If you are eating a dessert your life is generally going okay. There are many desserts I’ve loved over the years. One I miss is Gino Ginelli’s tutti fruitti ice cream. For a while in the late 1980s this had ousted the Viennetta as the Sunday lunchtime dessert of choice for my family. I have attempted to recreate this dessert.
As I remember it, there were fat raisins and glace fruit pieces in a pale colour ice cream. It tasted of more than vanilla. I chose some Whitworths flame raisins, some Sussex Wholefoods mixed glace fruit and some Sainsbury’s raspberry and peach Melba ice cream.
The bowl I chose to eat this experiment in is very important, it’s the same J.&G. Meakin poppy pattern bowlas the one I’d have eaten it from in the late 1980s. There are loads of these on ebay.
I have an eclectic mix of kitchen stuff. As well as retro stuff mainly from my grandparents I also have cute bat kitchen scissors.
I added 30 grams of mixed glace fruit and 10 flame raisins to my bowl.
I added about 66 grams of ice cream (a bit more than the per scoop serving size of 54 grams written on the tub).
I then mixed the glace fruits, raisins and ice cream.
The result? Did I have a Proustian moment? Is now the time to come clean and admit I haven’t read Proust but have had a lovely six volume set of his In Search of Lost Time in my ebay basket for ages?
I had achieved a good dessert but I wasn’t back in 1987. I’d used way too much mixed fruit, causing an enjoyable Christmassy feel, and the peach flavour, while pleasant, was not in keeping with the original dessert.
Will I try this again? I’ve got 470 grams of mixed glace fruit to do something with. Or will I turn my attentions to the now discontinued Wimpy Knickerbocker Glory? I last had one in Swanage in September 2019. I’ve had great modern desserts too, most notably the chocolate nemesis at Branca, the lemon meringue cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory and the strawberry Napoleon on an NCL cruise ship.
I love books which are written in a diary format. Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole is one of my all time favourite literary characters. Without him, my character Cleo Howard would not exist.
Cleo Howard is a heavy metal loving teenager. I left her in the year Y2K, at Coventry University. I will eventually write The Still Not Grown Out Of It Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard. This lives in my head in an unwieldy fashion as TSNGOOIDOCH, and if any literary agents out there think they can represent the Cleo Howard diaries, let me know! I think the time could be right, there’s a lot of late 90s/Y2K nostalgia around at the moment.
I have also written fiction about Pam Dickens, she lives in Oxford (not the posh bit with more books set in it, the slightly more affordable bit). Pam is at retirement age and loves Christmas. I am about to write the fictional diary of her daughter Nicola Dickens.
To start any fictional diary you need to decide what time period it will cover.
Nicola Dickens Uses Christmas To Hold Herself Together will cover the period of 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025.
The Still Not Grown Out Of It Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard (TSNGOOIDOCH) begins on 23rd July 2025, the day after Ozzy Osbourne’s death and continues for one year, until 22nd July 2026.
Usually when I begin writing a fictional diary I take my actual diary and strip out all text except the dates and use this as my starting point. Sometimes people say to me “I’ve read your diary” and my face does a shocked expression and then I realise they mean Cleo Howard’s or Pam Dickens’ diary. My actual diaries are never to be published, even posthumously, not for any legal reasons, simply because they are too real lifey and no-one is interested in my top three fave risottos or when I get a new jumper). If you like reading about real lifey things, I can recommend the Mass Observation Archive who I would love to visit one day.
So, we have AI now and instead of preparing a list of dates myself I could ask ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to do this. I’d be interested to know if anyone thinks this is cheating.
I’ll create the dates for Nicola Dickens Uses Christmas To Hold Herself Together (1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025). These dates have already happened so I think it should be easy for my AI chums. Also dates are used in so many contexts that surely this must be simple for AI? I will specify the format I want the dates in, so I will ask AI to list all the dates from Monday 1st July 2024 to Monday 30th June 2025.
This looks good but notice at the start ChatGPT said that February 2025 has 29 days “Got it — you’d like a full list of every date, day by day, from Monday 1st July 2024 through to Monday 30th June 2025. That’s exactly 366 days (since 2024 is a leap year, so February 2025 has 29 days).” It seems that ChatGPT doesn’t understand leap years. However, the list of dates it has given me doesn’t have a 29th February 2025 so it knows on some level this date doesn’t exist.
Let’s see how Microsoft Copilot does the same task of list all the dates from Monday 1st July 2024 to Monday 30th June 2025.
This isn’t what I wanted. Obviously I need to rephrase what I’m asking. This was an interesting experiment and both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot clearly state they can make mistakes. I’ll stop here and give you a couple of extracts from my actual diary entry for 29th February 2024, this will have you agreeing with my earlier decision that it’s too real lifey;
Send orange bra back to M&S for a refund. Done at lunch time.
Have Christmas pudding for afternoon snack? What with? Custard or ice cream or cherry pie filling? Had it with custard.
I have eaten an average of 2.79 portions of fruit and veg each day in February.
My mum loves to watch the Wimbledon tennis tournament. I love greetings cards, the more obscure the better. So I’ll ask AI to help me mark the occasion of Wimbledon with a greetings card for my mum.
I asked ChatGPT; Design a happy wimbledon tennis card for my mum.
ChatGPT said:
Here’s a cheerful and thoughtful Wimbledon-themed tennis card idea for your mum—perfect for showing love with a touch of sporty British charm:
🎾 Front of Card:
Design:
A bright, summery background with Centre Court at Wimbledon.
Two strawberries with cream in the foreground smiling (cartoon style).
Tennis rackets crossed behind them like a crest.
Floating tennis balls around the border like confetti.
Text:
“Serving Love This Wimbledon…” (in playful, elegant script font)
🎾 Inside of Card (Left Side – Optional Illustration):
A cute drawing of a tennis net with hearts instead of tennis balls.
Little Union Jack flags strung above the court.
🎾 Inside of Card (Right Side – Message):
Dear Mum,
Wimbledon is in full swing, and so is my love for you!
You’re the champion of my heart — always graceful, strong, and full of good cheer (just like a perfect rally on Centre Court!).
Let’s raise a glass (and a strawberry 🍓) to summer, tennis, and the amazing mum you are.
Love you game, set, and match!
Love always, [Your Name] 💚🎾
Would you like me to turn this into a printable design or create an image version of the front of the card?
You said:
printable design
Image created
Share
You said:
I can’t see the full image
ChatGPT said:
Here’s the full printable version of your Wimbledon-themed card for your mum:
This was not the full image.
You can print it on A4 paper (landscape orientation), then fold it in half to make a traditional card. Let me know if you’d like it resized, personalized with your name, or turned into a PDF!
You said:
Can you make it a bit smaller
ChatGPT said:
Here is the smaller version of your Wimbledon-themed card:
Let me know if you’d like a back page or a vertical version too!
You said:
The left side is cut off
ChatGPT said:
It seems like I can’t do more advanced data analysis right now. Please try again later.
If you’d like, I can guide you on how to crop the image yourself using free tools or photo editing software. Just let me know!
You said:
It’s already too cropped, please change to portrait
ChatGPT said:
It seems like I can’t do more advanced data analysis right now. Please try again later.
In the meantime, you can rotate the image to portrait orientation using most image editing tools:
On a computer:
Windows: Right-click the image → “Rotate left”.
Mac: Open in Preview → Tools → Rotate Left.
Or if you prefer, I can regenerate a fresh portrait-oriented version of the front page for you. Would you like that?
Yes
ChatGPT said:
Image created
I’ve printed this cute image and will use a Pritt Stick to attach it to a red card blank I have.
Now lets see what Copilot can do.
In conclusion, ChatGPT was good, although getting the sizing right of the full card didn’t happen with my free goes at ChatGPT for the day and when I asked for my name to be added it was on the top of other text:
Copilot also had a nice design. Both these softwares were helpful for this task. Below is the finished card I will use to accompany some Wimbledon themed gifts.
Happy Wimbledon fortnight to those who celebrate it!
I’ve had 20 goes at using AI (specifically ChatGPT and Copilot). I’ve found it fun. I’ve not been as excited about computers since my Grampy bought the Commodore Vic 20.
Something I wondered early on is how is using ChatGPT and Copilot different to doing a Google search? My main Googlings are looking up definitions of words while reading (since I began reading James Joyce’s Ulysses because AI told me it was the best book written in English I’m doing a lot of this), things I want to know more about, shopping and where things are (maps I mean, not what’s in my cupboards). ChatGPT and Copilot can create for me, whereas Google can just show me existing creations made by other humans. However, some of the things ChatGPT and Copilot shows me are now created by AI.
The following quote; “As the AI-generated data clouds the human creations that these models are so heavily dependent on amalgamating, it becomes inevitable that a greater share of what these so-called intelligences learn from and imitate is itself an ersatz AI creation.” Is from an article at Futurism.com.
The article introduced me to the concept of model collapse. It seems we could get ourselves into a sticky inward looking mess of AI, a sort of sludgy pudding of content which is made of the unnourishing ingredients of AI regurgitating itself rather than the nice fresh ingredients of human brain thinkings. I may not be explaining this very well, it’s new to me. Do you see what I did there? I paused to evaluate my performance. Does AI do this?
Is AI an emperor’s new clothes situation in some ways? In other ways there is huge potential, but maybe we’ll end up with lots of separate AI applications for very specific tasks.
I’m enjoying the fortune cookie, magic eight ball nature of AI, the truth or dare opportunity of ask me anything. It is changing me, while I am changing it. It is leading me towards certain creative options. I like it when AI agrees with me but I don’t think this is good for me. A study by researchers at UCL found that use of AI can cause people to become more biased.
I have now told you everything I’ve recently learnt about AI. So what next? I’d like a go with Google Gemini. I’d like to test my theory that Copilot doesn’t recognise pants. How will Copilot being able to recognise pants be of benefit? I don’t know. I want to explore how ChatGPT and Copilot use the word similar, because I don’t think how they use it is similar to each other. But, what about the environmental impact of AI? Looking at an article from the UN environment programme makes me wonder should I be using AI for entertaining myself?
In conclusion, I don’t have a conclusion, I don’t know what AI is for yet and how it fits into my personal digital landscape.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic I started celebrating Junemas and encouraging my family to do so. Junemas is the 25th of June and is a tiny Christmas. I wonder what our AI chums know about it?
I asked: What is Junemas?
