K Shamsie, London To the last question first: because there is a school of thought, a limited but not without merit school, that thinks the only people who wear brightly coloured coats are batty art teachers who own several cats and have at least two dozen jars of jam in their larder with a sell-by-date of 1976.
The skeletons were found buried in a foetal position – the head pointing to the west and the feet to the east according to ancient Egyptian beliefs, surrounded by jars once filled with supplies for afterlife.
The modest 9ft deep shafts held a dozen skeletons of pyramid builders, perfectly preserved by dry sand along with jars of beer and bread for the afterlife.
6 Pour into jars, secure the lids firmly and allow to cool.
Thanks to clever brains and dextrous suckers, they can also open locks, unscrew jars and even untie surgical sutures.
Clean, empty jars White plasticine Model railway people and trees White glitter Epoxy glue Water Glycerin Build up a snowy hill out of white plasticine in the centre of your jar lid so you can see your figures over the rim of the jar.
Now is a good opportunity to put the jam jars and lids in the oven to sterilise.
Makes 2 340g jars 400ml double cream ½ vanilla pod, split in half down the middle 4 tbsp runny honey 100g blanched hazelnuts 4 tbsp water 200g dark chocolate 50g unsalted butter A pinch of salt 1 Preheat oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. n a small pan, gently warm the double cream, vanilla and honey over a low heat for 2-3 minutestirringing occasionally.
I was drawn to a few jars containing some of the museum's "wet specimens".
Transfer to a plate and set aside to cool. 4 Divide the custard between four small/medium jars.
Adapted from La Tartine Gourmande by Béatrice Peltre (Roost Books) Small portable trifles made in individual jars with aromatic apple and a nutty crunch.
