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PA of the YeAr

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Six tips to help you avoid work distractions

sePtember2011

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Your guide to the London PA and office manager event

office show 2011

sept2011

co

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ts notice board

office newsThe latest in office politics

on the job

lunch break

olé job boardRecruitment news, job advice and office gossip

stay on the ballSix ways to keep yourself focused at work

day in the diaryA day in the life of PA of the Year Louisa James

lunch hourWin tickets to the Vagina Monologues

olé lovesHalf-price fruit delivered straight to your office

and one more thing...Ocean Horan has a hangover

by julia dennison s taying focused in the office as you return from your summer holidays can be a challenge, especially when it can often be the busiest time of year.

In our On the Job feature this month, we bring you six tips to help you stay focused at work. Of course, there are easy things to do right now. Stopping reading Olé is not one of them (we pride ourselves in our useful office-related content), but closing your partly hidden Facebook screen that peeks out behind that important report you’re working on is.

There are things you can do to swiftly minimise mental stumbling blocks, leading to the birth of a more-organised, über-efficient version of yourself (for five minutes at least).

This issue also brings you a guide to London’s office* show this month – the main event for PAs, office executives and managers. There is so much going on at this ever-growing yearly event, that it’s often hard to know where to start. We bring you the best bits to look out for when you’re there.

We give you the chance to win tickets to see The Vagina Monologues – a must-see show that’s all about the girl power. Olé has also arranged for 50% off all fruit orders for readers at Fruit for the Office, so if you’re worried you’re not getting your five-a-day, now’s your chance. The healthier you are, the better you’ll do at work.

DID YOU KNOW?40% Of Olé reaDers arraNge cONfereNces Or bOOK meetINg facIlItIes fOr theIr OffIce

eDItOr julia dennison julia.dennison@intelligentmedia.co.uk

eDItOrIal cONtrIbUtOr matthew jane matthew.jane@intelligentmedia.co.uk

cOmmercIal DIrectOrvicki balochvicki.baloch@intelligentmedia.co.uk

seNIOr accOUNt maNager – meDIa sOlUtIONs matthew moorematthew.moore@intelligentmedia.co.uk

DesIgNersarah chivers sarah.chivers@intelligentmedia.co.uk

prODUctION assIstaNt sinead coffeyproduction@intelligentmedia.co.uk

cIrcUlatIONs maNagersinead coffeysinead.coffey@intelligentmedia.co.uk

DIgItal meDIa maNagerdan pricedan.price@intelligentmedia.co.uk

pUblIsherdavid collingbournedavid.collingbourne@intelligentmedia.co.uk

Noticeboard

sept11sprUce Up that saNdWich

There’s a huge range of sandwiches to choose from these days, in all shapes and sizes. Follow these tips from Heart Research UK to make this lunchtime essential a heart-healthy fast food alternative.

Go for wholegrain varieties – wholegrains have more fi bre so whether it’s sliced bread, rolls, pittas or wraps, fi ll up with the unrefi ned and wholesome grains. Breads with nuts and seeds such as walnuts, sesame and poppy seeds add wonderful fl avour and texture to traditional plain sandwiches, and wheat is not the only option, consider other grains such as rice, oat and rye bread and ditch the processed white bread. The type of bread you use can impact your heart health so be adventurous in your choice. Hearty fi llings – add colour to your sandwiches and

incorporate some of your recommended fi ve-a-day with fi llings such as lettuce, peppers, olives, avocado or onion. Try oily fi sh like fresh tuna, salmon, sardines and mackerel, which contain essential fatty acids and help to lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Banish that fat – cut visible fat off meat and go for lean meat such as chicken or turkey. Opt for healthier ways to cook your food such as grilling, baking, boiling or steaming. If you choose cheese, pâté or spreads, use low-fat versions. Dress down – be careful with oils and sauces and choose light mayonnaise.

sprUce Up that saNdWichThere’s a huge range of sandwiches to choose from these days, in all shapes and sizes. Follow these tips from Heart Research UK to make this lunchtime essential a heart-healthy fast food alternative.

so whether it’s sliced bread, rolls, pittas or wraps, fi ll up with the unrefi ned and wholesome grains. Breads with nuts and seeds such as walnuts, sesame and poppy seeds add wonderful fl avour and texture to traditional plain sandwiches, and wheat is not the only option, consider other grains such as rice, oat and rye bread

Notice b ard

We bring you some of the funniest office- and work-related tweets

on the street. Follow Olé on Twitter at @olezine. To celebrate

the opening of Horrible Bosses in cinemas, we bring you some

nightmare boss stories retweeted by @HorribleBoss

Word oN the tWeet

@heltranter My ex-boss

once said to me; (just before

he was demoted) “People

like you are ten a penny. I can

replace you in an instant.”

@positivesarah I had a

boss once who would change my CORRECT grammar so that it didn’t

make sense, just because

she was a cow.

@RunBonnyRun my boss

reads my emails & comments

on them before I open them.

She also tapes me to my chair

IN CASE THE PHONE RINGS.

@robangus I had a boss that

took two weeks off because

her cat was minorly sick but

gave me a disciplinary for

being 5 mins late.

sept11

inbrief...A nose of dogA bloodhound dog has such a well-tuned nose that she has landed a job as a wine tester. Seven-year-old Louisa Bella has been trained to spot wine that has been tainted, even through the bottle. Her sensitive nose can also sniff out faulty corks, which her Australian owners Michelle Edwards and Daniel Fischl say saves them a fortune. The two run boutique wine label, Linnaea,

in Melbourne, and say that by using the dog’s

talent, they are leading the way in a new wave

of vineyard techniques.

I don’t need moneyA German pensioner has told how she’s healthier and happier since giving up cash 15 years ago, bartering for everything she needs instead. Heidemarie Schwermer, 69, who has revealed her secrets in the book The Star Money Experiment, even turned down a cash advance from her publishers. “I am never short of food, clothing or friends and I have so much less stress in my life,” she said. “I’ve hardly seen a doctor in 15 years and I’m as fi t as a fi ddle.”

