Francesca Simon
@simon_francesca
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435
Statuses
17,781
Writer & opera librettist. Author of the Horrid Henry books, Two Terrible Vikings, The Lost Gods, & Costa & YA book prize shortlisted The Monstrous Child
Joined September 2012
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Pinned Tweet
The Monstrous Child opera premieres at
@RoyalOperaHouse
on 21 February 2019, with wonderful music by
@gavhiggins
and a brilliant cast. Most exciting project of my life.
#ROHmonstrous
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@RevRichardColes
My degree, in Old and Middle English from Oxford, is why I was able to write Horrid Henry, with its alliteration and archetypes. Who knew?
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I feel so much safer knowing that the police will protect me from women holding candles at vigils after dark
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The image that will stay with me forever is the Trump family marching into the debate and removing their masks as they sat down. The arrogance. The entitlement. The disregard for others.
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I'm eagerly awaiting a reply to my email to Sir Christopher Chopec:chopec
@parliament
.uk
'Would love to know why you think it's okay for men to photograph women's genitals without their consent?'
Best wishes
Francesca Simon
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Soon petition against Trump state visit will have more signatures than no.of people who attended his inauguration
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Most people I speak to don’t know that every school doesn’t have a library.
Every child needs and deserves a school library and trained librarian. It’s as basic as having a teacher and a desk
‘Every school should have a library’: Philip Pullman calls for new UK laws
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Getting pressed and dressed and off to Buckingham Palace to collect my MBE for services to literature!!
Not something this American immigrant would have expected…
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It’s amazing to me that my husband and I have been driving nice cars all over London and the UK for over 30 years and yet neither of us has EVER been stopped by the police. Even outside our home borough. 🤔
why did the officers run the plate? Was it because she’s black? then when they thought it was a car from Yorkshire driving in - sharp intake of breath - London - why did they pull it over? Was it because she’s black? Or is any northerner driving in London now suspicious?
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Just bought some chicken from
@sainsburys
. The label read: Not for EU. Somehow I don’t think it’s because our food standards are now higher than theirs…
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USA healthcare the nightmare that never leaves. I have a relative with pre-existing conditions who lives in fear that Obamacare will be repealed leaving her uninsurable.
@NHSuk
is the great treasure and blessing of the UK.
I have heard these stories so many times in the USA - Nigel Farage wants American health care in Britain. I don’t. It’s a cruel system.
#StopBrexitFixBritain
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Off to Parliament Square. Can’t believe I have to go to protest about an unelected Prime Minister trying to bypass Parliament to force through a disastrous NoDeal Brexit. I’ll of course be carrying
@gavinesler
#BrexitWithoutTheBullshit
#StopTheCoup
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Why is it increasingly impossible to go anywhere or buy anything without receiving an email asking you to ‘rate your experience.’
My experience is usually fine until I’m asked to comment….
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.
@LouiseMensch
has been fearless and relentless in pursuing the
#Trumprussia
story from the beginning.
#heroine
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@BethRigby
Beth,do you know the story about 'the horse might talk?'Because that's BJ's motto.A man scheduled for execution tells the emperor if he gives him 12 months, he'll teach the emperor's horse to talk.He reasons: in 12 months I might die,the emperor might die,or the horse might talk.
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Off to
@BBCRadio4
to talk about my childhood love of Enid Blyton and hopefully why children should be allowed and encouraged to read for pleasure and make their own choices.
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On hearing the lovely news that I’ve been honoured with an MBE for services to literature
#NewYearsHonours
my first thought is ‘Wow.’
My second thought of course is ‘hats…’ 😱
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Very inspiring talk this morning from
@ChelseaClinton
at
@edbookfest
. At a time when public discussion can be so aggressive and hate-filled, wonderful to hear a woman speak with such eloquence and humanity
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My 1st teen book, published 5 May
@FaberChildrens
@ProfileBooks
. Gorgeous cover by
#OliviaLomenechGill
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Just in case you needed a reason to love and admire
@DollyParton
When fires ravaged parts of Tenn in 2016, Dolly Parton gave $1k/month to every homeless family until they could get back on their feet. She has used her fame to spread a message of love/acceptance.
