Evan and Holly’s Dad’s Blog

Hi and welcome to my blog. Filled with images from my recent weddings, engagement shoots, portrait sessions and corporate work. Most importantly its a window into my world...a world where family takes an upper hand and I have the images to prove it. Hopefully you'll take a few minutes to browse and once addicted set the blog as a bookmark. If you have any comments please feel free to add them or just get in touch.

For The Record: The images that I put on the blog from recent weddings may not always be the best or even ones you might expect. They are things that I saw, that I like that I want to share. Sometimes they are part of a quirky story or show a tender or ironic side to a wedding.

Archive for Buckinghamshire Weddings

Buckinghamshire isn’t exactly Brokeback Mountain but there are lots of horses.  And horses are exactly what brought Jess and Jason together in the form of Polo.  So it seemed that horses should play a major role in the day and on that front they didn’t disappoint.  Horses on the invitations, the maps, a polo stick exit from the church, horse ride from the church to the reception, a gallop in the fields and even horses on the cake. 

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 001 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
Nope…that’s not Jess

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And neither is this…

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 003 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
The fetish continues…here combining two in one

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 004 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
Ahah! Jess!  Telling her mum how lovely she looks.  Bless.

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 005 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 006 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
Kanye…no…Nelly…no…USHER!

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Random

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buckinghamshire wedding photographer 009 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason

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Jason marries big wall…ok, not really…but this was a tough church to work in.  Granted I could have stood at the back (and that is, in fact, what Darren did), but there was always going to be something more emotive if I could get to the front.  Look for things and they are often there…

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 011 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
Like this…

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 012 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
…and this

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..but my reward came in a wonderful unobstructed view of this..WHICH…

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put me in pole position for the first hugs…

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…and a happy mum of the groom

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Teaches me to say cheese

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Cruel and unusual

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One of the Polo club

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My Just One

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5 short but still rather Magnificent

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The following is a public service announcement

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The use of Benadryl and shotgun shells is strictly forbidden!

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What’s wrong (or perhaps right) about this photo?  They both have2 drinks…possibly?

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 024 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
Mambo No 5

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 025 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
The FOB picked an odd time to pay homage to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’

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Before you ask…totally normal

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The bonus of imaginary drinks is that
a) you never have to queue at the bar   
b) your drink never gets warm in the summer sunshine  
c) the paracetamol you take in the morning is strictly for placebo purposes

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 029 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 030 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason
Jason has an endearing (yet chronically late) personality.  He had all the women and half the blokes in tears…all because he consistently misses birthdays, anniveraries and holidays.  Smooth operator!

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Snack time

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Wood? (could apply to both of the above pictures really)

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A special surprise video presentation…this time from the bride to the groom

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Lilly makes a guest appearance

And a few from my very much missed and trusty sidekick…Darren

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I love that in the time I’ve worked with Darren I’ve developed an implicit trust of his work…

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When asked if they could play Mike Oldfield’s ‘Tuba-lar Bells’ my joke was met little response.  I wonder if they had the blue M&M’s removed from the green room as well :)

buckinghamshire wedding photographer 044 Buckinghamshire Wedding Photography   Jessica and Jason

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‘Cause this is Thriller….’

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Seems a fitting way to end this today

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My last ‘Just One’ of the weekend.  As usual more choices that I know what to do with (which makes for good blog fodder on Tuesday).  In the end it came down to the fact that I usually never have couples who ride a horse from the church to the reception…and the be honest I would be silly to not call that ‘unique’…..

029 004 Just One   Jess and Jason   Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire

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Dec
22

Purple Haze

Posted by: Rob | Comments (0)

I really hate to be brief…its not in my nature.  But since I’ve already written some blurb and Mr ButterLinks here click on the wrong button and lost the lot.  In summary it goes like this:

  • I have Christmas themed family photos…but I’m slammed with stuff to do so I haven’t done it
  • The conversion is nearing completion (hence being slammed)
  • Notley Abbey is lovely, but purple lights means purple people
  • The eagle flies at midnight

Cara and Alex — Notley Abbey — Saturday December 20, 2008

022 043 Purple Haze
A rather grand entry to Notley Abbey

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022 045 Purple Haze
Oh look…a pair of shoes, just sitting delicately on the corner of the bath

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More ‘tubbed’ themes…I need a shower

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Bridesmaid in FlyVision

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022 049 Purple Haze
Work it baby, work it (his words, not mine)

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Bride and Grooms…they get younger every year!

