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Free-Range Children sign – entrance to SomerVille >

Announcements

Living on the land whilst building your home.

A few people have asked about living on the land whilst building their home. The Mundaring Shire will not approve this as the lot needs to be greater than 1 hectare. However, you can get your house to “practical completion” and then move in to complete the rest of your home. The steps to practical completion are listed below and can also be found at: www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/members/docs/SOMER070629-July_SS_building_info.pdf

Steps to Practical Completion

1. You need a certificate of occupancy not a certificate of opulence'

2. fully operational kitchen, laundry, bathroom and toilet connected to an approved sewerage system

3. at lock up stage – walls and a roof

Important - Building Guidelines Discussion

This is a reminder that on Wednesday 5^th September we will be having the Building Guidelines Discussion. 6:15pm for a 6:30pm start to 8:30pm and it will be held at the Churchill Brook Family Centre - 55 Marlboro Rd, Swan View.

We encourage as many potential SomerVille residents to attend as possible or for at least one member of each household to attend this discussion, as this is important and we do need your feedback.

Once the Current Version of the Building Guidelines has been finalised (within the next week), we will send out an email with a link to the Building Guidelines Document.

We also encourage all of you to familiarise yourself with the proposed guidelines and highlight any areas that are of concern to you so that we can discuss it on the night.

If you cannot make it on the night, we encourage you to submit your concerns by email to info@sev.net.au so that it can be discussed on the night.

Cultural Social Core Group Meeting Cancelled

The Cultural Social Core Group Meeting Scheduled for Thursday the 30th August, has been cancelled.

However the Cultural Social Group will be back again in the near future, bigger and better than ever.

Bargain 'Ecocom' Merchandise & SomerVille Shirts

We have a colourful range of adult and child size t-shirts and caps and hats bearing the 'Ecocom' name. We have marked these down to clear. You never know, they could become collector items!

All Adult Merchandise $10.00
All Children's Merchandise $5.00

We also have a number of SomerVille T Shirts for sale they are $30 a shirt or $50 for two. Unfortunately the only sizes we have left is large and extra large.

All Ecocom merchandise and the SomerVille Shirts can be purchased on any SomerVille Sunday.

Dave, Neil & Stacey “you know you want to” - Shed   
Relocation Working Bee July 2005 >

September 8^th Working Bee and Camp Over

On September the 8^th we will be having a Working Bee out at SomerVille to pull down some fencing

We encourage you to be involved, help out and feel a part of the infrastructure stage at SomerVille!

You will need to bring;

• good working clothes and shoes,

• a water bottle, hat and sunscreen,

• gloves & wire cutters

Lunch will be provided for workers on the day

You are also welcome to come and camp the night, bring all your requirements for camping and food for dinner (or you may like to have dinner at the Chidlow Tavern) then the following day it's SomerVille Sunday.

Requests

Wanted – SomerVille Sunday 9^th September

In order to facilitate the children's actives for the next SomerVille Sunday M (one of our wonderful new members) is needing the below supplies

• Any recycled materials (cardboard, egg cartons, wood, paper etc...)

• Paint (non toxic)

• Hammers(2)

• nails

• pencils, crayons

• glue

M will bring what she can in the way of pencils, staples, pipe cleaners etc. But any additional supplies will be most welcome, and the children will thank you, so please just bring along what ever you can on the day.

Come and Attend a Steering Team or a Core Group Meeting

In an effort to expand the community interface and be as transparent as possible we invite community members (“intending residents”) to attend the meetings as observers.

A list of meeting dates and contact people can be found in the Members Only section located online at: www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/members/core_groups.htm

Submit an Article for SomerVille Scoop

The Newsletter team is putting out a request for articles, points of interest, recipes , jokes etc. Have your say and share your knowledge.

If you are interested in making a contribution please email your article etc... to newsletter@sev.net.au by the 20^th of each second month.

If you have any queries about the structure or content please visit www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/newsletters and read the Newsletter Structure, Content and Submission Guidelines.

Additionally if you know of any coming events that you believe other members of the community may be interested in please email the details through to newsletter@sev.net.au.

Project Updates

Close up of Green Manure Crop    
SomerVille Organic Farm >

Environment / Place

Update provided by Dave Moore

Rezoning

The rezoning of SomerVille land to “Special Purpose – Ecovillage” was gazetted (formally announced in writing) on 14^th August. This is the final step in the rezoning process.

