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Sorry I got distracted and also distracted you I was online studying at my parents house as my tutor is going absolutely insane with me and I was upset at being put in the naughty corner but my friend made me laugh as she said I should be happy I got FREE upgrade I used to put on the naughty step now I have a whole corner to myself! So while I was studying I thought I would share some of those chat up lines with you before I plod on with the report next time I bring my laptop STILL NO INTERNET UP AND RUNNING AT HOME DRIVING ME BONKERS.
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Tictoc, to funny made me lol , so true in them words you are saying, heard them words over the years. They hate strong women for sure!!!!!!!!
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My Girl T.T. is M.I.A.
Hope the studies are going well
I am gearing up for my trip.
Haven't eaten a bite since Jan 1st.
Can't bare to be vexed with everybody telling me how mi fat an nice.
They never tell mi how mi magere when I have lost 15 pounds, /7kilo./ a stone..
The 7 kilos are soon found back in Jamaica. Luckily the laughing bellyaches and and cheek muscles workouts help shed the pounds .
One Love B
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OMG! You are soooo funny!Must use some of those lines soon come
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:D I have lots to share, Sheba the studies are going okay, I have one assignment due in I have to send tonight and I pleaded my case, begged for mercy for my teacher to allow one late which should have been handed in while I was away,I have about 4 nights to cram in 3 months work!
But one down one to go!
I will manage, It has been difficult with no internet at home but I am back at my bros catching up online.I am really missing the webcasts and chatting to you all good to hear about the diet sheba do not go too thin do not starve yourself.
I had to laugh when I did some house cleaning yesterday
(yep house cleaning where the hell did my maids go to? damn I miss my maids)
I came across my pre Negril thoughts and attempts of being fit and thin LOL I saw arm weights - yeah right never picked them up once ( flabby turkey wings I had)
I saw some slimming soups and bars haha no they never got used,
I found my recorded fitness programmes on tv never watched them, saw my free passes to the spa - only used a couple, found my left over token from the sunbed shop WHAT a flipping DISASTER that was!
Found all my good intentions of being a supermodel but as usual totally forgot about them, carried on being me and gorged myself on tasty steaks and chicken and whatever else I fancied.
It really showed this year though on my holiday photographs , double chin, huge expanse of rubber tyres not one but about 3 around the waist, beefy cheek chops no cheekbones,cellulite and I am very suprised there are no shots of flabby ankles LOL I promise myself by next time baybee I will be a supermodel:D:D
No seriously I have already started to cut down a little the big fatty look is not one I enjoyed, So good luck sheba with the diet!
It does make you feel better when you are slim and fit but to be honest if there are any fatties reading this
(said nicely not meanly) do not worry because you will not be the only fattie in Negril and the people there are lovely and do not care one little bit about your size.They may comment on it but not in a bad way and they love you just the same.
The fat thing just isn't for me though, some women it really seems to suit though do not ask me how but some big women really can rock a swimsuit, guess it is all about being in proportion and I definately WAS NOT! So did not even get a swim suit that fitted right, If I would have known earlier when I had more money spare that this trip was definately going to happen then I have to say I would definately have invested in a good swimsuit.
Ladies- INVEST in a good swimsuit,I was glad of the sarong patty gave me, I wore that over unsightly bikini bottoms for most of my trip!
I will definately be getting a made to measure fantastic brilliant swimsuit for next trip so I am not feeling shy hiding away.I must be getting old:o Gone are the days of grabbing the smallest brightest cutest illuminious bikini I can find with matching hair accessories to prance around the pool in with big wedge heels ooh I am getting old and wrinkly!
Oh well too late to moan about being a big fatty bumba now.I went I enjoyed me and my ten bellies!
Next trip I want to spend a lot of time on the beach at a really relaxing place in great fitting swimwear chilling feeling the vibes
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There is No Way that you looked like a Fatty Boom Boom
Sweet Sugar Dumpling
You Know what I mean .
Even if you did'nt gain one single ounce they ( the people who know you) tell you straight.
Mi girl how you look fat and nice. You put on a whole heap of farrin weight.
Nice
Just what you need for the self esteem.
Mash up those exams and get your dream work experience in Jamaica.
One Love
B
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Tic - First of all, You're beautiful!!
All this nonsense about a double chin and such. That's rubbish! You look great in all of the pictures I've seen!!
(Although I have self esteem issues of my own, so I really shouldn't tell you how to feel about yourself when I have a lot of work to do on my own self. So I'll change the subject.)
Secondly - I know I can speak for everyone when I say we miss you at the webcasts! It's not the same without you! I hope you're able to get internet back up soon!
Good luck with all your homework, It sounds like a lot but I know you can rock it.
P.S. Your last entries - the conversations with Jamaican men had me cracking up - I loved it:D
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You do know that skinny women break right? :)
I echo Clarity's thoughts we have all been treated to various pics and you see something the rest of us clearly do not. That being said if your goal is to tone and become more fit then good luck to you pretty lady! :)
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love the steering them back around to your rum punch, LOL!!
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Tic-toc you're doubly blessed, you were born good looking (you can't take credit for that) but what you can take credit for is the good naturedness that absolutely shines out of your face.
I really regret you left the day we got there.
I was actually looking around the airport on the chance I might see you.
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shucks thanks guys and gals:o Guess what I have internet finally .How excited am I ?only VERY
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Like this one?
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Our nieces partner had a printing machine and he made some t-shirt art for my kids which they were really happy about and I gathered all of the little kids at the house together and we (I ) lol decided to create a little show to show to the adults.My neice and her partner had to work most of the weekend but we was welcome at the shop or to make ourselves comfortable at the home but all the little kiddies were there so we decided to do a little singing show.