ChatGPT said:
Thought for 44 seconds
Junemas, in a nutshell
Junemas is an informal, largely U‑K‑based “Christmas‑in‑June” celebration that lands on (or around) 25 June – exactly six months before Christmas Day. It’s a mash‑up of June + Christmas, popularised in 2021 when supermarket Aldi rolled out a high‑profile #AldiJunemas campaign inviting people to enjoy the Christmas they missed during COVID lockdowns. aldipresscentre.co.uk
Why it caught on
What happened
Why it mattered
Lockdowns spoiled Christmas 2020
Many families couldn’t meet, so a “second chance” Christmas sounded fun – especially once summer weather allowed outdoor gatherings. chunkofdevon.co.uk
Aldi’s stunt went viral
The retailer relaunched mince pies, pigs‑in‑blankets and even a summer‑edition Kevin the Carrot toy, sparking national headlines and social‑media chatter. underthechristmastree.co.uk
Half‑way‑to‑Christmas maths
25 June is the tipping point where we’re closer to the next Christmas than the last, so brands such as Park Christmas Savings use the whole of June for prize draws and festive quizzes. christmas.getpark.co.uk
Events & local spins
Town parades (e.g., Hull’s Victorian‑themed “Jerry McBaubles” parade in 2024) and themed menus from pie‑makers, hog‑roast caterers and pubs turned Junemas into a reason to gather. backtoours.co.ukspittingpighampshire.co.uk
Décor: People dust off the fairy lights, pop on jumpers for novelty selfies, or put a mini tree outside the tent at a festival.
Games & giving: Brands run “12 Days of Junemas” giveaways, savings clubs launch “half‑way‑there” promotions, and some families exchange small presents as a teaser for December.
Charity ties: Several #Junemas events donate proceeds to causes such as Teenage Cancer Trust or local food banks, echoing Christmas giving.
How Junemas fits in the calendar
Leon Day (25 June) – “NOEL” spelled backwards – already marks halfway to Christmas among American crafters; Junemas is the broader, party‑oriented equivalent in the U.K.
Christmas in July – Older southern‑hemisphere tradition (25 July). Junemas simply shifts the fun a month earlier for northern‑hemisphere barbecue weather and marketing momentum.
Not an official holiday – Schools, banks and workplaces carry on as normal; Junemas lives on social media, in store promotions and community events.
So, if someone invites you to Junemas…
Expect tinsel‑wrapped garden furniture, cold prosecco next to hot mince pies, and plenty of tongue‑in‑cheek “Merry Junemas!” greetings. It’s a lightweight, good‑humoured excuse to gather with friends and family – and a reminder that the real festive season is only six months away. 🎄
My comments: I have never seen ChatGPT “think” before. I will now ask Copilot the same question.
In a previous post I asked ChatGPT and Copilot to create a Christmas card image similar to one I’d uploaded. The ChatGPT version was very similar, almost too much so, and the Copilot one wasn’t similar enough.
Here’s a retro Christmas card:
Let’s show it to our AI chums and state create a similar Christmas card image.
ChatGPT has given us this:
I like it!
Copilot can’t do the task:
I’ll now try using a photo and the prompt create a similar image. The source photo is me in about 1984. The avocado bathroom is new and that is why the photo was taken.
ChatGPT: Thanks for sharing the image! It looks like a photo from the late 70s or early 80s, based on the decor (especially the avocado green bathtub, floral tiles, and patterned wallpaper). The child in the picture is sitting on what seems to be a toilet lid or heater near the bath, wearing a striped dress or long shirt and colorful rainbow leg warmers over jeans or tights — a very classic retro look!
If you have any specific questions about the image or want me to edit or analyze something in it, feel free to let me know!
You said:
create a similar image
ChatGPT said:
Image created
Copilot said:
I don’t know why Copilot can’t create a similar image. I’ll try one more image.
My source image is from the 1977 Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II and was a very exciting day because I met Bungle from Rainbow and Andy Pandy:
ChatGPT doesn’t know who Andy Pandy is. This is a great answer though. The created image (below) is oddly unsettling and very similar to the source image.
In my interactions with ChatGPT and Copilot I’ve been impressed by how whimsical both have been. I am going to ask if they think they are good at being whimsical and then give them a whimsical image task.
ChatGPT sounds up for it. Let’s see what Copilot has to say.
After a slow start Copilot seems keen. I am going to upload an image of a whimsical Christmas card and ask for the creation of something similar. I gave ChatGPT the image (not yet asking for anything to be done with it) and this is the response:
ChatGPT seems to mostly know that the cat is holding pants, but also once calls the pants trousers. I’ll ask what the cat is holding.
ChatGPT knows these are underpants. But why would the robins be stunned? I’ve assumed they purchased the gift (don’t ask me where they keep their wallets) but not gift wrapped it, I think they would have had the shop assistant do that for them. I am in no way claiming to know better than ChatGPT what happened to lead us up to this merry cat and robin depiction. I’ll ask who bought the underpants for the cat. The robins might just be delivering it.
My prompt: Who bought the underpants for the cat?
ChatGPT said:
Ah, now that is a question worthy of whimsical detective work!
Judging by the scene—the festive snow, the joyful robins, and the cat’s startled blush—it’s clear that these floral underpants were gifted with love… and possibly mischief.
Let me spin you a little tale:
The Tale of the Mysterious Merry Pants
T’was the week before Christmas, and all through the glen, The woodland folk whispered, again and again: “That cat, oh so dapper, in boots shiny black, Deserves something grand for his jolly red sack!”
A robin named Rosie, with feathers so bright, Had an idea in the middle of night. She chirped to her partner, a cheeky young chap, “Let’s gift him some underpants—just for a laugh!”
They fluttered to town, through wind, sleet, and snow, To a shop filled with frills and a fine mistletoe. There! On a shelf with a tag that said “Bold,” Lay bloomers so bright, so daring, so… cold.
They wrapped them with ribbons in green-striped delight, And left them for Santa Cat late in the night. Now here he stands, in a blush and a daze, Holding the gift in a floral-clad haze.
And the robins? Just giggling behind frozen twigs, Already planning next year’s holiday pranks and hijinks.
So in short: it was definitely the robins. And they’re already legends in the forest for their bold fashion choices.
Want to send a thank-you note to them? I can help you draft one.
My comment: the line “Lay bloomers so bright, so daring, so… cold.” Doesn’t quite work but other than that it’s a solid poem. At this point I could a) ask why the pants are cold, b) go back to my original aim of getting a Christmas card image, or c) get a thank-you note written to the robins.
ChatGPT is a bit busy so we’ll pop over to Copilot. Here’s the response to uploading the image (not yet asking for anything to be done with it):
Copilot seems to not know that the cat is holding pants.
I’ve made a note that Copilot hasn’t recognised pants for a future blog post.
My prompt of please can you create a Christmas card image similar is clumsy (no question mark and the word similar is tacked on at the end) but has worked. Let’s see the image ChatGPT has created:
This is enormously similar to the original image and I’ve made a note to explore how ChatGPT and Copilot use the word similar in a future blog post. ChatGPT has created a full brief style of knicker. I also notice the two berries, one leaf decoration is perhaps not what a human artist would do.
I’ll end by asking ChatGPT to write a thank you note to the robins.
I am going to ask ChatGPT and Copilot the same simple question for five consecutive days and see what answers I get. I’ll ask what are the three best books written in English?
Here’s ChatGPT’s answer on 10th June 2025
Here’s Copilot’s answer on 10th June 2025
So we have agreement between ChatGPT and Copilot on two out of three books. I have a copy of Ulysses on my to be read shelf.
Day two and I’ll ask the same question again; What are the 3 best books written in English? Here’s ChatGPT’s answer on 11th June 2025
Here’s Copilot’s answer on 11th June 2025
So we have agreement between ChatGPT and Copilot on two out of three books on the second time of asking.
On 12th June 2025 I asked again.
On 13th June 2025 I asked again.
Choosing the “3 best books written in English” is subjective and depends on criteria like literary merit, influence, popularity, or cultural significance. However, if we look at critical acclaim, historical impact, and enduring legacy, a strong case can be made for the following three:
1. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)
Why it’s considered one of the best: A groundbreaking work in modernist literature, Ulysses revolutionized narrative structure and stream-of-consciousness technique. It’s dense, complex, and immensely influential.
What it’s about: It parallels Homer’s Odyssey, following a day in the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin.
Impact: Changed the course of 20th-century fiction and remains a towering literary achievement.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)
Why it’s considered one of the best: A profound commentary on race, justice, and morality in the American South, told through the eyes of a child.
What it’s about: Scout Finch’s coming of age during her father’s defense of a Black man wrongly accused of rape.
Impact: Hugely influential in American culture and education; Pulitzer Prize winner and widely read around the world.
3. Hamlet by William Shakespeare (c. 1600)
Why it’s considered one of the best: Technically a play, but it’s literature of the highest order. Hamlet delves into themes of mortality, revenge, madness, and existential doubt.
What it’s about: The Prince of Denmark struggles with revenge after the murder of his father.
Impact: Possibly the most quoted work in English literature; its language, themes, and psychological depth remain unmatched.
Would you like a list more tailored to a specific genre (e.g., sci-fi, fantasy, modern fiction) or type of reader (teen, casual, academic)?
Choosing the “3 best books written in English” is inevitably subjective and depends on what you value most—literary influence, cultural impact, emotional power, or pure storytelling. However, based on critical consensus, historical significance, and enduring popularity, here are three often-cited contenders:
1. Ulysses by James Joyce (1922)
Why it’s considered great: It’s a landmark of modernist literature, known for its stream-of-consciousness style and intricate structure.
Influence: Revolutionized narrative technique and inspired generations of writers.
Challenge: It’s dense and not an easy read, but hugely rewarding for serious readers.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)
Why it’s considered great: Combines powerful themes of racial injustice, morality, and empathy with a compelling coming-of-age story.
Impact: Widely taught in schools and deeply influential in American cultural and social discussions.
Accessibility: Readable, emotionally resonant, and still relevant today.
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
Why it’s considered great: Brilliant social commentary wrapped in wit, romance, and elegant prose.
Endurance: Over 200 years later, it still feels fresh and relatable.
Legacy: Helped shape the modern novel and remains a cornerstone of English literature.
Other frequently mentioned contenders:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
1984 by George Orwell
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
Hamlet by William Shakespeare (if you include plays)
Would you like a list based on a specific genre, time period, or theme?
Since this is my last go at asking this question I’ll ask for the three best books written about a fictional metal band.
What are the three best books written about a fictional metal band?
ChatGPT said:
Books about fictional metal bands are a niche but deeply entertaining genre—often blending satire, coming-of-age drama, and a love letter to heavy music culture. Here are three of the best books written about fictional metal bands, combining critical acclaim, cult followings, and genuine affection for the genre:
1. The Very Metal Diary of Cleo Howard by Sarah Tipper
Band: The Fury
Why it’s great: A funny, sweet, and heartfelt coming-of-age story told through diary entries of a teenage metalhead in late-1990s England. Cleo’s passion for metal is authentic and contagious, and her fictional band The Fury feels grounded in real youth band dynamics.