Today, she donated her 100 millionth book
Dolly Parton is an American treasure
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Investiture! Fun at the Palace with the family. Our chariot behind us 😀
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@MichaelRosenYes
Sure he’s charming. Unless you’re a journalist he’s happy to beat up, or black or gay or female. Or knowledgeable about anything. Or irritated by blustering public school boys faking it.
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I will probably laugh about this all day
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Am I the only person left who double-spaces after a full stop?
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@daraobriain
Hi. I'm a parent in a movie. My young children are always quiet whenever I'm having an important conversation, and absent without explanantion so I can do more exciting things than look after them.
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A library is a passport, a haven, a place to learn, to discover, to let your imagination roam. And they're free!!
#NationalLibrariesDay
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I love this!!!
‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ the rap! Big shout out to
@MichaelRosenYes
@HelenOxenbury
& the
@BIGPictureBooks
@WalkerBooksUK
crew for creating and sharing this classic. Remember: you can’t rap a book if you can’t read a book. Over to you and your crew now.
#BearHunt
#MCGrammmar
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I’m so honoured to receive this award Horrid Henry would be very surprised.
Huge congratulations to the brilliant
@simon_francesca
for being recognised in the New Year’s Honours list - so well deserved! 👏
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Really lovely and important article about the joy of reading books aloud to babies and children.
We read books to my daughter from birth, which enriched all our lives
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Even the Daily Mail is appalled....
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Very thrilled to be the UK's 3rd most borrowed author. Thank you to librarians and readers.
#library
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Another world...and Norway buys a copy of EVERY book written by a Norwegian writer to give to every library
Netherlands makes trains free on national book day for those who show a book instead of ticket
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Bet I am the first writer to be honoured with an MBE accompanied by a picture of me promoting reading wearing pyjamas…
.
@simon_francesca
,
@CatherineBelton
,
@NaturalistDara
and
@britishlibrary
chief executive Roly Keating have been recognised in King Charles III's first New Year's honour list.
Read here:
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I have learned how to fold a fitted sheet so it lies flat and neat. I believe I have reached the pinnacle of human knowledge and achievement.
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Dear
@TfL
I took two tube journeys yesterday and both times there were at least 4 maskless people near me.
No announcements about masks. No enforcement. What are you actually doing?
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As a judge for the last 7 years, and with a record number of entries this year, I am utterly mystified why
@BBCRadio2
would axe such a fantastic, hugely successful and life-affirming story writing competition
Sad news - 500 Words, the world's biggest story-writing competition is a great impetus for the creativity of young writers
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@mariellaf1
@TimesRadio
I read old and middle English at Oxford because I recognised the dire shortage of medievalists and anglo-saxonists...🙄what's absurd about this utilitarian outlook is that I would never have written Horrid Henry if I hadn't done medieval studies, but who knew?
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Over 750,000 children are missing out on a school library.That's 1 in 7 schools. That’s why I am backing the
#LibrariesForPrimaries
campaign, which is urging Government to provide much-needed investment and commit to ensuring every school has a library.
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@holland_tom
.My medieval Studies and Old English degrees made my writing career. How else would I have created archetypes like
#HorridHenry
and
#PerfectPeter
or understood the cadences of alliteration? NO ONE EXCEPT TIME TRAVELLORS KNOW WHAT WILL BE USEFUL IN THEIR CAREERS
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@frankcottrell_b
@howatdk
After a screening of GET OUT in a small cinema in Crouch End, the entire audience spontaneously stayed afterwards in their seats to discuss the film
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I LOVE this picture,
@CressidaCowell
@malorieblackman
@JDLiteracyTrust
and
@RobBiddulph
! We look like laidback literacy WARRIORS!
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@IanDunt
I'll definitely go if it features a rotting shellfish stand, a mountain of unsold cheese, and of course, loads of now unemployed musicians unable to tour
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Under the flight path of endless military helicopters in honour of America’s vile, money laundering president and thinking that the UK could have invited him for
#DDay75
without the banquets and gun salutes and pomp.
So embarrassed for the UK and the USA.
