 Poster: A snowHead
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turbopuss, (What a great name!) Welcome to snowHeads and I hope you need your chains! I will be ariving in Chatel for the first time on the 22nd so that is why I am wishing for snow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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turbopuss, (What a great name!) Welcome to snowHeads and I hope you need your chains! I will be ariving in Chatel for the first time on the 22nd so that is why I am wishing for snow.
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Cheers Chris.....the chains will be buried under all the kids gear...so there will be no chance of digging them out ! ! will get the sprogs to push the car up 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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turbopuss, I have not driven to PdS as this is my first trip there, so I cannot help with your route question. Might be worth asking on the Resorts Reviews and Trip Reports thread. There tends to be a very quick turnover of posts here, and questions get lost.
The GFS wigglies for our week look quite promising at present.
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Turbopuss, I hear you can get to Chatel over the 'Pas de Morgins' which is rarely snowy, although i haven't done it myself
More relevant however is that to go through Switzerland you will have to buy a "Vignette" allowing you to drive on the Swiss Motorways (in lieu of tolls)
I think its SFR 40 and there are places offering them online for about £25
You don't have to buy one but you can't really get to Morgins without using the motorway (not in less than a day anyway) and while i don't know how they enforce it, i wouldn't want a run-in with the Swiss police. Lovely people but not known for tolerance of law-breaking.
Ok £25 is not a lot in the context of a week's skiing but the other factor is if you are crossing the border at a busy time there can easily be an hour's queue of people waiting to buy a vignette. Even if you've already got one, the queue doesn't split until about 100 metres before the crossing so you still have to sit in about four miles of queue before that.
if you know the route through France i would go for that.
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sanman.... thanks for that...I knew about the vinigarette...but not the long queues......will go via France I think  [/b]
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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bison fute (french road infor) saying it's open...
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My mate reckons there is 35cm's on the way
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I think I know where he might be coming from. the local forecast I just read in the Tourist Office said that snow Tuesday night in the Maurienne would be rather little, but towards the "Préalpes/Beaufortain" there could be between 2 and 35 cms.
 Nothing like a meteorologist hedging his bets, eh?
Did Les Gets really have 30cms? That's terrific - a lot more than most places around, I think.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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turbopuss
user
Posts: 3Thank you to all posters for this addictive thread......driving down to Chatel Friday 21st, and looks like we will be ok....keeping everything crossed.
We will be spending most of our time at the top of the Bubble in Super Chatel on the beginners area ( First time for my good lady and the 2 boys 11 & 3 ! ! )
Any reports about Super Chatel and the runs down to Morgins gratefully received.......
Also the Sat Nav is taking me up to Chatel through Switzerland via Morgins.......I have always been on the bus from Gva up to Chatel on the road that skirts Lake Geneva and that road is very easy with no bad hills, so if anybody can let me know if the Swiss route via Morgins is ok...or to be avoided...that would be great
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I have driven to chatel the last two years and am doing so this year as well. On both occassions I have gone round lake geneva on the motorway and through morgins, it has taken about 1hr 20 mins at a careful sensible pace. My mate said he went around 10 years ago and was driven through the swiss mountains on a bus, he cant remember exactly where they went but he did say it was just as quick.
Here are the directions I have followed in the past. (my tom tom tried to take me to somewhere called chatel near paris so I was damned glad to have taken the directions as a fail safe). By the way, have never seen a customs man in two years.
DIRECTIONS FROM GENEVA AIRPORT, FRENCH SIDE, TO CHATEL BY MOTORWAY.
(between 1.5 and 2 hours depending on traffic)
Avis desk will advise you of car park space no. From desk, go through glass doors to lift, down two floors, out of lift turn left, and left again into underground car park. From your space drive to end (one way). Turn right into two way system to go out of airport. Go through Tunnel where you will see airport runway on your left, at end of second tunnel you will turn right ( opposite Hotel Stars). This is a cross road so look out for opposite traffic. Go into left hand lane, go a short way to CUSTOMS. (Passports)
See Ferney Voltaire (village name) on building. Then go into left hand lane (right lane is for buses and taxis) drive through another tunnel. At end of tunnel road swings up to left and you will see a GREEN sign for LAUSANNE. (Green signs are motorway, blue signs are A roads).
