Need a paper fan? In a hurry? When would you need a cooling, fan, a fake fan? I often do, in Asia, especially Singapore, in London in the summer, in the USA, even New York in summer, and Washington DC, on the same latitude as Madrid in Spain.
In a hotel bedroom before the air con starts to take effect. In a conference room in Wales at Writers' Holiday. You look around at somebody who had a fan and think, aren't they lucky. Never mind having a fancy fan, any fan would do.
You could splash water on yourself from your water bottle, or the tap in the toilet, and wave a piece of paper, such as the meeting programme. But there's no meeting programme. They are saving money on paper and ink and time and claiming to save the planet and the trees by asking everybody to read the programme online on their phones.
But there is a solution. Just use a piece of stiff paper or card.
Where from? Your office. Your wastebin. The office bin.
The hotel bin.
Free brochures you picked up but have read and no longer need.
Paper bag or cardboard bag which you or somebody else discarded.
Large envelope.
Two methods.
Pencil
1 Use a pencil or disposable bamboo chopsticks for the upright, like the post of a flag.
Point First
Put the pencil, point first inside the envelope. Why point first? To avoid geting the point marking your hand with colour or hurting your skin.
Pencil Without a Point
Here's a use for a new pencil you were given at a trade show which has no point yet, so you cannot use it to write until you get home or back to the office.
Envelope
Envelope too flimsy? Fold it in half. Use two. Look for another, bigger stronger envelope.
Concertina
Fold your paper in half then in half again, and again. Until you have long oblongs. Unfold and re-fold, alternating the folds.
Hold the bottom together by turning it up an inch or two which you grasp when fanning yourself.
At home you could make yourself a pretty DIY fan from fancy coloured paper. Use stiffer paper or card on the outsides when the paper concertina is closed. Decorate the outside or edge with silver paint or silver foil or cooking foil or sweet wrapper.
Or buy plain coloured paper to match your outfit from a stationery store or art shop.
Sometimes it is cheaper to buy a cheap notebook than a piece of art paper. Even a book with a back cover you can tear off would be good. That way you get a fan and a notebook.
Or buy a ruler and ask the shop for a paper bag. Use the ruler as the stiffener and fold the bag into a concertina.
Angela Lansbury
Travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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