Appy and healthyA paramedic downloaded an iPhone app to help her treat an accident victim who did not speak English. Nicola Draper searched for the online Medical Polish translator tool when she realised the lorry driver could not understand her, reports The Mirror. The trucker, who was involved in a road crash near Colchester, Essex, was given the all clear and continued on his journey.Source: Orange news

iNterNatioNal Watercooler

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date For the diarY

British Airways, John Lewis, Kafevend, Antalis,

Flybe, The Westminster Collection, i-FM.net, and

Happy Box London are just a some of the fi rst-

time exhibitors ready to meet over 5,000 offi ce*

visitors, when the dedicated event for PAs, EAs

and Offi ce Managers returns to London’s Earls

Court on 15-16 September 2011. Two thirds of

the companies set to exhibit at offi ce* 2011 are

new to the event. Click here to book your place

at the show.

date For the diarY

Source: Orange news

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NeWs oF the World scaNdalThe News of the World printed its last edition on 10 July after 168 years in print. The closure of the publication was in response to the developing phone hacking scandal, after a private investigator allegedly hacked into the phone of murdered British teenager Milly Dowler, possibly interfering with the police investigation and causing distress to the girl’s family. The allegations led to a public backlash and a number of companies pulling their advertising from the paper pending an investigation. The scandal deepened when the paper was alleged to have hacked into the phones of families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan. There is speculation that News International will launch a Sunday edition of The Sun to replace the News of the World.

say what!?*!

Noticeboard

Want some sound advice? E-mail editor@intelligentmedia.co.uk with the subject line ‘Gripes’. We won’t judge.

time mismanagedDear Olé,I am terrible at managing my time. I get distracted whenever anyone in the office asks me to do something and I have trouble telling people ‘no’. My boss wants to give me a time planner, but I’d rather try to improve on my own. What do you suggest?Georgina, Saunderton

You may want to start by reading our feature on

page 16, because your problem seems to lie less

in time management and more in the fact you let

yourself get distracted easily. If you don’t want

to have a time planner imposed on you, why not

try creating your own? That way, when someone

randomly asks you to do something, you can

actually say you’re busy and mean it – just make

sure you plan breaks for yourself, or it will feel

unrealistic. People will respect you for it.

rearranged arrangementDear Olé,I’m an office manager at a busy London office. I’m tired of the maze of cubicles that make up our open-plan office and I’m keen to try new layouts for the space. What can you recommend?Sherri, London

There are a number of things you can do without

spending any money. For one, if you can, why not

get rid of the partitions and embrace the open

plan? If you don’t have walls, you may as well

use the layout to your advantage. More and more

offices, particularly in the trendier parts of London,

Manchester or Birmingham, are starting to

embrace a round-table set-up, whereby everyone

hot desks around one large table to encourage

communication and discussion.

captioncompetition >>>Welcome to the caption competition. Every month we bring you a new picture to challenge your wit and inventiveness. To enter, just come up with a caption (fewer than 25 words) for the picture to the right and send it in to: editor@olemagazine.co.uk with the subject line ‘caption comp’.

THE PRIZE: The prize – M&S vouchers – will be delivered to the

best entry as judged by the very right honourable Olé editorial

judging committee.

Name this captioN!

Last month’s winner was Richard Freeman with: “Jim had tried to digest too much information at once.” Well done; we’ll be in touch to arrange your prize.

click here to eNter

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“After getting through this lot, I need a decent cuppa!”

That’s better.That’s Tetley.www.tetleyforcaterers.co.uk

You can’t expect a busy workplace to run efficiently without the most essential office supply of them all… Tetley tea! So to make sure you never run out, remember to always add a stock of Tetley 440s to every stationery order, and keep your colleagues topped up with the Nation’s Favouite brew!

Don’t forget to add Tetley to your order.

“After getting through this lot, I need a decent cuppa!”

That’s better.That’s Tetley.www.tetleyforcaterers.co.uk

You can’t expect a busy workplace to run efficiently without the most essential office supply of them all… Tetley tea! So to make sure you never run out, remember to always add a stock of Tetley 440s to every stationery order, and keep your colleagues topped up with the Nation’s Favouite brew!

Don’t forget to add Tetley to your order.

Come and join us at the Offi ce* Show for a cuppa on STAND 5024

“After getting through this lot, I need a decent cuppa!”

That’s better.That’s Tetley.www.tetleyforcaterers.co.uk

You can’t expect a busy workplace to run efficiently without the most essential office supply of them all… Tetley tea! So to make sure you never run out, remember to always add a stock of Tetley 440s to every stationery order, and keep your colleagues topped up with the Nation’s Favouite brew!

Don’t forget to add Tetley to your order.

“After getting through this lot, I need a decent cuppa!”

That’s better.That’s Tetley.www.tetleyforcaterers.co.uk

You can’t expect a busy workplace to run efficiently without the most essential office supply of them all… Tetley tea! So to make sure you never run out, remember to always add a stock of Tetley 440s to every stationery order, and keep your colleagues topped up with the Nation’s Favouite brew!

Don’t forget to add Tetley to your order.

“After getting through this lot, I need a decent cuppa!”

That’s better.That’s Tetley.www.tetleyforcaterers.co.uk

You can’t expect a busy workplace to run efficiently without the most essential office supply of them all… Tetley tea! So to make sure you never run out, remember to always add a stock of Tetley 440s to every stationery order, and keep your colleagues topped up with the Nation’s Favouite brew!

Don’t forget to add Tetley to your order.

EArLs CoUrt 15-16 sEPtEMbEr 2011

Leave your desk to spend the day at office* when the show opens its doors to 5,000 PAs, EAs and office managers at London’s Earls Court this month.

Specifically designed to meet the business needs and aspirations of thousands of talented office professionals, the office* show is the one-stop shop for all the latest innovations, training tips and workplace products for you, your company and colleagues.

OFFICE SHOW

OFFICE CHIC

To make sure you’re looking and feeling good from

nine till fi ve, there will be a number of leading

fashion and beauty brands on hand to help you

make the most of your work wardrobe. LK Bennett

will be hosting a catwalk presentation of its latest

autumn/winter collection and treating visitors to

fashion advice, while personal stylist and Style Icon

founder Natalia Robinson will show

you how to dress to impress.