Go to roundabout. Go right round taking THIRD exit signed green LAUSANNE. This is the slip road to Motorway. You will filter in to traffic on your left then stay in the inside lane, I think another road then joins you. You will then see LAUSANNE 56km sign. Stay on this motorway. In a little way you pass IKEA on your right.
At LAUSANNE, the motorway has a spur road into Lausanne centre, IGNORE THIS, You must take LAUSANNE NORTH by staying in the inside lane. The signs then change and you must follow BERN, NEUCHATEL.
It is shown as:
E25 E62 1 9
Bern Neuchatel
Simplon
Lausanne North.
The road bends to the left (traffic is joining from the right). See BUFFALO GRILL building on the right. Stay in MIDDLE LANE signed E62, 9 to SIMPLON. (Traffic will join you on the right)
Follow FRIBOURG
SIMPLON sign and YOU MUST TURN OFF TO THE RIGHT. (LEFT IS BERN)
A road will filter in on your left. You then see sign
E62 (9)
SIMPLON - 170
Stay on this motorway and see SIMPLON E62.
Then the sign BELMONT 1200 meters. This is a tunnel - you’ll need LIGHTS!
Then through two or three more tunnels and then see sign VEVEY
The Motorway splits again. You stay straight on to :
E27 E62 (9)
SIMPLON.
Ignore Bern, Fribourg. Shortly traffic will be joining on the right.
You are now approaching MONTREUX, but you must keep on the Motorway (through vineyard area) and do not turn off to Montreux centre. The motorway bi passes all the towns.
AIGLE
Evian.
Go through the Gillon Tunnel then see the sign for
AIGLE
Evian.
Follow all signs to AIGLE (don’t go to Evian).
You’ll then see a sign SIMPLON 132 KM. Stay on motorway and go past AIGLE sign.
Now prepare to turn off MOTORWAY
Look for the PORTES DU SOLEIL sign, also it should say MONTHEY NORD, PAS DE MORGINS, CHATEL. Follow this and
LEAVE THE MOTORWAY up to a T Junction, turn right, following the brown Portes du Soleil sign. You then go to a roundabout and bear left. Just keep following the brown Portes du Soleil sign and this will take you into a new road tunnel. At the end of the tunnel keep straight on and follow signs for Pas de Morgins, Morgins, Chatel. You stay on this road for about 25 minutes climbing all the time.
You will then arrive in the village of MORGINS. Go through Morgins, past HOSTELLERIE - BELLEVUE on your right, then big right hand bend to CUSTOMS HOUSE.
STOP AT DOUANE SUISSE, (Customs) it’s a white building with red shutters on the right hand side. Customs men are in middle or road, if not, look and if no one about carry on. Have your passports to hand .
Follow this road on, over the pass (brilliant view from here) and down more hairpins towards CHATEL.
You then have to go through the French Customs. Look for Douane Francais building on the right hand side as you enter Chatel. Again, you should stop - although we have never seen a Customs official here.
On your right is the Vonnes Lake at the head of Chatel village. Carry on down the main street of Chatel
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Oh and thanks Lou, didn't see your post re good runs. I'll definitely check them out. Thanks also for the info regarding bars. Tis all useful information!
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Need a bit more Swiss side, French side noticeably better with the new snow this morning. Champery/ Les Crosets had about 20 cm on top of the rain sodden snow and earth, each turn left an interesting brown track!!! We need a significant temp drop and more snow fall now and all will be good again!
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You know it makes sense.
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Hi Snowheads...can anyone tell me the cost of a daily upgrade to "Portes Du Soleil" area on a Morzine Les Gets lift pass please...I've looked on all the lift pass company sites and can find nothing that mentions it...surely it must be possible, or am I being too optomistic?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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sanman, mheadbee, Thanks for proving me wrong about the question getting lost!
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Poster: A snowHead
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biglol, it is possible,we did it last year when going to Avoriaz for a day from Les Gets (this year had PDS passes). It was difficult to find info about it but (last year anyway) only got a discount on daily pds when we upgraded the evening before in Les Gets office de tourisme. No discount at all offered at Ardent pass office on the actual day. OH queried it but there was no relenting from stroppy lady at Ardent 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mheadbee.....thank you....what a comprehensive answer..I think I will try the Swiss route just for the scenic delights of the Morgins Pass.