We got two soda bottles and filled them with stones and water half full and used them as shakers and we found a twig on the floor which we ran to the shop with and asked my neice to run up a small square piece of scrap material on her machine so we could turn it into a flag.One of the elder girls aged 9 is a fantastic gospel singer so she was going to be star of the show, she showered and put on a dress and I gave her one of my necklaces that she liked so she wore that and loved it and kept stroking it and was delighted when I said its yours you are the star of the show!All leading ladies get to keep their props, and we began to practise our little show.The sun was hot but we had fun setting up little stools for our guests and then delivering our little show it was fun.On the Sunday I used my new found dj talent to spin and mix gospel tunes especially for her, the sounds were carried down the mountain gently through the speakers.She was singing along brilliant voice superstar in the making.Why does music sound so fantastic in Jamaica?Maybe because we can play it so loud here.We could never get away with that backhome.We would be thrown out of the neighbourhood as nuisance neighbours!
This home was pretty much alone in a mountain though so it was great just playing the music and looking out at the brilliant views.At one point when it rained a man came walking down the hill,
Barefoot , no shirt , looked like he had been training for a muscle program.It was like a scene from a movie combat trousers on, no top, no shoes clambering down this mountainside in the rain!
And he was just casually trekking through the jungle like interior!
You see things you think am I seeing things? Like a van with 9 men hanging off its outside swinging around those high Cliffside no railings bends, 3 on each side and 3 on the back with dancehall blasting out LOL Jamaicans make me laugh, they are so happy not a care in the world,Even when the going is tough play some music and they will still try to have fun with it.
The kids were yanking my hair, braiding my hair, swinging around my neck, stroking my now stubbly needing a shave knee LOL kids are my thing my life I have been immersed and surrounded by kids for the last 16 years, this little boy had my knee as his comforter I think and just kept stroking it for ages one stubbly patch LOL ahh at least my cranky krinkly old stubbly knee is lurved somewhere.
They were doing tippleovers, singing, dancing,It was quite manic and a handful to say the least but lots of fun. They said I should do modelling with them so we did a pose and made a runway between the beds we were laughing our heads off and then they tried to show me how to dance which was even more hilarious as I cannot dance.The 9 year old was dancing in front of the mirror and we was laughing when I struck a pose attempting to mimic her and even the little ones had a new dancehall move down to perfection and there was little old me in my fluffy socks with my pj's tucked into them , hair all over the place from humidity,nighty on that said crazy moo and a big fluffy dressing gown trying to bust a move in front of the mirror up a mountain top in the middle of Jamaica with a room full of children in hysterical laughter at me.I was getting real hungry I did say we should have put the goat on the night before so we could eat it in the morning but no-one was listening to me and I did not know everyone was going off to work otherwise I would have DEFINATELY cooked it the night before do not like being left alone with strange gas cylinders and cooking etc in new places.So I was getting reallll hungry it was getting late hot and my stomach was rumbling there was some of the delicious rice and I do not know what else in the kitchen but my nephew was feeding all of the little children and I just said give it all to them.It was left for us but I did not want to take it, Thought let them have it because I was not sure what time dinner was going to be and as long as kids are fed and having fun they are happy so I thought we would wait..and wait and..wait LOL so we finally asked what time is dinner so nephew put some more rice on, eventually my niece come up the hill after a hards day work remember she is heavily pregnant and she said "the food cook?" "yuh finish cook food?" I looked around the place, oh dear only me there what to do what to say?
"so you did cook food it ready now?" And I am thinking OMG she is pregnant working seven days a week struggling up a friggin mountain and what have I been doing all day? Playing dance queen and model in a mirror, being a dj and waving flags around with the kids as well as being a stubbly knee comforter so I was quite embarrassed and ashamed and I did not answer at first and she said let me go see if the rice done so I said to my husband omg she just asked was the food cooked, that means I think we should have cooked it first of all, secondly that may mean we have to wait another 4 hrs or so omg
So he said he did not know she wanted us to cook it then I was saying I told you we should have cooked this last night so we could just get it when we were hungry.So she put the food on and went for a shower and when she returned I said I am really sorry I did not put the food on I didn't realise you wanted me to cook I should have thought, because every single time we go she always cooks she is masterchef and I just learn and I just have not thought about cooking for her plus she used to live at my husbands parents house and they like theirs cooked a particular way so I just learned while she cooked so it just never crossed my mind to cook.I really wanted some nice ice cold soda too but the local shop only had grapefruit soda and an orangey soda but both were a bit sickly I really wanted some pepsi or lemonade but they did have small bottles of pepsi but I would have needed about 20 at least just for starters so did not bother with the pepsi and you feel rude just strolling in with one for yourself (well I would not know as I would not do that but I imagine it would feel even ruder than not cooking for your pregnant hardworking in the hot sun family all day!)So I was feeling ashamed and stupid and thoughtless and selfish and kicking myself for not cooking plus the fact I now had to wait for it to be cooked and my neice came out of the shower to my room and she said food soon come and I said I'm sorry I didn't cook it and have it ready and she bust out laughing and said a joke mi a mek (she was telling a joke) and she knew I had not cooked anything and did not expect me too she was just having a joke with me and burst out laughing lol well I am glad she found it funny I was so ashamed and so hungry so lesson learned.I knew to make myself comfortable there and I just should have done and got up and got my cooking hat on.The curry goat rice and peas and veg was best ever she is a very fantastic cook it just comes natural, when I say best I mean hellooo THEE BEST I have tasted yet in all the island better than the posh restaurants better than the cookshops better than the big hotels this is the real deal where you just want more and more
My son busied himself this week by being a local farmer,every morning after his milo he likes to take a little walk to see what he can pick to eat, he finds oranges and makes orange juice for mummy in the morning as I do not drink tea and it tasted really nice.Mixed with water and sugar ,He finds all sorts of things that I do not even know what they are but he know what to do with everything.I wonder who teaches him all these things,I know his granddad has shown his some things and his cousins tell him things but it all seems so natural to him.If he is hungry or thirsty he goes outside to see what is there.He is shunning my grocery shop!I have no pizza or anything for him though so he is not exactly happy with my grocery shop this week.There is not much he likes down this end apart from chicken nuggets, toast the odd hotdog or crackers crisps or biscuits so he is on a fruit and food finding mission which he is really enjoying!