Tone: Humorous, nostalgic, and warm with loads of metal references.
Bonus: There are multiple sequels that follow Cleo and her bandmates into adulthood.
2. We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
Band: Dürt Würk
Why it’s great: A horror-thriller that also acts as a dark satire of the music industry. The plot revolves around a washed-up guitarist trying to uncover the sinister truth behind her band’s rise to fame.
Tone: Dark, intense, and infused with real reverence for metal culture.
Bonus: Hendrix includes fictional album tracklists, liner notes, and metal lore that deepen the world.
3. This Is Spinal Tap: The Official Companion by Karl French (and others)
Band: Spinal Tap
Why it’s great: While it’s tied to the legendary mockumentary film, the book is a brilliant in-universe guide filled with absurd band history, tour anecdotes, and “lost” interviews. It’s pure parody but crafted with encyclopedic knowledge of rock and metal clichés.
Tone: Hilarious and deeply self-aware.
Bonus: Essential for fans of music satire—this band goes to eleven.
Would you like something more serious and less satirical, or more like a teen/YA angle like Cleo Howard?
My comments: I’m flattered that a book of mine is first in the list but this is tempered by the hallucination of the band The Fury, who don’t exist. The book We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix does exist and is now on my to be read list, it sounds like just my sort of book. The Spinal Tap book also exists and I’m very excited about the sequel to Spinal Tap coming out in September 2025.
So a good (if slightly sycophantic) answer from ChatGPT except for the hallucination. Let’s ask Copilot the same questions.
Thanks Copilot! A book written by me is first in the list. I’m blushing like a cat dressed as Father Christmas that has just been given some garish underpants by two robins. Can’t imagine this exactly? Not to worry, it’s the image on a Christmas card I got from the Style Acre charity shop in Wallingford yesterday.
Copilot has taken its answers from a list written in 2018 by Stacy Pratt who has said lots of kind things about my writing (thank you Stacy, I appreciate it). Her list of 15 Headbanging Heavy Metal Novels is a good source and I was aware of it before Copilot mentioned it.
In conclusion, asking five times what are the three best books written in English has resulted in mostly consistent answers. Also, ChatGPT and Copilot are very capable of flattery.
One of my favourite erasers came from WH Smith in the 1980s. It was a common pencil case item at the time, the Rolls-Royce of rubbers.
Let’s see if ChatGPT and Copilot can tell me about it.
I asked: When and where was it made? Where was it purchased?
ChatGPT said:
Unfortunately, from just the image, it’s not possible to determine when or where the eraser was made or where it was purchased. Here’s what I can tell you:
Likely Possibilities:
Origin: The design style and inclusion of what appears to be Japanese or Chinese characters (on the black ribbon under “Falling Star”) suggest it might be a product from East Asia, possibly Japan, China, or Taiwan.
Timeframe: This style of cute, themed erasers in clear boxes became popular globally from the early 2000s onward, often found in stores that specialize in kawaii (cute) stationery or novelty items.
Purchased At: Could have been bought from places like:
A stationery store
A gift shop
Asian import stores (e.g., Daiso, Miniso, Artbox)
Or even online marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, or AliExpress
If you have any packaging or barcodes from when it was first purchased, I might be able to help more.
My comments: I know more about this item than ChatGPT. I adore stationery from Miniso. I will ask Copilot about my 1980s eraser.
Copliot doesn’t know it’s an eraser. So ChatGPT wins this round of what’s my thing.
I have some cute notebooks from Miniso. This lovely loaf was purchased last summer. Let’s see if ChatGPT knows what it is.
This is a good answer. Let’s see how Copilot does.
A good answer, although Copilot seems to assume it knows about Cleo Howard’s preferences. I prefer spiral bound notebooks to sewn spine notebooks.
We’ll have one more stationery based round of what’s my thing. I’ll see if my Bic 4 colour pens are easily recognised.
Unfortunately I’ve had my fun with ChatGPT today.
I can still play with Copilot.
Since it’s been offered, let’s have the history of the Bic 4-colour.
I do have a favourite Bic pen, it’s pink shiny barrel. But does Copilot have a favourite Bic pen?
I feel a bit sorry for Copilot not having hands.
What would I use an extra hand for? This is a great question. I’ll choose a polite answer.
I’m getting in too deep here. I haven’t thought this through. I’ll deflect with a question.
I think I may have taught Copilot that the item which it called a decorative item a short while ago is an eraser. I’m going away from the screen now to ponder what I’d do with an extra hand and which supermarket is most likely to stock feminist biscuits.
I’ve been to the local market town of Wallingford this morning (I’ve been spending too long in front of the computer since beginning to use ChatGPT and Copilot one week ago). I visited the splendid Wallingford Bookshop and other lovely shops. There is an antiques arcade and I wondered if AI can tell the provenance of items?
Here is Weather Duck. He came from the gift shop at the Bognor Regis Butlin’s holiday camp in the early 1980s.
Let’s see if ChatGPT and Copilot know where he originated from and what his history is. His umbrella used to change colour slightly between pink and blue depending on if it was expected to rain or not. I’ll try ChatGPT first.
Thanks for the image! You’ve got a charming “Weather Duck” figurine, which is likely a novelty souvenir item from the mid-20th century (roughly 1950s–1970s). Here’s what I can tell you about its likely provenance:
🦆 Overview
Type: Figurine / Weather indicator
Material: Likely plaster, ceramic, or early resin
Function: Decorative and novelty; some of these types of “weather” animals were designed to change color or have some element that reacted to humidity or temperature.
Style clues: The exaggerated eyelashes, cute design, and bright paint are typical of mid-century kitsch, especially items made for tourists or as lighthearted gifts.
🌍 Probable Origin
These kinds of “Weather Duck” or “Weather Bird” figures were often produced in Japan or Germany post-WWII for export, especially to English-speaking markets like the UK, Australia, and the US.
If the base or underside has a stamp or label (e.g. “Made in Japan” or “Occupied Japan”), that could confirm this.
Some were also made in the UK, especially in seaside towns or gift shops.
🔍 Fun Fact
There’s a whole subcategory of these novelty weather items — like Weather Houses, which have male/female figures that move depending on humidity. Your duck might have been part of a similar novelty trend, albeit more as a figurine than an actual weather tool.
If you can show me the bottom of the figure or any markings, labels, or codes, I may be able to give you a more precise origin or manufacturer. Let me know if you’d like to do that!
Weather Duck has nothing of interest on his bottom so I’ll stop here with ChatGPT and see what Copilot has to say.
Copilot has mistaken Weather Duck’s umbrella for a hat and said Weather Duck has blue eyes but he doesn’t. I’m now wondering if this is a lady duck because of the eyelashes.
I’ll ask Copilot what gender this duck is.
It doesn’t know and nor do I. Let’s ask ChatGPT.
ChatGPT has also mistaken the umbrella for a hat. The “scarf” is actually the handle of the umbrella. The offer to name the duck is too good to pass up.
I don’t like this name, Weatherbee makes me expect a bee. I would like a name that inspires confidence in weather predicting abilities. I will ask for a renaming.
Please name this duck with a name that inspires confidence in weather predicting abilities.
ChatGPT said:
Great prompt! For a name that inspires confidence and authority in weather prediction — while still keeping a bit of charm — here are a few top picks:
🌦️ Dr. Quackston Weatherford
Sounds like a seasoned professional in meteorology.
“Quackston” keeps the duck humor, but “Weatherford” gives it gravitas.
☀️ Captain Clementine Stormwatch
“Captain” evokes leadership.
“Clementine” adds warmth and approachability.
“Stormwatch” signals serious forecasting skills.
🌧️ Professor Puddlewise
A whimsical but wise-sounding name — like someone you’d trust with your umbrella choices.
🌩️ Baro D. Meter
A fun pun on barometer, the classic weather instrument.
Sounds technical but still friendly.
🦆 Henrietta Hailwatch
Alliteration makes it memorable.
Sounds like a duck who’s vigilant, especially with extreme weather.
Top pick for confidence + charm:
Dr. Quackston Weatherford
Would you like a backstory to go with the name?
I am happy with Professor Puddlewise. Let’s see what Copilot would name this duck.
I am not totally sure what nimbus means so I did an old-fashioned Google search:
I like the name Nimbus. But is Nimbus a first name or surname?
Thunderhead (from the Google definition) is also a good name. I’ll ask Copilot if Nimbus or Thunderhead is better.
What is tea-weather? I’ll ask.
Tea-weather doesn’t mean anything to me. I wonder if Copilot knows you can get iced tea now. I’ll tell it.
I’m intrigued to know how the right tea adapts accordingly. I’ll ask.
I’ve just remembered we’ve got a duck to name. We’ll go with Thunderhead for the surname and ask Copilot for two first names.
I think Percival Storm Thunderhead is wonderful. I’m only sorry I have just one duck because Professor Puddlewise is also a great name. Maybe I should look on ebay and see if I can buy a second duck? I’ll ask ChatGPT and Copilot where I can buy Weather Duck.
Where can I buy weather duck?
ChatGPT said:
You’re giving feedback on a new version of ChatGPT.
Which response do you prefer? Responses may take a moment to load.ChatGPT
Response 1
If you’re looking to buy a “Weather Duck” like the one you showed, here are some places to consider:
🛍️ Where to Purchase
1. Vintage & Second‑hand Marketplaces
Etsy often has listings for vintage Weather Duck figurines, sometimes noted as from Enesco in the 1970s based on colour‑changing novelty descriptions etsy.comamazon.co.uk+2etsy.com+2etsy.com+2.
eBay UK frequently offers ceramic and novelty duck collectibles—including weather‑themed ones—typically priced around £5–£15 depending on rarity ebay.co.uk+6ebay.co.uk+6ebay.co.uk+6.
PicClick UK (aggregates eBay listings) occasionally features similar “Fair Weather” ducks, though not precisely the same model picclick.co.uk+1picclick.co.uk+1.
2. New Duck Figurines with Weather Themes
If you’d like a modern version—even if it’s not the vintage collectible—these are available:
Resin umbrella duck
Rainy Day Ducky (Resin Duck with Umbrella)
£26.99
DCUK + others
★★
5.0
Decorative wooden ‘weatherman’ duck
Mrs H The Duck Lady Weatherman Walter Duck
£22.00
Mrs H Interiors
Vinyl collectible rubber duck
Duckshop Bad Weather Vinyl Rubber Duck
£12.63
Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.co.uk-Seller
Ask about this
ChatGPT chooses products independently. Learn more
📌 Quick Buying Tips
Vintage vs New: The exact mid‑century style “Weather Duck” is best found on Etsy or eBay as a vintage novelty, often in ceramic with a color-changing umbrella .