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For once the expression “need a hand” wasn’t really appropriate

022 052 Purple Haze

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Yes, I know everything wrong with this photo…but I can’t beat that look!

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5000ISO at F2.  Damn I love technology!

022 055 Purple Haze

022 056 Purple Haze

022 057 Purple Haze

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4:15 — 2 days before the shortest day of the year — I’m impressed!

022 059 Purple Haze

022 060 Purple Haze
Inside the reception there was a big screen with a slideshow of family photos throughout the years

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Most, however, gave up after seeing Alex’s fro

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That is one fine cake!  And now you can see the purple haze.  It was fine where the spotlights overpowered it.

022 063 Purple Haze
Christmas Cracker!

022 064 Purple Haze

022 065 Purple Haze
Oh yes!  The ‘Speech Lottery’ rides again!

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“WhatyoutalkingaboutWillis?”

022 068 Purple Haze
Alex grins, the lovely lady behind laughs, no one can see his hands….hmmm…coincidence?

022 069 Purple Haze

022 070 Purple Haze
Is he at it again?

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Busted!

022 073 Purple Haze
In the words of Father Jack…”Drink?  Oh Yes!”

022 074 Purple Haze
Its not only the Tories getting arrested at inappropriate moments these days

022 075 Purple Haze
5000…AGAIN!  I’m feeling faint here!

022 076 Purple Haze
In all honesty…I totally blew this shot.  But when I looked at it against the ‘proper’ one and realised its potential, I reckon it was a fortunate accident

022 077 Purple Haze

022 078 Purple Haze
In the shower…and I’m not making that up!

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Lit by a closet.  Can’t say that everyday

022 080 Purple Haze

022 081 Purple Haze
I wonder what that could be?

022 082 Purple Haze
There’s a hint here!

022 083 Purple Haze

022 084 Purple Haze

022 085 Purple Haze
As he said “he is Jewish after all!”

And a few from Darren…Who I call Tenacious D…or perhaps now Tenacious 5D!  Why…well, now I’ve been able to give him a 5D to use I suddenly got about a double return rate on his images.  I always said there were better images but his camera let him down — yes, that’s right, the £2500 camera I used to let him use.

The Tenacious 5D

022 086 Purple Haze

022 087 Purple Haze

022 089 Purple Haze
I saw him set this up from the window.  I screamed “BOY BAND” — what he didn’t realise was…..

022 088 Purple Haze
….he had already gotten the money shot 5 minutes earlier!

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022 091 Purple Haze

022 092 Purple Haze

022 093 Purple Haze
Wasn’t just me who loved the cake then?

022 094 Purple Haze
How does D always find these great picture caption competition moments?

022 095 Purple Haze
I just love the texture…dad, granny, Alex…sweet

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Nov
03

I Bet You Kiss Your Carving Knife…

Posted by: Rob | Comments (0)

That don’t impress me much!

Oh dear…my son…the navigator.  So we’re heading towards Farnham on Saturday.  We hadn’t told Evan where we were going, only that we were going to buy his new bed.

About 3 miles down the A325 we get:

“Daddy…this is the way to Farmum”

“Yes, Evan, this IS the way to Farnham.  You are a very clever boy”

(Short Silence)

“Daddy…this is the way to Alice Holt awell”

“Wow, Evan…you’re right…this IS the way to Alice Holt.  You are such a grown up boy…well done.”

“Daddy…this is the way to Poo awell” — massive giggles

Right…well, at least he proved he’s still 3 and 1/2 years old!

Tooting One’s Own Horn

Back in September I shot the wedding of Sarah-Jane and Jonathan…last week, I got this:

“The photos are incredible and had me in tears watching them! (Tears of happiness of course) As for the music you chose… its as if you know me?

