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GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE APRIL 2021

COTSWOLDS HAPPY EASTER FROM EVERYONE A ATT THE LOCAL ANSWER!

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Cotswolds: Cotswolds: 330,000 0,000 ccopies opies C heltenham: 443,000 3,000 ccopies opies Cheltenham: G loucester: 446,000 6,000 copies copies Gloucester: N orth G loucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies North Gloucestershire: S troud D istrict: 441,000 1,000 ccopies opies Stroud District:

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01242 510500 510500 Telephone T elephone 01242 info@thelocalanswer.co.uk info@thelocalanswer.co.uk @thelocalanswer @ thelocalanswer

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W elcome Welcome ttoo A pril April Happy Easter! Another special occasion that will be a little bit different again this year, but hopefully one of the last as we start to see restrictions lifted soon.

Now that winter is well and truly behind us, we can look forward to enjoying better weather and all the other positive things spring and summer bring.

From brightening up your wardrobe with suggestions from Val Starr in her Mirror Mirror on the Wall article, to injecting colourful florals into your décor with Gill Greenwell’s Interior Design tips. Julia Smith also lets us know what we should be getting up to in our gardens in April, including starting to grow your own asparagus! And Laura Nicklin shares her favourite self-care gadgets for those of you wanting to stay at home for a little longer.

We are also running an offer for businesses based in the Cotswold District with a huge discount on advertising rates. For more details, see page 22 or email info@thelocalanswer.co.uk.

If you use the services of any of our advertisers, please tell them you found them in The Local Answer!

Contacts C ontacts DIRECTOR MANAGING MANAGING DIRECTOR Dave Kingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk MARKETING & EDITORIAL EDITORIAL MARKETING Lois Kingscott lois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ACCOUNTS ACCOUNTS Rob Kingscott (01242 541071) accounts@thelocalanswer.co.uk ADVERTISING ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: info@thelocalanswer.co.uk LEAFLET LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES: ENQUIRIES: distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk Page 3

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IIngredients: ngredients: 6 sausages (meat or vegetarian), skinned and rolled into balls; 300g butternut squash, peeled and diced; 1 tsp dried sage; 200g penne pasta (or wholewheat pasta); 1 pack of tenderstem broccoli roughly chopped; 500g carton of tomato passata; 100ml single cream; 1 mozzarella ball or grated cheddar cheese for the topping.

3

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Method: Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan 180°C/gas 6).

2 Put the butternut squash in a roasting tin, season well, then add a tablespoon of olive oil.

Mix the squash and oil to coat, then sprinkle over the sage. Roast for approximately 20

5 6

minutes, then add the sausage balls and cook for another 10 minutes.

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, add the pasta and cook according to the instructions.

Add the broccoli for the last four minutes and then drain well.

Put the pasta and broccoli into a large ovenproof dish. Mix the tomato passata with the cream, then stir into the pasta and broccoli until well covered. Add the butternut squash and sausage balls, pushing them carefully into the pasta mix.

Pull apart the mozzarella and scatter over the top or sprinkle with the grated cheddar.

Bake for about 20-25 minutes until the cheese has turned golden brown.

K Keep eep u up p tto od date ate o on n ssocial ocial m media! edia! @thelocalanswer @thelocalanswer The Local Answer

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A sspringtime pringtime ssplash plash o off ccolour olour If you like colour, bold stripes, rainbows and floral patterns, then this is the spring for you.

Perhaps after the doom and gloom of the last year it is time to add a pop of colour to our wardrobes to cheer ourselves up.

Lockdown has apparently led to some of us saving a little extra money as holidays, dining out and travel were put on hold. So why not splash a little cash on some new wardrobe pieces ready for when we’re able to go out and about again?

You might not be able to enjoy a real shopping experience just yet, but online browsing can be good fun. Major chains have really upped their game when it comes to internet shopping; some sites offer you a 360degree virtual fashion show so you can really see the item from every angle, which very is helpful.

More and more are offering free returns as well; to be able to try on in the comfort of your own home and see if it matches with other items you already own can be a luxury.

S Stripes tripes Rainbow stripes are everywhere – from jumpers and lounge wear, to face masks and trainers. Stripes are often

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thought to be not very flattering, but the latest stripes we see are quite the opposite.

Matalan have a chevron stripe dress, which is a great choice for most figures and only costs £18.

Zara as usual comes up trumps with a lovely grey stripe shirt dress for £49.99 – it is very stylish and you could even wear it open as a light weight cover up.

