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* Magic New Zealand®
* Proudly sponsored by International Entertainment Ltd (New Zealand)
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Issue Number: #1606
Date: Sunday 14th February 2021
Editor: Alan Watson QSM
www.watson.co.nz
E-mail: editor@magicnewzealand.com
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Hi here is the latest news
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1. Editor's Message
2. Vanish Magic Magazine Free Valentines Special
3. The Magic Word Podcast
4. CW'S Masters Of Illusion - Calling For Submissions
5. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
6. Still Thinking'n Syncing - John Carey #110
7. Potter & Potter 2021 Spring/Summer Preview
8. The Inside Story - Chapter 3 - Mark Wilson
9. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
10. E-zine Archives
11. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

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1. Editor's Message
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If you would like to read the Magic New Zealand e-zine in HTML format
go to: http://www.magicnewzealand.com/ezine-archive/2021-Jan-to-Dec-2021/1606-Feb14-2021.html


If you would like to write a regular column for Magic New Zealand or have some magic news drop me a line:
Editor@MagicNewZealand.com

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2. Vanish Magic Magazine Free Valentines Special
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Message by Paul Romhany - Editor Vanish Magic Magazine

After many months of work a free special edition is available for everybody to download and share from the team at Vanish Magic Magazine.

Female Magicians Through The Century - written by Sébastien Bazou, Connie Boyd and Paul Romhany. We go back to the beginning of time and look at female magicians throughout history with stunning photographs and pictures.

This is a special edition for everybody to share with friends in and out of magic. This will also be available as a printed magazine from www.vanishmagazine.com

You can download the PDF direct from here ....
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lddw32wt77itdak/SPEICAL.pdf?dl=0

Those who subscribe to VANISH can get your copy in your library.

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3. The Magic Word Podcast
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Message by Scott Wells, M.I.M.C. with Gold Star

Luna Shimada, Ken Scott and Tim Wise on The Magic Word Podcast

Two weeks ago we traveled (virtually) to Las Vegas to talk with the next generation of the Shimada magic dynasty, Luna Shimada. She discussed her childhood of growing up on the road and in dressing rooms, hotel rooms and the back seat of cars. It was not an easy life but it taught her a lot and molded Luna to be the creative and "driven" performer that she is today. She came from the school of "hard knocks" and has learned a lot which you will learn in this episode. You can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts, or you can visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/luna-shimada

From Las Vegas, we traveled (again, virtually) to Atlanta, Georgia, to visit with one of Atlanta's most awarded kid show entertainers, Ken Scott. Later this summer at the I.B.M. convention, Ken will be inducted as the International President of the organization. He has served on various committees over the years plus he knows a thing or two about conventions. He hosts his own Atlanta Harvest of Magic each Fall. And you can register on the website for a chance to win a free registration to this year's Harvest (convention). To listen to the podcast, watch videos, see photos, and register for the contest, please visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/ken-scott

This week we go back to Vegas (yes, virtually) to visit with Tim Wise. Tim is the host of Jeff McBride's "Wondergound" and is also the Genie in Las Vegas, performing at hospitals and other events. Tim started early in his life by basically leaving school and home in his teens to travel on the road with Dennis Loomis and his touring magic show. He finally settled in Las Vegas where today he is working with his new platform for magicians called Abra.TV. You can listen to this episode wherever you get your podcasts, or visit: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/scottwellsmagic/598-tim-wise

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4. CW'S Masters Of Illusion - Calling For Submissions
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Message by Gay Blackstone (US)

Performers/Magicians: A reminder that the eighth season of the CW Network's Emmy nominated Masters of Illusion television program will be shooting sometime this March (dates to be determined and depending upon any Covid restrictions).

Submissions are still being accepted. The producers need segments from 90 seconds to four minutes in length. No tails or tuxedos, please.

Please send video links to Gay Blackstone at gay@associatedtelevision.com.

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5. Magical Women With Connie Boyd
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Message by Connie Boyd

Today's guest on Magical Women Gay Blackstone

Let us know what you learn from Gay's frank and honest insight into Masters of Illusion's casting and more.

We are very grateful Gay has shared so many helpful tricks for success.

Ed Alonzo makes a cameo appearance and discusses "the Queen of Magic".

