Four Years On

Four years ago we held our first Foulsham Pancake Party. On Tuesday, Bob will flip the pancakes again for our fifth such event. 

The war in Ukraine had begun the week before, so although our event was free, we put out a donations jar for HopeNow, a charity we know personally, who have been working in Ukraine for many years. 

That night, we raised £75. This week we will have our fifth pancake party here. It has already become a tradition - and until this war is over, we will go on supporting, and go on praying.

God who hears,

For four years we have prayed, mourned and lamented. Four years of war in Ukraine. Four years of invasion, of violence, of death.

Sometimes it slips from news broadcasts and from people’s consciousness. But we know you, O God, have not forgotten.

We hold before you refugees who still feel like strangers, unsure when or if they will ever see and hug loved ones again.

Keep safe those who remain in Ukraine. Protect them from the mental and physical wounds of war. We ask for a miraculous end to this bloodshed.

Help us, even when we feel powerless, to act where we can. To care, to listen, to sit with those who grieve. To give, to protest, to continue to pray:

Your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as in Heaven.   Amen

[With thanks to the Churches' Joint Public Issues Team for this prayer resource] 

Happy Valentine's Day

Here is a picture of the jigsaw I bought in November. I started it early December, then rolled it up on the felt mat - and only got it out again this week. It took a couple of evenings to complete

The Kiss seems a fitting picture to post on Valentine's Day!  I found it quite challenging, all that black hair and the black rectangles - not to mention the curved edge [no corners !] 
Bizarrely the picture is actually the mirror image of Klimt's original artwork. I wonder why? This is such a small section of the canvas too.
But today I celebrate love... not just Eros - romantic love, but also Philia - true friendship/family love, and Agape - God's perfect love.
Today is a day for showing love and kindness to all. And being grateful for those we love, and who love us.

Double Vision?

Bob is very fond of science fiction, whether books,films or TV programmes. Me, not so much. But years ago, he pointed out to me two actors in this TV genre who look so similar, they are frequently confused. So much so, that they themselves occasionally appear together...[they are both Brits] 

James Callis played Dr Gaius Baltar in more than 70 episodes of Battlestar Galactica [as well as playing Tom, a good friend to Bridget Jones in 4 films] but he looks awfully like Alexander Siddig who played Dr Julian Bashir in over 170 episodes of Star Trek

They do look very like each other imho

We both like crime dramas. Currently enjoying Grantchester, Patience and Silent Witness, in the first, one of the main characters is Leonard [the former curate] played by Al Weaver. We were watching Patience, and I said there's Leonard! He sounded like him too. But when I checked out the cast list, this minor character was actually a different guy called Rasmus Hardiker. And to add to the Co fusion, RH also had a bit part in Silent Witness too. Here's RH and AW.

What do you think?

Can you think of any other famous lookalikes?

PS tomorrow's post will not have a sight- related title!

UPDATE Suggestion from A below - Jack from Silent Witness and Christopher Lee in Fu Manchu

Terri suggests Justin and Nathan

Gill says Rupert Grint and Ed Sheeran 

Finally  Rob Brydon, Ben Miller and Anton Du Bec!  Thanks for the great suggestions, not adding any more pictures here tonight

Eye! Eye!

Well, that will teach me! Having joked about SpecSavers and Double Vision, I ended up back at the opticians just after I posted yesterday. The left lens fell out of my glasses. It happened on Monday, then again Wednesday morning. I took them back and the manager agreed that they were rather loose in the new frames. They have gone off to be fixed. Leaving me acting like Steve Fletcher again, alternating between two pairs of specs. 
A bit frustrating as I'd set aside Wednesday as a sewing day. I got on with it as best I could.
The half duvet cover was hemmed properly to make a tablecloth. I used part of the remainder to recover the ironing board. 

Originally there were seven "Ports Of Call" in Jeff Banks' bedlinen range. But that was 30 years ago - now there are just two patterns [but not this one]
Quick tip for making a new cover for your board. Measure length, and width. Add 25 cm to each of those, and cut a rectangle that size. Fold all edges over to make a double hem approx 2 cm deep. Press firmly.  Mitre the corners as shown. Then stitch the hem all round. Close to the edge  leave the mitres unstitched. This makes it easier to thread your elastic. 

Take a length of elastic, feed it through the casing and pull it tight on the board. Those unstitched gaps at the corners will make it easier to thread. Fasten with a knot and tuck loose ends inside. My elastic is repurposed from an old anorak, and still has the retaining bobble!