Breton stripes have always been a summer must have; H&M have a great black and white striped jumper for £17.99, which would go well with black or white trousers. White Stuff has a clever navy and cream jumper, which can be turned inside out, giving you two different colours and looks.

New Look has great white trainers, reasonably priced at £23.99, with pretty rainbow stripes or a splash of leopard print – they tick all the boxes and are sure to brighten up any outfit.

Ghost G host An iconic British designer brand often seen on the Duchess of Cambridge and Carrie Symonds, now you can get the designer look too.

Marks & Spencer has cleverly decided to stock a limited range of Ghost exclusively for M&S – sure to be a best seller.

This range has a vintage style, is very feminine and, most importantly, it is timeless. It truly suits any age group and

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can be dressed up or down.

With great floral and unusual prints, it reminds me a little of Liberty’s famed scarves.

Good news for stylish kids – several of the designs have been adapted in ‘mini me’ styles, which are perfect for special occasions. The range has of course been priced accordingly for M&S, so you can expect to pay a bit less than if you were to buy direct from Ghost. With M&S having exclusivity, you also have the added bonus of these items not being all over the high street like so many styles.

Accessories A ccessories If you only want to add a slight splash of colour or stripes then look for one of the many face masks offering all different patterns and shades. Necklaces, earrings and even socks are in multiple styles and colours, so no excuse not to add a little rainbow to your look! Who knows, you might just find that elusive pot of gold!

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P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart

Freedom Freedom to to try tr y How easy do you find it to walk your own path, trusting your intuition to lead you in the right direction, trusting yourself over what makes logical sense?

Can you do it? Have you ever tried?

For so long we have been programmed to do as we are told, to be good, to behave, be polite, respectful, work hard and suchlike, and I am wondering, in the light of recent events (2020) is now the time to change things up a bit and experiment with a new approach? And this means all of us.

As daring as it may sound, I propose a new paradigm in which we trust that each individual actually does know what is best for themselves and, as long as they are not in immediate danger, it is perfectly acceptable to make choices according to their own inner guidance, even when that may fly in the face of familial or societal expectations.

But what could this mean for our children?

After a whole year of broken

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education and the possibility of more to come, it would mean allowing them to follow their own interests, whilst supporting them to explore new avenues.

S Support upport a and nd e encourage ncourage cchildren hildren tto o ffollow ollow ttheir heir p passions assions a and nd ttalents alents It would mean understanding that every child does not need to be a fully rounded expert in English, maths, humanities, art, sport and science, but that it is perfectly acceptable, nay preferable, that those who feel a strong pull in a certain direction be supported and encouraged to follow those breadcrumbs as far as they may lead.

And as parents it might look like sharing more of ourselves, our story and our history so that our children might see us as whole people, not one dimensional characters put on earth to simply serve their needs.

By embracing our own inner guidance and following our own sense of what is good, we To advertise call 01242 510500

can demonstrate this personal power to our children, build up their confidence and give them their own voice, which, hopefully will be distinctly different from ours in every way and only serve to make their contribution to the world all the sweeter.

Starting with small decisions like what to wear, let us begin trusting our kids and not fearing them being different, and if they discover a hobby they want to explore, support their new learning without expectation. No, they do not need to stick at it, win medals or get certificates, especially if they are not competitive.

What is wrong with simply trying something on for size and letting it go when the time comes? Give them, and yourself, the freedom to try, change, walk away from anything in life, from work to relationships, and we will see a happier generation of free thinking creative souls who may literally change the world.

So what do you say, are you willing to give it a go?

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Making a real difference to your life in the Cotswolds

Sudoku Fill the grids so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

Cotswold C otswold LLifestyle ifestyle and and Second Home Management S econd H ome M anagement FFrom rom kkey ey hholding olding ttoo ffull ull sservice ervice ssupport upport ttoo iinclude nclude • Garden Maintenance • Property Maintenance • Building work • Interior Design • Cleaning • Catering • Pool Cleaning • Beauty treatments and more!

F or a rreliable, eliable, ttrustworthy rustworthy a nd For and p rofessional sservice ervice p lease ccontact ontact u s ... professional please us...

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D Distributors istributors Required Required To join our waiting list for various locations in the Cotswold District. Please email distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk distribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk with your name, postal address and telephone number. A member of our team will respond with more information.

Please do not call the office at this time, as our staff are only returning to work part-time, so may not always be available to take your call.

Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month. The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100-150 copies/hour (equivalent to The The L Loca ocal £6-£9/hour).

ANS A NS WER WER Magazines are delivered to Distributors’ homes towards the end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9pm.

You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently COTSW C OTSWOLDS OLDS physically fit to perform the duties.

G GLOUCESTERSHIRE’ LOUCES STEERSHIRE’S B BIGGEST IGGES ST LLOCAL OCAL M MAGAZINE AGAZINE APRIL APRIL 2021 2021

H HAPPY APPY EEASTER ASTER FFROM ROM EEVERYONE VERYONE A ATT TTHE HE

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Your local family business

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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin

T Time ime for for some some self-care self-care As lockdown restrictions are set to ease soon, no doubt you will be booking your next hair, manicure, facial or other beauty appointment as soon as you can. However, if you can’t wait for an appointment or don’t feel up to venturing out yet, then fret not. With these nifty gadgets, you can still enjoy some much-deserved TLC from the comfort of home, while feeling like you’re at a five-star salon.

LED treatment programmes to choose from, you’ll be feeling pampered in no time. Just don’t forget to take it off before answering the door!

S SENSSE ENSSE LED LED L Light ight T Therapy herapy M Mask ask Boots: £130 Unlike the everyday masks we have all become accustomed to, this LED light therapy mask has been designed to give your skin a boost. From reducing the appearance of wrinkles and blemishes to enhancing blood circulation, this LED mask is ideal if you’re looking for an athome remedy for stressed

Made from soft silicon, it is nice and light, and easy to use.

Just place it on, choose which programme best suits your needs with the remote control, then simply relax and let it do all the work. With four different The Local Answer

Theragun T heragun Mini M ini Boots: £175 Anyone working from home will recognise the dull aches and pains that come from having a poor posture; when you’re crouched over your desk for hours, it can be easy to fall into a slouching position, and you might struggle to motivate yourself with those at-home workouts.

Fortunately, this handy gizmo from Boots will have you feeling like you have your own at-home masseuse! The Theragun Mini is a small yet mighty tool that quickly gets to work soothing all your stiff muscles, with three speeds to apply just the right pressure.

Simply roll the ball up and down your problem areas and enjoy perfect stress relief. As well as improving your posture, the Theragun Mini also helps To advertise call 01242 510500

improve your quality of sleep, which is just an added bonus.

D Dyson yson A Airwrap irwrap Dyson: £449.99 For those of us who enjoyed our monthly visits to the hairdressers, lockdown has been particularly interesting. From home dye jobs to some fairly disastrous attempts at cutting hair – or some even forgoing hair altogether and opting to shave it off – we’ve been forced to try our hand at styling.

However, if you’re looking for something more straightforward to help give you that salon glow, then the Dyson Airwrap may be what you need. This sleek gadget is a dream, as it allows you to curl, straighten and dry your hair with its customisable barrels, all without causing any heat damage.

Instead, high pressure air travels through the barrel, making the hair wrap itself around the bar – so you don’t even need to use your hands!

Just because you’re staying home, it doesn’t mean you can’t look and feel your best.

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IIn n tthe he Garden Garden w with ith JJulia ulia S Smith mith

S Spring pring into into aaction ction this this April April As spring gets going, let’s hope this April has lovely weather like last year! If this is the case, remember to water recently-planted shrubs, and anything in pots or hanging baskets. Install water butts on any downpipes using a diverter kit – it’ll help save on your water bill!

This could be a good time to buy winter flowering trees and shrubs, as the prices may be reduced in garden centres – this will give you a good show next winter. It’s also a good time to plant evergreens into well-prepared soil with a balanced fertiliser added. Make sure you keep them wellwatered during the summer if it is dry.

Fragrance Fragrance tthe he g garden arden iin n ssummer ummer e evenings venings Try sowing a sprinkling of hardy annual seeds like annual poppies or Love-in-a-Mist through the flower border in a sunny position. Night Scented Stocks can be sown as well to

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fragrance the garden in summer evenings. They are not much to look at but are delicious to smell – put them by windows or patios to enjoy.

April is a good time to plant ornamental grasses in freedraining sandy soil, but if your soil doesn’t sound like this you can add plenty of grit to clay soils to improve the drainage.

Alternatively, you could erect some raised beds made from sleepers or brick, which is a good way to ensure the soil is free-draining , and is also good for tending as one gets older and ones back and knees start complaining!