There is some ackee here so we have bought saltfish which we will have for breakfast this morning,Not had any since I been here so I am looking forward to that.
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:DLOL THATS A GOOD PHOTO PGW I am very critical though and I do have to say that was at the end of the month I had no eyelashes on some spots are coming through after being scared of the freezing cold showers and my grey hair is seeping through and look at my wrinkles omg i am too young for wrinkles lol well actually I am not get on high botox alert everyone oh when I get money I shall be a danger to society at that beauty parlour! I can't wait I want eyelashes stay on lipstick glittery one, all of my eyeshadow plans went out of the window I had all the packs with me too! I have no hair do LOL what the heck is that hair do haha I am so funny I got to laugh at myself because in my suitcase I brought rollers, hair straighteners, curling tongues hairspray mousse and gel and NEVER at home would I DARE step out without it being done but ever since I plugged my hairdryer in for the first time at seastar and it was whispering to me instead of blowing fast air i switched it off flung it in the suitcase and totally forgot about all my equipment! I wa struly having too much fun to actually give a flying figaroo if I had done my hair or make up I just did not care I have lots of photos I am looking back on thinking hahaha wash and goI have never been a wash and go frizz air dry kinda girl, mainly because the British weather does not allow to air dry it would icicle up probably but the weather here would frizz it up high but in Jamaica the humidity keeps it a flat kinda frizz that I just fling behind me and hope for the best and get on with the show..No time for faffing around with hair it was just full on fun and partay time,In reflection maybe I could have had it braided so it looked like I made an effort.Who cares?FRIZZ TO THE WORLD! AND GREY HAIR LOL:D
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My internet is back up and running which apart from enabling me to frantically price check like a maniac:D (so far flights in times I can travel are Usd$2000 :rolleyes:) I can continue re-living my memories and I feel like singing the song in this video below me so are you ready?Press play crank up the volume , grab a hairbrush and sing with me:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwKRM_835uk
come on who played it twice? who danced at the same time as singing admit it lol
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One thing I always notice about Jamaican people is that theyalways stick together and look out for one another. If one has no food anotherwill try to provide, if an elderly person has nowhere to live someone in the community will usually help and take them in and treat them like family.
I have seen it a lot in many shapes and forms everyone looking out for one another. It is just about love and not money.Sharing,caring,Things that just do not happen where I come from. Once your money runs out at home you are on your own usually nobody cares nobody would take you under their wing and let you move in that would very very rarely be seen happen but seems second nature in Jamaica, seems almost every family has an elderly Jamaican lady overseeing house activities and shes sometimes called aunty but sometimes infact most times they can't remember actually who aunty is related to! It is just a polite term and they look after aunty or Mz b/d/g regardless of wherever she came from.It's like who's that lady?oh we nah know lol but they take care of her anyway!
I have decided that January definitely is not a month for me for a short holiday infact I may have been a little disappointed if I had only come for a week or two in January because the nights get quite chilly and themornings too and it is not very hot during the day, now that weather is perfectif you are building a house for instance and want to oversee the work. Januarycould be great for that but as a tourist for a holiday if you are seeking HOT HOT HOT January may not be the month . It has been comfortable as I am in the countryside but if I was on the beach maybe I would not be so happy with it. We had a great December here though very sunny and nice and calm because for the last 2 decembers there was a lot of breeze,wind and cold Jamaicans were wearing light jackets so we was very lucky with the nice December weather. I love the heat though and I think our next trip may be a july or august as that is the childrens school longest holiday and this was a total one off that they could take anytime out of school so I would have to fit it in around them if we were all coming together next time.
Today is our last full day here, tomorrow we leave ,I am absolutely devastated to have to leave, Thinking of some of my family back home but I know they are ok we have stayed in touch and I will be glad to see them but I just wish theywould all come here instead! They need to just Pack up and leave.
I really do not want to go home and if I had only myself to think about I would stay but I am also excited about my girls sitting their final exams they are both set to get very high results and one of them will have the highest number of passes in the area if it all works out.I will be very excited if she makes the press.
We worked hard towards this for many years so that will be at least one nice thing tolook forward to on my return. If only I could pay back this trip by July and return with them for an exam passing celebration LOL OOPS here I go already planning the next trip while I am still here I must try to stop that. Infact I think I totally let my hair down and already celebrated their upcoming success on this trip like a pre exam pass trip lol. I know I partied hard this trip and a lot of you maybe thought what is she doing? But some of you are aware but some are not that I have been a full time24/7 mum for almost 16 years my kids have always come first before anything oranyone and I have spent 11 years making sure my girls are ahead of their expected learning age at all times from the moment they started school at age 3-4
It was a big thing to me that meant a lot to be there 24/7for them dinner on the table straight after school someone in the house at all times and and to get them to love reading and writing and try my best to makesure they can clock up all those A grades.I realise I was fortunate even if broke to be able to do that as lots of mums do not get that opportunity,So now is the time where they will sit their very final exams and we will see the results of those many years of hard work which we all put in to makesure they have a better choice of options and hopefully will make better decisions and choices in their life than I did in my own. All of those 11 years of doing the schooling with them I rarely partied VERY rarely.So now I am at the final finish line I just feel like Iwent a bit crazy also grieving in a party way (is that allowed is that normal i don't know never grieved b4) partying on this holiday as it is a big changing point in all my families life. When they finish these exams in a couple of months they finish school and are half way through their plans and I am just thankful that we made it through, we got there in the end it was not always an easy road for me but they do not know that ,They think its all rosey and they got to travel the world and had everything they needed.Wanted to makesure my kids had a really good education so they would not end up old, stupid and no prospects. So yes I have gone a bit wild on the partying but I never hurt no-one and I probably will not be able to celebrate their success by returning to Jamaica with them this summer so I guess I just let my hair down early! And why not?We all worked hard for these final results.I have my hopes pinned high on them! Iam very proud of them and now its almost all coming to an end.
