It’s been a big, er noisy week for us. We’ve been hearing Lana and Nicky from the iVillage team laugh, delight and make a lot of excited noise as they prepared the final tweaks on iVillage. And then we just heard applause – iVillage Australia went live.
Now that they’ve switched the on button we share their excitement for many obvious reasons including:
1. They have brought you a site focussed on women of every age – from those thinking of trying for a baby (you might want to click here) to those looking after grandchildren and beyond. It is a community of like minded women and seriously there is something for everyone.
2. The content is not only expansive but current and up to date with posts, galleries and more being published throughout the day and sometimes in the middle of the night because just like the rest of the net iVillage never sleeps
3. Pregnancy and Parenting is huge. iVillage provides so much parenting content, advice and tools you’d be able to parent a village. Almost literally. There are also some amazing tools from a baby name finder to a development tracker.
4.Food glorious food. Check it out
5.Tools, Quizzes and Games. Yup, not only can you read but you can play, interact and have fun you can even sort dinner. Warning: some of these games are rather er, addictive. And as a side note this gender prediction test has worked on every single person in the iVillage team – try it
6. Celebrity and entertainment updates. Just a little bit of the way the “other people live”
7. Er, there is a sex position finder. Not sure you are going to find many places that will help you THIS much.
8. Galleries. So many beautiful galleries that cover subjects as diverse as beauty, news, parenting, food, relationships and even horoscopes
9.iVoices. Some of the most popular blogging voices from across Australia all in one place
Our home page. Check it often because it changes often
You can read more iVillage here, follow them on Twitter here and like them on Facebook here. We suggest you do all three
Take a look at the site and tell us what you love – just click here
Comments
97 Comments so far
Love the new site, Mama Mia is my first love, but there’s always enough love to go around <3
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Wow Mia, you are just a genius! What a unique inventiion.
Amazing, sensational, how enthralling, like the best thing you have done, this article is just phenomenal. Wow. Just so excited.
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Tina, sounds like you’re in love with Mia? Lol
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She has like helped me through my patchy life. So unfair like all of you out there have such a good life without all the problems I have.
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Tina, if you’re being satirical my faith in humanity has risen. If not well … I’m … I’m sorry.
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I am not satrical?
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Congratulations on launchig your new site – from my quick scan of the site it looks great. The only problem is what to look at first!
Love the horoscopes, survey/quizzes and interiors section (looking for inspiration).
I’m a complete newbie to iVillage (any site):
-how do I bookmark sections to my new profile?
-found the submenus a bit hard to navigate, prefer dropdown menus to horizontal submenu bars as these are easier to select
Was planning a totally ‘at-home’ day with baby so I could get through some admin and paperwork. Fat chance of that now
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iVillage has won me over and I’ve only spent 20 minutes checking it out – so far in the parenting section I haven’t seen one single article designed to encourage judgemental horrible nasty comments from all and sundry such that Mama Mia publish. No Mummy wars – not yet anyway!
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Lana, would this ivillage article title be syndicated content or is it the start of your sealed section?
‘Tom Cruise’s lawyer: Rooting for a calm and respectful divorce’
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Congratulations on the new site. I actually find it a bit busy and in your face. To many things flashing at me.
I will stick with Mamamia.
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Seriously ? Only launched this week. That’s awesome there is soooooo much to read
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Only just found out that you went live and I’ve been trawling the content. I’ve heard a few people say they prefer the US site. The funny thing is that I live in the US (ex Aussie) and I am preferring the Australian site. I like that it has a little bit of home in it for me.
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Hmm I don’t really like the site. It’s too busy and appears to be the same type of articles that appear on MM
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Just wanted to say congratulations. You are creating a very important place for women in the media with both Mamamia and ivillage and I will be doing my best to support both sites.
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I like it, got to say it appeals to what I am looking for in a website. A little bit of everything and quite escapist.
I also loved the games and things like that, I felt like my kids playing games online and now I get why they do it
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I am a huge fan of the international Ivillage as I loved the forums and getting everyones advice which I now get on MM.
But I’m strangely disappointed about the australian ivillage, there’s not much on there at all that I’m interested in. I thought I’d love it but quite disappointing.
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Thanks for your feedback Sydgel.