Cosmetic brand Benefi t will be

joined by Katherine Elizabeth

Millinery and Lipstick & Curls to

offer £50 Golden Glamour

ticket-holders a complete

makeover in the show’s

Pamper Parlour. (Sessions to

be booked in advance.)

AFTER HOURS

For those who like to keep a healthy

work/life balance, make sure you register for your

invite to the offi ce* Party at Planet Hollywood on

Thursday evening. The glamorous tinsel-town-

inspired venue will roll out a pink carpet to

welcome its guests to a night of live entertainment.

TIPS FROM THE TOP

The speaker list is impressive, with Ann Summers

boss Jacqueline Gold and lingerie queen Michelle

Mone OBE taking the stage at this year’s free

Keynote Theatre. The keynote presentations will

complement the show’s 50-strong, workshop

line-up, taking place across fi ve theatres.

TRAIN TO GAIN

Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro,

there’s always scope to add to your repertoire of

skills. Each of offi ce*’s 32 seminars and master

classes are packed full of essential tools and

solutions that can make a real difference to your

working life. Find out how you can get out of a rut

and start progressing your career, befriend your

bursting inbox and fi nd the key to ‘brilliant email’ or

get to grips with how to deliver the perfect event on

time and on budget.

SAVOUR THE STANDS

Standing alongside the show’s training and

development programme is offi ce*’s central

exhibition, showcasing over 175 leading business

suppliers, and featuring the MIA Destination and

Venue Village, and the FMA Offi ce Manager’s Village.

preview

founder Natalia Robinson will show

Cosmetic brand Benefi t will be

Millinery and Lipstick & Curls to

Natalia Robinson

To book one of our 22,000 apartments worldwide, call 020 3119 3400 or go online at www.the-ascott.comTo discuss your corporate arrangements email london@the-ascott.com

In Europe, choose from 45 locations including six in London:

• Ascott Mayfair London • Citadines Prestige Trafalgar Square London*• Citadines Prestige South Kensington London • Citadines Barbican London• Citadines Prestige Holborn-Covent Garden London • St Marks Apartments

At The Ascott Limited, we offer over 25 years award-winning experience of delivering quality serviced residences and apart’hotels in over 70 cities worldwide.

Choose from the exclusivity of Ascott The Residence, the vibrancy of a Citadines Apart’hotel or the homely warmth of a Somerset Serviced Residence. Wherever you stay, you’ll benefit from the privacy and space of your own apartment while enjoying the services and convenience of a hotel - perfect for an overnight business trip or longer term stay.

Experience Global Apartment Living

*available from H2 2011

Experience a world of benefits

Step into The Link Club and enter a captivating world of rewards and lifestyle privileges!

Presented exclusively by Ascott, The Link Club rewards our valued corporate clients for making frequent reservations at our serviced residences around the world.

• Reservations made simple

• Complimentary stays for your company

• Exclusive rewards and offers

• Invitations to parties and lifestyle events

• Network and meet other members

• Birthday surprises and more!

Visit us at office* at Stand 5021 to obtain your free membership card!

www.thelinkclub.com

office*

Stand 5021

OFFICE SHOWscheduleChoose from the 32 seminars and master classes listed below, plus 18 free keynotes and demos, hosted by top trainers, motivational leaders, business speakers and tech experts.

Seminars and workshops cost £39 each, or you can build a training programme of three sessions for £89 by purchasing an office* Training Passport.

thUrsDAY 15 sEPtEMbEr

OFFICE* THEATRE 110.30-11.30 Rosemary Parr, Global PA Network & PAs of Excellence7 Skills of 21st Century Personal Assistants

12.00-13.00Sue France, EUMAThe Art of Positive Networking

13.30-14.30Monica Seeley, Mesmo ConsultancyBrilliant Email – How to Save Time Dealing with Your Email

15.00-16.00Carmen MacDougal, The Virtual Assistant Coaching Company6 Key Strategies to Get Out of Your Rut and Start Progressing in Your Career

OFFICE* THEATRE 210.30-11.30Susie Barron-Stubley, Castalia Coaching LimitedPersonal Effectiveness in an Executive Environment

12.00-13.00Laura Belgrado, Microsoft CorporationNew World at Work, Virtual Management of Your Manager

13.30-14.30Marguerita King, Personal-Assistant-Tips.comThe Internet Savvy PA

15.00-16.00St John’s AmbulanceFirst Aid: An Offi ce Solution

REED LEARNING THEATRE 10.30-11.30Ian Golding, Reed LearningMaximise Your Impact!

12.00-13.00Alison Kemp, Reed LearningCatch & Connect: The One Hour Workshop in Managing Upwards

13.30-14.30Chris Powell, Reed LearningHow to Deliver the Perfect Event on Time and on Budget!

15.00-16.00Yvonne Bignall & Siobhan Brown, Reed Learning & Hotel ChocolatCommercial and Business Awareness

HEMSLEY FRASER THEATRE10.30-11.30Jean Sutcliffe, Hemsley FraserPerfect Minutes in an Hour

12.00-13.00Ian Caldecourt, Hemsley FraserWinning People Over

13.30-14.30Jean Sutcliffe, Hemsley FraserGet Seen and Get On – Personal Image Branding for Your Career Development

15.00-16.00Paul Richardson, Hemsley FraserProject Management Tips for the Offi ce Professional

OFFICE* THEATRE 110.30-11.30 Paul Pennant,Today’s PATaking Control with Outlook

12.00-13.00 Sue France, EUMAThe Art of Positive Networking

13.30-14.30 Monica Seeley, Mesmo ConsultancyBrilliant Email – How to Save Time Dealing with Your Email

15.00-16.00 Carmen MacDougal, The Virtual Assistant Coaching CompanySix Key Strategies to Get Out of Your Rut and Start Progressing in Your Career

OFFICE* THEATRE 210.30-11.30 Susie Barron-Stubley, Castalia Coaching LimitedPersonal Effectiveness in an Executive Environment

12.00-13.00 Laura Belgrado, Microsoft CorporationNew World at Work, Virtual Management of Your Manager

13.30-14.30Marguerita King, Personal-Assistant-Tips.comThe Internet Savvy PA

15.00-16.00 St John’s AmbulanceFirst Aid: An Offi ce Solution

REED LEARNING THEATRE10.30-11.30 Ian Golding, Reed LearningMaximise Your Impact!