This trip planning saga is cleaning mine and everyone elses bank accounts out! I cannot help it,This love of Jamaica will last forever ,I am torn if I want to live here or not. I love it but I need heaps more money.
I said I would be happy in a wooden house which I would BUT long term how would that work out? what facilities would I have? could I cope? I could cope with a nice mansion with pool of course or a basic wooden hut but it is the inbetween that I cannot cope with, I am an all or nothing kinda gal, the electric and gas and water dramas that happen often. Things breaking down or needing repairing just things we take for granted back home, plus other issues like the hurricanes, I am scared of heavy rainfall so imagine me in a hurricane and then there are the roads The roads in the interior are just downright terrifying and I promised myself I will never put my family in danger again by riding those roads again unless in an emergency.I have been on those roads for years and years and it is an adrenaline rush for sure BUT the amounts of accidents and deaths I witnessed this trip in such a short space of time has definately made me re-evaluate things.At home I do read statistics of road accidents and robberies or deaths and such to keep up with what is going on but seeing it live in front of your face is totally something else and my family are worth more to me than a holiday, a car ride.If it is not essential and an emergency I will not take them those routes again, of course the violence part too,But I love it and sometimesyou have to go to what you love to be happy and content.
I am off to go eat my ackee and saltfish now , hope you have all had a delicious home grown breakfast and if not get yourselves down here and do not forget to invite me!
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Good to see you back, tictoc! Enjoying it very much ;) I've a question...you're girls are 16 and then they will be done with high school? Here in the states they go until they are 17-18. Just wondering :)
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Hey Schuttzie, yes children finish high school here when they are 16, They keep saying they will change the law and make it 18 but I do not think it has happened yet.Here when children reach 16 these are the options:
Leave high school enter straight into work, low pay and will only get minimum wage at a basic entry level position eg: working on a till at a shop or in a cafe, you still have the opportunity to work your way up within a company that way but if the company closes all you have is experience and no qualifications and both are very important these days.
The other option which has become a massive awful trend here is to drop out or just leave school , have no job bum around do nothing have a few kids , the other option is to further your education and go to college where you can do one or two year courses depending on your ability and what you want to achieve.You enter college by choice it is not compulsary.
After college 1 or 2 years you will leave with certificates or diplomas these are enough to at least get you a good interview for a job but possibly would still be a basic entry level position on a lower wage .But better than nothing,
After college if you pass you can go to higher education at a university,You can go to a real brick built university , fees are around £9000 per year plus excursions, trips extras and living expenses rent and such or you can attend online university where fees are lower,There are bursaries,scholarships,grants and loans for those who wish to apply on a low income or facing hardships.
University usually takes 3 or 4 years if you attend a real brick university full time, online part time may take longer.
After that time you can proceed to postgraduate status to get an MBA (masters) and then you can get doctors in your subject.
It is a long thing and takes a lot of focus and dedication and hard work and most students are struggling in England for money as If they are studying full time there is not a lot of time left for working to keep their heads above water but there are people from all over the world who come here to study it is supposed to be one of the best areas for education.How true that is I do not know, I just know there are an extremely large amount of students and student residencies and universities all over town.People from all over the world are here studying.So that is your options in England,Do not think it is too much different from other places except we finish earlier than some countries and are allowed to work.I think working age in Jamaica is 15 I read in a law book somewhere.
My girls have already got in their chosen college , they start this September,One will do 2 years and then on to university as she is studying to become a primary school teacher.The other will complete 2 years in travel and tourism which she gets a lot of useful certificates from and they will get her a job in travel at the end of it as she is going travelling the world for a year.In that year she will decide if working her way up or continuing the work she has is what she wants or if she wants to use those certificates to come home and start university.
Going to university gives you a massively better chance at obtaining jobs with higher pay at a higher level.And with fierce competition and a lot of companies closing down here, the recession that we are told we are out of which I do not believe, change in government here and mass immigration and political issues they can't seem to cope with here , basically if you do not have every letter you can get after your name you are going to have a hard life and struggle for money just to keep your head above water unless of course you were born in to money or have inherited.So education and study I feel is essential for the average person.Without it unless you are a lucky person you will be on minimum wage in a booooooring job for what may become forever booooooring!
So me and my girls are just raking in all the certificates we can get right now.
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yep too many folks just fill out that UB40
i am happy for your young ladies!
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Cheers Seveen ,
I am very proud of them I am glad they got away from all the hustle and bustle here over christmas and new year and had time to totally chill and revise in time for their exams in Jamaica,I don't care what anyone says I know my own kids and I see the effort that goes in to schoolwork and revising and I know for a fact they were in a better place emotionally in Jamaica and they had that chance to unwind relax and take all of the words in that they were reading in preperation for their exams rather than their schoolkids in the area trying to tempt them to sneak out all over christmas getting up to seriously no good.They got much more done , it was perfect timing in a sense.
I am immensely proud of them and all our hard work as a mother naturally would be but I will also enjoy getting the results and feeling a little bit smug with myself knowing that all the haters from way back when,
when they saw a very young mother with 2 babies looked down their nose and threw us all on the scrapheap without a second glance..its THEIR kids and grandkids that have become drop outs or have a failed education it's THEIR kids out on the streets misbehaving.It will be MY kids names going forward for the achievement awards or names in the paper and doing something good.It's funny how life has a way of catching up with you when you are hater! they gonna alll have to eat their words very soon.But I always knew my kids would do the best,They just didn't believe me - like I cared!I just plodded on doing my thing with my kids.
There is a saying haters only make you stronger.The trip to jamaica was great for them to clear their minds revise get stuck in and prepare for the that last hurdle.
It has been a long single narrow road full of obstacles but now we are finally at a crossroads with many avenues to choose from.Life has a funny way of changing and you will get out what you put in no matter how hard it feels at the time.It is all about knowing where you want to be and getting a plan to get there
3 guesses where I want to be?