All the pictures were perfect and even better than we ever imagined! And believe me … we imagined great things from you Rob! :0)
Thank you so much for everything! I am SO pleased we found you – your Wedding pictures are one things you should splash out on, they are for always after all :0)

We have also had so many people by the way asking for your web site address as so impressed…. future customers without a doubt! :o)”

Naturally I replied and in Sarah-Jane’s reply back it just kept on coming :)

“It is a glowing endorsement Rob, but I mean every single word! Both Jonathan and I were speechless as we sat watching the DVDs……. I cried, Jon even welled up, ha-ha, In a manly way of course ;o)

“Beautiful” is a word I’d like to use to describe the pictures, however this still doesn’t do the pictures justice! Somehow the word beautiful… isn’t enough to explain how we feel about each photo you took!

You truly are such a talented man, with an eye that captures the most natural and purest of memories… that I am in awe of your talent!
Thank goodness we found you! And your family are lucky to have you!

Please do use the enclosed to post on your blog… its the very least we can do for you, after all you have done for us Rob!!!

Thank you so very very much!

AMAZING!”

rigg 359 I Bet You Kiss Your Carving Knife...
Sarah-Jane and Jonathan

So…what about my cryptic blog entry title.  Well, Nicola is in cloud coo-coo land at the moment.  Pregnancy hormones do wonders for the brain.  On the way home the other night Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much” came on the radio.  Nicola professes that she doesn’t understanding why there is a line “I bet you kiss your carving knife…I mean, how stupid is that”.  To which I really tried hard to convince her it was not about a knife but rather about kissing his car good night.  But she wasn’t convinced.  Even on hearing it she still believed she was right.  It wasn’t until I mentioned the lyrics before the line that she (begrudgingly) conceded I was correct.  For the record:

You’re one of those guys who likes to shine his machine
You make me take off my shoes before you let me get in
I can’t believe you kiss your car good night
C’mon baby tell me-you must be jokin’, right!

Sorry for being so quiet lately.  I’ve been enjoying a bit of slack time.

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Oct
01

Ode to Darren

Posted by: Rob | Comments (0)

Most weddings I make sure that I post a few images from my trusty sidekick and all around good guy, Darren.  Unfortunately I was really up against it on Monday and with his files in various places on different computers it wasn’t possible.  So instead, I wanted to post a few more images from Sarah and Jonathan’s wedding which were all taken by ‘The Boy Wonder’.

Sarah and Jonathan — Shot by Darren (aka The Big D and Boy Wonder)

019 119 Ode to Darren
I told him to shoot this…then he said “I already did”

019 120 Ode to Darren
Clearly he hates shoes as well

019 121 Ode to Darren
Ickle moments

019 122 Ode to Darren
He had a thing for Yule as well

019 123 Ode to Darren
This was one of 4 or 5 included in the On the Day presentation

019 124 Ode to Darren
Ahh…I see myself a few years ago in that shot

019 125 Ode to Darren
Gettin’ brave and shootin’ at 1.8….I like it!

019 126 Ode to Darren
I love this…its so random yet meaningful

019 127 Ode to Darren
When I first saw it I said, “but dude, you’ve blown it out” to which he said “I was going for their faces”.  OK, I’ll shut up now.

019 128 Ode to Darren
Same here…smarty pants

019 129 Ode to Darren
I bet her hair was lovely after an hour of this

019 130 Ode to Darren
So…I’m in processing the On the Day and Darren says “should I got out to rest of the receiving line”.  My first thought was “this should be interesting”.  But clearly his story that he looks at the blog every week rang true.  I shed a small tear :)

019 131 Ode to Darren
Magic, Magic, Magic!  For this you’ve earned an extra can of V next time out!

019 132 Ode to Darren
See…he’s got the ‘eyes’ thing going

019 133 Ode to Darren
This is far better than anything I got during SJ’s mum’s speech

019 134 Ode to Darren
Its all about timing…did you buy a watch?