LSIP

Our Local Subdivision and Infrastructure Plan (LSIP), together with responses to advertising and Shire officers' recommendations, was presented to the DA Committee of the Shire on 14^th August. It was approved by 7 votes for to one vote against. This means that it will now go forward to be considered at the full council meeting on 28^th August. There were a number of Chidlow residents present who expressed concern about the arrangements proposed for water supply and the use of Ash Road as our major access point into the village.

Community Centre

The revised design for our Community Centre (as it will be referred to in future) had DA approval from the Shire on 24^th July. Since then work has proceeded with materials research and more detailed design. Fiona Hogg (Paradigm Architects) gave a presentation at the August SS meeting which included the Community Centre design and associated issues as well as principles of passive solar design.

Village Centre

A planning workshop was held over 15-16 August. This was convened to look further into the development of an integrated plan for the development of the village centre, and to assess storm water management and the location/reticulation of services around the site. In attendance, in addition to GEP employees and associated contractors, were David Galloway (Ferart Design), Antonio Batistessa (sculptor/artist) and Sam Milani (Water Design International). There was a good deal of progress made on all fronts, and we intend sharing the outcomes with members in the near future.

Subdivision

An application to subdivide the SomerVille land was lodged with WAPC on 27 June and was accompanied by the SomerVille Ecovillage™ Environmental Management Plan. At the time of writing the WAPC has a statutory obligation to respond by 8 October.

Building Guidelines

The Building Guidelines have been going through (yet another) revision and are almost finalised. On 5^th September we will be having a discussion and receiving feedback from the community regarding any concerns people may have with the proposed building guidelines so that they can be finalised.
 

Green manure crop – SomerVille Organic Farm >

SomerVille Organic Farm

The green manure crops sown in the two fenced paddocks have been bursting out of the well-prepared soil. Our consultant reckons that these are among the best he's seen in the wheat belt! The crop has now been turned into the soil in preparation for planting a cover crop to hold the land through the summer.

The Central P-V system may look similar to the system   
at Kalbarri >

Solar Power

KT Lim (GEMCO), has been receiving proposals from companies to design and manage the establishment of our solar power system. These will be assessed in late August.

Timeline

Slippage of the assessment of our LSIP until late August has had a roll-on effect on other aspects of the project. This will probably mean that infrastructure establishment cannot start until mid December, which means for practical purposes that it will start when the builders' holidays are over in the second half of January. As a result, the following milestone dates are our best estimates:

Enterprise & Economics

Update provided by Paul Antonelli

Activity continues on a range of enterprises as well as planning for potential enterprises and opportunities linked to the construction and development phase of the project.

Luke Cruskall, GM for Greenedge Projects will be be taking an active role on the enterprise development area. Also Alex Hyndman will be joining Greenedge Projects on a part time basis to provide support and get involved in enterprise development activity for SomerVille as well as other projects.

Greenedge Projects continues to evolve its business working on a range of projects. As SomerVille moves into the next phase of development and construction there will be different requirements in relation to both staffing and organisation. Early planning for this next phase is now being undertaken. Research and planning on the Geraldton Urban Ecovillage project confirms that there is a demand for an ecovillage in Geraldton. The next level of due diligence and planning is now taking place on the existing site in Geraldton.

Development Approval documentation has commenced for a 24 unit eco-retirement project in Chidlow. This will follow many of the same principles associated with the evolution and development of an ecovillage. Land hunt activity continues for an appropriate site for the Perth Urban Ecovillage located in the vicinity of Fremantle. The Ecovillage projects in Sydney and Melbourne continue at their different stages in the process. Preliminary agreement has been made to evolve an ecovillage project in Cairns. The IPO project, which aims to list the Greenedge Ethical Investment Fund continues in process.

KT Lim's Company. Green Energy Management Company (GEMCO), has been engaged as the key consultant to deliver the solar power energy system for SomerVille. Expressions of interest have been requested from potential designers as the project moves into the next phase of design and detailing. GEMCO is also exploring other opportunities related to renewable energy activity.