Asparagus is a great long-term crop for the garden, which can produce tasty spears for 25 years! All male varieties like Dariana and Franklim give the best spears. Make sure To advertise call 01242 510500

you prepare the bed well – a raised bed is a good idea, as they like free draining soil.

Soak the ‘crowns’ (the name of the asparagus plants) before you plant them and keep the site weed-free so there is no competition. They will take a few years to reach their full potential, but persevere as they are well worth it!

Keep a Keep an ne eye ye o out ut for for n nesting esting b birds irds w when hen p pruning runing h hedges edges If your privet hedge needs pruning you can do it now, but make sure there are no nesting birds in it. If it needs a really hard prune do one side now and the other side next year. Feed and water it after pruning.

Thin peaches, nectarines, almonds and apricots now to make sure that only larger fruit grows – it can seem hard to do this but it is worth it!

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The Local Answer

IInterior nterior D Design esign w with ith G Gill ill G Greenwell reenwell

Ap passion assion for for pattern pattern The arrival of spring always makes me feel like injecting some colourful florals into my décor. I love pattern – it adds so much depth and character to a room. The TV series Interior Design Masters inspired me to think about how we use print and pattern in our interiors.

Follow my tips and introduce some joyful pattern into your home.

Image: Linwood

1.

1. Minimalist Minimalist or or m maximalist? aximalist?

Are you a minimalist or a maximalist? Minimalists go for a clean look, white walls, and a quiet colour palette. Maximalists love bold and vibrant décor, brimming with pattern. Getting the balance right is key.

A room without any pattern can look bland and boring, but too much pattern can make a space feel too busy and not relaxing to be in. Achieve the right balance by keeping to a simple colour palette of three or four colours using pattern to anchor the whole scheme.

2.

2. Stripes Stripes and and checks checks A safe way to introduce pattern to a scheme is by adding some stripes in a subtle colour –

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check out Farrow and Ball’s wallpapers. Or go for a fine stripe on a blind or curtain in a stronger hue. I am a fan of Ian Mankin’s ticking fabrics.

Checks are currently having a moment, so why not freshen up your room with gingham?

I’ve just ordered one in a terracotta/cream check for my dining table – but it’s not just for tablecloths! A check fabric also looks great on a lampshade, an upholstered footstool or small chair, or on a bedspread for a chic French look.

3.

3. Floral Floral chic chic Incorporating a bold floral print into a room can seem daunting – the key is restraint. A large floral print on a chair adds real personality to a sitting room.

Just make sure the colours coordinate with the rest of the room.

In a bedroom, statement headboards are currently in fashion.

Upholster yours in a beautiful floral print and it will be a hit on Instagram. Or bring the outside in with a fresh botanical pattern – I love palm-house prints, perfect for a statement wall.

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4 4.. V Vintage intage vibe vibe For that extra touch of style, take the sustainable option.

Search out vintage textiles – perhaps an Indian inspired paisley throw. The country house look is also having a resurgence but with an added contemporary twist. Designers have dived into the archives and produced old designs in vibrant new colours – think chintz, Bloomsbury inspired prints, and flamboyant Chinese bird designs in modern colourways.

A friend’s daughter plans to use an updated William Morris print wallpaper for her kitchen.

Balance these up with neutrals and plains or smaller prints in harmonious colourways.

5 5.. A Accessories ccessories w with ith p pattern attern Start small by adding some interesting pattern to a room by searching out cushions, rugs or art prints in designs you love, or try out a bold wallpaper in your downstairs loo. Be brave, have fun and bring that spring feeling into your home!

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The Local Answer

S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams

ubscription eco-friendly ssubscription Are eco-friendly Are for ward? way forward? the way really the boxes really boxes Everywhere I look there seems to be subscription boxes for just about any and everything you can think of, and this extends to eco-friendly products as well.

From dishwasher tablets to deodorant, there is at least one company out there offering you the option to have a box of planet-friendly products delivered directly to your door on a regular basis. Just a quick internet search brings up hundreds, if not thousands of subscription services.

You can get surplus and wonky fruit and vegetables from local farms, meal boxes which contain exactly what you need to create a meal for a set amount of people, bread baking boxes... the options seem to be limitless.

When it comes to home and self-care there are vegan products, boxes with a huge variety of planet friendly candles and stationery, no end of cleaning products and reusable cleaning cloths, and bathroom options like plastic-free cotton

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buds, razors and shampoo bars and soaps. You can even get toilet paper delivered!