:D
Million dollar question is what is my plan to get there!? :rolleyes:
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Thank you, Tictoc for the explanation...I didn't mean to sidetrack your trip report, lol. Education is so very important here, too.
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I never told you what happened with the coleslaw did I? I had planned from before I went to Jamaica to eat lots of coleslaw, I love it, I enjoy it with spicy food to cool it down,
I like the texture and the taste and the nice homemade coleslaw in Jamaica so when I got there for weeks I could not find any decent homecooked real Jamaican food , nowhere had coleslaw which was really strange as everywhere used to have it, I found the food quite poor all over Negril this trip but then I was on a low budget but the food should still be nice whatever the price.Had consistently good food at fatties for 400 j a meal and that was real homemade frehly cooked food for a very low price, never had a bad meal there it was A* food just had no coleslaw.So all trip I wanted coleslaw I would have to read all the pages here again to remember if I actually got any in Negril, I know a few of you told me to go to Chicken lavish but I never got there so I was craving coleslaw by the time I got to our families house.So nobody had any coleslaw nobody had any plans to make any so I made a real effort one very hot afternoon to head into town,I actually walked all the way there on crazy roads and in hot sun.I wanted coleslaw dammit! So I went to a local market and bought about 5 cabbages, a huge bag of carrots, some mayo and anything else we could add would be back at the house.So of course every man and woman selling fruit and vegetables wanted me to purchase from them and I had to explain my situation many times telling them I already had what I needed I just want to make coleslaw which gained many laughs as they looked at me as if to ask was I feeding the 5 thousand as I had about 5 cabbages where some families may just use half of ONE cabbage or one cabbage well I needed 5! You do know we like our food.We like BIG portions full of tasty food not bland mediocre garbage.I wanted to do a huge bowl of it so we would have a lot to share with the curry goat meal.I always like to cook extra even at home incase anyone pops in and then we do not have to start cutting the portions down.So hot sun , walking, market fiasco,carrying it all thought I would give the three teenagers a simple job while they were waiting for that days dinner to be cooked it was a real simple easy job or so I thought and there was three teenagers to complete the task, all they had to do was chop carrots and cabbages and put them into a big bowl, so one of my girls was moaning she could not find a knife then when I found one she said it does not work , then I tried it and it did work she still moaned so my husband sharpened it for her then my other daughter was taking ages peeling ,It went from day to night the sun went down and the veg was still not all cut up , then dinner was ready I was hoping to have a taste of coleslaw with that evenings dinner even though it was for the next day for a big family meal at our sleepover party But the kids still had not finished and I did not want their dinner to go cold so I said leave it until later or tomorrow so my sister in law took it off them and put it in the kitchen,I THOUGHT she had put it away or covered it with water , I did not think to ask what was she doing with it.So the coleslaw fiasco/saga was laid to rest until the next morning when I said come on kids lets finish the coleslaw, so I looked in the fridge..NO coleslaw you got to be kidding me right?Wheres my coleslaw? Looked on the side looked on the table could not find the coleslaw hmmm.Saw a tea towel covering something noooo not my coleslaw? PLEASE DON'T BE MY COLESLAW, Peeked under it, My cabbage and carrots with NO water it was my unfinished coleslaw and after all the memories of hot sun walking, talking with vendors and repeating my coleslaw tale a million times and watching it go from day to night with the kids moaning about knives because they probably did not want to help with it ..as all the memories of what I had to do to actually get the ingredients to the kitchen flashed before my mind I was now looking in the bowl and thought what is that?Oh its just a bad cabbage leaf..pick it out just gone brown thats all ,BUT NO IT WAS NOT just ONE piece of brown cabbage the whole lot had gone discoloured and brown and horrible and no good as it had not been covered with water or put in the fridge so I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WTH WHO KILLED MY CABBAGE look at my cabbage omg you know what I had to go through to get this cabbage? 5 weeks I had been wanting cabbage in Jamaica not to mention my pre-Jamaica licking of lips and drooling at the thought of it and as I could not find any in the hotels I went through allll of this to succumb and make my own and now this MASSACRE of the cabbage.It was devastation of the coleslaw it was- it was well it was just my bl@@@ luck wasn't it?Only me could go through all that to end up with a bucket full of gone off cabbage so my sister in law said perhaps the under neath may be ok maybe only the top has gone discoloured , she was probably trying to calm me down I REALLLLY wanted that coleslaw bad bad bad lol So I tasted a bit and it seemed ok so I decided to finish it myself in a huff and a sulk I was not waiting until the sun had gone down again to try and get the kids to help me out so I mixed it up made it sort of edible it was better than nothing and put it in the fridge.All I had to do now was to wait for it to get cold.Yummy I shall have my coleslaw at last.I left it there a good couple of hours while we got dressed and waited for our ride to go have the sleepover party where we was taking a big bag of goat and I wanted to take the coleslaw.So I grabbed the coleslaw out of the fridge happy as a smiling ray of sunshine proud of my coleslaw accomplishment and finally I would get a homecooked dinner of curry goat rice and peas and my nice homemade coleslaw at long last.So we got out the car,Counted my kids as they were walking up the mountain , yep kids check we are all here, bags check, coleslaw check WTHHHHHHHH Or rather WTFFFFFFFF is dripping out of the coleslaw dishes bags?OMG don't even joke with me now what the hell is THAT? so we opened the bags and it had all turned into dishes of smelly crap watery stinking smelly mushy gooey horrible brown discoloured messy crap and that was my offering for the family table,Who I had not seen in about two years.JUST MY LUCK i DON'T BELIEVE IT.
To the family they were probably thinking oh its just a bit of coleslaw she bought from somewhere or chopped up "it nah matter" BUT I knew what the heck I went to get through to get that coleslaw there and I was MAD MAD MADDD.
So what the heck had happened to my coleslaw now I wonder?