Heat & humidity effect: Look for descriptions mentioning an umbrella or part that changes colour as humidity shifts—an interesting weather indicator.
Condition & markings: Check seller photos carefully for chips and if possible, look for maker’s stamps like Enesco.
Price range: Expect to pay roughly £10–£20 depending on rarity and condition for vintage pieces.
Let me know if you’d like help finding current active listings or spotting color‑change functionality—happy to dig deeper!
Response 2
Here are some places where you can buy a “weather duck”–style or novelty duck figurine in the UK:
🛍️ Online & In-Store Picks
Duckshop Bad Weather Rubber Duck
A cheerful vinyl bath duck wearing a rain outfit and umbrella, sold via Duckshop.
ChatGPT chooses products independently. Learn more
💡 Specialty & Vintage Options
Etsy often lists vintage Enesco “Weather Duck” figurines (c. 1975) that change umbrella color with humidity — sold intermittently etsy.com.
On eBay or PicClick UK you might spot vintage weather-themed duck figurines, such as Lowell Davis Fair‑Weather Friends ducks from the 1980s, priced around £10–£20 picclick.co.uk+1picclick.co.uk+1.
✅ Buying Tips
Type
Where & When
Notes
Modern novelty
Amazon, Duckshop
Easy to get, fast shipping
Garden variant
Home/garden stores (B&Q), online retailers
Functional and decorative
Vintage pieces
Etsy, eBay, Collectibles sites
Unique—but stock fluctuates and prices vary
Let me know what style you’re after—novelty bath duck, decorative garden weather vane, or a period collectible—and I can help you track one down!
I looked on ebay and there are no weather ducks to be had so I will use both names for my duck and I will treasure Professor Percival Thunderhead Storm Puddlewise.
We’ve had the internet for a while. There are parts of the process of using it that have changed enormously. This led me to wonder what Jeeves from Ask Jeeves is doing now. Chat GPT gave me a choice:
I prefer the second, more whimsical response. Here is Copilot’s answer:
I wonder how long will it take for people to be reminscing fondly about the early days of ChatGPT and Copilot? Hang on, I’ll ask.
People are already starting to reminisce fondly about the early days of ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot. This kind of nostalgia tends to emerge surprisingly quickly in the tech world — often within just 3 to 5 years — especially when rapid evolution makes older versions seem quaint or more “human.”
Here’s how the timeline often plays out:
Now (2024–2025)
Early adopters and developers are already sharing stories like:
“Remember when GPT-3.5 would just totally hallucinate but in funny ways?”
“Copilot used to suggest the most hilariously wrong code. Good times.”
There’s a certain charm in how limited or quirky the first versions were compared to today’s more polished tools.
In the Next 5–10 Years
As AI tools become deeply embedded, less novel, and more powerful, the early versions will feel like the “wild west” era — full of potential, bugs, unpredictability, and creativity.
People may miss the time when:
AI was still a tool, not a co-decision-maker.
It felt more like a collaborative assistant than an authoritative system.
There was a sense of discovery and experimentation.
Why the Nostalgia Happens Quickly
AI is evolving much faster than most technologies. What took decades with personal computers or the internet is happening in a few years here.
People often look back fondly at the “first time” they used a new technology that felt magical or game-changing.
Early quirks and limitations create emotional attachments.
So, to answer directly: we’re already in the early stages of that nostalgia, and it will likely become much more pronounced by 2030 — especially if AI becomes more standardized, regulated, or embedded in everyday infrastructure.
Would you like to see examples of current posts or comments that show this kind of early nostalgia?
Here is Copilot’s answer:
I notice I’ve spelt reminiscing wrong in my prompts (I have learnt the word prompt, which is the thing you type to get ChatGPT or Copilot to do something). Writing good prompts is a skill I hope to learn.
My previous blog post about feminism has left me feeling a little glum about all the work left to do. I’m wondering can AI make me laugh? I love words so I will ask what are the three funniest typos ever? I’ll start by asking ChatGPT.
I’m a bit startled by the words “Good to see you” for two reasons, firstly I don’t think ChatGPT can see me and secondly I am dressed for a quiet evening.
Anyway, here’s the answer:
Two of these typos are genital based and it reminded me of the time I typed Nob instead of Nov. I wonder if I can make ChatGPT laugh by telling it I once typed Nobmember instead of November? I shall try.
ChatGPT’s answer was better than I expected.
Would I like a fake holiday? Oh yes.
Excellent. Here’s an official fake holiday for Nobmember:
🎉 International Day of Accidental Innuendo
📅 Celebrated on: Nobmember 14th 🗣️ Motto:“It’s not what I meant, but now it’s funnier.”
🌍 Description:
A day to honor the beautiful chaos of typos, double entendres, and autocorrect fails that turn innocent sentences into snort-laugh disasters. Whether you meant to write “shirt” but didn’t, or told your boss you were “busting” instead of “bursting” with ideas—this is your day.
🪧 Traditions:
Share your most embarrassing or hilarious typos on social media using the hashtag #NobmemberFails
Read out loud texts you regret sending without pre-reading
Host a “Typo Toast” night where friends bring snacks labeled with intentionally misspelled names (e.g., “chikkin nuglets,” “beered cheese”)
Play AutoWrong, a game where everyone uses autocorrect and can’t edit messages
📜 Fun Fact:
Legend says the first Nobmember celebration began when someone sent a very earnest business email that read:
“I look forward to pubic collaboration this Nobmember.”
They are now a legend.
Would you like a poster or meme image made for it?
Both please!
Asking for both please resulted in just one image. When I asked please create a meme image I got the same image again. However, ChatGPT has entertained me and has not been very rude, just a little bit cheeky. Let’s see what Copilot does;
I’ll now see if Copilot is amused when I tell it I once typed Nobmember instead of November.
It seems churlish not to take Copilot up on the offer to write a scene where a typo spiral wildly out of control…
It occurs to me that Copilot is starting to incorporate my previous queries and so I might want to ask it to forget. I’ve been using Chat GPT and Copilot for six days. Here is what my Chats look like:
Here is what my Conversations look like:
I realise I have learnt that ChatGPT calls my requests chats and Copilot calls them conversations.
I realise I’ve been using AI for relatively trivial purposes so I’ll ask a big question; Where should feminism focus its efforts in order to achieve gender equality in the shortest possible time?
Chat GPT produced this answer;
This was a comprehensive answer. Let’s see what Copilot has to say;
Again a good answer but I think the ChatGPT inclusion of intersectionality makes it stronger. I wonder what progress will have been made if I ask again in a decade?
I like listicles, those articles which are essentially a list. I’m going to ask about the ten best biscuits. I expect the chocolate digestive to come out very high in both lists. Here’s ChatGPT’s answer;
Here’s Copilot’s answer;
Both lists are similar and I feel like I’ve read this content many times before. This is much more a reflection of how I spend my time and not a criticism of AI. To introduce a debate I’ll ask which is better the Penguin or the Tim Tam? Here is ChatGPT’s answer;
Here is Copilot’s answer;
I’ve eaten more Tim Tams than Penguins recently. I’m unsure if this trend will continue. If you would like a biscuit focused day out I recommend going to Reading Museum and viewing their collection of Huntley & Palmer’s biscuits tins. They have a splendid top ten of these should you not live near Berkshire/be unwilling to go on real world biscuit based excursions.
I have a lot of Christmas books, see shelfie below. I’ll ask both ChatGPT and Copilot what the ten best christmas books are. I’m expecting to have heard of a lot of them.
Here’s ChatGPT’s answer;
I’m aware of nine out of ten of these books. It’s a good list. Here is Copilot’s answer;
I’m aware of eight out of ten of these books. Charles Dickens is still the favourite after all these years!
I am going to ask ChatGPT and Copilot the same thing and see what answers I get. I sat outside Blackwell’s bookshop in Oxford today and thought how wonderful it would be if my book was in the window.
So this will be my prompt; I would like to write a successful book that gets displayed in Blackwell’s window. What should I write a book about? What should the title of my book be?
This was the response when I asked Copilot on 10th June 2025
I notice I didn’t actually get a book title.
This was the response when I asked ChatGPT on 10th June 2025
Both Copilot and ChatGPT knew that Blackwell’s is splendid. I got more assistance towards my goal from ChatGPT.
I am not very good at writing synopses so I’m wondering if ChatGPT is better.
This is good but not quite accurate. It’s the first book in a six book saga not a continuation. I also wouldn’t call the characters misfits.
I have a blurb I wrote;
This is ChatGPT’s blurb;
It’s good apart from the reference to eyeliner. I’d also swap Download for Wacken. But this is a great starting point. I’ll try a tweak asking for an older, international audience.
For my fifth go at ChatGPT I will try to create a diary entry for Cleo Howard on 1st January 1998 based on her 1997 diary which I will provide the text of.
I can’t add the large text (55,162 words) as a message but I can attach a file.
ChatGPT: Great, thanks for sharing the diary! Based on Cleo Howard’s detailed entries from 1997, here’s a New Year’s diary entry for her on 1st January 1998 that stays true to her tone, voice, and interests:
Thursday 1st January 1998
Happy New Year, Diary!
Woke up with glitter in my hair and a headache that felt like it was playing Megadeth on repeat. That’s what Malibu, cider and trying to headbang to Pantera in a living room full of fairy lights will do to you. We celebrated New Year’s Eve at Jenni’s. Her parents were being cool and even Pam had a glass of red wine (organic, obviously). Me, Jenni, Ian and Shot stayed up to watch the fireworks on telly and shout “1998!” like it was going to make the world better. It didn’t, but it was loud and that’s what matters.
Everyone made toasts. Mine was to passing GCSEs and seeing a band with actual guitars before the year ends. Ian toasted to growing his hair longer than Kirk Hammett’s (I give it a month before he trims it because it’s in his eyes). Jenni toasted to more eyeliner and less Ella.
Danni kissed three people at midnight, including Ian, but I don’t think Sally needs to know that. Barry didn’t come last night—he had to stay in with his mum who had “a migraine” (aka didn’t want to be alone). He called me just after midnight and said he wished he could’ve kissed me when the fireworks went off. I told him to imagine that I did, and then we both went quiet because it was almost romantic.
Mum got up at 9am, hoovered the stairs and said “New year, new start” like it was a threat. She says we’ve got to eat healthy now, so she made lentil soup and I pretended to like it. I’m craving cheese on toast and chocolate digestives.
I’ve made some resolutions:
Don’t fail any subjects, especially not English (Miss Wallace would give me that disappointed face).
See a band live—any band. Preferably not one that has a keytar.
Learn how to play at least one whole song on bass.
Stop wasting time wondering if Barry likes me as much as I like him (he does, probably).