12.00-13.00Alison Kemp, Reed LearningCatch & Connect: The One Hour Workshop in Managing Upwards

13.30-14.30Chris Powell, Reed LearningHow to Deliver The Perfect Event on Time and on Budget!

15.00-16.00Yvonne Bignall & Siobhan Brown, Reed Learning & Hotel ChocolatCommercial and Business Awareness

HEMSLEY FRASER THEATRE10.30-11.30Jean Sutcliffe, Hemsley FraserPerfect Minutes in an Hour

12.00-13.00Ian Caldecourt, Hemsley FraserWinning People Over

13.30-14.30Jean Sutcliffe, Hemsley FraserGet Seen and Get On – Personal Image Branding for Your Career Development

15.00-16.00Paul Richardson, Hemsley FraserProject Management Tips for the Offi ce Professional

FriDAY 16 sEPtEMbEr

Register for your FREE pass online

and view the whole programme at

www.officeshow.co.uk

OFFICE SHOW

WHITEBOARD MARKER

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Enter our free prize draw for your chance to WIN £150 of Love2Shop vouchers.

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Visit us on stand 3008 at o�ce* to try out these fantastic products!

office*Theatre

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MicrosoftAcademy

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6008See the story unfold at www.pentel.co.uk

Visit us on stand 3008

VISIT THE IPA AT STAND 7000

www.inprad.orgBring this voucher

and you could receive a FREE IPA gift!

VISIT THE IPA AT STAND 5006

www.inprad.org

Nationally recognised qualifications & trainingFor PAs, office managers, legal secretaries and virtual assistants

REEDLEARNING.CO.UK

Get a free consultation at Stand 3014

As  the  UK’s  leading  passport  and  visa  agency,  CIBT  provides  a  fast,  easy  and  secure  service  to  the  business  travellers.  ?e  simplify  the  visa  applicaAon  process  and  deliver  the  service  our  travellers  expect,  saving  both  Ame  and  money  in  the  process.  Come  and  see  us  at  stand  5017!    

Find  out  more  at  www.uk.cibt.com      

 

Come and join us for a cuppa on stand 5024

office*Theatre

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Almo Office 5022 Knights Business Supplies 5000BAntalis 3038 Lewis Secretarial & Computer College 3037ASAP 3029D London Bridge Hotel & Kensington House Hotel 5023Ascott Hospitality Management 5021 London Translations Ltd 7023 Avery Dennison Office Products 7040 lovetheatre.com 3021 BGB Management Ltd 2038 LTT Vending Group 4023Bong Uk Ltd 3007 Malmaison & Hotel Du Vin 3020 Britannia Hotels 2002 Maverick Solutions UK 3006Brother UK Ltd 1014 Medieval Banquet 6024 Brunel Conference Services 5030J Mitsubishi Pencil Co UK Ltd 7024 Business Info 7035 Murodigital 2010Castalia Coaching 7002 Not Just Stationery Ltd 2036 Church House Conference Centre 3025 Oak Filing 5008CIBT UK Ltd 5017 Oakwood Serviced Apartments 4015 Club Med UK 1000 Old Swan & Minster Mill 5000comparehospitality.com 3002 OS Magazine 7046Cotswold House Hotel 3003 pa-assist.com.Ltd 4014Davies Tanner 5028 Paramount Restaurants 2008DURABLE (UK) Ltd 7008 Parker Wells 4019 E. O. G (UK) Ltd 2004 Pentel (Stationery) Ltd 3008eCourier.co.uk 4011 Personal-Assistant-Tips.com 7034EDF Energy London Eye 6007 Planet Hollywood 6002Egencia UK Ltd 5009 Recruitment Genius 2011Elementus 3030F Red Incorporated Limited 2001 EUMA 7042 Reed Learning 3014Events Insurance Services 3024 Richard Elder Floral Design 2020Eventuality Events 4017 Ricoh Uk Ltd 1004 Executary News 4008 RTG Radio Taxis Group 1020 Executive PA Magazine 2003 Saco 3029CExecutive Serviced Apartments 3029B Sealed Air 5001Farnborough International Ltd 5030M secsinthecity.com 4009Filing relocation 7039 Speedy Hire Plc 3030AFinnair 3013 St Ermins Hotel 7026First Great Western 5004 Stock In Trade Ltd 3011FMA 3030G Stoke Rochford Hall 5030HFortnum & Mason PLC 3012 Swarovski Crystallized 4015BFredericks Designer Flowers 5003 T King Associates 4015 AFriends House Hospitality Ltd MIA 2 T3L Group 7006Fruit for the Office 6005 Tate 1002Fruitdrop 6023 Tay Associates Ltd 6036 Fujitsu in the UK 2028 Tetley 5024Geodetic Software Systems Ltd 7030 The Apartment Service 3029AGlobal Office Supplies 6026 The Association of Personal Assistants 6001Globestar Management 7003 The Branding Team 7005Happy Box London Ltd 2016 The Business Travel Magazine 7032Hays Specialist Recruitment 2024 The Corporate Team 4000Hemsley Fraser Group Ltd 2030 The Keyboard Company 6000High Performance 4024 The PA Club 7025Hortic Express 4018 The Pilot Pen Company (UK) Limited 7001Hospitality & Events North Magazine 4013 The Scout Association 5030DHospitality Line 4022 The Westminster Collection 3023Hotels.tv Ltd 3015 Thorntons 4002House of Fraser Ltd 2014 Titan Fire + Security 3005HR Insight Limited 3035 Total Transportation 5007HRS.com 4010 Tourism Ireland 6009IET Services 5030F Training Alliance Group 3039Incentive QAS Limited 3030J United Hygiene Services Ltd 3030DInstitute Of Professional Administrators 7000 VenueDirectory.com 6038Inverawe Smokehouses 6006 Visit Brighton 5030KJeans for Genes 7028 WEXAS 5041John Lewis Solutions for Business 3026 Working at Height Ltd 5015Kafevend Group Limited 4004 Zibrant 6013

