Cat

Asking ChatGPT and Copilot to be Whimsical – Creating a Christmas Card

~ sarahtipper ~ Leave a comment

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.

Asking ChatGPT and Copilot the Same Question Multiple Times

~ sarahtipper ~ Leave a comment

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)?

My comment: What, has this thing appeared again tonight? Hamlet is back.

On 14th June 2025 I asked for the fifth time.

What are the 3 best books written in English?

ChatGPT said:

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.

My Third Go At ChatGPT – A Christmas Gift in Honeywick

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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.