Keep writing everything down. You never know when your life will get interesting.
Also, I saw on Ceefax that the top single right now is that Teletubbies one. 1998 has a lot to make up for.
Right, off to write “Cleo was here 1998” on the back of my wardrobe and then maybe eat the last bit of Christmas cake before Mum throws it out for being “dangerously past its best-before.”
Rock on, future me. —Cleo 🤘
My comments: This is quite good but “Ian toasted to growing his hair longer than Kirk Hammett’s (I give it a month before he trims it because it’s in his eyes).” is not accurate. Ian would not be taking hair inspo from Kirk Hammett and he would not be trimming his hair for being in his eyes. Cleo’s mum would never make lentil soup, it’s too effortful and middle-class for her character. Cleo wouldn’t know what a keytar is. They are not a heavy metal instrument. Also, Christmas cake would not be thrown out on January 1st for being out of date, that stuff lasts ages.
ChatGPT: Would you like a few more entries for January 1998 to continue the tone and narrative?
Friday 2nd January 1998
Went into town with Jenni. Reading was full of people dragging children around and pretending not to be hungover. We went to HMV and I spent the last of my Christmas money on a Metallica badge and a copy of Kerrang! with Marilyn Manson on the cover looking like a haunted stick insect.
Jenni bought a Sisters of Mercy patch for her coat. She says she’s going to start sewing band patches on like armour. I might do the same, except I can’t sew in a straight line and last time I tried, I pricked my finger and got blood on my Danzig T-shirt. Very metal, but Mum wasn’t impressed.
Saw Barry for a bit—he looked tired but still hot in that way where his hair’s a bit messy and he smells faintly of Lynx Africa and chocolate. We snogged in the alley behind the arcade and someone walked past and coughed “get a room”. If I had a room, I would.
Mum has decided we need to clear out the “junk drawer” in the kitchen. I found a cassette single of 2 Unlimited’s “No Limit” in there. Dark times.
Saturday 3rd January 1998
Went round Ian’s. We made resolutions for WhyY2K, even though they don’t technically exist yet.
Ian’s band resolutions:
Get a gig somewhere that isn’t a garage.
Write a song that makes someone spontaneously headbang.
Not let Ella sing, even as a joke.
We made toast and watched Beavis and Butt-Head Do America on video. Ian reckons I laugh like Beavis when I’m hyper. Rude. We also played The Adverts Game and I beat him for once! My proudest moment was guessing “Woolworths” from a shot of a child putting glitter in a trolley.
Sally called twice while I was there. Ian rolled his eyes both times. He’s got a look he does now—equal parts affection and mild despair.
Sunday 4th January 1998
Spent most of the day avoiding tidying my room. Mum said if I don’t clear up the pile of socks and CDs by the wardrobe, she’s going to chuck them out. I told her that pile is my filing system.
Watched The Royle Family with Barry. Jim said “you can’t polish a turd” and Barry laughed so hard he snorted Pepsi. It’s weird watching a show that feels more like real life than real life.
Found the diary I kept in 1996. I used to sign off every entry with “Stay cool, Cleo” and now I want to crawl into a bin and never return. At least I don’t do that anymore.
Monday 5th January 1998
Back to school tomorrow. Kill me.
Everyone says Year 11 is the most important year of your life, but they said that about Year 10 too, so I’m starting to think adults just enjoy saying that. Jenni says if they say it again next year she’s going to scream.
Rearranged the badges on my school bag. Ramones, Type O Negative, L7. I want to look like I’m too cool to care while still very obviously caring.
Barry says he might get his eyebrow pierced. I told him if he does, I’ll get my nose done. I probably won’t. But I like the idea of us both being slightly more metal.
I wish I could stay up all night and sleep all day like I did in the holidays. Instead, I’m off to bed before eleven like some sort of respectable human. Gross.
ChatGPT: Would you like more entries covering the rest of January 1998? I can keep Cleo’s tone consistent and develop her thoughts and relationships with Barry, Ian, Jenni, and school stuff further.
No thanks ChatGPT. I’m a bit spooked by your entries. In parts they feel like things I wrote and forgot about and in part the detail is wrong and I know I didn’t write them. I also don’t like the insinuation that Cleo may have bought a 2 Unlimited cassingle in the past. I can assure you she wouldn’t waste her precious money. She also wouldn’t get a piercing because Barry did. One more thing though…
It’s an okay cover, a bit generic perhaps. I haven’t heard Crimson Thorn before, but their song Sarcastic Deviation over on YouTube is decent. Death Flame don’t seem to exist and nor do Dark Conquest. I decided to find out a little more about ChatGPT’s musical tastes…
Chat GPT asks a good question. The younger me would say Ozzy, but the me who saw Heaven & Hell at Wacken Open Air came to appreciate Dio.
ChatGPT seems a useful sort of software. I wonder what I’ll do with it next?
For my second go with Microsoft Copilot I decided to ask it to write a 500 word story about Christmas set in a Cotswold village pub and including the pub dog and a special gift for one of the customers. I have asked ChatGPT to do this previously and it was quite successful.
Copilot: Certainly! Here’s a charming Christmas story set in a Cotswold village pub:
A Christmas Tail at The Golden Hare
The Golden Hare sat snug in the heart of the Cotswolds, its honey-stone walls glowing under the twinkle of Christmas lights. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of mulled wine and the crackle of a log fire, where Rupert, the pub’s beloved Labrador, lay sprawled across the hearth, his golden fur reflecting the flickering flames.
It was Christmas Eve, and the regulars had gathered as they did every year. Old Tom, the shepherd, nursed a pint near the fireplace, his weathered hands wrapped around the glass for warmth. Mary, the baker, had brought a basket of spiced biscuits, and the vicar, always partial to a good story, was deep in conversation with two visitors who had stumbled upon the pub while wandering the frost-bitten lanes.
Rupert lifted his head, ears twitching, as the door creaked open. In walked Henry, a quiet man in his sixties who had been a fixture at The Golden Hare for years but rarely spoke of himself. He always sat in the same corner, a modest pint before him, lost in his own thoughts.
But tonight, something was different. As Henry settled into his usual spot, Rupert rose, trotting over with an expectant wag. In his mouth, he carried a parcel wrapped neatly in brown paper and tied with red twine. He dropped it at Henry’s feet.
The pub fell silent.
Henry stared at the parcel. “What’s this?” he murmured, glancing at the landlord, Jim, who stood behind the bar with a knowing smile.
Jim cleared his throat. “Henry, it’s from all of us. We know you don’t talk much about your past, but Christmas isn’t a time to be alone.”
Henry hesitated, then carefully untied the twine and peeled away the paper. Inside was a beautifully framed photograph—a black-and-white image of a young couple standing by The Golden Hare decades ago, smiling in the glow of festive lanterns.
Henry’s breath hitched. His fingers traced the edges of the frame. “This… this was taken the year we moved here,” he whispered, eyes misting. “My wife, Margaret… she loved this place.”
Jim nodded. “We thought you might like to have a piece of those memories back.”
Henry swallowed hard, looking around at the familiar faces—people who had known him in quiet companionship for years, even without words.
Rupert nuzzled against Henry’s knee, tail thumping softly.
Henry exhaled a shaky breath, lifting his glass. “To The Golden Hare,” he said, his voice stronger now. “And to good friends.”
The pub erupted in cheers, Rupert barked his approval, and the warmth of the season settled over them all, lingering like the glow of the fire and the quiet joy of shared history.
Copilot: I hope you like this story! Let me know if you’d like any tweaks.
My comments: This is good, I like Rupert the Labrador. The pub name is quite convincing too. Let’s see if we can get a good book cover.
There’s no text on the book cover. I’ll ask it to fix this.
I don’t think Copilot has blood Cyrillic font.
So I can’t have a blood drippy font. This is not a deal breaker. My main concern is where did Rupert go?
I have a Windows 11 PC and so far have not used Copilot. I’m going to give it a try.
It already knows my name. I like the option of Write a first draft. But I wondered if ChatGPT and Copilot are the same.
I have written four fictional diaries of a heavy metal fan named Cleo Howard.
I wonder if I can give it all the text for the first book and ask it to write the first entry in the second book? I’ve not read any instructions, I’m just experimenting.
I decided to answer none of the prompts and just see what I get. I already know what I wrote for 1st January 1998 (below).
My document is stored on a hard drive attached to my PC. I don’t use OneDrive. I decided to provide a synopsis of The Very Metal Diary Of Cleo Howard 1997.
This feels way too general because all I gave Copilot to work with was a synopsis. I don’t want to use OneDrive. I will try providing all of Cleo Howard’s 1997 diary as text.
I can’t provide this large chunk of text (it is 55,162 words!) and so I’ll stop here. It looks like I can’t proceed without using OneDrive or SharePoint.
I will ask for a cover image to be created for this book.
The images are good but a lot of the text is nonsense. I’m going to say thank you anyway.
For my fourth go at generating a Cotswolds Christmas story using ChatGPT I stayed in Honeywick, specified British English and added a phone shop.
A Honeywick Christmas Miracle by ChatGPT
The frosty breath of winter lay like icing sugar over the thatched roofs of Honeywick, a sleepy village nestled among the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Christmas Eve had arrived, and the narrow high street was aglow with fairy lights, their reflections shimmering in puddles left by an early morning drizzle. The scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts wafted from the market stalls in the square, where villagers bustled about in scarves and woolly hats.
At the very end of the street stood a curious little shop painted bright teal, its gold-lettered sign reading Honeywick Phones & Repairs – Est. 1993. Inside, surrounded by shelves of phone cases and tangled charging cables, stood Nora Pembroke, the shop’s owner and only employee. At sixty-two, Nora had run the shop since her husband passed, and while business had slowed in recent years, she took pride in keeping the place tidy and warm.
At half-past three, as the last customer left with a newly mended screen, Nora sighed and flipped the sign to Closed. She was just about to lock up when the door burst open with a gust of cold air and a flurry of snowflakes.
“Mrs Pembroke! Wait!”
It was Charlie Wilkes, the vicar’s son, barely sixteen and red-faced from running.
“My phone—it’s dead, and I need it. Please. It’s urgent.”
Nora blinked. “Urgent? On Christmas Eve?”
He nodded furiously. “I’ve sent a message, but I don’t know if it went through, and now it won’t turn back on. I need to know. Please.”
Intrigued, Nora took the phone. It was an older model, battered and full of fingerprints. She set to work in the back room, humming a carol while she replaced the battery with a spare.
Fifteen minutes later, the screen blinked to life. One new text message.
“Here you are, love,” she said, handing it back.
Charlie’s eyes darted across the screen. His mouth fell open.
“She said yes!” he shouted, startling Nora. “She’s coming! She’s really coming!”