Exhibitors

ON THE J B

ON THE JOB

BUZZ OFF, OFFICE BUGS! The recent freakish weather conditions in the UK, which have seen sudden downpours followed by bursts of heat, are leading to an increase in workplace insect infestations, according to pest exterminators.Flies can pose some of the biggest threats to workplaces, especially those with any type of catering facilities or food on the premises due to the pest’s attraction to anything edible.With a fl y harbouring up to six million bacteria on its feet alone, it’s vital to take as many precautions as possible to protect against them, according to workplace equipment provider Slingsby.Common house fl ies can carry and spread a wide range of serious diseases including typhoid, cholera, gangrene, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, bubonic plague, leprosy, diphtheria, scarlet fever, amoebic dysentery and poliomyelitis.Lee Wright, marketing director at Slingsby, said: “Although there are lots of species of fl ies the most dangerous is the common house fl y and these actually cause more deaths than sharks, spiders or snakes through the diseases they spread. For this reason businesses can’t afford to take any chances.”

For example, under The Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 act, any windows opening into food preparation areas must be fi tted with insect-proof screens.

MICROSOFT DEMOS

AT OFFICE

Software giant Microsoft will host two

afternoons of demo sessions at this year’s

offi ce* show, the annual event for PAs, EAs,

offi ce managers and top-level offi ce

support staff at London’s Earls Court on

15-16 September.

Taking place in the Demo Theatre

between 1pm and 4.15pm on both days

of the show, the sessions, called ‘Working

better together, present ideas and work

from anywhere’ (by Microsoft’s Ita

McAndrew) and ‘Managing change the easy

way’ (by Microsoft’s Lara Kingwell) promise

to give attendees an expert introduction

to some of Microsoft’s most popular offi ce

business software – including Microsoft

communication and collaboration solutions,

Microsoft Project and Microsoft Visio.

In addition to Microsoft, the show’s new

demo theatre will also host sessions from

Fujitsu in the UK; HRS.com; Elementus; and

I-FM.net, who’ll be demonstrating its new

offi ce manager portal IFOM.co.uk.

The offi ce* show is free to attend for

pre-registered visitors

(using priority code

OFF11001).

For further

information, and

to view the full

conference

programme, visit

www.offi ceshow.

co.uk.

MICROSOFT DEMOS

AT OFFICE

James M Phelps, Jr / Shutterstock.com

ON THE J BBUZZ OFF, OFFICE BUGS!

The recent freakish weather conditions in the UK, which have seen sudden downpours followed by bursts of heat, are leading to an increase in workplace insect infestations, according to pest exterminators.Flies can pose some of the biggest threats to workplaces, especially those with any type of catering facilities or food on the premises due to the pest’s attraction to anything edible.With a fl y harbouring up to six million bacteria on its feet alone, it’s vital to take as many precautions as possible to protect against them, according to workplace equipment provider Slingsby.Common house fl ies can carry and spread a wide range of serious diseases including typhoid, cholera, gangrene, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, bubonic plague, leprosy, diphtheria, scarlet fever, amoebic dysentery and poliomyelitis.Lee Wright, marketing director at Slingsby, said: “Although there are lots of species of fl ies the most dangerous is the common house fl y and these actually cause more deaths than sharks, spiders or snakes through the diseases they spread. For this reason businesses can’t afford to take any chances.”For example, under The Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 act, any windows opening into food preparation areas must be fi tted with insect-proof screens.

Covering for the bossTen offi ce workers in China pushed their boss’s car three miles home after an offi ce party – because he was too drunk to drive. After an offi ce night out, company vice president Zhang Fei realised he was too drunk to drive home and that none of his employees were sober enough either. With drink-drivers in China facing up to six months in jail and a heavy fi ne, the boss suggested his employees push him home. He pointed out that it was only three miles and the exercise would do them good. The staff agreed and pushed their boss’s VW car home. Traffi c offi cers said as long as the car’s engine was not running, it could not be classed as drink-driving under Chinese law, however, they warned against others following suit as they said the dangers of pushing a car, while drunk, through busy streets were high. Source: Orange News

inbrief...

overheardHeard some funny things in the office? We want to hear from you at editor@olemagazine.co.uk. Here’s one from overheardintheoffice.comBRUNETTE OFFICE GIRL: She’s off sick today, she has a cold.

BLONDE OFFICE GIRL: But how did she get a cold when it was so hot yesterday?Sydney, Australia

BUSINESSES AT RISK ON THE ROADBusinesses risk caution for failing to educate

driving employees about road and vehicle safety.

Under the Corporate Manslaughter and

Corporate Homicide act 2007, business owners

are required to ensure that their safety systems

are adequate and enforced.

Failure to do so will mean that business

owners face charges of gross negligence if an

accident results in a person’s death.

Many company owners are not aware that

the law applies to employees who are driving

during working hours.Vehicles that are used for business purposes

are required to be checked daily, this includes

cleaning all windows mirrors and number plates

as well as checking fuel, lights and tyres.

Road safety expert and founder of www.

driversafetymanagement.co.uk, Stuart Fraser,

who developed a system that allows company

managers to monitor staff road safety records

without having to deal with piles of paperwork, said: “The more cars that a company has, the worse it will be for them if there is a crash and no evidence of proper road safety precautions.”

J BBUSINESSES AT RISK ON THE ROAD

precautions.”

There is an art to coping with distractions. David Lavenda outlines the six steps you can

take to improve your productivity

S i x t i p S t o a v o i d w o r k

d i S t r a c t i o n S

on the job

How many of us have gone to work and pledged to be ’more productive today than yesterday?’ Yet somehow, it always

ends up the same – the end of the day rolls around and the task list is still overflowing. Why are we so unproductive? Information overload and the glut of digital interfaces play a major part. The plethora of software, gadgets and other tools – which were supposed to make us more productive by allowing us to be constantly ‘on’ – has produced unexpected consequences. Most significantly, the constant deluge of email alerts, text messages and tweets put workers into a constant state of digital overload. According to a new industry study, many employees are interrupted at least every 15 minutes, and the majority waste at least an hour a day dealing with all types of distractions. And when each of those distractions happens, it can take 20 minutes to regain focus and get back to the work at hand. In an organization with 1,000 employees, wasted time comes with a bill of over £3.2m every year in lost productivity.