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@EmmaKennedy
I thought the scientists looked extremely uncomfortable about any loosening of the restrictions
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@AshaRangappa_
@RustOleum
You are wasted at Yale law! First steam mops and now adhesive remover. 😀
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Why is the Prime Minister’s wife taking part in government meetings? Does she regularly attend government meetings?
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How shameful that nurses have been forced to strike for the first time in NHS history. How shocking that pay is so low that some need food banks. Nurses risked their lives during the pandemic. I support
#NursesStrike
.
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Noticed a LOT of
#horridhenry
chat today.
As his creator (and PA) I will say that my original idea was exploring family dynamics & sibling rivalry. Everyone, parents included, know if they were the ‘good’ child or the ‘bad’ child.
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Suited and booted and off to
@RoyalPalaces
for
#500words
awards! I know HM the Queen likes wearing boots, but not sure she’ll admire mine…
@RoyalFamily
@BBCTheOneShow
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@MichaelRosenYes
I never leave the house without wearing a mask and I’m mystified why this isn’t a basic requirement
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I remember my brother, who worked in the north tower, telling me later that everyone on his floor was watching south tower burn like it was a horror film. No one left the building.He walked down 34 flights immediately and was in the underground car park when the second plane hit
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2023 MBE! Now for an invitation which says that medals can be worn 😀
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Brexit is destroying the careers of our world class musicians and singers.
Quarter of music industry workers have had no work in EU since Brexit
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Oh wow
Lines from a ten year old in a poetry workshop today:
‘Feel your heart
inside the word.’
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Had my first ever parent at a signing tell me she loved
#HorridHenry
when she was a child. I felt about 170.... 😱
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Too many people are not aware that Trump FIRED the entire White House pandemic team in 2018. Today he is pretending he knows nothing about it
Not true,
@realDonaldTrump
. I wrote to you more than 600 days ago demanding answers after you fired the entire White House pandemic team.
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@TheKingCenter
@OnjaliRauf
This picture always breaks my heart. That little girl, so beautifully dressed for school, having to be escorted in and out like that
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Every girl and every woman should watch this several times a day
I have just watched this 900 times in the last minute & will be watching it 900 times more. Gorgeous scenes. 👏
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In case you're wondering why people are lying around in A and E and in corridors, and ambulances are taking hours to arrive and you can't get a GP appointment..
Please watch this. Just 40 seconds. It's very clear.
(Declared interest: i do know Matthew Taylor.)
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School libraries (and librarians) are a necessity not an optional extra.
Thankyou
@theguardian
! For children growing up in this cost of living crisis, school libraries should be a necessity rather than an optional extra
ALL children should be able to read for pleasure
@Literacy_Trust
@WorldBookDayUK
@uksla
@frankcottrell_b
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It was horrible listening to this as if we should rejoice at how much more restricted our lives will be
The Prime Minister announces the end of Free Movement as though it's an exciting new policy on
#r4today
.
This is national self-sabotage that will lock us out of the world's largest single trading block, and deny British people the right to work and travel freely across Europe.
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@PhilipPullman
I've often wondered how many businesses would survive the equivalent of an Ofsted inspection. Not many I bet
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Photo bombing
@frankcottrell_b
and
@HackerTDog
because that’s what happens at a
#500words
launch when you’ve been up since 5:30am...
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The cruelty is breath-taking
MPs vote to drop child refugee protections from Brexit bill
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May’s parting gift is Trump.
‘The British state will spend 18 million pounds (about $22 million) on his security; the U.S. taxpayer will spend many multiples of that sum..’
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I had the great privilege of meeting Judith Kerr as well as hearing her speak at many events. I loved her engagement with books and stories and children throughout her life.
Judith Kerr, beloved author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, dies aged 95
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Off to
@BBCr4today
to talk picture books, monsters and gender equality with
@MichaelRosenYes
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You want a lasting memorial? Build new libraries and name them after him. £190 million would go a long way
#libraries
Build new Royal Yacht as tribute to Prince Philip, Boris Johnson told via
@MailOnline
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@CressidaCowell
@UKLaureate
@10DowningStreet
Whole hearted support. Every school needs a library and a librarian. This is like saying all schools need teachers.
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Very excited to be re-joining my fellow
#500words
judges
@malorieblackman
@monstroso
@frankcottrell_b
and I can’t wait to read some fantastic stories!