Watch it here!

https://youtu.be/YERhIDFOkh4

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6. Still Thinking'n Syncing - John Carey #110
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Message by John Carey (UK)
http://www.johncareymagic.co.uk/

In my previous books I've had versions of the following piece of card Mentalism. It's a plot I'm truly addicted to. I sincerely hope you enjoy the following fix.

Hand out the deck to a spectator and ask them to give the deck a shuffle, you miming the actions of an overhand shuffle. Mention that all day long, for some peculiar reason, you simply can't get a card out of your head. Take back the deck and secretly glimpse the bottom card, say Six of
Spades. I get my glimpse during the action of an in the hands riffle shuffle. As you flex the cards in the hands prior to riffling them off into two halves you will get a very nice clear glimpse of the bottom card. Retain it on the bottom with your shuffle and table the face down deck.

Ask your helper to cut the deck into two halves. "Ava, in a moment I want you to put the thought of a card in your mind. But when I ask people to do this you would be amazed how many think of the Ace of Spades or the Queen of Hearts. So with that in mind, let's do this under test conditions from this deck you shuffled." Comment that a playing card is made up of a value or number and a suit. Ask the spectator to look at the face card of the packet containing your glimpsed card, in this example the Six of Spades.

Direct her to lock just the value of that card in her mind. Next ask her to pick up the other packet and look at its face card and focus on just the suit depicted. Let's say it's a Heart. "Now if you combine the value you saw with the suit you are basically just thinking of a card that not a soul could possibly know right?" Get confirmation and then have your helper assemble the deck and then shuffle it.

So we secretly know the value of their card but we do not know the suit. We will use a gambit I've used in my previous versions of this effect that I've always associated with Max Maven. "Be honest, Ava, you're not thinking of a red card are you?" I smile as I say this. If she's says yes I reply "me too." However if she replies know I respond "me neither." Be casual and relaxed in this moment. It's a cunning subterfuge. Let's say she said yes to our sly question.

Mention that you will make a commitment. Take the deck and spread it with the faces towards you. Take out the first red Six you come to and table it face down near you. Hand the spectator the deck and ask her to remove her thought of card. Two scenarios will arise. She will say she
can't find it, in which case you ask her to name her card and you then reveal that your thoughts were gets, turning your card face up. The second outcome is that she will remove a card. In this instance you comment on how you both simply thought of cards and that you had a feeling there
was a connection between you. Have her turn her card over revealing a red Six. A moment later turn your card over to reveal its perfect mate and conclude this meeting of two minds.

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7. Potter & Potter 2021 Spring/Summer Preview
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Auction dates:
February 27 - Select Secrets? Rare & Important Magicana
March 13 - Fine Books & Manuscripts
April 24 - Magic Collection of Bill Trotter
May 15 - Vintage Posters
May 29 - Coin-Op & Advertising
June 19 - Magicana
June 26 - Circus, Sideshow & Oddities
July 30-31 - Disneyana & Pop Culture
August 28 - Fine Books & Manuscripts

We welcome 2021 with a big piece of news, and an exciting slate of auctions. This month we relocated to a larger building, with a far more spacious gallery, at 5001 W Belmont Avenue in Chicago. The calendar above outlines the diverse array of sales we will conduct from our new
space. Hopefully, before too long, we'll be able to see some of you there.

This year presents bidders and consignors more opportunities than ever to buy or sell with us. We encourage you to contact us about consigning to an upcoming auction, and look forward to bringing fine and compelling collections to the market.

Our gambling memorabilia auction, featuring the collection of Robert Eisenstadt, will be held on January 30th at 10am CST.

Place your bids now at potterauctions.com

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8. The Inside Story - Chapter 3 - Mark Wilson
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From the Magic New Zealand ezine archives ….
Written by the late Mark Wilson (US)

I flew back from Los Angeles to Dallas and Nani and I got to work. Taking everything we had learned over the years, we put together a new presentation designed to sell a network series. We put in new photos, copies of those great ratings, testimonial letters, premium concepts, and a lot of other things. We spread everything all out on the living room floor and put it together into a presentation book. We decided, if there was a fire, after son Michael was safe, the presentation book would be the next thing we would move outside. A friend in Dallas gave me the name of an account executive with the Foote Cone and Belding Advertising Agency in Chicago. I made an appointment by phone and flew to Chicago.