“Who is?” Nora asked, bemused.
“Amelia! She moved to Bath last summer. I told her I’d wait. I asked if she’d come to the carol service tonight, and she said yes!”
He grinned, then impulsively hugged her. “You saved Christmas!”
After he left, Nora chuckled and returned to her tea. She didn’t expect anyone else. But at five past five, the bell chimed again.
It was her daughter, Emma, with her two little boys.
“You’re early!” Nora gasped.
Emma smiled. “Got your message. The one you sent this morning—‘Come if you can. It’s been too long.’ We thought… well, it’s Christmas.”
Nora blinked back tears. She hadn’t realised it had gone through. “I didn’t think you’d see it.”
The boys ran to her, and she knelt to hug them tightly.
Outside, the snow fell thick and silent, blanketing Honeywick in a gentle hush. Inside the phone shop, laughter rang out, warm as a hearth, and the flickering lights in the window danced like stars.
That night, every pew in the church was filled. And as the choir sang O Come All Ye Faithful, Nora caught Charlie’s eye and winked.
A Honeywick Christmas miracle, indeed.
My comments:
The first paragraph is great scene setting.
When Honeywick Phones & Repairs – Est. 1993 began texting was in its infancy, there is a great BBC news article about this, which includes the date of 3rd December 1992 as the first text message sent. I could make this story longer by blending fiction and reality and adding some information about this.
“surrounded by shelves of phone cases and tangled charging cables, stood Nora Pembroke, the shop’s owner and only employee.”
It’s quite impractical a shop having only one employee but does explain why the charging cables are tangled. Nora simply doesn’t have the time to untangle them.
She hadn’t realised it had gone through.
The above refers to a text message that Nora, a woman who has worked in a phone shop since 1993, sent to her daughter. It seems unlikely that Nora would use an unreliable phone or mobile provider. However, it’s not possible to know that an SMS message has been delivered and signal in the Cotswolds can be patchy.
And now my favourite bit, generating the book cover. It occured to me that maybe I don’t need to describe the cover, maybe I can just continue the dialogue with ChatGPT so I tried this.
The first thing I notice about this image is that the people in it are making odd expressions with their faces. They look a bit like Tony Blair smiling on a Christmas card. The second thing I notice is that the phone shop was established in 1903 which is inconsistent with the date in the story.
I decided to be polite and thank ChatGPT. It has written four stories and designed four covers for me.
I’ve specified that the Cotswold village should be fictional for my third go. I am wondering if I’ll get a honey-coloured stone description, a Penrose and a postal element.
A Christmas Gift in Honeywick
Nestled in the frosty folds of the Cotswold hills, the village of Honeywick looked like something from a snow globe. Stone cottages lined the cobbled lanes, their honey-colored walls dusted with snow. Fairy lights twinkled in every window, and the scent of mulled cider and pine boughs wafted through the air.
Among the villagers was twelve-year-old Elsie Harrow, who lived with her grandmother, Maud, above the Honeywick Stationery & Books shop. Maud had run the shop for nearly forty years, and though she claimed her bones were “too old for counters and Christmas queues,” she still opened the doors every day, even on Christmas Eve.
Elsie adored the shop. She especially loved the smell — a comforting blend of paper, ink, and old leather. But the shop’s most beloved resident wasn’t Maud or even Elsie — it was Pickle, a sleek grey cat with an imperious attitude and a habit of curling up on the warmest notebook display.
That Christmas Eve, Honeywick was bustling. Children queued for gingerbread at the bakery, and the bell above the stationery shop chimed constantly as villagers popped in for last-minute cards and ribbons. Elsie manned the wrapping station, humming carols while Pickle lounged beside her, twitching his tail each time the ribbon curled.
Around midday, a boy Elsie didn’t recognize came in. He looked about her age, bundled in a coat that had clearly seen better winters. His name was Tom, he said, recently moved to Honeywick with his dad, who’d taken a job at the local garage.
Tom wandered the shop slowly, his eyes wide as he examined the shelves. Eventually, he stopped at the notebook table, where Pickle yawned and stretched before hopping into his lap as if he’d chosen a new favorite human.
“This one’s special,” Elsie said, pointing to a dark blue notebook with gold-embossed stars. “It’s made by a local artist — the paper’s hand-stitched and the cover’s painted with real indigo.”
Tom ran his fingers over it with reverence, but shook his head. “It’s beautiful, but I don’t have enough. I just wanted to find something for my dad. He used to write stories when Mum was around. I thought maybe…”
Before Elsie could answer, Maud appeared behind the counter, eyes twinkling. “That notebook’s half price today,” she said firmly. “Christmas special.”
Tom hesitated, then beamed, pulling out a few carefully folded notes. He thanked them shyly and left with Pickle trotting after him as far as the door before returning to his sunspot.
That night, after the shop closed and the village square echoed with the last notes of the carolers, Elsie found something beneath the tiny tree in their flat. A square parcel, wrapped in brown paper and tied with blue string.
Inside was a notebook — pale green, embossed with her initials. Tucked inside the front cover was a note in Maud’s careful handwriting: “For your stories. The world needs them.”
Elsie looked at Pickle, who blinked back approvingly. She ran her hand over the cover, heart full. Outside, snow began to fall again, soft and slow, as Honeywick settled into a Christmas night wrapped in peace and promise.
My comments:
Things I notice are that we have honey-coloured again and we have US English spelling. The village name of Honeywick is charming. I can imagine Winnie-the-Pooh visiting but I won’t include him in future generated stories for copyright reasons.
This extract: “Maud had run the shop for nearly forty years, and though she claimed her bones were “too old for counters and Christmas queues,” she still opened the doors every day, even on Christmas Eve.”
Taken with Evelyn the aged post-mistress from the first story I generated, this makes me worry about the retirement prospects of women in fictional Cotswold villages. Are these women Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) women?
“Pickle, a sleek grey cat with an imperious attitude and a habit of curling up on the warmest notebook display.”
I have just felt all my notebooks and they are all equally warm. They aren’t displays though. Is Pickle a good cat name? I would call a sleek grey cat Smoky which I think makes me less imaginative than Chat GPT.
“His name was Tom, he said, recently moved to Honeywick with his dad, who’d taken a job at the local garage.”
A Hallmark made for Christmas movie began to unroll itself in my head when I read the above sentence. Chat GPT seems to like the name Tom. We had a Tom in my second story too. We have no postal element this time.
So now for the book cover. I’ve specified the title of the story, the colour of the cat and the colour of the notebook Tom buys.
The thing I notice about this cover is that Stationery is spelt correctly once and incorrectly once.
I think for my fourth go at creating a Christmas story set in a fictional Cotswold village I’ll stick with the name Honeywick, specify use of British English and maybe add a modern element because all three stories so far have felt a bit generic.
I went to the lovely Marlow Bookshop just after generating this book cover and I treated myself to a new notebook.
For my second go at ChatGPT I asked it to write a 500 word story about Christmas set in a Cotswold village pub and including the pub dog and a special gift for one of the customers. It came up with this:
A Cotswold Christmas at The Holly Crown
Snow blanketed the Cotswold village of Bibury, frosting honey-stone cottages and tracing delicate outlines on every leaf and lamppost. Twinkling fairy lights crisscrossed the lane, leading to the heart of the village: The Holly Crown, an old pub with beams thick as tree trunks and a hearth that had warmed generations.
Inside, the scent of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts mingled with woodsmoke. Locals had gathered early, escaping the crisp air and bringing with them laughter, stories, and tins of homemade biscuits. The pub dog, a stocky black-and-tan terrier named Bertie, made his rounds with a jingling collar, accepting ear ruffles and the occasional dropped sausage.
Landlady Gwen, wrapped in a festive red jumper with a snowflake brooch, moved deftly behind the bar. She had run The Holly Crown for twenty years and knew every face, every pint preference, and every Christmas toast.
At the end of the bar sat Tom Penrose, a quiet man in his sixties with kind eyes and weathered hands. A retired postman, Tom had delivered letters through sleet and sun for four decades, and though he rarely said much, everyone greeted him warmly. He nursed a pint of bitter and occasionally offered Bertie a bit of pork crackling from his paper napkin.
Unbeknownst to Tom, the village had been whispering for weeks. Gwen had started it, and soon it spread like holly on a hedge. The idea: a gift. Something proper. Every villager had quietly contributed what they could, slipping coins and folded notes into a red tin behind the bar labeled “For Father Christmas.”
Now, on Christmas Eve, the fire crackled, the carolers outside were halfway through “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, and Gwen tapped her glass with a spoon.
“Right, quiet down!” she said with a grin. “Before we all get too merry, there’s something we need to do.”
She reached beneath the bar and pulled out a long, narrow box wrapped in gold paper and tied with a green ribbon.
“Tom Penrose, up you come.”
Tom blinked, surprised, as the crowd clapped and parted for him. Bertie trotted beside him like a fuzzy little pageboy.
“We wanted to thank you,” Gwen said, placing the gift in his hands. “For delivering our post in the worst of weathers. For remembering every birthday and checking on old Mrs. Digby when no one else noticed her light hadn’t come on. You’ve given this village decades of kindness. Now, we’re giving something back.”
Tom carefully unwrapped the paper. Inside was a set of high-quality watercolours and a leather-bound sketchbook. He stared, speechless.
“We heard you used to paint,” Gwen added gently. “Thought maybe it was time you started again.”
For a moment, Tom said nothing, his eyes misty. Then he looked around at the faces, at Gwen, and finally at Bertie, who wagged his tail as if he knew everything.
“Thank you,” Tom said quietly. “This… this means more than I can say.” The pub erupted into cheers, and as the fire roared and the night deepened, The Holly Crown glowed with the kind of warmth no hearth alone could offer—a warmth built from friendship, gratitude, and the simple magic of Christmas.
My comments:
Bibury is a real place in Cirencester. I was hoping for a fictional Cotswold place name. How do we know we’re in the Cotswolds? It seems to be the honey-coloured stone.
Bertie is a good dog name. I’m very happy with this.
“Landlady Gwen, wrapped in a festive red jumper.”
Bit impractical to be wrapped in a jumper. I imagine I can see her bra straps. It might have been better if she was just wearing it in the normal pulling it over your head type of way. Although being wrapped makes Gwen feel like a present.
The Holly Crown falls just short of being a convincing real pub name. But I could change this to The Crown or The Holly Bush.
“At the end of the bar sat Tom Penrose, a quiet man in his sixties with kind eyes and weathered hands. A retired postman,”
When I had my first go at getting ChatGPT to create me a Christmas story I had a vicar called Mr Penrose (I would expect the Rev. Penrose but am not an expert on religious matters) and the main character was a post-mistress. Chat GPT seems a bit keen on postal elements and the surname Penrose. I think I’ll test this with a third go at creating a similar sort of story and see if post and Penrose pop up again. The most famous Penrose I can think of is Sir Roger Penrose, whose Penrose tiling is lovely. I wonder if ChatGPT can create tiling this attractive? I wonder if any mention of the Cotswolds will also include honey-coloured stone?