Apologies to all for probably posting my question in the wrong place to start with, but it is getting so close now...and it looks like the snow may be ok...
It really is a pressure situation when you are taking the family for the first time.....after droning on for the past few years about the beauty of the mountains, the exhillaration of skiing....and the satisfying glow of that first beer / jeager after a great days sport....then to find that the snow might be a bit iffy is a nightmare......
My special lady is great......but she does not understand how critical snow is to a skiing holiday....she says we can have a lot of fun anyway because we are on holiday...snow or no snow ! 
Thanks again to all for your answers !
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks Lou, appreciated....think I've met the same lady at the Ardent lift pass office......
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Ahhh yes stroppy lift pass office folk. Last year in Tignes, my friend enthusiastically requested a 6 day Espace Killy pass in French, only to be stared at grumpily and replied to in English. Oh well, everyone likes a trier....oh wait.....maybe they don't. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Wow - a lot of activity on here today! Just back in the apartment after the start of week shop and a cheeky beer. First turns for me since April 10 so a bit rusty. Slightly strange weather with a band of cloud from around 1500-1700m. Above that skiing in the sun much af ther time and the snow was really quite good. Someone earlier seemed to doubt the amount of snow. Half way down the blue from Chaux des Rosee I stopped to check a nd a definite 30cm. Some of the boarders were like pigs in ****.
All skiable though some runs closed and rocks/icy patches by the afternoon (especially icy* on the red below Plain Dranse) *not really ice but the soft stuff was scraped of the hard base and pretty sugary on the. Run down to Pre La Joux.
All in all -I'm pretty happy having seen some of the reports.
Turbopuss, the drive over Pas de Morgins is fine - standard mountain road with hairpins but very rarely closed
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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DJL, that red run suffers really badly for some reason. Is it the one which goes down to the wierd church built of of the rock?
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That one was similar but in better nick. It is the one going down below Plain Dranse (and the chuch) that was notably poor today.
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Ricklovesthepowder, you're thinking of the pitch above Plaine Dranse which gets scraped off badly as it's all of a sudden steeper than the rest of the run and really quite steep, catching some by surprise, and causing no end of side slipping.
The red run down to Pre la Joux is hard I would expect cos it's all factory snow, designed to lkast as much of the season as possible, bashed out of it's mind and mostly rained on this year. You have to give it a little sympathy, no?
Poor thing is huddled under the trees whimpering and desperately waiting for the end of the season.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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mheadbee.....thank you....what a comprehensive answer..
It really is a pressure situation when you are taking the family for the first time...........
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NP, I only cut and pased from a word doc.
I started takng the kids thre years ago, they are now 7 and nearly 5. I went with esprit because the child care is really good and it is cost of the holiday is very good value with first child going free or 80% off and second 10-30% off. The thing is with small kids you need to expect to do limited skiing yourself, with esprit you get to do a lot. We felt guilty dumping the kids at first so my wife only ski'd half a day (enough for her to be honest) and as there was a large group there were other weak wives who were knackered by 10.30am.
Last year my son was 6 and loved the lessons and wanted to stay all day (he had a friend with him) but my daughter hated it as she was on her own. We have canned it this year as she is still on her own but hopefully next year rhey will be in the same age bracket. I expect 1 more year and I will be able to go to Chatel and just do our own thing as the kids will be good enough to go with us.
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The thing is with small kids you need to expect to do limited skiing yourself
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I thought that would be the case mheadbee.....the small one is not even three until April....so I have got no idea what the first day will hold....but the main thing is that I am sharing something I am passionate about with my family for the first time....so my playtime will come secondary........and besides the deal I made with the better half was that if she came skiing I would agree to go to Butlitz, or Centre Parcs in the summer !
The older boy is quite intrepid....I think I will be able to get him up to speed by the end of the week......leaving mum and the little one to sit on a terrace in the sun with a vin chaud and a sledge, or suchlike....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Back at the apartment after a pretty good day. Started with sunshine but clouded by 11.00 and snowing by 12.00. It has been snowing ever since. 5cm in the car park (at 1300m) and at least double that up top.
