spots to see what they have to offer. One of my favourite kind of burger spot is one that has a fast food kind of vibe but make quality burgers using quality ingredients. These burger spots definitely stand out because their burgers are just SO good. So are their fries. And their milkshakes!

Out of all the burger spots I have tried, these have come out as the top 3 contenders in Johannesburg and Cape Town:

1. BGR in Johannesburg

BGR’s burgers are juicy, full of flavour and just absolutely delicious. What makes BGR’s burgers SO good is that they pride themselves with only the highest quality ingredients. The patties are made with freshly ground beef using a secret blend of only whole cuts of meat. The patties are never frozen and are hand formed daily. The hamburger buns are made with real milk and have no preservatives. The fries are imported and are always perfectly crispy. They use real mayo and a BBQ sauce that has a delicious smokey flavour.

What I order: A simple cheese burger with fries on the side and the homemade lemonade.

Where: 19 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg

Click here for the full menu.

2. JUNIOR in Cape Town

When I asked some of my foodie friends in Cape Town where the best burgers are from, they all said Junior … And they know their stuff! I have had Junior countless times whenever I visit Cape Town and I must say, their burgers are top class!

Junior is focused on take-aways but there is a sit down area. The menu is small but the choice of gourmet burgers, chips, milkshakes and doughnuts makes up for it. The quality of the food is emphasized in every aspect, so this isn’t your average take-away burger spot.

What I order: I alternate between a simple cheese burger and the chicken burger … Or sometimes both! Their coleslaw is also so delicious!

Where: 16 Kloof Nek Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town

Click here for their website

3. EMPIRE BURGER CO. in Johannesburg

Empire Burger Co. is not your average takeaway burger joint because they serve tasty burgers using quality ingredients and they are made with extra care! The menu at Empire is small but that isn’t a bad thing, because a place that serves just burgers should just serve burgers! Does that make sense?

On the menu, alongside mouth watering burgers, you will also find freshly made fries, cold brew coffee, homemade ice tea and milkshakes.

What I order: Just a regular cheese burger, fries and the homemade ice tea peach.

Where: 255 Rivonia Road, The Wedge Shopping Centre, Morningside

Click here for their website and menu

Have you tried any of these burger spots?

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Five things I loved in June

1. lush in sandton

I have been the biggest Lush supporter since their very first store opened up in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront years ago. I would bring back a suitcase full of goodies to last me until my next trip to Cape Town. Then Lush opened a store in Johannesburg but this store was miles away from where I live so I didn’t visit often. Then finally Lush launched their online store which made my Lush-life so much easier! Now, finally, Lush has opened up in Sandton City and I am the happiest person because of this. Sandton City is my go to mall for anything and everything and now I can just pop into Lush whenever I need a pick-me-up!

2. the butterfly room

Now that it is so cold, I become a hermit and like to stay indoors wrapped up in a cozy gown, with a good book, a cup of tea and some snacks. The lovely people over at Pan Macmillan sent over some books and one of them is The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley. I have yet to read one of Lucinda Riley’s book but I do know she is a well loved author so I cannot wait to get stuck into this new book!

3. slippers

Speaking of cold, the one thing my feet absolutely love in this cold weather are my sheepskin slippers! I bought myself this pair from Cape Union Mart because I find they are the best quality and last quite a few seasons! A tip though if you’re going to “invest” in a pair of these cozy slippers for yourself is to buy one size smaller as they stretch! I am normally a size 4, but I bought a size 3.

4. pink nails

If you are new around here then the one thing you must know is that my favourite colour is pink … So because of this, most of my things match. Like my new manicure and my Le Creuset coffee mug. Obviously, this was unintentional, but it made me happy. My nails are done by Halo Nail Artistry and she is simply the best! Give her a follow on Instagram by clicking here.

5. coffee

How many cups of Seattle Coffee a day is too many cups? I have always loved Seattle Coffee but recently my love has just evolved even more. I just love grabbing a cuppa at my favourite Exclusive Books and grabbing a few books to page through. There is just something so relaxing about this and it feels like total bliss.

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Have you heard about Van Loveren Wine’s Almost Zero?

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Almost Zero by Van Loveren Family Vineyards have launched a range of wines that contain almost no alcohol. Yes, you read that properly … Almost no alcohol!