Fences have been erected at SomerVille around the initial areas which have been planned for agriculture. A green manure crop has been planted as is progressing well. This is the first stage in soil improvement and preparing the area for food production. Unfortunately Allan Werner has chosen to no longer be involved in the SomerVille Agriculture business. We would like to thank Allan for his involvement and wish him all the best for his future endeavours. We are now exploring the options to continue to move this enterprise forward which includes the option of linking into the business a CSA scheme.

Karen Moore has decided to be the enterprise champion for the SomerVille Ecovillage Business Support Bureau. Karen has kicked off this enterprise by leasing Office 2 in the Chidlow Wells Commercial Centre. This enterprise will provide a wide range of services associated with supporting enterprise kick off and development both relating to SomerVille and the surrounding area.

Dave, Aaron & KT – the first tenants for the SomerVille    Business Support Bureau >

Progress has been made towards the provision of a Building Management and Procurement Service. Initial survey activity has been undertaken and detailed planning in preparation for kick off is currently taking place. It is envisaged that this enterprise will support residents to various levels during the design and building phase of their homes.

Finance provision has also been evolving. Currently a Memorandum of Understanding is being compiled with Opening Doors to develop and provide a loan and mortgage facility which can be used by residents and other parties for the assisting in the purchase of their lots and building of homes.

A number of other enterprises continue to unfold and evolve at various stages. As more developments take place updates and information will be provided.

As the new enterprise team comes together a detailed review of the Enterprise and Economics Strategic Plan for SomerVille will take place. As more and more families begin to plan their transition to SomerVille it will be critical that, where required, these transitions can be supported.

If you are considering setting up an enterprise or considering your transition to SomerVille and would like to explore options and bounce some ideas please touch base with us. Would love to assist in this exciting process ahead.

Stay well and Ciao for now

Paul Antonelli on behalf of the Enterprise Team

Mechtild looking at some books for the resource    sharing session – SomerVille Sunday 1^st July 2007 >

Cultural / Social

Update provided by Kara Holt-Gragg

It is hard to believe that almost three months have passed since Dominic and Vida went on their overseas adventure. Well, it has, and they are back looking as fabulous as ever. While they catch up on the 'goings on' of the past couple of months I would like to update you all on the cultural/social happenings of the past two months since the last Scoop went out. Don't worry I'm sure we'll be able to hear all about the Carlino Capers at a SomerVille Sunday (SS) in the near future... isn't that right Dominic and Vida???

Well we've had two SS's since the last Scoop and one couldn't have been more different from the other! The first, for those who weren't there, was quite literally washed out with a torrential down pour of rain eliminating any possibility of trying to carry on with normal SS proceedings. The second was a divine sunny day, one that makes the coming spring rather exciting for those who enjoy the outdoors. The food was brilliant on both days (as usual!) and the help received from all community members was very much appreciated! Saying that, I would like to extend a special thank you to Rebecca for looking after the kids on the July SS and for doing a marvellous job facilitating on the August SS. As for September well there are some delights in store for the children as M (one of our wonderful new members) will be cooking up some creative activities for them, thank you M (please if everyone could keep any cardboard pieces/boxes/toilet rolls, jars, lids etc. for M that would be wonderful). And everyone can also look forward to the facilitating genius of Christophe who has kindly volunteered to fulfil that role in September, go Christophe!

Some other events that have taken place in the interim between Scoops has been the creation of the the SomerVille Thought Box. This box will be available at most gatherings including SS, Coffee Shop and the Cultural Social Core Group meeting (once a month on Thursdays at the Chidlow Tavern). The purpose of the Thought Box is for any questions you may want to direct to the expertise of some of our Greenedge Projects staff. There are often situations where you may have a question, idea or thought and would like to direct it to the Steering Team or Greenedge Projects but there is no time, the person responsible is not available or you simply don't feel comfortable asking someone directly, that is why we have created the SomerVille Thought Box. Feel free to place any and all thoughts/ideas/questions in this box and they will be addressed as soon as possible.

SomerVille Communication Circle Poster >

Other methods of communicating with your fellow community members or Greenedge Projects are available and have been put up on a poster in the Yellow Shed for you to look at. These include coming to events like SS the Coffee Shop and the Cultural/Social Core Group meeting, the forums, reading the Scoop (and contributing) and going to any other core group or steering team meetings. Attendance at core group meetings (other than Cultural/Social) and the steering team meeting are by advance appointment, basically you just need to let Christophe know you're coming. At the last CS core group meeting we discussed the topic of privacy at SomerVille, the results of which you can find listed on the online Forums for your comment.