Some of the content is syndicated so you should still be seeing some of the content you loved on the US site but certainly we will be aiming to keep readers like you happy while adding an Australian touch
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I love the American ivillage too. I’ve been a member there for untold years. I think that I’ll largely stay on the American site and get my Australian fix here on mamamia
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They’re both published by Mamamia so it’s hardly going to make a difference
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Will you be sharing content with each other?
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We may be covering similar content as there are some overlapping areas of interest but Mamamia and iVillage have separate editorial teams (although it does seem odd to use the word team because it makes us sound a bit huge and we aren’t – there are 4 people on the Mamamia ed team and 2 of us on iVillage).
Thank God we all love what we do
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prepared to give it a shot – followed their Facebook page. I think it may take time to get used to the navigation becuase I am just so used to blog style sites and this is more of a traditional website but I think that may have something to do with their demographic
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Okay I get and it’s good and all that but it’s very much like the US site. Given that this is the internet why are we being so parochial? it’s not like it costs anything extra for me to go to the US site.
Also the best thing about the US site is the forums and they are noticeably missing from the Australian site
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We have only been running live under a week now so the Australian content may lack the depth that you are looking for but that will be a VERY short lived problem
Forums… Hopefully we will get there too. But for now we are going to be concentrating on making you feel happy on the site
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Awesome! it’s like 12 websites in one. So many home pages. I just don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t give a hoot about parenting but I love the way you are covering celebrity and touching on current affairs.
I can really stop buying any magazines now because everything that I want to read is covered including the awesome images that I go to mags for and the best part is that I get it for free.
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How awesome are the galleries? I spent hours just clicking through and they all worked. Hint hint Mamamia
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Long time reader first time commenter – at least that’s what they say on the radio
I just want to say how much I love what you have done with iVillage Mamamia. The depth of content is amazing as is the subject matter covered. I laughed, I learned, I related. I will be back. Thank you thank you
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your not joking when you say that ivillage is up to date – they have something on the Shard inauguration on the front page and it hasn’t even happened yet. colour me impressed
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I have just spent half the night over on ivillage – sorry mamamia. It was awesome, loved it there – and was happy to see a few familiar names.
Cannot believe how much content there is. Already
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Firstly I’d like to say Congrats on the site! It looks terrific and I will enjoy checking it out more over the coming days, weeks, etc.
But, I was disappointed to see a whole section devoted to astrology. I know that tabloid newspapers and even some broadsheets still have daily horoscopes, but I would have hoped that given Mamamia’s stance on vaccinations – i.e *science*-based reality – astrology would be a bandwagon you would let pass you by.
I understand it’s a popular topic, but to me, it detracts from the site’s credibility.
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Astrology?
I’M THERE!!!!!!
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I don’t think the one thing has anything to do with the other. Horoscope reading does not kill or lead to death..like you know not vaccinating a child
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Sorry I know that this is not what you are trying to do but thank you for letting me know they do horoscope. I love reading my horoscope and I don;t think that makes me a bad or trashy person.
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If this was a magazine, this would come with a disclosure and as such would state “advertorial”.
Screams commercial arrangement and so I resent the headline sucking you in.
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Kristine it IS a commercial arrangement. Mamamia publishes iVillage. Duh
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I would like to have known that – that was my point. Duh.
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Hi Kristine, to be fair, they have mentioned it quite a few times on MM that this was coming up (in some open posts and best/worst), and there was one whole article all about it when they won the rights.
Perhaps you’re new to MM? And they just assumed everyone new it was run by them.
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lol. you must be kidding.
Thanks MM for telling me about your new site. That IS ALSO FREE.
Some people are just ungrateful.
Love the Offspring article and totally agree! I will be devo if billie and mick break up.
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Just the type of response I’d expect from someone who doesn’t understand the role they play in the monetization of the site.
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iLike
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Sorry Mama Mia – something about you hasn’t been quite right for the last month or so. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I’ve found myself struggling to read this site when in the past I’ve devoured it.
The site seems to have lost its substance. The current events discussion I used to love seems to be replaced with parenting, parenting and more parenting (which is great for those seeking it, however I’m not) and the balance just isn’t there anymore.
I’ll give iVillage a shot, it looks like it would be suited to my kind of audience. I’ll always check in with Mamamia from time to time, just to see if the mojo is back. But for now, I’m out.
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Really?