I am very pleased with today's endeavours. I have also been working on two secret projects for Ro and Jess, and working on the 2x2 [ but gave up because I coulndn't handstitch as neatly as I wanted without my proper glasses.
I did at least manage to do the ironing!

I Spy...

Two SpecSavers Home Visit Vehicles outside two adjacent properties. Is this a case of Double Vision?

Yesterday was very busy, lots happening on the craft front. One thing I hadn't done for ages...

French Knitting.

I bought this little knitting doll in Flying Tiger a couple of summers ago, and meant to teach Rosie but then forgot.

Now I have a genuine reason for wanting to make some cords myself, so I sat and had a practice after lunch.

I will explain later! 

The 2x2 project is progressing slowly. K and I are exchanging a lot of WhatsApp messages. I will be glad when the weather brightens up, it's cold and damp found here! 

Rediscovered Treasures

Back in 2012, my blog friend Floss suggested a new blog event. [now a fully fledged Anglican priest, it was Floss who started the Pause in Lent and Pause in Advent events]

She called it The Thrill Of What You Already Have and you can read more HERE

I was reminded of this on Saturday when I was pottering in the old garage, and came across a carrier bag of silk flowers. There were some daffodils in there, and I'd just thrown away a bunch of real [but dead] ones.
They were 95p in Lidl, and they had lasted two weeks and brought much joy. These ones could take there place until more fresh ones arrive.

Normally there is a green cloth on the dining table - I have two, bought from Scotts of Stow, back in the 90s, and I rotate them. But I felt like a change. I looked in the linen drawer - and found a single duvet cover. I know exactly when I bought that - Easter 1996, it was in Debenhams, half price - and I had just been given a new divan bed for the spare room in Kirby. That bed is long gone, and most of my other single bedlinen too. I shook it out, and put it on the table. Ta Da!

I really like the way the amber/brown pattern sets off the greeny blue vase, and the daffodils. And Steph's lovely picture behind picks up those shades too. I think she painted that when she was a student - it is at least 20 years ago...
It has the words of the Lord's prayer, and a dove of peace, and fresh golden wheat against a sunny background [originally hung on a yellow kitchen wall]

I quite like this arrangement - fresh and springlike. I think I may unpick the duvet cover, and hem the fabric from this side, and retain the other for something else!

I found other treasure in the carrier bag - but that will be for another post.

Do you use silk flowers - or only fresh ones ? [my daffs were purchased for a Day of Prayer display four years ago]

How often do you find 'treasure' in the cupboard, when you are actually looking for something else?

Oh Don't They Know? There's No Such Thing...

I know I am not the only one excited by last week's announcement by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. There's a new book coming in the Autumn, featuring the Gruffalo Granny! 

JD says the idea has been bouncing around in her head for over twenty years, and now she's a granny herself, it has all come together. AS says that down the decades since the first book came out, he has occasionally drawn a few Gruffalo pictures, to keep his hand in, Personally, now I am a granny too, let me add my two-penn'orth to the comments 

• I approve of the fact the Granny has let the rich chestnut fur grow naturally into an attractive silver grey
• As I suspect, the Deep Dark Wood may be in Norfolk. Evidenced by the lack of adequate dentistry.
• Her tail and ears are a little droopy  -  body sagginess a definite sign of age catching up with this busy woman. 
• A stick is always useful, for walking, poking, or hoicking things down from high places.
• Her eyes remain alert and bright
• Her expression is amiable, she looks secretly amused
• She carries a pencil and notebook ready record important things
• She has a sensible crossbody bag, capacious enough for knitting, drink, snacks, tissues whatever

The plot has yet to be revealed. Thus far we have just one line
the Gruffalo said to his daughter one day
    "your Gruffalo granny is coming to stay"

My daughter has suggested that maybe granny visits so that G and his missus can go out to the Pub [that would be the one on the far side of the Deep Dark Wood? ]

However I suspect she may be going to teach her granddaughter important life skills

• calculating the the Fibonacci sequence [you maybe female, but STEM subjects matter]
• learning to bake [see here for a good cookbook] 
• telling those stories that parents sometimes 'forget' ["when your Dad was small, he ..."]
• practising how to be a proper activist and go on demos. [let's role play, child - I will be Emmeline Pankhusrt, and you can be Greta Thunberg]

What do YOU think that Gruffalo Granny should be doing when she visits

Something Beautiful

 

O living God, 

draw all the fragments of my life

into the bright mosaic of your love;

weave all the tangled threads of my desires

into the tapestry you are spreading,

like a rainbow,

on the loom of the world;

and help me celebrate the many facets

and the dazzling colours

of your peace.