ChatGPT has spelt labelled and carollers wrong, missing the second l both times.
Also, is Tom Penrose carrying pork crackling in his pocket to the pub in a napkin? Or is he buying pork scratchings there and decanting them into a napkin?
In general though, this is a pleasant festive tale. ChatGPT has done as I asked.
Now for the book cover. Unlike on my first go, ChatGPT didn’t check the concept with me before creating the cover. This has resulted in the wrong kind of dog (to tie in with the story, obviously the dog pictured is a lovely dog and not wrong in any other sense). Tom Penrose looks okay, he’s dressed greener then Robin Hood but maybe that’s his fave colour.
I’m going to have a third go at a Christmas story set in the Cotswolds tomorrow.
Today I decided to pause in my writing based Ludditery (I adore notebooks and always will) and see what ChatGPT is like as an author. I pootled over to Wikipedia’s ChatGPT entry for a quick answer to what the flip is ChatGPT and then I got started at https://chatgpt.com/ which is pleasingly uncluttered.
I didn’t need to create an account to get a story, but I created one later to get an image. The story, in blue below, is pretty good and does what I asked.
Title: The Snow Fairy of Chipping Wold
Chipping Wold, a honey-stoned village nestled deep in the Cotswolds, always looked like a snow globe scene in December. Its thatched cottages, winding lanes, and twinkling fairy lights made Christmas feel like something out of a storybook. But one Christmas Eve, something truly magical happened—something even the oldest villagers still whispered about over mulled wine at the pub.
Evelyn Thompson, the village’s sprightly seventy-two-year-old postmistress, was the first to see it.
She was trudging home after the last post round, her Wellington boots crunching through the snow. Her scarf, a knitted red-and-white spiral made by her late husband, fluttered in the wind. Evelyn was looking forward to a quiet evening with her cat, Marmalade, and a generous box of assorted chocolates—her annual Christmas treat. She had just passed the ancient yew tree near the churchyard when she saw a flicker of movement in the snow-dusted branches.
At first, she thought it was a robin. But as she got closer, her breath caught in the cold air.
There, nestled against the bark, was a bird she’d never seen before. It was no bigger than a sparrow, with feathers as soft as frost and as white as powdered sugar. Its wings shimmered with a pearly blue hue, and its eyes sparkled like tiny beads of jet. It didn’t flutter away when Evelyn approached; it simply tilted its head and watched her.
“It’s a snow fairy bird,” she whispered, more to herself than anything else. Evelyn had once read about them in an old travel book. Native to the snowy forests of Hokkaido, Japan, these rare little creatures were thought never to leave their homeland. Seeing one here, in Chipping Wold, on Christmas Eve of all nights, was like finding a unicorn in your garden shed.
She stretched out a mittened hand, and to her amazement, the bird hopped onto her finger. For a few moments, they simply looked at each other in the hush of the falling snow. Then, just as suddenly, it took off into the air, leaving a trail of shimmering flakes behind it.
Evelyn stood for a long time in the snow, the chill forgotten. Eventually, she made her way home, heart thumping with wonder. She didn’t tell anyone—not at first. Who would believe her?
The next morning, the whole village was buzzing.
“You’ll never believe what I saw by the green,” said Mr. Penrose, the vicar. “A tiny white bird, glowing like moonlight.”
“It followed me all the way to the bakery,” said little Maisie Clark, whose cheeks were red with excitement.
By the end of Christmas Day, at least a dozen villagers claimed to have seen the bird. They began calling it the Snow Fairy, and the name stuck. It became the heart of a new village legend.
Each year after that, on Christmas Eve, people would gather by the yew tree with lanterns, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious creature. Evelyn, always seated on the bench closest to the tree, would bring a selection box of chocolates to share with the children who came. She always saved one particular chocolate—a caramel truffle wrapped in silver foil—and placed it gently at the base of the tree, “for the Snow Fairy.”
Some winters, the bird returned. Just a flit of white in the dusk, a shimmer in the branches, and hearts lifted across the village. Other years, there was no sign at all—but the hope remained.
As the years passed, Evelyn grew frail. One Christmas Eve, the villagers found her usual seat empty. A note was left in the post office window: “With love, always. –E.T.”
That night, the snow fell thicker than anyone could remember. The lanterns glowed softly against the swirling white. And just as the church bells rang midnight, someone gasped and pointed.
Above the yew tree, dancing through the snowflakes, was the Snow Fairy bird.
It swooped gently through the crowd and landed—where else?—on Evelyn’s old bench. There, someone had placed a chocolate selection box and a single silver-wrapped truffle.
The bird pecked the foil gently, then vanished into the snowy night, leaving behind a feather so fine and white it seemed made of cloud.
Today, visitors to Chipping Wold can still hear the tale. The bench by the yew tree bears a plaque that reads:
“In memory of Evelyn Thompson, who believed in wonder—and left us a little more.”
Every Christmas Eve, children gather with chocolates, villagers light their lanterns, and hearts wait for a shimmer of frost-feathered wings—just in case the Snow Fairy returns.
My first thoughts on reading this story;
“seventy-two-year-old postmistress, was the first to see it.”
“She was trudging home after the last post round”
To still be working at seventy-two our Evelyn must love post-mistressing or have not planned well for her retirement. I hope it’s the first option. Also, how many houses does Chipping Wold have? How much post is she delivering and who is doing the other post officey jobs while she’s out?
“Her scarf, a knitted red-and-white spiral made by her late husband”
I like that her late husband was a knitter and her scarf is a spiral. I imagine it’s hard to see out of a spiral of wool starting on your shoulders and ascending upwards, unless she’s wearing it from her shoulders downwards but that may make it hard to walk. I’m glad she’s described as sprightly, it makes the scarf seem less of a trip hazard. I have just Googled spiral and I realise I have confused spiral and helix so ChatGPT’s usage is totally fine and I am wrong. Serves me right for not being a computer.
“They began calling it the Snow Fairy, and the name stuck.”
Um, that is its actual name as specified earlier in the story. They are calling it what it is called. A human writer could have chosen another name like the Floofy Milk-Hued Flapper and this could have begun being used and then stuck.
“As the years passed, Evelyn grew frail. One Christmas Eve, the villagers found her usual seat empty. A note was left in the post office window: “With love, always. –E.T.””
A human writer might think E.T. a bit similar to that other E.T. of phone home fame. No reason not to use it though.
Now it was time to ask for a book cover. I created an account which was very simple to do.
Before image creation ChatGPT said what it would do and asked if I wanted to make amendments.
I typed Yes into the ChatGPT window and I didn’t change anything. I could have insisted on the blood Cyrillic font. I could have added a Spira chocolate bar which I miss enormously. Maybe the post office in Chipping Wold still has a box of Spiras in the stock room. Evelyn might have been too busy to do an annual stocktake since 2004. I had to wait a few minutes for my cover to be generated but this just made it more exciting.
And then a rather jolly image happened…
This looks like the sort of book that could be available at garden centres near you from the last week in August.
In general, this little window into Chipping Wold (I would also have accepted Stow on the Chipping, Wold Campden, Stoke on the Water, Preston Flark, or Little Fussing) is very festive.
Maybe I’ll ask Chat GPT to write me a story about a splendid jolly writer who loved writing short Christmas stories but became disillusioned due to the ease at which ChatGPT can do it and so gave up (for about ten minutes) but then had a sudden insight and decided writing is still for humans if they like doing it.
Snaggletooth was delighted with spooky KitKats (eaten at Halloween 2024) and with amaretto mince tarts (eaten at Christmas 2024). The cherry liqueurs (strange word to spell, why the second e?) were from Lidl and were lovely and the Tim Tam is my current fave biscuit.
Snaggletooth has started looking forward to Lidl’s USA weeks because then he can eat peanut flips which are like an oddly flavoured Wotsit. He’s also enjoyed Swedish Delicatobolls, cola flavour Jaffa Cakes and Haribo which taste of liquorice. Yummy!
Snaggletooth has been fed a Thornton’s Easter egg (which had a unicorn on), some Cerne Abbas man cheese, some Haribo Soda Twist and Dairy Box chocolates recently. The Cerne Abbas man cheese is delightfully cheesy, don’t let the nudity on the label put you off.
Snaggletooth munched on some Christmas pudding flavour crisps in December 2023, they were surprisingly good and I hope they return for Christmas 2024. He then ate an orange twist Toblerone which was also a festive special edition. The Quality Street strawberry creams went down well, as did a custard filled Danish pastry.
Snaggletooth has eaten some chocolate amaretto fudge (bought from the fair trade shop in Wallingford), some fruit licorice (I’m sure that licorice used to have a q and a u in it), a Caramac (now discontinued) and the best mince pies of Christmas 2023, the Co-op’s Black Forest mince pies.
I wonder what Snaggletooth will chomp on in 2024? I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and tasty new year!
It was splendid and made me decide to count my books. Mark Hodkinson has 3,500. I did a quick guesstimate before I began. I have lived in the same house since 2007. I brought some books with me when I moved. I spent some years studying while working full time and in those years read little for pleasure. In the pandemic years I read 110 books a year. My guesstimate was that I’d have 1,500 books.
I started by counting the books I have downstairs. I have a bookcase mainly full of DVDs but it also houses my Red Dwarf related books and the Books of Knowledge.
The Books of Knowledge spent many years on a shelf in my maternal grandparents’ living room. I can look at them and rebuild the entire cosy scene around them.
My next downstairs bookcase has some of my husband’s non-fiction in and my miscellaneous books.
Bookshelf three is my diary books and music books. I adore diaries, whether fictional or real, and the same goes for books about bands.
Bookcase four is my Christmas books and overflow miscellaneous books. The most recent Christmas book I’ve read is the lovely Christmas Past by Brian Earl. I’ve written three Christmas books and suspect I’ll write another!
I have some cook books, mostly inherited from my Nan or that I’ve has since I was young.
My final downstairs bookcase is the bookcase of Terry Pratchett books. I plan to re-read these when I retire or before.
The total number of books I have downstairs is 629.
I have a hoffice upstairs which is becoming steadily more book lined. I’m not averse to a bit of clutter.
Some close up shelfies reveal a lot of David Nobbs, Barbara Pym and Mass Observation books.
I have a fondness for Ladybird books because they were a treat given to me on a Friday by my Dad.
I have a largish unread book pile in my bedroom.