019 135 Ode to Darren
Nice one D

019 136 Ode to Darren
2 great shots from the first dance

When Darren first started coming out with me (November last year)…there was a certain randomness to what he took.  I wouldn’t say I’m the best mentor.  I pick him up, we shoot, he carries, I drop him off and his only bit of tutoring comes in a) my blog and b) a few choice one line nuggets of info.  But each week there’s something better, something more insightful in his images.  Thanks again BW!

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Sep
29

Hey Junior!

Posted by: Rob | Comments (0)

How ’bout them Skins!

Apologies for my senseless jibe towards my brother in law…it has to be done.

I really need to boogie so I’m just going to post some images from the weddings this past weekend.

Sarah and Jonathan — Lane End, Buckinghamshire — Saturday, 27 September 2008

On Saturday I did an ‘On the Day’ presentation.  So the guests and B&G have seen a fair few images.  However, I wanted to still blog a few for everyone else.  In some instances I’ve selected different images than I selected Saturday night.  So there’s something for everyone.

Also…a big thanks to Cheryl and Pascal who recommended me to Sarah and Jonathan (and I suppose Darryl and Sioban who recommended me to Cheryl Pascal…I’ll shut up now)

019 086 Hey Junior!
First…yes, she’s seen it and yes, she thinks its funny

019 087 Hey Junior!
Sometimes I even wonder how I get out of the reflection

019 088 Hey Junior!
My new image branding clearly doesn’t work on every image :)

019 089 Hey Junior!

019 090 Hey Junior!
Go on…just one verse from ‘The King and I’

019 091 Hey Junior!
My name is Michael Caine…and I am a nosey neighbour

019 093 Hey Junior!
Funny…I don’t remember everyone being so serious

019 094 Hey Junior!
One of my favourite shots of the year

019 095 Hey Junior!
The problem with getting ready too early…you can’t stop fiddling (her words)

019 096 Hey Junior!
Folks often look to me for advice on tying a crevat…at which point I feign an illness and excuse myself with great haste

019 097 Hey Junior!
I hate to use the same joke as a few weeks ago…BUT….Y-M-C-A

019 098 Hey Junior!
“Count to 10, then come find me”

019 099 Hey Junior!
Splitty arrives

019 100 Hey Junior!
Sadly the ride from the house to the church didn’t provide enough time for a fry up

019 101 Hey Junior!
As a final test the girls from FYEO arrive but Jonathan has none of it

019 102 Hey Junior!
Casper is escorted down the aisle by Dad and Pa

019 103 Hey Junior!
The Best Man, sadly, failed the FYEO test

019 104 Hey Junior!
I don’t often get a view point like I did on Saturday…interesting but not always unobstructed

019 105 Hey Junior!
Making a mad dash to the VeeDub

019 106 Hey Junior!
Had it been legal Sarah would have had a tough choice on her hands

019 107 Hey Junior!
Granny gets giddy

019 108 Hey Junior!
Ye Olde Daughter-Father Look

019 109 Hey Junior!
Smiles all ’round

019 110 Hey Junior!
Bagel!

019 111 Hey Junior!
So as not to leave the evening guests out the Best Man’s speech, complete with colour coding, found its way into the bar


019 113 Hey Junior!
GeeQueue from the Gents Loo

Right…so, the timetable was never going to allow us to do the ‘couple’ shots before the meal.  I knew it would be dark but I figured we could do something.  Inside I found the Gent’s loo…cracking (pun unintentional).  But after that, well, doing the on the day presentation I hadn’t really had anytime to scope.  So we literally went outside in the pitch black.  I tried one thing and it bombed…I had seen the gazebo and when they mentioned I thought, “let’s give it go”.  First shot was 1/6th of the second.  I managed to get it down to 1/30th…but this would have been better with a bit of colour in the sky.  9:00pm at the end of September…no chance.  The lights were flood lights at the venue so there’s shadows being cast.  The story continues later on…

019 114 Hey Junior!
…there wasn’t much I could do for this scene to get rid of the banister shadow but…

019 115 Hey Junior!
….I could change the emphasis a bit…

So now we’re pretty well DOA.  Why I was being so thick I don’t know but then Jonathan suggested a light on the side of the building.  I don’t know if this is what he had in mind, but the second he said it I knew exactly what I wanted!

