Chat GPT

Have you tried asking questions on Chat GPT?

Personally, I haven't. But my son, Kimbo, uses it occasionally. Just recently Lady M found an old George VI 1947 halfpenny coin in the park, and of course Kimbo had to ask all about it.

He sent a photo, and asked Chat GPT if it was worth 'a fortune'; the response was really amazing.

Not only does the reply sound like a real person, but it is filled with so much information that you almost feel lectured-to. It even goes into aspects that weren't asked-about. The answer was so comprehensive, that it was hard to imagine that this wasn't a real (well-informed), live person.

I find it all rather creepy, and almost dangerous. I hear that the current state-of-the-art Chat GPT is only just scraping the surface, and that very soon such AI sites will be more intelligent than most humans; which they probably already are!

If you haven't yet used the site, I suggest you have a go. You will be amazed.

p.s. The battered halfpenny was worth a farthing (at best)!

 

There is some corner of an English garden that is forever growing Vegetables.

This small raised bed was constructed by the Volunteer Gardening Group who (including Lady M) keep The Rest Garden, where I walk with Billy, looking so splendid.

I noticed yesterday morning that, this year, they have planted Rhubarb, Bok Choi, Strawberries, Chives, Rosemary, and a few flowers. There is still space for more. Last year it was covered with self-sown Pumpkins; a few of which I took.

I think this is a wonderful idea. It's a tiny area, so not many of us will benefit from the crops, but those who will (including me again I hope) will be very fortunate.

I saved some seeds from one of last year's better Green Pumpkins, and will sow them in amongst the flowers, etc, nearby. Hopefully some will survive and I'll have some more this Autumn.

One of the few things we lack here in central Brighton is a Communal Vegetable Garden. NOT an 'allotment' as such, but just a small joint veg' growing patch where anyone can participate, and eventually help themselves to what is grown. I'm sure it would be extremely popular!

This raised bed is a miniature version.

 

Totally BONKERS

 

Ignoring the rights and wrongs of the war in Iran, one of the most bizarre sides to the current conflict must be that people are being arrested in the UAE for taking photos of war damage. I see that 70 Brits have been arrested, and face 10 year Jail sentences, for taking photos of bomb damage in Dubai (above).

The authorities claim that it shows their country in a bad light. However, what shows them in an EVEN WORSE LIGHT, is arresting innocent people for telling, and showing, THE TRUTH.

It has to be said (because it's true), that certain cultures really are totally BONKERS.

In The West you might be in trouble for lying, whilst in The Middle East it's the TRUTH that'll get you in very deep poo! Bizarre!

Given Names, then and now.

 

Just prior to upping-sticks and moving to France, I was teaching at the prestigious Prep' School, Windlesham House (above).

Recently I was looking at their Wiki site (to glean some info) and took a look at the list of some of the better known 'old boys'.

Amongst the more recent ones, whose names people might recognise, were Sir Michael Hordern, Duncan Goodhew, Chris Whitty, and Guy Ritchie. All with perfectly normal Christian names.

However, going back a bit, I came across Christian names that were much more adventurous. Imagine naming your son one of these....

Ichabod, Debonnaire, Roden, Saumarez, Lepel, Leveson, Colthurst, Hay, Osmond, Bentley, or Sutton. All more like Surnames than Given Names.

Just like the naming of Dogs, one needs to be able to shout a given name without either you or the Dog/Person feeling embarrassed. The name also needs to be short, sharp, and clear.

Imagine shouting to your son "Debonnaire (or Ichabod), come here; it's lunch time"; rather than "Billy, come here... etc". Whilst giving your sons (and daughters) interesting names, one needs to remember that they should be practical.

There was a recent trend for giving children the names of where they were conceived, so we could have had Bolton Brown, or Frinton-on-Sea Smith, or even Torremolinos Thomas. Not a good trend.

Wines were also popular for a while, and lots of girls were tragically named 'Chardonnay'; we even knew one called 'Chablis'.

So, when you're choosing a name, make sure the poor child won't be constantly embarrassed by shortening it into something obscene, or that it isn't a well-known Italian word for 'Ugly old Cow'. 

Muckle Flugga

 

The UK has some pretty rustic outposts, as well as a few very sophisticated, cosier locations.

One of the former (a lump of offshore rock, with a lighthouse), MUST, at some time or other, have been the subject of a national COMPETITION, to find the most appropriate name for an inhospitable island.

The island, which is part of The Shetlands, off the north coast of Scotland, is just about the most remote and barren place you could imagine, and one has to pity the poor builders who were sent there to build its Lighthouse.

Anyway, someone obviously won the 'Name The Rock Competition', and the lucky winner came up with the very appealing name of MUCKLE FLUGGA. A name, I'm sure you'll agree, that has a certain 'ring' about it.

The name is perfect; I couldn't have thought of anything better. And if you're thinking of holidaying in the area, contact someone who's bound to be called 'Hamish', who keeps the key. Accommodation is free, but you will need to sign a disclaimer against death, frostbite, boredom, and all forms of rock-inflicted injuries. 

I can still hear my mother saying "Cro, if you don't behave yourself, I'll send you to Muckle Fugga". 

"Oh...... NO!

Idyllic England.

This picture (below) is exactly how I remember rural life when I was small. We lived on the edge of a small Surrey Village, and our large garden backed onto open countryside. We also had our own Chickens, Ducks, and Bantams, as well as a large Veg' garden, and plenty of Fruit and Nut trees. So I'm no stranger to bucolic life.

Country life isn't all that different today. The Tractors are definitely bigger, and Hay Bales have changed shape, but otherwise life is much the same. Fields are ploughed, seeds sown, and crops harvested. Cows are still Milked, Pigs fattened, and Sheep sheared. Fields look much as they did over half a century ago, and their surrounding hedges continue to be trimmed. Rooks still nest in noisy gangs high in the Oak trees, and Rabbits run wild amongst the Wheat and Barley. 

One of the few noticeable differences these days is the absence of Haystacks. When I was small, beautifully crafted Haystacks would always be topped with hay-sculpted animals and birds. Pheasants were a favourite. Serious competitions were held for 'Best Haystacks'.

The other major difference is that the Farmers themselves now all have glum faces, but the cause of that is beyond their control.

I would have quite enjoyed life as a Farmer. I did once contemplate buying a farm in Wales It had a lovely old stone farmhouse, loads of stone-built barns, etc, and about 20 acres of good level land. My only problem was that at 25 yeas old, I knew nothing about farming, so I bought a similar stone-built farm in S W France instead, which had just one Hectare of land; not all of which was level.

I grew Wheat and Maize, and I harvested an annual crop of Chestnuts from a small area of ancient grafted trees. And as I had been taught as a child, I grew all my own vegs, and had a run-full of Hens.

Farming runs in my distant family, as I imagine it does in almost everyone's families. I think I would have made a good 'arable' Farmer. No Cows or Sheep or Pigs; just acres of Leeks, Spuds, and Onions.

Now I shall never know. 

 

Joe Lycett.

You'll like this.

Funny AND informative is unusual. But here is comic Joe Lycett offering both.

Enjoy (I did).