My friends and I have been talking about how much we’ve been loving MM lately. The only problem is that there is so much I want to read I run out of time. And now another site?
My loyalty will be divided.
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That’s great – I’m glad that the site is still getting readers and hope it makes its way back to what it once was. I’ve a lot of respect for Mia and what she’s done for the site.
I think its better for people to voice their dissapointments over the content, rather than slink away into the night and leave administrators scratching their heads wondering where the readers went.
I want to keep liking the content but I’m increasingly frustrated with the lack of relevant articles. I used to read everything, now its more like 1 in 3 items.
There’s nothing mean-spirited about it. I just think that, for a site which depends so much on reader engagement, the criticism is as important as the praise.
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Agreed. There is something completely off about MM now. The comments have turned very critical and rude in the last 6 months on MM. It’s not so much the articles, but the comments. Haven’t you noticed many of the “old” regular commenters aren’t here anymore?
Plus publishing 11 articles on Monday was too hard to follow. 4-5 a day is great, anything more is overload.
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As a long time regular commenter, I agree. I wondered if MM had been mentioned or advertised somewhere new?
I’ve also been wondering about the proliferation of kind of similar articles seemingly every couple of days – especially Mummy posts.
I don’t know if there has actually been the proliferation I’ve felt or if it’s just because I haven’t been around as much? Not sure. Definitely bitchier and downright nastier comments abounding though.
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Great site guys, already loving it! Im following you on Twitter & FB and keep getting distracted and clicking over! Keep up the good work
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Does Mamamia no longer identify sponsored content? Dodgy.
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It’s not sponsored content Fi, iVillage is published by Mamamia. We’re lucky that way
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Will there be a mobile version one day? I’m chronically ill and do all my internet viewing on my back on my mobile phone. Wish I could afford a tablet!
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It’s on its way
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Oh thank God. I hate to say it but I want more parenting and cooking than MM gives me. I’ll always hang out here but I love the village vibe so far. Feels homey.
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Agreed, sometimes on Mamamia I feel like I am meant to be ashamed that I cook 3 meals a day and parent my children full time. I love reading MM but I think that content is lacking and so many of the commenters don;e as a mother
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Do you guys ever sleep? Sheesh.
Great site. Am following you on FB and Twitter so I don’t miss out.
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Um, no to the sleep!
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Both Mammamia and iVillage are very distracting! how will I ever get my work done?! lol
Great job guys!! xx
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I already spend waaay too much time on mamamia of an evening. I’m a bit scared to take a look because I know I’ll be hooked.
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Do it! Do it!
I’d advise a look at the celebrity match quizzes, I’ve spent many minutes trying to beat the buzzer http://www.ivillage.com.au/tool/celebrity-parent-matcher – it’s addictive!
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Super excited by the fact iVillage is here. One question the recipes seem to be very american and from the american site, understandably because it is such a new site here. But I was just wondering if they had been tested and converted properly to metric?
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Thanks Singleinoz. As you point out we’ve only been running about a week but already there are recipes from Donna Hay and Dani Venn (from Masterchef last year). Loading more Australian recipes all the time and hopefully getting a chance to update those old recipes too.
Can’t wait to see you on the site xxx
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“iVillage provides so much parenting content”
… that this non-parent doesn’t have the energy to find the remaining non-parenting content.
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“1. They have brought you a site focussed on women of every age – from those thinking of trying for a baby (you might want to click here) to those looking after grandchildren and beyond. It is a community of like minded women and seriously there is something for everyone.”
Because of course, there is nothing else for women to do in their lifespan! your life starts when you consider having a baby, and ends when you’re looking after your grandchildren!
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I think you may be taking it a bit seriously… I am sure they did not mean they are the ONLY life stages that matter for a woman. It’s just a couple of examples.
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Exactly. I read that and went “Right. This obviously isn’t for me. Moving on.”
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I don’t have kids and I found stacks of stories I wanted to read. The sex positions were very enlightening!
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Lulu – so many Australian women are looking for parenting content that is pertinent to them, they are looking for places to connect and engage online with other Australian parents and iVillage fills part of that need. We are delighted that we can give that to them and don’t feel at all like we need to apologise for that.
But in saying that there are entire channels that you can browse through that will have absolutely no parenting content at all- try food or relationships, helath, entertainment, horoscopes or diet and fitness.