Finally, to finish off, we have had several new members commit to join the SomerVille community recently and I would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome you all (including myself I suppose!). We hope that you enjoy your time with us and settle into your new community as quickly as possible. I know that I have been made to feel very welcome and have had reports from other newies of a similar feeling. Thanks to the buddies who have been helping us out by getting in contact with the new members and making them feel welcome.

Thanks again everyone, it has been a fabulous two months since the last Scoop, I hope you are all well and I will catch you at the next event!

With Kindness

Kara and the Social/Cultural Team.

Coming Events

Editors Note: Please be aware that I will only advertise events that community members have made me aware of, or that I am aware of, so if you know of any events coming up that other community members might be interested in please email the details to newsletter@sev.net.au.

General Events

Bush Skills for the Hills

Bush Skills for the Hills is a series of free, hills-focused workshops for the community. To register or find out more information please visit http://www.emrc.org.au. The next two coming events are:

Weed Control - War on Watsonia

Sunday 16th September 2007, 9am to 12:00pm - Meet at the corner of Coulston Road & Scott Steet, Boya.

This workshop is a practical session in the field spraying Watsonia. It includes preparation of herbicide solutions, chemical safety and application techniques.

The Sustainable Mandurah Home

Open every Saturday and Sunday from 1- 5pm, and Wednesday from 2 – 4pm. 18 Grandmere Parade, Meadow Springs, Mandurah WA 6210

You don’t need to make an appointment at these times. Whether you are planning to build or buy a new home, make renovations to your existing home or if you want more information on sustainable living, simply drop in and take a look around. For more information please visit http://www.sustainablemandurah.com.au/

Throwing a Light on Today's Big Issues: Introducing Sociocracy

12th September to the 26th September, at the University of Western Australia

Gina Price, Author and Auroral Physicist and Tena Meadows O’Rear, Sociocracy Consultant

Sociocracy is a decision-making process and governance structure that taps the insights of people at all levels of an organisation. Based on the principle of consent, sociocracy ensures inclusiveness, accountability, and transparency while it increases productivity and innovation. Developed in the Netherlands, sociocracy is now being implemented around the world in community groups, corporations and in government. Join leading sociocracy experts for a fascinating introduction to self-organised systems in the public and private sectors. For more information please download the flyer from http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/events/flyers/Sociocracy_Flyer.pdf

Self Awareness / Personal Development Events

This is a list of courses and activities coming up that intending SomerVille residents have experienced and believe to have been a valuable contribution to their life journey, and recommend to others. More details about these events can be found online in the SomerVille Members Only section at:

http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/members/self_awareness.htm

The New Warrior Training Adventure

Friday 26^th October to Sunday 28^th October – Woodman Point Recreation Camp, Perth WA.

Becoming a member of the Mankind Project community begins with the New Warrior Training Adventure (NWTA), an intensive weekend men's training.

• Do you have direction and purpose in life?

• What is it that you truly want out of life?

• What are you doing to get it?

• How are your choices working to get you what you want ?

Come and discover why men who have completed the NWTA live richer lives connected to inner masculine principles. Learn how to access your inner wisdom and get more clarity around your family and work.

Knowing your mission in life is one thing, but knowing what stops you from achieving it is the absolute key to success. Every man has this answer within them; this is an opportunity to find out what you have been looking for your whole life.

For more information please visit the local West Australian website http://www.mkpwa.org

SomerVille Calendar of Events

The SomerVille Calendar of Events can be found online at:
http://www.somervilleecovillage.com.au/calendar.htm.

NOTE: We will endeavour to keep our events to the schedule below however, due to unforeseen circumstances some may be changed or cancelled.

If you are on our mailing list we will email you in advance of events or if an event is cancelled.

If you are not already receiving our emails you can subscribe here. The locations are not all specified here, they will be advertised closer to the events via email.

Wednesday 5 September 2007

• Building Guidelines Discussion

• 6:15pm for a 6:30pm start to 8:30pm

• Churchill Brook Family Centre - 55 Marlboro rd, Swan View.