Almost Zero …

Almost Zero looks like wine and tastes like wine but has less than 0.4% alcohol. To remove the alcohol, it is gently spun which allows the wine to spread thinly across steel cones causing the alcohol to evaporate. What is left is a de-alcoholised wine that still has distinctive body, colour and flavour.

Every glass has 75% less kilojoules than normal. There is only 2.2g/100g of sugar and 4.2g/100g of carbohydrates.

Almost Zero is definitely the healthier option and alternative whether you want to cut back or go dry!

Radiant Red

Radiant Red is a smooth red with mulberry flavours.

Pair with: pasta, burgers and pizza.

Wonderful White

Wonderful White is an elegant white with delicate apple, citrus and tropical fruit flavours.

Pair with: salad and sushi in the summer time.

Ravishing Rosé

Ravishing Rosé is aromatic with rose petal and strawberry flavours.

Pair with: oriental dishes, summer salads and desserts.

Which will you be trying first?

For more information, visit www.vanloveren.co.za

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Babylonstoren’s Nebukadnesar wine

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The one thing I look forward to most in winter is cuddling up on the couch with series, some snacks and a glass or two of red wine. There is just something about the cold weather and red wine that takes winter to a whole new level of coziness.

A bottle of Babylonstoren’s Nebukadnesar 2017 arrived just as a cold spell was about to roll in this past weekend. I don’t know if it was a matter of luck or just perfect timing, but thank you to the wine Gods at Babylonstoren.

Why the name Nebukadnesar?

The name of this wine draws its origins from the tale of King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, whose story weaves rich parallels with the history and development of the Babylonstoren farm. Nebuchadnezzar II – emperor and great restorer of holy places – is claimed to be responsible for the rebuilding of the Tower of Babel, the farm’s namesake. This biblical tower had been intended to reach heaven, but to prevent its completion, God caused a dispersion of languages. Herein lies the first link to Babylonstoren farm – in 1692, the Drakenstein Valley was a melting pot of languages and the indigenous Khoi and San dialects mixed with Dutch, German, Malay, Portuguese as well as the French spoken by the Huguenot winemakers.

It is the connection to the magical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, however, that Nebuchadnezzar II is best known for. Out of love for his queen, who longed for the green hills of her childhood, he used ingenious engineering to transform a flat, sun-baked floodplain into what is now one of the seven wonders of the classical world. Babylonstoren farm abounds with a diversity of flora and fauna, evoking a similar sort of magic: soils range from poor sand to rich loam and deep shale, and vineyards stretch from 170 metres above sea level all the way to 600 metres – unique terroir.

About the wine …

This flagship Bordeaux blend is a full bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Each of these wines was separately pressed and matured for 23 months in new French oak barrels. After the blend was made up, it was given a month in the tank to mingle. After a subsequent five months bottle maturation, the Nebukadnesar 2017 was released to the public.

The wine is a deep, inky ruby colour. That first whiff will intrigue you revealing scents of violets and thyme, blackcurrants and hints of cigar box. The complex layers of dark red fruits are balanced by tight well-honed tannins. The finish is a long compelling one that will make you want more and more.

This wine will pair perfectly with roast lamb, rare roast beef or fillet on the bone.

To buy, visit www.babylonstoren.com

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Another 20 photos of beautiful South Africa

As much as I love traveling overseas, I love coming home to sunny South Africa. South Africa is home and always will be. As soon as I land at the airport and go through passport control, and I see familiar faces, I know I am home.

In South Africa we have the sun, delicious food, great wine and friendly faces here in South Africa. We also have amazing adventure opportunities right on our door step. Some days we can hop into the car and head up to the Kruger National Park or we can drive down to the Natal Midlands countryside. We can hop on an plane to Cape Town and visit a million and one wine farms in the wine lands. Or we can stay home and explore Johannesburg.

South Africa is so full of adventure and beauty, so here is another 20 photos of this beautiful country we live in:

Paternoster
Pilansberg Game Reserve
The Spa at Brahman Hills – The Midlands
Click here for blog post on Brahman Hills
Chapmans Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Knysna
Cape Town Waterfront
Nottingham Roads, The Midlands
Click here for blog post on 8 STOPS YOU HAVE TO MAKE ON THE MIDLANDS MEANDER
Boulders Beach, Cape Town
Click here for blog post on THE PENGUINS AT BOULDERS BEACH
Clarens
Click here for blog post on 5 THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO IN CLARENS
Kruger National Park
Click here for blog post on TIPS FOR VISITING THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Cape Town from Table Mountain
Delheim Wine Estate
Click here for blog post on JAZZ, CHEESE FONDUE AND WINE AT DELHEIM
Johannesburg sunset
Gillooly’s Farm – Johannesburg
Plettenberg Bay
Click here for MINKYS ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLETTENBERG BAY
Rovos Rail
Click here for a blog post on ROVOS RAIL
Sunset from Marble Restaurant
Delta Park – Johannesburg
Click here for blog post on THE COSMOS AT DELTA PARK
Zebra crossing, Kruger National Park
Knysna sunset

If you would like to see the first blog post titled 20 photos of beautiful South Africa, click here for the blog post.