Chris Evans' 500 Words launches Black Lives Matter writing competition for kids via
@MetroUK
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And you've forgotten German passports for Farage's kids...
How top Brexiteers are thinking about surviving Brexit. Mogg - invest in Ireland. Lord Ashcroft recommends Malta. Lord Lawson - French residency. Gove- become PM. Rupert Murdoch - doesn’t live here. These options probably not available to everyone ....
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Cressida off to a wonderful start, by focusing on libraries and creativity! The whole book world supports her
We have had such a wonderful, moving and inspiring day celebrating
@CressidaCowell
, our brand new
@Waterstones
#ChildrensLaureate
! We're going to round out the day with this lovely letter from her, talking about her plans:
Photo: David Bebber
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This makes me utterly furious. How dare the walking bio hazard infectious creep directly threaten the lives of White House staff?
Concern is growing for White House residence staff — who are largely Black and Hispanic and have little choice but to show up to work.
"I know that people in there are scared."
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I follow
@AuschwitzMuseum
and every day I see a picture of another victim of the Holocaust. So many children. So many people who look like my relatives. These photos are often the only record of these people and a reminder of what happens when we dehumanise.
Memory comes in many forms. Here it is in your hands.
On
#YomHaShoah
we kindly ask you to amplify our voice.
Learn about Auschwitz:
Lessons:
Podcast:
Follow:
@AuschwitzMuseum
One click can support our mission. RT please.
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Please listen to
@frankcottrell_b
and
@redbreastedbird
on
@BBCr4todayat
8.22 talking about promoting new authors, and how much we need school libraries and more conversation about great children's books.
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The US has just elected the man endorsed by the KKK
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Almost as inept as Trump will be
@BorisJohnson
epitaph.
The UK is currently the most infected country in the world per capita
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Thrilled to be the 4th most borrowed author in the UK. 7 of the top 10 are childrens' authors
#libraries
#save
libraries
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Can you imagine how many people in the UK would still be alive if Boris Johnson had acted with half the alacrity about COVID that he has about football
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@MichaelRosenYes
My brother came out 96% east European Jewish and 2% Persian and 2% ?
I love the Persian part—the peddler who came to the tiny Lithuanian village and….
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Excited to watch the
#500words
final tomorrow night at 7pm on
@BBCTheOneShow
, filmed at Buckingham Palace.The winning stories are brilliant!
And yes, that’s Tom Hiddleston & Hugh Bonneville grinning in the background, with a few other well known faces
#500Words
#TheOneShow
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Are the Tories promising more food banks if re-elected?
“At the start of this decade, the Trussell Trust ran just 57 food banks, giving 14,000 food parcels a year to children. It operated 428 food banks last year, handing nearly 580,000 parcels to children.”
#poverty
#colchester
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Books have kept us going in 2020. Thank you to all my fellow readers and writers.
And here’s to a happier, healthier 2021 🥂
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I spent most lunch breaks in my school library. I volunteered to shelve books so I could have first pick. I would have been lost without it.
Every librarian can tell you of a child that has been ‘’rescued’’ by the school library. If for any reason a child feels out of place the school library can provide security & a place where they feel valued.
#SchoolLibrariesMatter
enormously because they offer comfort to many.
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When will there be a prize for Best Ghost-Written Celebrity Children's Book?
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And not even photoshopped....
Stars including
@CressidaCowell
,
@JosephACoelho
and
@simon_francesca
appeared at
@Literacy_Trust
's gala dinner
(Free to view)
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@EmmaKennedy
I've been thinking, 'what is the point of government?' At the moment it seems like a fun exclusive club that has nothing to do with trying to make things better for people.
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@HallieRubenhold
I've read all her letters to her mother and essentially Marie is a lost teenager brought up with bourgeois values fretting about acknowledging the King's mistress while her mother tries to prod her.
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I became a writer BECAUSE I had a child. Not despite.
Do women really need to choose between motherhood and art?
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I’d love to be a good citizen and report my positive Covid test to
@NHSEngland
but they won’t take results unless it’s a ‘free’ test.
Uhmm government STOPPED free tests I of course had to buy mine.
One way to get Covid figures down?
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