Saturday 8 September 2007

• Working Bee & Camp Over

• 10am sharp to about 3pm – Lunch Provided

• Camp over and stay for SomerVille Sunday

Sunday 9 September 2007

• SomerVille Sunday

• 10am sharp to 2pm please bring along a plate of food to share.

Wednesday 19 September 2007

• The Coffee Shop (SomerVille Forum)

• 6:30pm sharp to 8:30pm please bring snacks to share.

Sunday 7 October 2007

• SomerVille Sunday

• 10am sharp to 2pm please bring along a plate of food to share.

Tuesday 16 October 2007

• The Coffee Shop (SomerVille Forum)

• 6:30pm sharp to 8:30pm please bring snacks to share.

Sunday 4 November 2007

• SomerVille Sunday

• 10am sharp to 2pm please bring along a plate of food to share.

Wednesday 21 November 2007

• The Coffee Shop (SomerVille Forum)

• 6:30pm sharp to 8:30pm please bring snacks to share.

Sunday 2 December 2007

• SomerVille Sunday

• 10am sharp to 2pm please bring along a plate of food to share.

My Story

Dave & Karen Moore >

Moores' Journey to SomerVille

Dave Moore

One Saturday afternoon in December 2001 Karen and I were scheduled to drive down to a resort hotel in Mandurah to attend my employer's Social Club Xmas party. As chairman of the club, I was looking forward to a little social tennis prior to doing some MC duties for the evening. However, this was not to happen 'cos I'd spotted an advert in the PAWA (Permaculture) magazine canvassing interest in creating an ecovillage in the Perth Hills.

It was a signal moment in our lives when we entered the Darlington Hall one Saturday afternoon in December 2001. By the time that Karen and I left we'd pledged our interest in the Perth Hills Ecovillage project.

The journey that led us to Darlington probably began in Zambia. Dave was working on one of the open-cut mines on the “Copperbelt”, and was impressed by the way that one of the miners had developed a small farm into a modest market garden. It was amazing to see all of the basic veggies and herbs in abundance around the house. It just seemed as though the red soil would support the growth of anything that was planted. But the best was yet to come, and that was strolling around, picking veggies and herbs, and preparing a meal with them. Just thirty minutes from growing strongly in the earth to being transformed into a Kurdish curry, how fresh is that! Dave was hooked, and started his own veggie garden in the grounds of 29-East Second St.

A move to London (studies), The Hague (employment) and Johannesburg (secondment) interrupted the would-be gardener for a few years until he met and married Karen and they set up house together. The gardens in each of our houses in the Transvaal included a substantial production garden. One of my strong memories from the day that Edwin was born (apart for him causing me to leave my golf partners a player short) was of how well the cauliflowers were “heading up”.

Time moved on, and so did the Moores – to Australia. After a few years in Carine, and joining PAWA, we decided to buy a three acre block in Gnangara, where research into what kind of house to build opened our eyes to climate sensible design. We stayed there thirteen years and grew all kinds of fruit and nut trees, vines, berries and, of course, veggies. Although we enjoyed life there, there was something missing, and that something was community. It was weird the way that most residents put up large fences with remote controlled gates. Couple this with several dogs, and it's no surprise that people only met when their cars passed on the short cul-de-sac.

With this background we were ripe to be seduced by the ecovillage movement, especially when an opportunity arose on our doorstep.

Can't wait to get planting and building!

Articles

Impressions of Findhorn – June 2007

Neil Robertson

The Findhorn Foundation is a spiritual community that was established in 1972. Since the 1980s, numerous individuals and organisations have settled in and around Findhorn and have formed what can (as John Talbott says) be described as an aspiring ecovillage.

When I visited Findhorn in June, I couldn't help comparing what they have achieved with what we are doing at SomerVille. Of course, Findhorn was not developed specifically as an ecovillage so it is not a fair comparison given that SomerVille has been designed as an ecovillage from the beginning.

Environmental

The layout of Findhorn seems to have evolved as and when new buildings were needed. Originally a caravan park, there are now residences, community buildings and shops.

The role of a caravan or building changes to suit the current requirements of the community. For example, the original toilet block is now the visitor centre and residential caravans have become offices.

The Universal Hall and café are a hive of activity but so is the shop so the ”village centre” is fairly spread out.