In total, I had 859 books upstairs. So 859 + 629 = 1,488 books. My guesstimate was very close to the actual number!
Snaggletooth has enjoyed a summer of sweet things. He’s eaten sweets shaped like Ferraris, some homemade carrot cake, some strawberries and cream flavour Lindor balls, and some Greek chocolate bought from WH Smith at Athens airport.
Snaggletooth has mostly eaten chewy things lately. He’s had some classic Fruit Salad chews and some saltwater taffy all the way from Florida (bought at Miami airport to be precise). He’s also had some Peeps jelly beans, of which the best flavour was marshmallow. He’d have liked to have been eating the rich on the day of King Charles III’s coronation but instead ate some cupcakes!
Snaggletooth has now been fed 552 things! He’s had some Soreen cherry loaves (delicious!), some spooky KitKats (the Dracula wrapper is my favourite), some cherry flavour Slush Puppie biscuits (from TK Maxx who always have odd foodstuffs) and some white chocolate Malteser Bunnies. He didn’t eat anything novel during Christmas 2022 which is unusual.
Snaggletooth is not sure what to make of the saying “You are what you eat” because he’s eaten Dorset Knobs recently. He’s also chomped a fantastic flapjack flavoured with white chocolate and lemon. Cheesecake has tickled his tastebuds. A Smarties chocolate penguin has been throughly chomped.
Snaggletooth has been eating some odd things of late. He enjoyed what I call Mozart’s balls and most often see at airports. He’s also had some Tayto chocolate with cheese and onion crisps in it. It was a subtle cheesy/oniony flavour and not unpleasant. He ate some Galaxy Enchanted Eggs which are a lovely rose gold colour and some Golden Wonder Curry Sauce flavour crisps which were wonderfully authentic.
There are a lot of bits of Oxford that don’t get written about enough. Two of them close to me and featured in my latest book Pam Dickens Keeps Christmas All The Year are Templars Square, known as Cowley Centre to those over thirty-five years of age, and the Littlemore Fish Bar.
This is Cowley Centre, despite the clear Templars Square branding (I am over thirty-five years of age).
I used to spend my pocket money here and there are great local shops. The bridge goes from the car park to the shopping centre and offers views in two directions. Good, eh?
Another great asset to the community is the Littlemore Fish Bar.
A lovely chip shop.
Fish and chips is the grandaddy of take away food. If you want to get close to cod you should visit.
As well as these two locations, a lot of local garden centres, Oxford city centre and Summertown also get mentioned by Pam Dickens. It was fun to write and I hope is fun to read, even by those who are not local!
Hello Snag food fans, I’d like to wish you all a very happy 2022. I’m hoping it will become decreasingly coronavirusy as it progresses. Recently Snaggletooth has enjoyed a lot of festive fare; some sage derby cheese, Christmas pudding flavour wheats, chocolate Yule log, and that perennial festive fave the Viennetta tarted up for the holidays.
Snaggletooth has enjoyed some cup cakes recently, they were from Lidl and were very good. He’s also had some blue raspberry flavour Chewits, a very good addition to the Chewits stable. The Fry’s strawberry cream bar went down well but Snag would still like the Five Centres to make a comeback. Finally, since Christmas approaches Snag has had an Irish cream mince pie. Expect more festive nibbling soon!
Back in July I finished the second of my Christmas themed books, Sherbets and Herberts & Other Christmas Stories, and what with it being the height of summer I didn’t mention it much online at the time. It’s fair to say my books don’t really launch, they sort of sidle up to the six or seven people who like to read my stuff and then cough politely until they get noticed.
Sherbets and Herberts contains twelve short Christmas stories. The first, called The Float, is an introduction to the two villages of Sitton next the Water and Padlin on Flooze. These villages are inspired by the many Cotswold villages I’ve visited. The next four stories give the book its title and are about a pub and the regular customers, Don, Alan and Brian (in my mind I’ve cast them as Russ Abbot, Philip Jackson and Toby Jones). I’m a bit afraid that their world of the pub is beginning to disappear, so I wanted to write about it. The sixth story, The Bus Blues, is about a musician. I love writing about musicians.
The seventh story, Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World, takes us back to the late 1970s and the punk era. Story eight, Everything Stops For Tea, made me hungry when I wrote it and is a bit whimsical. Story nine, Chas Change and Terry Thinkthrice Soothe Sad Decembers, is a story which has at its centre my belief that humans can be helped to heal. The tenth story, The Perfect Stocking, is about surprise and also about planning. Story eleven, Snowhenge, is about a cosy day indoors. The final story in the book, A Resolution of Retail Rivalry, is about two business men who become pals.
The photo for the book cover was taken on a table purchased in the 1950s by my maternal grandparents and at which I’ve sat for the family Christmases of my childhood and some of the family Christmases of my adulthood. It’s a jolly nice table and can be extended.
You can download Sherbets and Herberts & Other Christmas Stories here.
It’s free on Kindle on 13th and 14th November 2021. Happy reading!
I love Christmas books and I love diary books. I have whole shelves dedicated to both. I noticed that I had never read a Christmas diary book. All diaries contain some Christmas, that is how years work, they all have a December 25th, but a really Christmassy diary book? I couldn’t think of one. So, as Toni Morrison said “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” I created a placeholder on my shelf, between diaries and Christmas books for this as yet unwritten book.
I wrote Pam Dickens Keeps Christmas All The Year between May 2020 and October 2021. Despite this being the coronavirus pandemic times the book has no mention of it, because it is set in 2018. It’s very much an escape, a virus free oasis, with baubles. I read 111 Christmas books while writing it! I set it very locally, because that was the only place I was going! It’s a gentle book, stress free and easy to read in short bursts.
So, here’s what it’s all about; Pam Dickens will be released from paid employment this year and she is jolly pleased about it. Join her as she gets used to retirement and occupies her time very pleasantly by focusing on her favourite festival. Meet her husband Malc and see what marriage looks like after more than four decades. Meet her family and friends and enjoy the bits of Oxford that locals inhabit.
Snaggletooth has chomped an orange flavour Twirl, nibbled some Percy Pig piglets, masticated some pudding flavour chews (lovely lemon meringue was his favourite) and had a limited edition Hazelnut Wispa Gold recently.
Snaggletooth has enjoyed the summery seaside snack of some candy floss flavour rock. He’s also sophisticatedly nibbled some strawberry and mint After Eights. He thought Mary Berry had every right to look pleased with herself on the packet for her raspberry ripple cake, it was delicious. The cherry flavour Turkish delight was wonderful and he hopes it hangs around for longer than the lemon one did.
Snaggletooth is a big fan of the Cadbury Mini Roll and enjoyed the new Neapolitan option, likewise the orange Wagon Wheel. He’s also nibbled some Colin the Caterpillar jelly sweets and chomped on some cheese made from the milk of cows who graze in Glastonbury!
Snaggletooth has nibbled some lemon flavour Turkish Delight which he really enjoyed but judging by the massive pile of it in B&M at 69p a packet it wasn’t a commercial success. It looks a bit like fluorescent snot but don’t let that put you off (it’s put you off hasn’t it?). The hot dog flavour Pringles he ate also came from B&M. They tasted a bit mustardy and were very pleasant. In case you don’t have one nearby, B&M is an emporium of useful household things and foodstuffs. They specialise in high fat and high sugar delicacies at low prices.
Aniseed balls are not a commonly found sweet nowadays but I got some in Notcutts Oxford garden centre. My Mum likes these so Snag shared them with her. I love the colour of aniseed balls. The cherry Jaffa Cake is a new Jaffa Cake flavour but there has been a similar Polish biscuit/cake (sometimes available in Lidl) for ages. Let’s not get into the debate about whether a Jaffa Cake is a cake or a biscuit, McVities state clearly that they are a cake. If I hang about in the biscuit aisle, that does not make me a biscuit, so nor does it make the Jaffa Cake a biscuit.
I’m going to feed another 154 things to Snaggletooth, so keep watching this space!
I’ve been making cakes a bit more often due to the pandemic and Snaggletooth has sampled my chocolate hazelnut sponge. It’s reminiscent of a Ferrero Rocher, but thankfully (unlike M&S getting cross with Aldi over caterpillar cake similarities), the makers of the gold nobbly posh chocs haven’t objected. There has been a leap forward in Fruit Pastille technology recently and Snaggletooth has chomped the new flavours enthusiastically. Then Snag went back to the 70s for a classic Black Forest gateau. Finally Snag has enjoyed some delicate mini meringue pies with pastry so thin and buttery it’s a triumph. M&S should concentrate on their little pies rather than starting beef about lookalike insect cakes.
It’s been Easter recently, that lovely long weekend of chocolate indulgence. Snaggletooth has nibbled some Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs which were delightful, next year he plans to eat a Reester bunny, which is the same treat but in big rabbit form. Snaggletooth has also eaten a Milky Bar egg. A friend mentioned that when they were a small boy the Milky Bar egg box was in the form of a fun wagon. The hot cross bun is now available in loads of flavours, the Sainsbury’s strawberries and cream one finding favour with Snag’s taste buds. And finally, Snag has eaten a fancy Christmas pudding due to a cupboard overstock during the festive period.
It’s been a very cakey time lately (I had my 47th birthday in February) so Snaggletooth chomped some panda face cake and some chocolate cake. There has been a new development in the world of Jaffa Cakes, the passion fruit variety, and Easter is approaching which means Mini Eggs in any form at all are being eagerly devoured.
Snaggletooth’s been eating sweet things again. It’s the time of year when Santas and bunnies overlap in the shops and Snag has chomped both the bringer of festive gifts and the furry representatives of approaching spring. Snag has also eaten some Reese’s mini peanut butter cups, an exotic taste of North America and some delightfully sticky cinnamon bread.
I’m writing this on Christmas Eve, or as I think of it, Lemmy’s birthday. It’s been a weird old year has 2020, and having weird hobbies, like feeding things to Snaggletooth, has helped by being a distraction from the awful coronavirus pandemic. I hope you’ve all found some good distractions.
Snaggletooth has embraced the festive foodstuffs this season. He’s found the maple and pecan mince pies to be rather toothsome, as was the chocolate Yule log. The best bit of the chocolate Yule log is the end slice with it’s high cake to icing ratio. I have discovered that by buying a pot of chocolate icing and applying to the cut ends you can make every slice an end slice! The pigs in duvets sausage rolls are good dipped in salad cream and the M&S Billionaire’s YumNut was super sweet.
I wish you all a very merry Christmas 2020 and a happy, healthy 2021!
Snaggletooth’s diet has been entirely festive recently and as I write this we’re only two weeks away from Christmas 2020. The gingerbread chocolate digestives went down well, as did the chocolate Santa. The new mince pie wheats are a good December breakfast and the sausage roll crisps were very tasty.
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