Amen

Thank you Kirsten for sharing this prayer from Judy Hulme.

Feeling A Little Pasty, Eating A Large Pasty

The former represents how I have been recently, not sleeping well and therefore feeling fatigued. The sinus issue was still bothering me - and I have apparently been snoring an awful lot. I finally saw the GP on Thursday, and he discovered I have polyps in both nostrils - and they, not the sinuses, are the cause of the problem. A daily nasal spray should deal with them [but allow 12 weeks for it to work fully, he says] I felt much better for knowing what was wrong!
The latter- I watched Jamie's programme on Monday night [Channel 4], and decided to cook his £5 meal meat and potato pasties
The recipe was easy, budget friendly and we both enjoyed them - but they were huge

They came out nearly 20cm across and filled the bowl, I served them with mix veg. The filling [mince, plus grated potato, carrot, onion] was very moist and the 3tbsp of brown sauce added extra flavour. We added a little ketchup at the table. Next time, I might make three[ or four] smaller pasties with this quantity of mixture. Using strong bread flour for the pastry meant it was both thin, and robust [but not tough] I need to practice my crimping technique though
Have you cooked any of Jamie's £5 Feasts?

Twelve By Two

 Post came bright and early on Thursday. with K's final patch

As well as the patch and notes, I discovered some lovely knitting stitch markers, and cute erasers in the small flat box. When I was wrestling with my knot ideas, I had told myself that if that failed, I would just do a miniature ninepatch piece. But I did accomplish the knot - and lo and behold, Kirsten has sent me a gorgeous little square, using scraps from other collaborations, and charm sqaures- and a postage stamp fabric to celebrate our cross country collaboration.

We are both itching to sew our dozen pieces together now. Arranging them is fun...

I'd started sewing mine on Monday at Craft Group, but the newest patch cannot go in that space, it is too similar to the one beside it.
Meanwhile Kirsten laid hers out, and felt that maybe some of them [like the darned square] need a bit of a border

I can see how that edging helps soften the bright white evenweave. We are both working on the design of our finished pouches, and plans for the embroidered 'rubric' tape.

Do you like the soft grey woollen fabric which we are using to back our pieces? Suitably neutral I think. 
I was given a length of red viscose last month, which I am planning to use for a lining. I have sent some of it to K too. Seven weeks till Easter, and we hope to be done and dusted by then...

I'm A Frayed Knot!

It is just 6 months since Norwich Castle re-opened after the multimillion£££ restoration. We were delighted to have early view tickets, because we hold annual passes. I was blown away by everything there was- not just the phenomenal embroideries, but also the bright colours, and the wooden furniture, and the ironwork on the doors. I knew that I wanted to represent this project on one of my two-by-two patches. It has taken me till now, the very last patch, to actually do it. I have been planning this for weeks and weeks...

Historians discovered that the medieval castle builders used lots of bright colours, and although we are used to dark oak church doors, when first installed they would likely have been glorious primary hues, with black ironwork. This new door was designed by a Norfolk company, and the ironwork created in the forge at Holkham. 

It is the Bigod Door, named after Baron Bigod, first Norman Earl of Norfolk in the 12^th C, when the castle was built. This door is oak, covered in gloriously bright blue leather. I was amazed by the way that strips of metal were twisted and knotted, similar to Celtic knots and then riveted to the wood. The metal work forms hinges, handles, and general decoration.

I copied one particular knot last autumn and decided to recreate it with fabric and thread. It proved quite a challenge. I abandoned the idea of satin stitch, then thought about couching down some cord. Perhaps a black shoelace on blue fabric? It didn’t look right. I did have a book of small linen samples. I opted to use a neutral colour for the patch, with the knot in a bright blue cord.

Having worked out the knot – under/over/under/ over I pinned it to a piece of corrugated card and adjusted the loops as best I could, then transferred cord carefully to fabric and stitched it down[blanket stitch] with two strands of floss [blue/ lilac/ purple random dye]
Then I added NORWICH CASTLE, REBORN 2025 in back stitch in plain purple floss.

