The rusty star is now the Trusty Star. I found a can of silver Hammerite paint (Ace Hardware, made by a local licensee) and refreshed my Lone Star, as well as adding the two flags.
The school opposite has flags flying but they look sad- maybe they have to choose between buying chalk or a new flag. Reminds me of that old teacher joke: “Johnny, what are the colors of the Ethiopian flag?”
“No-one knows, miss. They ate the last one.”
Of course, that would earn three weeks in re-education camp now, if it was told as a joke, so I repeat it not for mirth but to point out how we have progressed. As a society. Now no-one knows which is their national flag.