019 116 Hey Junior!
Yowza!

019 117 Hey Junior!
And this…well, I was in heaven!

019 118 Hey Junior!
DAMN YOU…NOT AGAIN!  Chesney Hawks I HATE YOU! (not really)

Nina and John — Meonstoke and New Place — Friday, 26 September 2008

I suppose this one needs an intro as well.  I first placed a card in a corner shop in Fareham in 2004.  ‘Wedding Photographer for Hire’.  Perhaps the most useless form of advertising going but within a few days I had a phone call.  Jo and Ben, brave as they were, took a chance and booked me for their wedding.  Clearly liking what I did I shot Ben’s sister’s UK blessing, a friend of Jo’s mum’s daughter, Helen and Dog (aka Paul), Vicky and Steve and I think a few more but its all got too complicated.  Figuring that there were none left I was delighted to get a call from John asking if I was available.  I saw so many familiar faces, not to mention Matt and his cool hat (he’s the dad of the little guy you’ll see shortly) — the hat is almost as famous as he is.  So…to the whole clan it was great to see you all again and who knows, maybe we’ll see each other again sometime!

019 051 Hey Junior!
How lucky have folks been these last few weeks with the weather?

019 052 Hey Junior!
A true piece of art…and the painting ain’t bad either

019 053 Hey Junior!
A new concept in shoe shots…get’m whilst they’re on!

019 054 Hey Junior!
Dress Noir

019 056 Hey Junior!
Seeing the dress for the first time…but hey, the Bridesmaids dresses were pretty cool themselves

019 057 Hey Junior!

019 058 Hey Junior!

019 059 Hey Junior!
Mr Black, Mr Orange and Mrs Green

019 060 Hey Junior!
The Best Man — apparently

019 061 Hey Junior!
Mum greets guests on arrival

019 062 Hey Junior!
Every time I got near him, he ran away…fine then!

019 063 Hey Junior!
It looked cool but it only a 1 horsepower engine

019 064 Hey Junior!
Ah…I do admire the effort that some folks make!

019 065 Hey Junior!
John gets his first glimpse

019 066 Hey Junior!
Now man and wife, the vicar stops a certain 6 with a leaping over head catch

019 067 Hey Junior!
Its always a bonus when the reader makes eye contact with the B&G

019 068 Hey Junior!
According to the EXIF data I’m something like 25 meters away…it made for, surprisingly, some of the more interesting signing of the registers shots this year

019 069 Hey Junior!
Off on the long ride to the pub…all 150 meters of it

019 070 Hey Junior!
Finally got him!

019 071 Hey Junior!
A pre-reception, reception at the Bucks Head, Meonstoke…check out the boozers bottom left

019 072 Hey Junior!
Now moving on to another form of transport I think they were a little surprised to see me

019 073 Hey Junior!
With time to kill before the guests arrived (and with John in the loo), I got to work

019 074 Hey Junior!
Having been to New Place before, I knew that would happen

019 075 Hey Junior!

019 076 Hey Junior!
The receiving line is now in full swing

019 077 Hey Junior!
As you can see, I’ve got a little somefink for the entry way…

019 078 Hey Junior!
I dunno

019 079 Hey Junior!
I had never seen a hornet in real life before…I’m just glad it wasn’t my beer!

019 080 Hey Junior!
Writing wedding wishes on the back of the placenames…hadn’t seen that before

019 081 Hey Junior!
Is that not Tommy Lee Jones in No Country for Old Men?

019 082 Hey Junior!
Clearly, its not just Evan who loves a bit of Van Halen!

019 083 Hey Junior!
I couldn’t quite get the best view during the speeches…but I reckon it worked out OK in the end

019 084 Hey Junior!
I wouldn’t want to watch Bambi with John’s mum I can assure you!

019 085 Hey Junior!
The cake stand reflection on the ceiling rather amused me

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