The first one, on darker linen, had the ends of cord going over the edge, and the lettering was perhaps a little too close to the fold. And in the wrong light, you couldn’t read it anyway! There were problems with the cord ends fraying too. So Kirsten is getting the lighter one  which I consider to be better of the two!

This knot was hard enough to create with cord, I am in awe of a blacksmith who can make such a knot with hot twisted metal – whether in 1100 or 2020!   

Notes:

• The knot is the one at the top of the vertical decoration which runs up the centre of the door.
• Baron Bigod is now remembered in the wonderful Brie style artisanal cheese, made at the Fen Farm Dairy in Suffolk
• This is my last patch. Kirsten's should arrive very soon and we will get on with stitching the 'rubric' and making up the project. Hoping to be done by Easter.
• I'm becoming quietly obsessed with ancient needlework, but equally fascinated by the technological developments which mean my new sewing machine can do so much more than any I have ever used before...It's all about finding the best in both disciplines I think.

Counting, Watching. Listening

Because some of you were asking yesterday - here's the Nine Times Table Fingers Trick, I cannot find the originator of this YouTube, but it is explained very well here.

There are other Finger Tricks for times tables but personally I would not use them as I think they may confuse the children. Many school do not want children using their fingers at all as they believe it is a bad idea, and will prevent their pupils thriving in maths. But personally I love this one for the nines, and even quite young children learn it quickly and enjoy showing off to the adults. I am 70, I have a BSc in Maths, but I still count with my fingers at times. Especially when I am calculating stitches in knitting patterns!
Lots of crafting going on this week - repairs and jeans hems for friends, and my final 2x2 patch has gone off to K in the post. Once hers arrives, I will start stitching them together, and making up my sewing pouch. Pictures soon...

Have you been watching the Night Manager [season 2] ? no spoilers hereIt ended on Sunday evening, and the finale was quite harrowing.  They filmed season 1 ten years ago, and in April 2016, Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston said there would not be a season 2. Ten years later, here it is - and the writer, David Farr has already said he is working in Season 3, and promises there will not be a ten year gap this time round!

I have been working at the sewing machine, with earbuds in, listening to Radio 4 Extra. Specifically, one of Mark Taverner's comedy thrillers "In The Chair"- first broadcast in 1998. The two main stars are Michael Williams [Husband of Judi Dench] and Barry Foster [original VanDerValk] but the rest of the cast is superb
Hugh Laurie is Prime Minister, then there are other great actors, Rebecca Front, Richard Griffith, John Bird, Kenneth Cranham, Geoffrey Whitehead.  

Many of these brilliant people are no longer with us, but Front, Fry and Laurie continue to entertain on stage, screen and radio. Bob and I enjoys Hugh Laurie's jazz too [ HL can not only act, but also sing and play the piano!] 
I was doing my volunteer visiting at the hospital last week, and talking to a patient who said she was grateful to have a radio with her [no TVs on the ward] but found it hard to find programmes she liked. She was thrilled when I told her what she could listen to on Radio 4 Extra - Paul Temple, Tony Hancock, Dad's Army, Sherlock Holmes...
And after all, sometimes on radio, the pictures are better!

Having Sum Fun

 For Christmas, I got the London family an annual pass for MathsWorld

This is a new venture, not far from Tate Gallery, with lots of activities and immersive experiences to help children [and adults] discover about maths. Liz took Rosie and Jess on Sunday. The girls really enjoyed themselves, climbing into pyramids, creating bubbles to stand in, solving puzzles etc. They were quite excited to tell me what they had seen and done - and Rosie explained it is on two floors, so they hope to go again and try out even more of the activities. I'm all for anything that gets people doing maths - and whilst it might be relatively expensive for a one-off visit, that ticket can exchanged for an annual pass. 

Maybe if I am staying in London, I might be able to go with them. I'm sure Jess will enjoy explaining everything to me. It is a certainly good venue for a wet Sunday afternoon. I think we will get our money's worth- and I hope the girls might become as fond of maths as their Grandma! They have just opened another site in Leeds
Have you been to MathsWorld?
Are there other similar places you would recommend?

Blue Planet, Green Planet, Cornerstones Bathroom...