Mosettes lift was closed due to wiind but we skied over to Avoriaz. Coupe du Monde in good nick and snow all the way to Prodains (icy/artificial towards the bottom). All good in the Fornet bowl. Runs down to Lindarets also good. The Stash is not much use - not enough depth to let the intrepid types get onto the rails. Back over above Plain Dranse it was quiet, windy and snowing so we retired at 15.30 with cold faces.
Snow still falling now and it looks set in. If not a real dump it is certainly improving.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Tue 11-01-11 16:48; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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biglol what did she look like? She sounds like the stroppy lady we had too 
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You know it makes sense.
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Lou, they had probably been up in the night with little ones out of their home routine, maybe changed some nappies, dug out all the right number of socks and gloves (including those for their hubbies, who had forgotten where they'd put them when they rolled home after their quick apres ski pints), made sure the kids had clean hankies, had done a last wee, had their choc bar snacks. Then pushed and pulled them into all their ski gear. Then got at least one child out of all that gear because they just thought that maybe, possibly, they might want to do a poo. etc etc etc.
No wonder they were knackered by 1030!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Lou, Might be a typo for "week wives" i.e. just for the ski week!
Great news on the snow front. Don't miss the excellent video report elsewhere in this part of the forum.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Lou, they had probably been up in the night with little ones out of their home routine, maybe changed some nappies, dug out all the right number of socks and gloves (including those for their hubbies, who had forgotten where they'd put them when they rolled home after their quick apres ski pints), made sure the kids had clean hankies, had done a last wee, had their choc bar snacks. Then pushed and pulled them into all their ski gear. Then got at least one child out of all that gear because they just thought that maybe, possibly, they might want to do a poo. etc etc etc.
No wonder they were knackered by 1030
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pam w....... wow that's just what I was looking for.....an instruction manual for the missus on her first ski trip .... does she also get to finish early to go down and get the dinner on......
We got Sky in the apartment apparently.....so not sure how she will learn to ski between episodes of Loose Women, Corrie, etc..... she is gonna have a busy week
Also thanks to DJL for the daily bulletin....sounds vey encouraging 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just been out on the balcony. Been occupied for a little while with Spag Bol, nice bottle of red, couple of Savoyard cheeses.
It stopped snowing at 1900 (and the car was clear). Now looks like an inch or two of fresh stuff on the roof.
Setting the alarm (a rarity) for 07.30 to make sure we get first lifts. France3 weather report suggests a sunny morning!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Just stopped for a coffee in Les Crosets. The pistes at Pre La Joux were in excellent state at 0900. Had a couple of runs from Cornebois then over to Lindarets and up Mosettes. Everything that had been pisted was in good condition. Swiss side has a few icy patches/rocks but perfectly skiable. The snow Sunday/yesterday has really hoped. Rain forecast below 1500. This afternoon. Hope that it keeps a couple of degrees coldrr and falls as snow down to 1200.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lou, they had probably been up in the night with little ones out of their home routine, maybe changed some nappies, dug out all the right number of socks and gloves (including those for their hubbies, who had forgotten where they'd put them when they rolled home after their quick apres ski pints), made sure the kids had clean hankies, had done a last wee, had their choc bar snacks. Then pushed and pulled them into all their ski gear. Then got at least one child out of all that gear because they just thought that maybe, possibly, they might want to do a poo. etc etc etc.
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Everybody else kids go to bed at 7pm, out like light. My kids are still jumping on the bed and coming in and out of the rooms at 10.30PM, always been that way even at home even though we get them up at 6. I usually tend to it. Neither kids need any pooing in the morning, they use the toilets themselves, the ski club was in the chalet so all we had to do was walk down the stairs with them. As we are in a chalet the apres happens in the lounge and the wives dont miss out on their wine i can assure you.
No excuse fo the constant panting and wheezing, and can we slow down and stop for a rest now please every 5 minutes. My wife is ok, but a couple of the other are beyond unfit. They have all day to get fit at home on their own but just can't be bothered
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mheadbee
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Neither kids need any pooing in the morning, they use the toilets themselves |
Oh please, we don't want to know.
On second thoughts, I guess you could compare the colour of your kids poo to the slopes of Les Gets at the moment! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks DJL for the updates, keep 'em coming please!
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