So then I find out something to either do with electricity or the fridge.If you overload the fridge it does not cool the food properly or freeze food properly .I had no energy to even ask in depth as to why.I feel sometimes that you can just not rely on nothing or no-one to comply with the easiest of tasks or simplest of things that you just expect to be done and take for granted things will happen things will work and be ok .WRONG THINK AGAIN.Nothing goes right,All I knew was I had dishes full of stinky crap as my offerring to the table and I had tried so hard to make it nice.
This was the journey on dangerous roads too where I had no holy s@@@ bar yet I still managed to cling on to the beloved coleslaw even though we nearly fell off a very high cliff mountain edge.As that was our last weekend and we left Jamaica very shortly after I never got no coleslaw.How annoying is that?After everything NO coleslaw and I cannot be bothered to make anything since I got back I am in mourning for my holiday I want it back! And
I WANT COLESLAW DAMMIT:D
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Attachment 9532
Our nephew was also grating to make home made carrot or beetroot juice or something like that he worked real hard on it for ages and that went bad too
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Greetings Ms T,
So Wha appen? Yu dash We whey?
I know it's probably all stoosh back in Hengland BUT when Yu a Come Back a Yu Yard?
Hope all is good.
One Love
B
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It is my final FINAL, FINAL day here no more top up of fundsinjections,
no more extensions….
no more just one moreday here, there and everywhere, the time has come , my ticket has ran out , mychildren have their final examinations waiting for them at school and we HAVEto go home….OR DO WE?
LOL
What do you think the next step would be if the FINALdecision was up to me if I did not have the childrens schooling to worry about?
There is no way on this earth ANYONE could make me go home!No way!
I would stay and just see what happens , go with the flowand only return back to England if my luck ran out, but it never has andhopefully never will!
I never thought this trip would happen this year so muchhappened this year pre trip that I just gave up on the idea even though it wastearing me up to have to miss my trip and also lose my monies already paid.
But doom and gloom soon SNAPPED into happiness andexcitement the second I printed my boarding pass, and the second we got in thetransfer van to Negril. I cannot even describe how I felt,except WELCOME HOMEonce more.Hooray thankyou Jesus
Lastnight was very strange weather it really rained hardhere for hours and hours and felt cool.It rained well after dark and thismorning felt very cold and I wondered if I was seeing things there was a foglike mist over the mountains hanging real low which lasted for nearly twohours.It was cold cloudy and rainy and it was like natures way of saying tictoctime to go home, easing me back into the weather back home the cold , thecloud, the fog the mist and rain.It is very unusual weather today it is justlike at home in England, perhaps it is better for me this way as if it was verysunny with the birds chirping and I hear one sound system I know it would makeit a lot harder for me to leave so this weather is easing me out slowly!
I really do not want to go home.My childrens education isalmost finished there, We are in January now , my girls finish around May forgood, They could attend college anywhere in the world and my son could easilysettle in to school here.My mother and father are also back home and we see myfather daily who is with us all the time so of course I have missed them butthey can easily fly out here.
I just wish I could stay but know my time is up and I haveto leave and every time I say next time will be for longer or a one way ticketbut in reality the longest I can get away is 5 or 6 weeks over july /augustwhen my children are out of school/college for summer so I will not get toexperience 3 or 6 months or 12 months it can only ever be 5 or 6 weeks until Imake a final decision to up and leave once and for all.Just grab my chance androll with it.
The worst that could ever happen to us is I would be satback in my same old chair in my same old life looking out of that same oldwindow pane watching the rain and the miserable unhappy unsociable cold peoplepassing by from time to time.I would still have a life and a roof and moneyback home.I really do not have anything to lose by just taking a chance andgoing for it as the worst that can happen is I would have to fly to England andjust go back to where my life is at now.Nothing ventured nothing gained.
My main priority is EDUCATION and certificates , degrees andpasses for my kids it seems you cannot get anywhere these days unless you havea very good natural talent or you possess all of these certificates.
So making sure they all have a good education is my numberone priority and they are all doing extremely well so far and I am very proudof them.
I also have to make sure my father is happy, he said hewould come here for good with us if we got something stable and settledarranged.
My mother hopefully would find the courage to fly out forvisits.
I don’t have any other ties at all.I have family but theywould not put their life on hold for me not at all so I cannot do that forthem.I have to look out for my own immediate family.If and when my family get agood opportunity that they have been waiting for it is not like I will beconsulted they would grab it with both hands and go and so will I!
We made breakfast in bed for my in laws this morning Isuccumbed to the drawing of tea LOL and had a cup of some chocolatey drink!
I bet my son asks for tea every morning now at home.
We had a bit of a bad sleep as the kids were playing musicalbeds lastnight all fighting for a space and saying they wanted to sleep indifferent places so everyone is feeling a little tired today.My mother in lawmade me laugh, the phone rang and she said hello and then she shouted my fatherin law, because he was not quick enough to come she said you nah come? Well Icyan bodder wit it and put the phone down LOL she said she did not know who itwas and we did not know how to recall the number LOLOL
Our nephew came lastnight after school to say our goodbyesit was sad he cooked up a mean chicken though it was lovely and my girls wereassistant chefs.
The phone has been ringing today, different family fromEngland checking on arrangements saying hi people saying bye its so sad.I donot want to leave.
My dreams lastnight were surreal can a dream even be surrealor is it surreal anyway?
Lol
My dreams were of every single song since I got here , bassspeakers musicians, boardies faces, musical instruments , family time, beachtime, seastar time, concerts, driving, cliffs, Cliffside, chicken , rum, fun,sun, birds, animals, noises and then I woke up, It was like the whole 6 weeksflashed before me like they say it happens before death but it is not the endof my life just the end of my holiday but I sure do feel like wearing all blackand start mourning!
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I keep repeating myself and for that I apologize I know I can be a repetitive annoying mo fo sometimes about things I am passionate about and this is WITHOUT any rum!