Many M any boxes boxes o offer ffer environmental environmental e extras xtras The majority of these boxes are plastic free and several offer environmental extras like planting a tree for every box sold.

I can certainly see the advantages to a lot of these – it is often when you run out that you make a less planet friendly choice. When you need something in a hurry, generally the readily available items won’t be the eco-friendly choices as they are less mainstream, and so you grab a bottle of chemical-based surface cleaner in a plastic bottle from a company with highly questionable ethics.

If you are having cleaning products delivered to you regularly, the theory is that you won’t run out.

It will also give you access to new products to try. Quite often when buying eco-friendly items they can be quite expenTo advertise call 01242 510500

sive to buy individually, so this way you get to try a selection of products before deciding which are your favourites, and actually work for your family.

The only downsides I can see is that with this being a popular and growing market, unscrupulous people will always try to take advantage. So make sure to check the credentials of whoever you’re subscribing to – are they really delivering on their promises?

Another is delivery. It doubles it up generally; once to the company putting the boxes together and then onto you. If you are perhaps someone who cycles to the shop or buys in bulk, it might not be a less impactful option.

Finally, it could create waste.

It can take a little while to learn what you actually need and how often you run out, so you end up with products you don’t use.

Saying all that though, I think they can be a great idea if you research the company and only get things that you will use.

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IIndex ndex o off A Advertisers dvertisers Marshalls Driveways HEALTH & BEAUTY BEAUTY HEALTH Be Well Gloucestershire 8 R. Richards & Son Slimming World 4 RS Cladding Summertown Roofing IINFORMATION NFORMATION Gloucestershire C CLEANING LEANING S SERVICES ERVICES Constabulary 14-15 Regency Cleaners

17 19 16 18

P PROFESSIONAL ROFESSIONAL S SERVICES ERVICES

H HEATING EATING & PLUMBING PLUMBING

Sarsen Energy K ITCHENS KITCHENS

Hatherley Worktops

5 CHARITIES CHARITIES Barnwood Trust

WINDOWS, WINDOWS, D DOORS OORS &

20 CONSERVATORIES CONSERVATORIES PROPERTY PROPERTY FFURNISHING URNISHING & A APPLIANCES PPLIANCES Albany Windows 10 & 27 24 Clarke & Farley 11 Bella’s Interiors 22 Clearway Windows 17 Pegasus 2 Dream Doors 28 Garolla 12 Hillarys 22 Prestige Selection HOMES HOMES & G GARDENS ARDENS BATHROOMS B ATHROOMS

G GARDEN ARDEN S SERVICES ERVICES

AHM Installations 22 A. Luddite Severn Vale Bathrooms 11 Knockdown Stone Mark Clifford B BUILDING UILDING SERVICES SERVICES Glevum Cladding 16 Will Hinde

20 20 20 20

6

HOUSE & RUBBISH RUBBISH 16 HOUSE CLEARANCE CLEARANCE

Yes to Mess

5

PUBLISHING PUBLISHING

Lois Kingscott

8

S SKIP KIP H HIRE IRE & RECYCLING RECYCLING

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P Puzzle uzzle S Solutions olutions T N N G M E I F U J L X S D B T X R C G I J F K

W Q N N A C H S C S E R P Z Q V E H A R T E A W

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C D J Z N S L L U T X U L G P T A U I H E C P Y

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Z B I X W I B N S L V V P C O Y S H S H Q C E P

X M U W L F T K U Y D L B O Y K C I H C P P F Q

Competition C ompetition R Rules ules 1 Prizes are as stated and no cash or prize alternative will be offered. 2 Employees of The Local Answer and their families or households are not eligible to enter.

3 The first correct entry drawn at random after the closing date will win the prize as stated. 4 The winner will be notified by telephone afftter the closing date has passed. 5 The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 6 Entrants must be over 18 years, unless stated. 7 Proof of posting is not

regarded as proof of receipt of entry. 8 The Local Answer accepts no responsibility for the provision of the prize, which remains at all times the full responsibility of the prize donor(s). 9 By entering any competition you agree to have your name published in the next issue of The Local Answer should you be drawn as a winner of the prize. 10 By entering any competition you agree to have your details passed to a third party. 11 One entry per household.

B BOOKING OOKING D DEADLINE EADLINE FFOR OR N NEXT EXT IISSUE SSUE – FFriday riday 99th th A April pril 22021 021

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