I walked into his office and explained why I was there. He asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want a network show?" I said, 'Yes. I'm determined to do it." He said, "It may not be what you think it is. It will be very difficult and full of hardship and perhaps heartbreak." "I don't care. I must do it." He smiled and said, "All right, I'll help you."

Since Foote Cone didn't have any clients who were prospects for children's programming, he referred me to the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency... which was also located in Chicago and
represented the Kellogg Cereal Company. He called a friend at Leo Burnett and made an appointment for me.

That first contact with Kellogg's advertising agency was in 1958. I didn't make the sale then. It took two more long years, during which I called on just about every potential sponsor for a network children's television series in the United States. I saw all the major cereal companies, candy companies, toy companies and shoe companies. Some were interested, some were not.

3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) in St. Paul was very interested. They liked magic, they liked the show and I guess they liked me. But before committing for a network run, they wanted to test the show. 3M agreed to sponsor a thirteen week test for which we were to produce thirteen, thirty-minute shows. The shows were titled "The Magic Circus". The test was to run in six separate cities across the United States. Baltimore, Denver, Philadelphia, Boston, Houston and Dallas. 3M told me the programs were to be produced and distributed on a new television medium, video tape.

Video tape recording was just beginning to revolutionize the television industry. This was in 1958, 3M was the world's largest producer of video tape stock. In addition to evaluating Magic Circus' popularity, the test would demonstrate for 3M the practicality of video tape syndication. In fact, our show would be the first television series ever syndicated on video tape. If the test was successful, to reach the family audience they desired, 3M planned to air the show on Sunday afternoons on one of the three major networks.

We signed a contract. We were to shoot the test shows in Dallas. In addition to the fee for the test shows, 3M would supply us with the blank video tapes, which they would send to our office in Dallas. Since the shows were to be aired in six markets for thirteen weeks... they were to send seventy-eight half-hour video tapes. In those days each video tape was two inches wide, packaged on a twelve-inch diameter reel. In its shipping container, each half hour tape weighed about 10 pounds.

Our "office" was our small apartment. The doorbell rang one morning... it was the tapes. We had video tape everywhere. Remember, the stations were just beginning to buy those giant Ampex video tape machines. I think we had more video tape stock than all the television stations in Dallas combined.

We shot the shows at the Dallas CBS affiliate, KRLD. The studio was about the size of a three car garage. The Magic Words to make the tricks work were, "Scotch Brand Cellophane Tape." We designed a self-liquidating premium of paper and cardboard magic tricks based on our Magic Circus theme. "Just send in two of the plaid starting ends from rolls of Scotch Brand Cellophane Tape and thirty five cents and we'll send you this Magic Circus Magic Kit."

The Magic Circus test went well, the ratings were good, a lot of magic kits were ordered. 3M was happy. We were delirious. 3M approved the expenditure for a twenty-six week network run.
Remember, they wanted the show to air late Sunday afternoon to reach the whole family.

3M's advertising agency, Benton and Boles in New York City, kept us posted on their progress. The only time slot available on Sunday afternoon was on NBC. Two other sponsors wanted that same time period. One was GE College Bowl, hosted by Allan Ludden. The other was a golf show, hosted by Bob Crosby, Bing Crosby's brother. NBC would make the choice.

We waited in Dallas. The test had been a success, the sponsor had allocated the money, all we needed was that time slot on NBC. We were so close.

We had arranged for Andy Sidaris, who was the chief television director at WFAATV, to direct the 13 test shows we shot at KRLD. I had one of those miniature footballs. Andy and I threw that ball back and forth as we waited for the results, which would greatly change all our lives.

NBC made the decision, they selected the golf show. 3M said they were very sorry... they wanted to put the show on the network, but... maybe next year.

We were crushed. This had been our great opportunity, and now it was gone.

As I reflect on it now, I don't think it was a hard decision for the network. No one had ever heard of Mark Wilson. I'm sure some of their experts said, "And, magic won't work on television anyway." So NBC played it safe and selected the golf show.

(I wonder how many "experts" told the guy trying to sell the very first television golf show, "Golf will never work on television. Viewers wouldn't be able to see the little white ball. Where will you put the cameras? What if it rains? The game is just too slow...")

But wait a minute... the 3M test proved the public liked magic on television. We were right and NBC was wrong. We've just got to do it all over again.