Dinner party at Pomodoro with Marianne Wines

A dinner party is defined as a social event where a small group of people are invited to have dinner together. To make a dinner party extra fabulous, there should be delicious gourmet food, a never ending supply of wine and good conversation.

Last month we attended a dinner party at Pomodoro with Marianne Wines and I can truly say, it was fabulous. The food was absolutely delicious. Marianne Wines ensured our glasses were always full and guests chatted away like old school friends.

Pomodoro hosts a dinner party like this once a month. If this was their first dinner party of the year, the rest of 2019 is looking good. I can’t wait for more of these fabulous dinner parties! You can like Pomodoro’s Facebook Page by clicking here if you would like to stay in the loop for all the upcoming dinner parties.

MARIANNE WINES

The food was paired with specially selected wines from Marianne Wines, which is a boutique winery based in Stellenbosch. What makes this wine so special and so sought after is that the winery combines South African power with French traditions. The end result is wines of the highest quality.

I must say, I have never tasted such powerful wines before and I cannot wait to visit the winery the next time I am in Cape Town.

POMODORO

I don’t quite know what stood out more, the wine or the food, but together it was just mesmerizing. Pomodoro is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Johannesburg, and was even featured in a post titled The Best Italian Restaurants in Johannesburg. Stefano’s love and passion for cooking authentic Italian meals is evident in the dishes that comes out of the kitchen. The food is of the highest quality, using the freshest ingredients and to me, is authentic Italian. I did visit Italy last year, so I like to compare!

The dinner party started with welcome drinks and we were served Marianne Rose 2017.

THE FOOD

Starters was a warm goat’s cheese crostino served on green leaves in a white wine vinaigrette. This was paired with Marianne Sauvignon Blanc 2017. This starter was absolutely delicious. It was so delicious that I was tempted to order another one because I knew I would never have something so delicious again! The goats cheese was more like a brie in it’s texture but the taste was just something else!

First course was a home made egg pappardelle with a lamb ragu which was paired with Marianne Merlot 2013. This is possibly the best pasta dish I have had in ages! The lamb was so tender and just melt-in-your-mouth. It was made with extra garlic and the flavours were just magnificent! My favourite is lamb and paired with my other favourite which is pasta, so to this day, I still taste this dish in my mouth! It was *insert a thumbs up here*!

Main course was a grilled kudu loin with a balsamic and green pepper jus served with dauphinoise potatoes. This was served with Marianne Francois Pienaar Desirade 2015. I am not the biggest fan of game meat so this was not quite my favourite. Claude thoroughly enjoyed his dish and all the guests around me literally licked their plates clean … So what does that tell you?

Dessert was a mini omelet with ricotta cheese and wild berries with dark chocolate coulis. This was served with Marianne Floreal 2006. I’ve never had a dessert like this before but I devoured it in seconds because it was that good!

The next Pomodoro dinner party is on June 26 and it is with Domaine Des Dieux wines. You can read more about this event by clicking here.

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Staying at Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est in Zanzibar

On the North-Western tip of Zanzibar Island, you will find some of Zanzibar’s most beautiful beaches. These beaches are virtually untouched set in a lush tropical landscape. They are known for their coral white sand and clear turquoise waters.

Located on one of these beaches, you will find paradise at Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est. This is an enchanting, luxurious and environmentally friendly 5 star all inclusive resort set within exotic tropical gardens and water features. This resort is home to pristine views over the Indian Ocean, a magnificent beach and a large wharf built onto the open waters.

I recently stayed at Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est for a few nights. My experience was nothing less than magical and here is why:

the resort

You may never want to leave, because Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est has everything you want and need for an all inclusive beach resort holiday. Besides for the beautiful beach, there is a sparkling salt water pool, a luxe African rain spa, an outdoor gym, water sports and a diving center.

the rooms

The resort features 138 rooms with a few different room options. There is a Villa Club Room which has a large communal living room and garden view as well as a Deluxe Room with magnificent sea views. There is also an Ocean Suite and a Presidential Suite.

