Select the icon – or press (something or other) for… There’s some new AI thing that’s just appeared on my Word screen as soon as I open a blank page. Didn’t ask for it, don’t want anything to do with ‘creative’ AI, doubt I shall use it, and I am already sick of AI generated… stuff. Daft little videos where non-real people pretend to be real people… Images of long-dead relatives suddenly animated and ‘alive’ again just to wrench your heartstrings… And don’t get me started on the “I just released my first book” brigade who’ve only managed to learn the process of ‘copy, paste and send to Amazon.’ Did you know, only a short time ago, Amazon made a rule that an author could upload only a certain number of new books per day? Something like ten. I mean… I write full-time, and I can only manage four decent-length pieces per year, so who’s writing this stuff? Worse, who’s buying it? I just saw a trailer for some novel or other and, OMG it was A B – the first word being Absolute.

And there’s a case in point. I changed that word to italics and this icon popped up with the message ‘Draft with…’ whatever the AI thing is called. CoPilot, or something. Isn’t it the copilot who actually flies the aircraft? Yeah, well, I’m not having that. So, my first job is to look up how to permanently disable this takeover.

And breathe…

Well, that took me longer than expected to get out of my system, so I’ll be brief. Yesterday: Writing, piano, and building the largest moving object known to man (at the time). Mr Andrews had me painting the hull, twice, tying knots in the rigging to secure them below decks, and painting the nameplate. The boss took care of the first attachments to the foredeck, and after two hours, we had one section of one deck 80% done.

Today, the sun’s out again, the boat’s come and gone, and it looks like it’s going to be a glorious day for staying in, writing, maybe popping out for a walk later… Now that’s something AI could do for me. It could do my exercise while I create more stories from my own head.

Have a good weekend!

A gift for other grumpy creatives:

To disable this CoPilot thing:

1 Open Word

2 Go to File (top right), then Options (down the bottom)

3 Click Options and you should see Copilot in the menu

4 Click that and untick the ticked box

(Some versions may have an ‘Experiments’ link in the File/Options list, in that case, you turn it off from within there.

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Yesterday was a mixed bag. Writing and rain in the morning, followed by rainbows and relaxation, followed by music and mayhem. Let me explain…

I am just over 30,000 words into my next Delamere Files mystery, book number eight in the series, so I spent the first part of the morning writing and researching…

Here’s one of the publications I read as part of my research, The Illustrated Police News, 23rd November 1889. I can tell you, a membership to the National Newspaper Archive is worth its weight in gold just for its reading material never mind its research value.

The rain came in during the morning, was heavy around eleven-ish, and finally died off, leaving this rainbow, which was a double (you might just be able to see the upper one):

Later, I’d arranged for the music student and I to visit ‘George the Guitar’ for an introductory lesson on how to start playing the guitar, seeing as how we now both have one. As does his brother who originally couldn’t make the lesson and then could. So, the three of us met just after dark up at the windmills, one guitar each, and set off to meet the teacher like a travelling mariachi band. An hour later, the boys came away buzzing with what they’d learnt and done (Sam’s face when he played a scale of C Major was a delight, but I could see Hary thinking, ‘Not more bl***y scales’ – lol. No, actually, they were both buzzing with what they were going to do next in their musical quests, so let’s hope they keep up the dreaded P word (practice). Huge thank you to the very generous George.

The mayhem then came after when I dropped into the bar to meet up with the planning committee – we’re planning something later in the year, which I’ll keep to myself for now. And following that, a very nice sleep thank you very much, and I’ve woken to a bright, calm, and sunny day, though every window in the house is condensated as it’s still very humid. That, thank you for asking, was my yesterday. Today, it’s more about writing this morning, piano lesson this afternoon followed by a couple of hours building Titanic this evening. Photos to follow tomorrow, maybe.