So it's back on the road again. During that two year selling period, I would travel to cities where potential sponsors were headquartered, make my pitch, return to Dallas, make enough money to
cover our living expenses, send out more presentations, and then leave town again to make more sales calls. We would prepare the presentation for each prospective sponsor with examples of why our show would sell their product, samples of premiums for the products, how magical commercials could be built around their product, how there would be product identification throughout the show and much more, all of which we ended up doing for Kellogg's on the Magic Land of Allakazam.

And then it happened! The Leo Burnett Agency called and said Kellogg's wanted to put our show on Saturday morning on the CBS Network in the fall, less than three months away. They would like us to produce the show at CBS Television City in Los Angeles. Wow!

When Leo Burnett notified us of Kellogg's decision, I happened to be in Los Angeles making a sales call. Three months was a short lead-time, but we were not about to let this one get away. I packed my bags and flew immediately to Chicago. The next morning I was in the Leo Burnett office to conclude the details of the contract.

To be continued…..

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9. The Orchante Saga - Beginnings
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Written by the late Tommy Orchard (The Amazing Orchante)

- Special Edition -
Congratulations Alan and Michele for your fantastic DRAGON Award - of 2002

Demonstrating outstanding talents in the categories of: Drama, Romance, Artistry, Glamour, Originality, and Necromancy! (MAGIC)

You have joined the ranks of other famous New Zealanders; Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Edgar Benyon, Sir Edmund Hillary, Tex Morton, John Rowles, Ngaire Marsh and Franquin. These, to name just a few, famous New Zealanders have, in their particular fields of endeavour, proved
to the world that our country - New Zealand, with a population of only 3.6 Million, produces an amazing array of internationally recognised skills and talents.

I'm very proud that I am a (part Maori) 'Kiwi', and they have all made it very easy for me, over the years, to pronounce to the world that: "I am a 'Magical' New Zealander". Now I can say that with even more pride:

Due To Your Outstanding Efforts!
Thank You
Alan And Michele Watson.

Tom And Veronica Orchard ('The Amazing Orchanté' & Kim - retired)

Alan Watson and I first met when he flew over from New Zealand to Australia (where Veronica and I was living at the time), to attend the 18th Australian Convention Of Magicians, that was held in Sydney at the 'Shore Inn' Artarmon, from April 9th to the 12th 1982 - presented by the 'International Brotherhood of Magicians', Maurice Rooklyn (late Int'l Vice President) Ring 102, with special International guest artistes: Dick and Diana 'The Enchantress' Zimmerman; I don't suppose 'the Amazing Orchanté and Kim' counted (because we were residing in Aussie) - although we are New Zealanders therefore International, and performed on the Public 'International' Wonder Show Of Magic', Dick, Diana, Veronica and I were the only four International artistes on the show!

Alan scored some great publicity for himself while in Sydney. On his return to Auckland New Zealand he sent me 'The 8 o'clock' newspaper dated Sat.20th 1982, with an interview - complete with two photographs, one of himself seated at a table with E S P (Zener) cards in front of him. The other shows myself eating a wine glass! You can 'Mark The Measure Of The Man' for yourself, by his unselfish generosity when he, Alan, made sure that I got the headline!

'It's Magic! He Swallowed A Wine Glass To Silence A Sceptic'!

Fire Eater, sword Swallower and expatriate Kiwi magician extraordinary Orchanté rocked a sceptic in a flash Sydney restaurant by calmly eating his wine glass. His critic was momentarily
speechless. Orchanté merely smiled as the critic recovered his poise and said: "Mate - you must be the best magician in the world…. Or the biggest fool"! Orchanté had simply reached across to his detractor's wine glass, picked it up, popped it in his mouth and, started chewing! It was real glass, too", reports Auckland magician Alan Watson in telling how Orchanté astounded onlookers with his act.

Orchanté, the stage name for former Aucklander Tom Orchard, is a top artist on the magicians' circuit in Sydney, specialising in sleight-of-hand, swallowing objects, and "psychic surgery" on
himself. He certainly won the attention, and admiration of Alan Watson who, as President of the New Zealand Society of Magicians, recently attended an international congress in Sydney for magicians.