With residences, shops, workshops and meditation spaces all mixed in together and with visitors wandering everywhere, there does not seem to be sufficient balance between public and private.

It was nice to see renewable energy provided by both solar and wind.

Waste water is handled centrally by the Living Machine and cleaned water is reused for non drinking purposes.

Food is grown on site and in Cluny Gardens next door. Some landscaping trees are food trees (e.g. cherry trees).

The turf sod roofs and conservatories are interesting.

Turf sod roofed meditation space >

Some residents have no car but there are quite a few cars from visitors and non resident workers. The Community operate mini buses into the village, to local schools and elsewhere.

Economic

There are many community owned businesses including the café, pottery, weaving, shops, education, health, accommodation, power generation, bakery, tours and publishing.

Users of the Universal Hall are now charged so there is money for maintenance. The charge may be waived for fund raising events.

There seems to be a good mix of people living and working in the community and people commuting to and from Findhorn for work.

The community had a LETS scheme but found that the range of services on offer was too small to make the scheme viable. An alternative currency is now used and is starting to be accepted in the village (e.g. the pub).

A new Arts Centre started with a GBP250 donation and is now a 2 storey GBP500,000 building with geothermal power.

There is a mix of how people earn an income. Some are employed by the Foundation and accommodation and meal vouchers form part of the package. Others are paid a wage especially if a particular skill such as legal is required.

The Foundation own some housing. The Field of Dreams houses are privately owned. A new housing stage is planned but there is a possibility that the Lossiemouth RAF base will be closed and that Tornado jets will be stationed next door at RAF Kinloss. If this happens it is likely that any new planning applications will be refused as this will be likely to conflict with the jet noise from the RAF base and result in additional complaints and claims for broken windows etc.

The original caravan – now an office >

Social

The noise from the neighbouring RAF base shocked me. The base operate flights on a regular basis (not all days) and there has been some successful liaison by the community to have non-essential flights moved to other days when there is a specific event scheduled.

“The Boutique” building provides a venue for surplus goods such as clothing, footwear, books, household items etc to be shared for free.

Findhorn is a close knit community that support each other. An emergency 24 hour help line is provided by volunteers that find help for those in need.

A community phone list is maintained with all residents, offices, businesses and other handy numbers for the village and surrounding area.

People seem happy in their work. Most people seem to be doing something other than their original ”real job”.

The spiritual path is strong. Even “non-believers” seem to recognise a higher power and accept that others can communicate with nature spirits and so on even if they can't themselves.

The governance is well established but does not seem to be entirely effective. There is more than one governing body (e.g. Findhorn Foundation, New Findhorn Association). Consensus decision making means that decisions can sometimes take too long.

Traditions such as silence before meetings are well established and enjoyed by community members.

Elders are valued and cared for.

The arts are well established with singers, writers, musicians, painters, potters, weavers and other artists in the community.

Community members are encouraged to meditate each day. Regular meditations are scheduled – some with specific objectives such as world peace.

There is plenty of experience within the community to resolve any conflict that arises including recognising when an outside facilitator may be the best course of action.

Business Support Bureau opens its doors

Karen Moore

The Business Support Bureau opened for business on Monday 6 August at Shop 2, 2 Memorial Avenue, Chidlow. At the moment it is not much more than desk/work space and phone/facsimile services.

The idea is to eventually provide a wide range of business support services, that would possibly include:

• all forms of binding equipment (laminator; binder; guillotine; commercial hole punch);

• photocopying and printing in both black and white and colour and booklet form;

• bookkeeping (including BAS preparation), credit control, cashflow management, stock control, business procedures, document management (filing) systems; and

• web design & maintenance, hardware and software support and training.

The viability of providing any of the above services will naturally depend on the demand/support from other SomerVille businesses, Chidlow businesses and possibly visitors to SomerVille. Some thought will also be given to providing support services to people undertaking external studies and possibly the SomerVille Education Centre. A survey is the next step!

There are different rates for monthly, weekly and daily workspace hire. Dave Moore, Aaron Boultbee, KT Lim and I have already taken up residence. Faith Cruskall has expressed an interest in joining us soon.

This is a great opportunity to trial the business before we move to SomerVille.

Next time you are at the Chidlow Shops please pop into Shop 2 to say 'hello'.

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