The internet is a very big place – there is space for all of us. Just give us a chance
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Lana, I love the site so far but have a little criticism, well more of a comment if you like.
I love that there is a fitness section but I don’t like that it is in the diet homepage and not the health homepage.
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Good point Lauren. Don’t let a great site morph into another online magazine full of the same bs contradictions… eg ‘love your body’ articles followed by ads/articles on how to look like Posh. AUGH!
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Thanks Lauren, I absolutely see where you are coming from. The diet and fitness are together as an added channel to health – where we will be looking at broader health issues.
It’s a sad reality that diet has become synonymous with losing weight but that’s not how we see it and the “diet” section will be housing content around nutrition rather than weight loss. In fact just today I may have slagged off a weight loss diet
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Hi Lana,
Thanks for your response, although I am a little confused. Like me, you say you see ‘diet’ as nutrition rather than weight loss. That’s why I don’t understand the fitness being in the diet section.
Anyway regardless of where it is, I will still be reading. I love the look of ivillage and the diversity of subjects.
Oh and I did read that diet post you mentioned yesterday and completely agree with you on it
Good work Lana and Nicki!
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Thought I would be safe away from Zoe but just spent waaaay to much time flicking through the beauty products gallery.
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Have just favourited the parenting page in my tabs. It’s like a whole website of its own. One that I will be visiting daily especially since there is not as much of a parenting focus on Mamamia (not complaining just stating)
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Whaaat? Every 2nd post on Mamamia is about parenting !
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I think iVillage offers parenting advice, MM covers parenting ‘issues’.
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Sorry Mamamia – I think I am taking on a lover. You will be happy to know that it’s all in the family. Love love love ivillage.
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Welcome to the light side!
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Love what I saw saw so far…had to leave the site temporarily because all those quizzes will be a massive distraction today when I need to get other things done. Well done Nicky and Lana. Hope it is as successful as you envision.
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Not a fan. Sorry.
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Saw Patrick and Nina on the front page and signed up
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Long time villager and I just want to welcome you to Aus.
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wow! ivilliage is AWESOME! I wasnt that excited because i thought it was mostly parenting content (which i have nothing to do with) but there truly is something for everyone!
Mia and co, you guys have nailed it, when it comes to magazines etc, this is the future. congrats on what i am certain will be a very successful endeavour.
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Can I add a 10th thing I love? The ease of navigaton. I think so many people have gotten into the blog psyche and think it all needs to be just one big flow of content. I love that there are like 9 different home pages in one – one for parenting, one for food, one for relationships etc.
Well done Lana and Nicky – you should be very proud of how good it’s looking
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Thanks Barbie!
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Love the parenting stuff on village. I’ve been a long time reader of the US site and now we have our own version. Happy days.
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What I would like to see on this site is a section for book reviews- this is always my favorite topic in MamaMia and I’ve discovered so many new authors and great books as a result.
Agree with your Enid Blyton post Lana!
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Thanks for your feedback Kirsten, we’re working on a bunch of new book posts & reviews so stay tuned
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Well done Mamamia, I love it. looks fresh and exciting.
Just signed up.
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It’s about time! Have been waiting for you to launch. Right, I’m off to have a big poke around.
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great to see those aussie bloggers listed down the side.
to be perfectly honest, i wonder how the two sites co-exist as they seem sort of similar.
love the recipes, hope to see some of MM’s food/phood writers on there.
great work lana and nicki
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Congrts you guys. I just had a quick look and was really impressed.
Have added to my bookmark bar.
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Yikes, not for me. Too much recycled content. If I was only visiting one site a day that would be fine, but I’ve already read about half of what’s on the main page at other sites in the last few days, and a lot of the articles are the kind of thing we’ve seen a million times in mags like Cosmo, eg. “Is this the craziest diet ever”.
I’m kind of suprised. I stopped visiting sites like this in around 2005-06, and so did everyone I know. I really thought everyone was moving away from this type of website and towards more personal or focused sites.
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I assumed because the site was new that they were using some old posts from the American version. I figure over the coming weeks and months the content will become more local and up to date
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I don’t LOVE it or like it yet despite being told in the banner YOU LOVE US…I’m a bit meh to begin with but lets see how it goes. Pages take ages to load is my only criticism.
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