I had the pleasure of staying in a Deluxe Room which definitely felt like home away from home in lush tropical paradise. Waking up to magnificent sea views every morning was also something special!

the food

When you stay at Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est, all of the food is included. From breakfast, to lunch and dinner, as well as snacks in between, you are sorted! There are six different restaurants to choose from:

  1. The Pavilion Restaurant serving up buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  2. Tropicana pool and snack bar serving up snacks, salads, soups and homemade pizzas by the pool.
  3. Terra e Mare restaurant serving classic Italian specialty dishes.
  4. Wok on the beach which offers tasty Asian rice and noodle dishes done in Wok style.
  5. Sea Breeze which is located on the magnificent wharf offering an a la carte menu in a romantic setting.
  6. Beach Grill serving excellent sea food directly under the stars.

things to do

While I could spend all my time lying on the beach, there is a lot to do at Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est. There is a beautiful salt water swimming pool to swim in or you can take up some kayaking and SUP’ing while you are on the beach. The resort also offers tours to Stone Town, Big Game Fishing and spice tours. You will also find an indoor and an outdoor gym as well as an African Rain Spa.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BySVERpAulu/

info

Hotel: Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est
Location: North Western tip of Zanzibar

Thanks to Diamonds La Gemma Dell’Est for #hosting me. As always, thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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Tops at Spar Wine Show is back and better

Is there anything better than getting the chance to sample some of South Africa’s very best wines all under one roof? Nope … I don’t think so either.

We attended the TOPS at SPAR Wine Show last year and if I tell you that it was the highlight of 2018, I am seriously not exaggerating. As we walked in, the most amazing atmosphere just sucked us in. The vibe, the wine and the stalls selling delicious snacks all contributed to one of our best nights out.

The TOPS at SPAR Wine Show is back and better this year and I am so excited!

What I love about it, is that it is not just a wine show where you aimlessly sip on different wines. It is also an opportunity where you can expand your knowledge of wine as there will be interactive, educational presentations in the #SAWineShowcase Theatre.

I’ve got my tickets already, have you?

Here is all the information you need:

When is it? Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 June
Where is it? Montecasino, Johannesburg
What are the ticket prices? R185 per person for General Access to R495 per person for the VIP Lounge experience
Can I buy tickets at the door? Yes, for R200 per person
Can I but tickets online? Yes, visit: www.wineshow.co.za/tickets/
What if I don’t live in Johannesburg? After Johannesburg, the Show moves to Cape Town from 11 to 13 July, Port Elizabeth from 25 to 27 July, Pretoria from 3 to 5 October, East London from 7 to 9 November and ending off in Nelspruit from 28 to 30 November.
Can I follow the Show on Social Media? Yes, of course:

Let’s get social! #WINEderland
Instagram: @thewineshowza
Facebook: @thewineshow
Twitter: @thewineshowZA

One last time, you can buy your tickets on www.wineshow.co.za/tickets

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Lindt Excellence Raspberry Intense

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There is a new flavour of LINDT EXCELLENCE on the shelves at your favourite supermarket and you best believe it’s a delicious one! This new flavour is LINDT EXCELLENCE Raspberry Intense. If like me you like your chocolate fruity, you will love this one because there is that rich chocolate melt complimented by the burst of raspberry.

This new LINDT EXCELLENCE Raspberry Intense offers a delicate balance of cocoa and raspberry. The cocoa is from the rich, creamy 47% cacao dark chocolate with abundant pieces of real raspberry. Together, the cacao and raspberry ensure a sweet and tart flavour experience. The raspberries create a mildly crunchy texture. When combined with the velvety smooth finish of the chocolate, the tasting experience is definitely enhanced.

LINDT EXCELLENCE RASPBERRY INTENSE // PURE HONEYBUSH TEA

If you would like to unlock a whole new taste experience, pair Raspberry Intense with Pure Honeybush Tea. The sweet fruity taste of the tea makes it the perfect combination with the tangy flavour of the Raspberry Intense which beautifully balances its subtle sweetness.

LINDT EXCELLENCE Raspberry Intense is available in all major retail stores for a recommended price of R44,99. For the full EXCELLENCE range please visit LINDT

*Thank you Lindt South Africa for the #gift.

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