Almost 60% of interruptions at work involve using communication and social tools, like email, social networks, text messaging, instant messaging, or switching between different applications. These tools do make people more productive – email alone has revolutionised how businesses operate. But while receiving the right email or IM can save you time, it can also cause problems.

Case in point: according to the survey, a third of employees have trouble getting their work done, and a quarter can’t think deeply or creatively about their work, guaranteeing that their employers aren’t getting the best work possible. It’s not uncommon for people to tune out of meetings to deal with digital distractions, either. Despite the rudeness of doing so, 64% of employees studied report that they will ignore a meeting in which they are participating to answer email, answer a cell phone, update their social status, or send an instant message.

Reducing distractions, and finding times when you can avoid electronic distractions entirely to focus on the task at hand, has become a necessity. These six tips can help you to minimize distractions and work more productively.

on the job

Set a Schedule for your workMost people have certain times of the day when it’s easier to complete certain tasks. You may have noticed that you can write easily first thing in the morning or brainstorm new ideas better in the afternoon. Pay attention to when you’re most effective at the

work you need to do. Protect that time. You can spend the hours when you don’t work

quite as effectively on those tasks that constantly come up but aren’t actually a part of the project you’re working on – sending out emails, updating social networks, taking meetings and so on.

2

Start with prioritiSationWhether you’re responsible for your own work or you get a task list handed down from management, it’s impossible to know if you’re off track when you don’t have priorities. The simple truth is that there is always enough work to fill the day, so you need to

choose what you’re going to accomplish.Choosing your priorities can be as simple as writing the next three

things that you need to accomplish on a sticky note. Most of us do have to leave room in our plans to deal with new tasks as they come up, but it’s usually doable to choose three or so actions that you’re going to take today, before you get side tracked by anything else.

1

remove diStractionS from your environment It’s not a big deal if you get interrupted in the middle of sending out an email. But if you’re trying to design a new product, research a problem or do something else that requires deep, uninterrupted thought, distractions

become a much bigger problem. Sometimes, the only thing you can do is physically take your distractions out of the room you’re working in. Leave your cell phone in the car, shut the door, even disconnect your computer from the internet, if that’s what it takes. Working offsite is one of the best ways to remove distractions. You may be able to get more creative work done in a morning at the coffee shop than you do in a whole day at the office.

It’s not possible to spend all of your time disconnected like that, but even spending an hour away from the physical presence of distractions can let you get an incredible amount of work done. You can even set rules for when people are allowed to interrupt you if you’re concerned about missing out on something. It’s a rare emergency that can’t wait an hour, especially one that’s work-related.

3

HP’s new LTO Ultrium Eco Case is made of moulded recycled paper instead of polypropylene, which uses two-thirds less oil to produce. It’s a small thing, but by making the switch, you could make a big difference.

Get your free sample at www.hp.com/uk/ecocase Scan the QR code to find out more about the Eco Case

© 2010 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. *For information on how this was calculated and on how to switch to HP LTO Ultrium Eco Case, please visit www.hp.com/uk/ecocase

HP’s new LTO Ultrium Eco Case is made of moulded recycled paper instead of polypropylene, which uses two-thirds less oil to produce. It’s a small thing, but by making the switch, you could make a big difference.

Get your free sample at www.hp.com/uk/ecocase Scan the QR code to find out more about the Eco Case

© 2010 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. *For information on how this was calculated and on how to switch to HP LTO Ultrium Eco Case, please visit www.hp.com/uk/ecocase

HP_EcoCase_OilCarPoster_0.10.indd 2 08/07/2011 12:25

It is impossible to eliminate every possible distraction from your day and, to be frank, you likely don’t want to — business runs on email and the other communications that pop up during your day. But by investing time now to reduce those distractions during the times you need to focus will save you time in the long run. It takes between 10 and 20 minutes to recover and refocus every time someone stops to ask you a question or your email alert buzzes. Even an interruption lasting less than a minute can throw you off for a quarter of an hour. The only way to avoid wasting all that time is to reduce the number of distractions that actually get through to you during those times when you need to focus. You won’t get all of them, but every one that you do eliminate could mean 20 minutes of work time that you’ll get back.

The bottom line is there is a need to create boundaries for using time-saving digital technologies. Being ‘on’ during business trips or while out at customer visits is a godsend for busy people, but cutting back on the deluge of information by setting boundaries and shutting down while at home, on holiday, or at your child’s school play will allow you to focus better for the really important tasks.

David Lavenda is vice president of product strategy at www.harmon.ie

AVOID THE DISTRACTIONS YOU CAN

plan for time away from your deSkThe number of people that can sit comfortably at a desk and work straight through an eight-hour workday are few and far between. For our own health and well-being, it’s crucial to get up and

leave our desks at least a few times over the course of the day. The trick is planning those times, rather than leaving them up to how often you get distracted by something in another part of the offi ce.

One of the best options is to plan a workout or other exercise into your day. Even talking a walk once a day can burn off some of that need to get up and move around. But you need to make a point of getting up and carrying through on your plans every day.

4

diSconnect when you’re doneAt the end of the day, most of us head home. But even outside of the offi ce, we tend to be distracted: with the right phone, you may still be working on something you should have left at your

desk. According to the survey, 82% of employees report that they stay connected when they leave the offi ce in the evenings and fi fty percent are still connected when they go to bed. That means that you’re just as distracted when you’re trying to spend time with friends or family as when you’re at work.

The only way to avoid such distractions is to leave your work in the offi ce. Not all organisations are particularly accommodating to someone who wants to turn off his cell phone in the evening or take over steps to disconnect from work, but it comes down to where you should really be focusing when you’re at home.

6

deleGate and collaBorate where you canWhen you work in a larger organisation, there are always people around with different skill sets – people who may be able to handle certain tasks on your to-do list more effectively than you can. It

can be tempting to try to do everything yourself – after all, who knows better than you how exactly you want something done? But either bringing in the right person for some aspect of the task or delegating it entirely can keep some minor issue from distracting you entirely.