My liver is one thing that will be pleased to go back home LOL it will have a nice long rest until my next trip.Our driver is coming in the next 30 minutes and we will leave here in just over an hour or so.I have about 2000j LOL to my name so I am seriously hoping I do not have to pay exit tax, I have always paid it before on every single trip but they were on cheapo flights and this was a mega expensive scheduled airline which I heard it was included in.Please let that rumour be right.Because I have no credit card and no-one back home will loan me one more dime/cent/penny!
I really hope there is no drama at the airport.We get fed well on the plane at least and drinks are free.Once we land I have to get 3 long trains and a taxi to get home.It will take me almost 24 hours of messing about but 24 hours from now I will be lying on my bed , if my bed hasn’t been stolen or sold LOL with my memories of my trip and OMG I so need to start planning the next trip because there was SO much I never got to do this trip and so much I saved for next time that I will have to start planning and saving and paying back from the moment I touch down.
Do you think I am crazy for that?
Says who?
Says you LOL?
I know everyone reading this is probably every inch as in love with Jamaica as I.You know you are all as obsessed with trips as me just admit it be honest!
I did not manage to make it to a library as planned all week so I am sorry I could not do live updates and looking back I would definitely buy my own connection which I can just plug in my usb port so I have access to internet at all times.I cannot even check if my flight is on time as I have no phone or internet now so here’s to hoping! As always riding on a wing and a prayer LOL
Please forgive me.
Everything always works out in Jamaica, where there is a will there is a way.If I really want something I will get it,If I really want to do something I manage to do it.Do not let fear or lack of money or confidence hold you back.Everyone has the same opportunities , they are out there just not everyone has the same amount of money to take up those opportunities but if you really want something so bad you will find a way.I was coming here twice sometimes 3 times in a year or less than 2 years at one point.
Where there is a will there is a way.
Everybody’s cases are packed except one.Guess who’s that is?
MINE
I know I
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Life can be very fun out here and also very hard I have seensome hardships.
If you are a tourist and want lots of fun bring lots ofmoney, if you want to live here come with lots of money and a superb plan ,anything less than a superb plan is not going to cut it.
In saying that if you are a single person with no ties orworries you could always just come here with NO plan and go with the flow andsee where life takes you OMG that sounds quite cool.DO IT NOW while you havethe chance!
What is there to lose.?
Imagine a NO PLAN ~ EMIGRATING PARTY ? WOIEEEEEEE that could be fun.
I am looking forward to reading Gerry and brasis trip reportbut they have failed miserably in locating me and picking me up on motorbikesto transport me to all the shows I have missed you get a big fat fail for thatboys LOL
Hope everyone has been having a lot of fun both at homereading the boards and on the rock having a blast.
So much fun so little time.I have got to fly so far awaynow.I envy those of you who can come 5 times a year or just hop on a plane for200 dollars and come for a long weekend .That must be so cool.
I hope I get back soon to see the family here , I really hope this is not our last visit withthem and we can make it back ASAP.Good bye Jamaica, Goodbye Jamaicans andboardies, and fun , sun and rum and family fun, goodbye sounds, and nature andscenery and sunsets and sunrises and shooting stars and calm blue oceans andreef fish and white sand and swaying palm trees and coconuts and everythingthat grows in the yard.Good bye friends and family and drivers and shops andworkers and patties and jerk chicken and hills and mountains and sunrays andbig bright silver moon and warm rain and cool breeze and swimming pools andJacuzzis and musicians and instruments and huge soundsystems goodbye late nightreggae rhythms flowing through the night air sending me to sleep (umm ok notsleep but you know what I mean!) Good bye adventure, goodbye camping style,andgoodbye my favourite staff at my favourite places, bye bye my rum punch what will I do without you and OMG The buyone get 2 free at fun holiday beach resort that just cannot get better theywere good too.Good bye waterpark I could spend a lot more days with you if Ihad money and good bye to everything I totally missed and didn’t get chance todo this trip.Jamaicans say you should not say goodbye say soon come back
But I will say goodbye to COLD SHOWERS LOL I stink I think Iwill enjoy a hot overflowing bubble bath on my return.I could not find a plugfor the bath here and water is very cool.I think seastar had hot water, can’tremember and fun holiday had a hot Jacuzzi.Must make a list of hot water placesfor future reference!
I think a good all rounder on the beach would definitely befun holiday beach resort.It has everything you need in a good location.Seastaris still my number one Cliffside.You will NOT find anywhere with better customer care here.As usual everysingle thing I asked for needed or wanted and more was provided.I think atourist used my nice coconut tanning oil there I kept leaving it by accidentnear the loungers and then it disappeared boo I bought another but it was creamnot oil and I have not actually ended up getting many days in the sun,Atseastar I was undercover and here in the country I am indoors a lot so thetanning situation is not as good as it could have been if I stayed on the beachfor 6 weeks imagine the tan then woooo that would be cool.
Enough ramblings from me I am off for my final taste ofJamaican home cooked food best throw all of my things in my case any which wayand how, I just hope I am not the family pulled out of the queue for everything getting searched I am NOT in themood yet it is always ME each and every time lol, one time they missed me andgot one of my kids instead,I never have nor ever will have anything I shouldnot have on me I think people who do that kinda thing on purpose are very sillyas they pretty much always get caught these days plus in my humble opinion themules never get paid enough, you know how I am with costs and prices I know thegoing rate LOL its crap and totally not worth it.It is illegal, crap pay notworth it, don’t do it ,don’t risk it.
Bye everyone see you on the other side watching the webcastsdreaming we were back here booooooooooooo
Love yas all hope you all have fantastic holidays and lotsof fun in this perfect little island of paradise.
Bye for now
SOON COME BACK!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Update on the packing situation - I could not be bothered packing my case and the thought ofall them summer clothes just lying on my wardrobe floor never to be worn againor at least until another holiday made me sad and I thought what a waste. I sawa need for those clothes and I decided to give everything I had away my girlsgave some things too. I kept my sparkly dress and undergarments the rest I gaveaway clothes shoes, accessories etc.