"He's the highest paid magician in Sydney. His standards are high", says Watson, of Orchanté. Alan Watson was also impressed by Dick and Dianna Zimmerman of the 'Magic Castle' in Hollywood - recognised as "two of the finest magicians around". Magicians, he says, have
updated their acts and the old top hat and tails are out. These days, the tricksters wear mod gear. And they're talking of doing away with traditional magic dice for the popular Rubik cubes.
.
Watson himself says he specialises in psychokinesis - moving objects by thought alone. He scored a personal success with the Sunday Telegraph newspaper in Sydney by communicating telepathically with his wife in Auckland. The newspaper reported that it tested him with
six cards he produced with symbols specially designed by psychic researchers. Watson asked a reporter to point at one, at will. Meanwhile, another reporter in another office was on the phone to his wife, 2100km away in Auckland. On a hand signal, he asked her which image Alan was "broadcasting". She was right each time on four attempts. The newspaper assured its readers there was no way he could have made any signal she could have heard.

The feat helped Watson earn the Peter J. Shield Award at the congress for an outstanding contribution to the Art of Mentalism. Watson's explanation of mentalism; "I assume the role of a psychic, but do not accomplish feats through supernatural powers but through the powers of magic." He says some people have psychic gifts and abilities he doesn't understand, but agrees many charlatans are inflicting themselves on the gullible.

The 'flash' restaurant in Sydney that was referred to in the write-up was the 'Spice Islands' owned and operated by Tom Hughes, also a New Zealander. I had contacted him when he first opened and 'sold' him the idea of close-up sleight of hand table magic. It was very
successful. At Tom Hugh's invitation, Dick & Diana Zimmerman as well as Alan came for a meal and, to watch me work my 'magic'. Again, typical New Zealand hospitality!

It was through that meeting that Alan eventually 'worked' for Tom Hughes himself, at his other very popular restaurant, Fisherman's Wharf, situated under the Harbour Bridge in Auckland City, back in New Zealand. Alan performed his 'magic' there for a total of: 5 years - 1423 nights: No wonder he got good at it! I'M rather proud that Alan calls me, 'His Mentor'!

I Am Very, Very Proud Of You, Alan.

Dear me, that was - 22 years ago! I'm looking at the photographs in the newspaper and Alan and I both look like 'kids', I have black hair and Alan is a slim, good looking young man. Oh dear me Alan, just look at what the ravages of time and those 22 years have done to both, well - all of us.

Once Again, congratulations

'D - R - A - G - O - N'S'

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10. E-zine Archives
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Back issues of the Magic New Zealand e- zine go to:
www.magicnewzealand.com

Click on the red button centre right "Archives"

When you enter the archive the e- zines are in issue order in folders for each year and are Coded, e.g. 001 Nov06 1999.txt first three numbers (001) denote issue number, then the date (Nov06) and the last figures the year (1999)

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11. Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice
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Our subscriber list is NOT made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy.

You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E- zine at: www.magicnewzealand.com

Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday.

The opinions and statements expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson QSM vouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand® E-zine.

Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson QSM, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions or statements contained therein.

Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted.

Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e- zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted.

All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this publication may be freely redistributed, but not sold, to other magicians if copied in its entirety, including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer.


© Copyright 2021 Alan Watson QSM
www.magicnewzealand.com
http://twitter.com/#!/magicnewzealand
www.watson.co.nz
www.balloon-twister.co.nz


Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice

Our subscriber list is not made available to any other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy. You can subscribe to or unsubscribe from the Magic New Zealand® E-zine at www.magicnewzealand.com Magic New Zealand® E-zine is published each Sunday. The opinions expressed therein are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Magic New Zealand®. Neither Magic New Zealand® nor Alan Watson QSMvouch for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, message, statement, or other information reported via Magic New Zealand® E-zine. Subscribers to this publication and authors who contribute to it by doing so agree they will not hold Magic New Zealand® or Alan Watson QSM, jointly or individually liable or responsible in any way for the opinions expressed therein.
Magic New Zealand® reserves the right to alter, correct or disregard any articles submitted. Readers are encouraged to submit timely articles or news items which may be of interest to subscribers. By submitting articles to this e-zine, the authors grant Magic New Zealand® the right to publish such articles and such authors confirm their copyright of the material submitted. All works published by Magic New Zealand® are protected by international copyright legislation and articles must not be published for profit by anyone other than the individual authors without the written permission of Magic New Zealand®. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this publication may be freely redistributed, but not sold, to other magicians if copied in its entirety, including the copyright notice below and the above disclaimer.

Copyright © 2020 Alan Watson QSM.


Magic New Zealand® E-zine