5

on the job

By using a Brother P-touch labeller around the office you’ll be more organised and no longer waste valuable time trying to find files, documents or office equipment. Plus, our must have labels now come with the chance to win one of three pairs of designer shoes worth up to £500 – just enter our competition today by visiting www.brother.co.uk/shoes

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on the job

Day in the DIARY

06:30amThe alarm goes off. I’d love to say I bounce out of bed, but I hit snooze more times than I should.

07:15amShower, dress and get the train to Waterloo, checking e-mails on the blackberry on the way. I walk from there to our office in Old Street (in the summer only). I love the walk across Blackfriars Bridge and through Smithfield Market.

08:30amGet to the office and have some breakfast. We are lucky enough to have a ‘breakfast club’, where the company provides fresh fruit and freshly baked bread, along with cereals and tea, coffee and fresh juice, so we get a proper start to the day.

09:00amCheck Tara’s diary and e-mails to see if there are any changes to her schedule or if anything urgent has come in overnight. One of the projects I manage is based in Australia so there are usually some e-mails from our partners out there, which I like to get to first, or I call them to catch up on how the project is doing.

11:00amHave a look on iTunes to see how our apps are doing and have a meeting with our developers to work on future strategy. Tara will usually be in meetings back-to-back so I check her e-mails to see if there is anything I can respond to on her behalf.

1.00pmI go out and grab some lunch for us both or head downstairs to our test kitchens to grab some food that has just been cooked up by the food team.

3.00pmCatch up on reading. I subscribe to various newsletters and reports so I take some time to get up-to-date with what’s happening in the industry. Our company spans TV, publishing, brand management, restaurants and fast-moving consumer goods, so there is a lot to take in.

6.00pmLeave the office and run home or go to pilates. I run a lot as a way of keeping healthy and de-stressing. It’s a great way to end the day and clear my mind.

8.00pmHome and dinner, usually cooked by my husband who is a much better cook than I am. Check e-mails again and then maybe watch a bit of TV or a film.

10:30pmBed. I need my eight hours!

Want a diary

of your own?

Contact us

We follow a day in the life of super-star office professional, Louisa

James, PA to Tara Donovan, the MD of Jamie Oliver Ltd and winner

of Hays and The Times PA of the Year award 2011

A PERFECT FINISHFellowes Laminating Machines

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Laminating documents with a Fellowes laminator has never been easier. Each product is designed

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Lunchtime giveawayReseRve this

Shaka Zulu H H H H H

What is it? A Camden-based South African restaurant.

What we thought: As you descend into the depths of Shaka Zulu, an extraordinary restaurant, bar and lounge in London’s Camden, it’s easy to mistake it for another world. The walls are covered with wooden friezes and the lower floor bedecked with 20-foot warrior statues that stare down at you as you dine. Highlights include carpaccio of ostrich (pictured) and a traditional dessert menu that includes the moreish and donut-like koeksisters. What really stands out is the Shaka Zulu sample board, comprising springbok, ostrich, kudu and lamb rump steaks. Not for the faint-hearted, Shaka Zulu is a venue certain to impress any client meeting or office party. shaka-zulu.com

desktopdining

Lambs lettuce and rocket salad with asparagus and pancetta

Serves 4

What you need...1 bag of Florette Duo Lambs Lettuce & Rocket250g of asparagus tips130g of pancetta100 ml of French dressing1 tsp of honey

How to do it…1 Boil the asparagus tips for approximately four minutes until tender. 2 Gently fry the pancetta until crisp and golden. 3 Drain on kitchen paper and cut into bite-sized pieces 4 Mix the honey with the dressing and pour over the salad. Toss the salad lightly with the pancetta. Top with the asparagus and serve.

Olé readers can win tickets to see The Vagina Monologues at a town near them. Eve Ensler’s hilarious Broadway and West End smash hit is back, featuring a new all-star cast including the brilliant Tiana Benjamin (Eastenders), the stunning Louisa Lytton

(Eastenders, The Bill) and the sensational Wendi Peters (Coronation Street, Celebrity Masterchef). This witty and moving collection of stories is an unmissable show for every generation – bring your mum, your best friend, your sister or even your gran – this is the ultimate girls night out. The Vagina Monologues donates a percentage of revenue from ticket sales to V-Day, benefiting women’s charities globally. See www.vaginamonologues.co.uk for more details.

To enter to win tickets, email your name, address and phone number to competitions@ejfentertainment.com.

When you fancy venturing out for your midday meal, we present you with a monthly review of a restaurant, pub or café that calls our name

tReat YouRseLF power hour

Domatcha Green Tea, from Healthyandessential.com, is a luxurious way to enjoy your fi x. The high quality tea comes in a stone-ground powder that can be mixed with hot water or whisked as a latte.

If you thought vodka was bland, you'll soon be converted by this fl avoured range from Godminster. By infusing English vodka with fl avours like quince, they certainly succeed in making it more interesting. Organic-cheese.co.uk

Gym bunnies of the world unite. Every month, we try out a routine and report back

BREakFaST OF ChaMPIONS H H H H H

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and yet busy workers all too often sacrifi ce the repast in favour of getting to work on time. However, there are two breakfasts making the rounds at Olé that make us think again: Rude Health’s range of seven-grain granola cereals, in Honey Nut and Apple & Cinnamon fl avours (£2.99 at Tesco); and Mornfl akes Oats2Go porridge sachets in Lyles Golden Syrup fl avour (£1.99 at Asda or Morrisons). Wholegrains are puffed to make Rude Health’s granolas light enough to enjoy with milk or yoghurt, while Mornfl ake Oats are full of complex carbohydrates that release energy slowly, certain to keep you going till lunchtime.

suRviving the post-lunch slump in association with Nescafé® Gold Blend®, New Richer Aroma

It’s mid-afternoon, you can feel your eyes closing and you’re stifl ing yet another yawn. There are two and a half hours left until home-time but it feels like you’ve only just got out of bed. Sound familiar? It’s that all too common afternoon slump. Also called the post-lunch slump or afternoon apathy syndrome, it’s at its peak from around 3pm to 5pm. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the slump's frequency and duration.