I am an all or nothing kinda gal so if I was to go home tono electric and gas or water on and my cable and internet was to be cut offthen I figured if I was to have nothing at all then I may aswell finish it offproperly and give all my clothes away too no point keeping just a bit of stuffholding on to things when everything else is falling apart around me so it wasall or nothing.Plus I was in need of some karma points !
Keep everything or give away everything. It was my lastlittle gesture to Jamaica we all made quite a few gestures this trip, justchose not to write about them all but I hope the clothes bring the wearer thefun and happiness that I had in them hopefully my happy vybe and spirit will continueto make the person happy.
My daughter gave away her prized possession her mobile phoneand even hubby gave some items away. My son usually leaves some toys but henever brought his little toys this trip.
The flight home which I had started off thinking this couldactually be a good chance to have a jetlag day ON THE PLANE LOL I was laughinginside thinking wait til I tell the boardies I ended up having my jetlag day onthe plane ride home, I had visions of me settling in comfy pillow and blanketmunching on some snacks and watching a few good movies, we usually take it inturns to sit with my son we usually dojust over 2 hours each as he likes entertaining and needs watching the wholeway he always wants to do something so I was surprised when they seated my 3children behind our seats and he settled in right away and was superbly behavedand just wanted to chill watch a movie and go to sleep=RESULT except I then gotsomeone elses 7 year old next to me who thought it would be great fun everytimeI closed my eyes to prod me , poke me , tap me awake or swing the remotecontrol into my leg or have an elbow wrestle over the arm rest space. This wasfunny for about 4 minutes I had another almost ten hours to go. Then he waiteduntil I just nodded off and put the spotlights in my face. THE ONLY SEAT ON THEWHOLE PLANE to have a spotlight on it was my seat typical just my luck my kidsare all behaving and I get stuck with dennis the freakin menace. I started toget mad he thought it was a disco spotlight in my face spotlight off on offkick tap, prod poke. I went and sat near the emergency exit where I hoped Iwould not fly out and tried to make myself invisible and small as you get introuble for blocking the exits so I stayed there for 15 minutes I neededbreathing space. My husband came to get me and said he had sorted the lightsituation out. It was a fairly uncomfortable flight back they forgot to order akids meal for my son so he was hungry eating snacks no meal then they forgot myhusbands breakfast and they only gave us 2 drinks which were just smallgulpsful , you know how much we paid for this flight?? get me a drink dammit!The games channels never worked and there was hard cold metal in between myfeet on the floor which made my sitting very uncomfortable so I was sittinglike I was in labour feet apart and my head on the pull down tray shoved facedown in to a pillow –when dennis the menace was not attacking me of course LOLso my planned jetlag flight did not happen. We got our trains I did not evennotice the climate change like we usually do it was odd. I really think therain mist and fog in Jamaica really helped me ease back in to the weather wedid not feel the cold until evening and usually we all have jetlag andtiredness for up to a week but nothing, nothing at all everyone went to bed asnormal and just fitted straight back into things no jetlag nothing. I do notknow how my body survived with such little sleep but I have slept loads allyear before I came so maybe I was using stored reserves!
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On the way home we had totally ran out of all kinds of cashin any and every currency all I had was one single pound coin which wasleftover from our way in. My mother had told me to call her when I got to thetrain station so she could send my driver to pick me up to bring me to my home.So I was gripping this precious final pound coin hanging on for dear life. Thethought never occurred to me imagine if she was on the phone or voicemail cameon? what would I do then lol
Good job these thoughts never occur as I am doing things atthe time as I would scare myself senseless!
But things always work out I pulled out the pound called mymum, the guy was on his way.
I arrived home to a little welcome home committee which wascute and unexpected, my brother and his pregnant partner was in my home, she isabout to give birth any day now and I am very very excited about this and mymum and dad was here and my next door neighbour.
They had all missed me they said awww, they have neverbothered to meet or greet me before , I think maybe they thought I was notcoming back lol
It took me about at least an hour to open all of the bills,the less important ones had to head straight for the trash I am afraid lolpriorities priorities!
Obviously my fambo will be number one on the payback pile.
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Pictures of me and my father in law enjoying one of our many chats out on the porch we have been known to spend many an hour out there talking about anything and everything, I think pretty much everything in the world has been discussed with us out on that porch!As you can see I managed to sneak one little rum and pepsi in too!
We talk about poverty, politics,crime, corruption, beauty, scenery, education, government, power, history, the future, the stock market! anything and everything we will sit there for hours and discuss until we watch the sun set over the mountains,then we come in to eat and sometimes we go back out there to chat in almost total darkness with the tree frogs chirping as our little audience.I love our little chats or long chats as I should say.I look forward to them all year.He is a very understanding man who likes to reflect on discussions and debate from both perspectives of an arguement and I enjoy doing that too so thats why some of our chats can take quite some time!
The other pic is of me and my nephew when we was having a 5 minute time out from the water issue that was driving us bonkers!
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got a little bit more to come few more photos i will post later
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTSbnl11M9c&feature=related
A couple of songs i HAVE BEEN BLASTING TODAY TO GET ME BACK IN THE HAPPY BEAT MOOD THAT I KNOW FROM JAMAICA!
NO MATTER WHAT ITS ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC AND FUN OUT THERE NO MATTER HOW HARD THE STRUGGLE MUSIC WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRIT.Also been listening to some old ska which reminds me of the cute little old men with a bottle of rum in their pocket usually I found them in some backstreet wooden bar down a country lane, always ready for a chat and a dance and most of all FUN!!..You can't test the little old jamaican men doing their ska dancing yeah boy!
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This is what the rastas are trying to teach us in Jamaica we should listen I need more self control to listen better...it does all make a lot of sense though once you start to research what they are talking about.It is very good in theory.Practise is very hard especially once overseas where the fresh lovely homegrown food is hard or impossible to grow.
I would like to have this healthier way of living though.one day perhaps..dare I say maybe LOL?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bSSigMn5hE&feature=related
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** Holding grey goose was for entertainment purposes only , only had 2000j left remember! I was just wishing;)
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