My orchids are spending the winter on the bathroom windowsill [waiting, like Eliza Doolittle, for spring to creep over]

If you look closely, you will see a little person in each pot. Despite his advancing years, Sir David Attenborough gets everywhere. These cute little resin figures were a gift from Julian. "David Attenborough will look after your plants" it said on the box. I thought maybe they were waterers or feeders or something. No, they are just little figures on spikes.

Julian admitted that he too thought they would do more than just stand there...
I'm not sure which one I like best. Top left with the butterfly is sweet. I think top right is a chameleon [but if so why is it still dark green?]  They one with the binoculars is looking for a better orchid, as the leaves on his are going yellow. And the pose with the camera looks a bit formal. I think butterfly wins.

It reminds me of the legend of St Kevin, an Irish monk who lived very close to nature, and all the wild creatures came and lived round his hermitage back in the 6th century
He is said to have been sitting in his monk's cell praying when a blackbird settled on his hand. The bird proceeded to build a nest and lay an egg - and the saint sat perfectly still until the egg had hatched and the mother and fledgling flew away. David Attenborough has been sitting on the bathroom windowsill for at least 8 weeks now, and his butterfly has not moved!
My beloved Auntie Peggy [Julian's Grandmother] almost met him once [that's DA not StK] He came to a bookshop in Romford to sign his latest publication. She spent about 30 minutes plucking up the courage to speak to him, but was so nervous, she never actually got to the front of the queue. I think she always wished she'd been more confident. 
There are a few buds coming on the orchids, so I hope for blossoms before too long.
Do you enjoy DA's programmes?
Which have been your favourites?

Really?

I confess to being a little puzzled by this one - it is February after all. Naomi, the artist, lives in Northern Ireland, and I'm pretty certain the weather there isn't too brilliant right now[but I know some of you, like Bless, are enjoying sun, and blossoms]
There are a few flowers [snowdrops, daffs...] but not a lot of blooms and I haven't seen any butterflies lately.
I think of February as a time for sowing,  time to prepare my garden for the summer, and prepare my heart for Easter [Lent begins on 17th Feb] 

The calendar picture is attractive, but it feels like the wrong month!
Blooming confusing if you ask me! I can only think that in these cold wintry days, Naomi has been singing songs from My Fair Lady to herself
Oh, so loverly, sitting abso-BLOOMING-lutely still
I would never budge, till Spring crept over me winder-sill

 

Oh, I Love That Book!

I took a book to read in the dentist's waiting room. I had recently decided to reread this book again because I love it. It makes me laugh out loud, and is a good antidote to cold winters and depressing news reports. 
Traffic was good, and the journey to East Harling went very smoothly. I had left home in good time [two weeks before, there was one diversion and three lots of roadworks with temporary traffic lights] so I got there with 20 minutes in hand. I checked in, and then sat down, swapped driving glasses for reading glasses, and opened my book. 
A couple of minutes later, the door opened. In came a mum, with baby in pram, and Grandma bringing up the rear. The chap who was waiting leapt up and rearranged chairs to accommodate the bassinet. Everyone settled down, and then the young woman said "Oh, I love that book!" I realised she was talking about my paperback.

I quickly swapped over my glasses [she was seriously out of focus] and we spent the next 10 minutes talking about EMD's characters, and the perceptive descriptions of the children, and longsuffering husband Robert. I said I had one of those. "Does yours ever complain that he has not had sufficient breakfast?" she asked. "Occasionally" I said. This young Mum was utterly delightful, about the same age as my Liz [who also enjoys DOAPL] "I have never met anyone else before who has read it!" she enthused. "What do you think of the Vicar's Wife character?" she asked. We covered an awful lot of ground before she was called through to the treatment room. It quite took my mind off gloomy thoughts about the possibility of root canal work. [which mercifully did not materialise]
I don't seem to have ever reviewed this book on my blog, which surprises me. I think I last read it during the pandemic, when I was here on my own at Cornerstones, running Grandma's Nursery for Rosie. There had just been an article in the Guardian about the book, and it was already here on the shelf at Cornerstones.
You can pick it up and put it down without 'losing the thread' so it's ideal for an 'analogue bag' It won't be to everyone's taste - but if you are stuck for something different, please do give it a try! It's a first person narrative, similar to Three Men In A Boat in many ways. The punctuation is rather random, and she uses capitals frequently, so characters have names like Our Vicar's Wife, and she skips speech marks. You get a line like Then Lady B. said Did I Want Coffee? and I replied Not Just Yet. 
Perhaps I should write a book in this style
I was in John Lewis, and a Complete Stranger said You are our Neighbour Daphne. And when I said No, I was Angela, she pointed to my Beloved Husband, and asked Well why are You with Him? He looks just like Daphne's Boyfriend...
I suspect nobody would publish it