1. Stay hydrated – keep a water bottle handy all day and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to take a sip. Coffee can help keep you hydrated too, so moderate consumption* can help.

2. Plan your activities – people tend to be at their peak alertness earlier in the day, so do your toughest tasks in the morning and use afternoons for catching up on tasks that require less mental concentration, such as sending emails and admin.

3. Get some fresh air – walking boosts circulation and helps you breathe better. A change of scenery helps break the tedium too.

4. Meditate – Meditation is great for rejuvenating and re-energising the body. Doing some simple breathing exercises gets more air into your system and has a calming effect.

5. Have a laugh – sharing a joke with colleagues exercises your heart, reduces blood pressure and puts a smile on your face at the same time.

* 4-5 cups per day or 2-3 cups for pregnant women.

Nescafé® Gold Blend®, the nation’s favourite premium coffee, has just got even better. With a new richer aroma, fans of the instant coffee will love the new and improved recipe, which has been specially designed to stimulate the senses. To claim your free sample, go to www.npextra.co.uk/goldblend.

loves!

This month’s favourite products and giveaways

If cleanliness is next to godliness, eco-friendliness must be nirvana – that’s what Lilly’s Eco Clean will have you think anyway, with its range of green household products, including washing up liquid and eucalyptus spray cleaner. The idea came when Lilly

became ill from conventional products, so developed a range of eco-, human- and animal-friendly alternatives. Olé tried them and the results were sparkling. Lillysecoclean.com

An apple a day...or a pear, banana, kiwi, strawberry or even a minneola is definitely one way to keep office workers happy and healthy.

Londoners are about to get lucky. Fruit for the Office provides a simple way to get fruit delivered to the capitals workforce on a weekly basis. The team also take one-off orders for business meetings, training sessions or for whenever you’re feeling fruity!

Olé readers can get 50% off their first order from the ‘fresh’ and ‘tailor made’ ranges. To claim your exclusive discount, visit www.fruitfortheoffice.co.uk and use the discount code ‘OLE50’.

50% off Fruit for the office

CLean, gReen maChine

Any modern couple knows the dilemma – you’re hot when he’s cold and when you’re cold; he’s hot. No, we’re not talking about your love life, but rather something much more sensible, the temperature of one’s bed. After numerous sleepless nights, St Albans couple Ian and Ruth Pressman invented a unique ‘His and Hers’ duvet to the market as a solution that will put an end to millions of couples night time duvet dramas by allowing bespoke temperature control for each side of the bed.

“We could not find a duvet that offered flexible temperature for each of us on the high street, we found summer/winter duvets but they did not offer a solution to our problem,” said Ian. “We knew we were not alone with this problem. Being at our wits ends with lack of sleep and not wanting to end up in single beds, we decided to make one ourselves.”

After numerous design sketches at the kitchen table and experiments with the sewing machine, the CosyCool ‘His and Hers’ duvet was born. The couple showed their prototype to friends and family and after receiving such positive feedback the duvet was put into production and deliveries began.

The duvet is designed to allow one partner a high tog warm rating and the other a lighter tog rating if they prefer a cool sleep. It’s available in standard double, king or super king sizes. Cosycool-allseasonsduvets.co.uk

put an end to duvet dRamas

duvet Fast FaCts Duvets have actually been commonly used

throughout Europe since the 18th century and are likely to have originated in Switzerland and Austria.

In days of old, it was commonplace to give a duvet to a newly married couple.

The word duvet comes from the French ‘down’.

Australians call a duvet a ‘doona’.

The term ‘duvet day’ is sometimes used to describe a company-approved day off that employees can take if they feel too tired to work.

A survey by the University of Worcester, revealed two in five Britons admitted to not washing their duvet every six months.

Office Hot outfits of the month Catwalk>> A change in the weather means a change in your wardrobe.

We bring you the latest autumn gear for the office.

1

4

6

5

3

1 Limited Collection top with sequin shoulders, M&S, £352 Steel cashmere waterfall sweater, M&S, £1493 Great Plains autumn/winter collection4 Leopard block peep-toe shoes, New Look, £29.995 Hound’s-tooth trousers, Asos.com6 Limited Collection pleat skirt, M&S, £357 Lace skirt, Asos.com

2

7

moRe thing...

LunChbReak

the hangoverby ocean horan

hot flushes. thirst. Lethargy. anxiety. vomiting...?

Let’s face it: hangovers are rarely much fun, but throw in an early morning start with at least nine hours of harsh office lighting and your day quickly becomes hellish.

I can honestly say that I’ve never pulled a sickie to recover from a hangover (I like to reserve those days for true emergencies) but instead throw myself into a day that is undoubtedly going to be far longer than your average.

My last experience was a classic: I had a deadline that couldn’t be ignored and my boss was in the office and seemed to be lurking over my shoulder all day, laying in wait with awkward questions that I really should have known the answer to (and probably would any other day) but my alcohol muddled brain refused to proffer anything of great use. I mumbled my apologies after the second round of questioning, blaming my slowness on an encroaching illness rather than an overindulgence of red wine the night before, hoping that it would ward off any more desk hovering.

General support for the day came from my lovely desk mates, mainly in the form of Google images of greasy full English breakfasts and other vile objects aimed to provoke my throbbing head and churning stomach. Nice.

After eating a hugely calorific and carb-filled lunch, I had to deal with another major hurdle of the day: the annoying guy. On an average day,

Tom spends a good part of his time scanning the office for someone to wind-up with his Daily Mail views and was quick to lock-on to my weakened state. After intense badgering he’d cornered me into agreeing that all forms of corporal and capital punishment can be completely justifiable. Now let’s make this clear – I do not believe this, but it was easier to lay down to his miserable views than fight.

The only time a crippling hangover ever seems bearable is the morning after a big office party; when everyone’s in on the joke. Painkillers and Berroca tabs are deftly shared out, and you’re free to rib your desk-mate on his dodgy dancing and ever-so slightly inappropriate flirting with the work experience girl. Best of all, my boss always seems to get food poisoning from the seafood canapés...

did you agree with the columnist?

think You can do betteR?Email us with your “and one more thing” of approx. 300 words to editor@olemagazine.co.uk

Ocean HoranWeb editor

Age: 29Location: London

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