Great Chieftain O' The Puddin' Race

Great Chieftain O' The Puddin' Race 
We celebrated Burns' Night a day late, but I cooked a haggis with cream sauce, neeps and tatties. And asked Alexa to play Scotland the Brave on the Bagpipes as I carried it to the table [for once, she obliged!] I have no idea what Burns' haggis poem means, and I suspect it might detract from my enjoyment of the meal if I did
I bought my McSween's haggis [serves 2-3] from Robertson's Butchers in Reepham. The butcher was very helpful and I have to say the flavour was excellent.  I'd done rather a lot of veg, and we had much haggis left over, so I made two 'cottage pies' for the next day - neeps on the bottom, then haggis, then mash on the top. 

The haggis is not usually considered a UPF, being made of lamb, beef, oats, stock, onion, salt, pepper and spices. No artificial colours or ingredients. One of the main ingredients of haggis is liver, which is high in vitamin A, vitamin B12 and folate. Heart and lungs will provide some iron, zinc and selenium and the oats included in haggis will contribute to fibre intake. It’s important not to over indulge in haggis as it tends to be high in fat and saturated fat as well as high in salt, so be mindful of the portion size. It was a filling, warming dish on a cold evening. I may serve it again soon, but without the bagpipes! It is relatively inexpensive, and a good ZeroWaste food, using up the offal which is often discarded.
Have you ever eaten haggis?
Did you celebrate with a Burns' Night Supper?

So Very Grateful...

Back to the dentist for a follow up appointment. Good news, everything seems to have responded to the treatment [antibiotics, saline rinses etc] It was an infection in the gum. No need for root canal work etc. In and out quickly, there was no charge for the visit. Return in the autumn for routine check up. Hallelujah!

Home via the ward where my old school friend is in hospital. She's been away from home since November, this is the 7th different bed she's been in, the 4th location. She is looking forward to getting home. I'm so pleased to see her looking brighter, and healthier. I got home at 1.15, Bob was making sandwiches

We'd just finished eating when Craig at Vision Express rang. My replacement frames had arrived. We popped into Dereham. It is wonderful to be able to see properly again, and only need one pair of specs.

I did try to do some 2x2 hand stitching on Tuesday, but it wasn't right, and I ended up unpicking it. I hope to get the bulk of the two patches done soon. Plus I have some sewing jobs lined up for three friends. Glad to able to see clearly enough to sew straight!

All in all a good week, thank the Lord. Much restoration! 

Guess What We Used To Make This, Grandad?

The girls were with us Saturday afternoon. Rosie had asked me to teach her to crochet. So once she was busy making chains, and Jess has realised this was not something she had the patience for, I took her off to do a simpler craft. We made some bunting, and hung it between two chairs.

I had made these all little flags last week, but before she began decorating them, I showed Jess the technique. Its ridiculously easy but you need to prepare them at least 48 hours beforehand, and children must understand that some bits can only be done by a grown up. 

You need lots of loo rolls. Each one makes 2 flags. The instructions in Red can be done by children.  Adults should do the hot water bit!

1. Half fill a jug with very hot water
2. Using tongs, carefully stand a loo roll in the jug
3. Count to ten [child can do that!]
4. Using tongs lift up the tube and turn it over, put it back in the jug
5. Count to five, lift out the tube, shake it a little
6. It will start to unroll, and become two separate parallelograms.
7. Do this with all the loo rolls
8. Lay the shapes on a worktop or chopping board to dry
9. Carefully fold in half to make a "pennant" shape.
10. Next day, when dry, stack them and put a weight on top to keep them flat

Now they are ready to decorate and will hang tidily over a string. You can staple near the fold to stop them coming off! The card is really good for paints or felt pens, or for sticking things on with PVA or Glusticks.
NB You can sterilise loo rolls - place 4 in a cross shape on a microwave plate, and zap on full power for 20 seconds [no longer, they may catch fire] but I reckon this total immersion in very hot water is adequate cleansing.

Watching the rolls uncurl to become diamond shapes is weirdly magical. And people are so surprised when you tell them what the bunting is made from! I shall do this one again i think.