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There’s not a huge amount going on, for me, up here, at the moment. January is a quiet month all round. Except for those who work in the necessary industries and shops who keep going all year round. I’m always very impressed with the guys who empty the bins and clear up the bin-store areas. They see to ours several times a day, working all day and in all weathers. Of course, I’m not out and about much at this time of year, and I’m sure there’s a lot more work going on than I see from my window, or the occasional amble through the village. Talking of which, we did one of those the other day and Neil took some photos. As you can see, the greenery is already starting to return.

This entranceway (arch) has always interested me because of the style of the stonework.

It’s raining this morning, and the sun’s just about to come up, and when it does, I don’t think we will see the perfect blue sky we had the other day when passing by Ag Athanasios in the village…

And that’s about all I have for you today. I mean, if you want to know exactly what life is like for us in the winter, we spent a thrilling couple of hours yesterday sorting out kitchen cupboards. The other night, Neil carried a chair back from Jenine’s house as you might have seen in the photo (scroll down). It’s one of two for the courtyard, a Christmas present, and the one is in place, while we await the arrival of the second. Roll on summer when we can use them.

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Well, here’s an odd collection of notes.

Yesterday, after piano, Harry and I met Steve, and we walked up to his house where he has a recording studio. Very generously, he spent over an hour showing us around his recording software, letting H record a few bars and see how you can layer instruments, record, change pitch and tempo and all kinds of electronic music wizardry 25 years more advanced than when I used Cubase back in the old world. Another huge thank you to the maestro for taking the time and trouble. Me being me, I forgot to take any photos, but here is one taken well over 10 years ago, and this, too has a story attached.

I can’t remember which birthday, and a gentleman doesn’t ask, but Mike (right) Sue (sitting behind out of site) and I (left) were playing for Miss DJ’s birthday. We were practising one night, and Neil was there, and someone suggested he had a go doing a number for her, and we settled on The Jean Genie, by Bowie (not shown). Then we thought, wouldn’t it be fun to swap instruments, which is why I am manhandling a bass guitar, and Sue is out of sight on my keyboard. It was made even more memorable by Neil performing the number as though he was reading the BBC news. (A little like Peter Snow does on the Big Fat Quiz). In case you were wondering, having missed the point of the thing, he’s holding his head mic.

And now, for something completely different.

That was the over-the-wall view this morning at 7.15, and this is something I only noticed the other day because I hadn’t been that way for a long while…

White lines on the road. I’ve not seen that since they painted a motorcycle lane on the main Yialos to Horio road. I say a ‘motorcycle lane’, it was actually double white lines in the middle of the road, intended to mean, ‘No Overtaking.’ Unfortunately, the lines were about a foot apart, just enough space for a moped wheel, enabling two to travel side by side with a decent amount of gossip room in between.

And talking of mopeds, who’s the annoying young man with no manhood intent on pretending he’s warming up for the TT Races down near the school (it sounds like), and forcing his inadequacies on the world by pretending he has a Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa when all he’s really got is a Zukini Flaccid 49cc. Every night is drift night somewhere within earshot of 2,000 people. Malaka.

And talking of historical romances. I’ve got a book in the following promotion, and if you’d like to click on the banner, I’d get some kudos among the indie authors of romance mysteries department, and you might find a new author to follow. Doesn’t cost anything; gets me points towards more shares which means… Well, I help other indie authors, and they help me. We all look after each other, but we do need people to browse the page for free.

There. That’s enough blather from me first thing. I’ll be away to work, and leave you with wishes for a happy and peaceful day.

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It’s been a weekend of various activities, including, taking a walk around the village on a sunny afternoon, playing cards, writing, of course, putting the washing out, bringing the washing in, putting the washing out, making plans for a possible winter trip at the end of the year, and carrying furniture around the village after dark.

Mind you, those ‘beach pants’ light up the place a little. (The chair is one of two Christmas presents for the courtyard). There are, or were, other items of clothing on sale from the man with the van who sells work clothes at Campos (the beachwear was an online order).

As for this week, I have made arrangements for some varied musical activities, starting today with an afternoon piano lesson followed by a walk up the hill to visit Steve and see how he makes his backing tracks. On Wednesday, we’re seeing George for an intro to playing the guitar, then there’s another piano lesson on Thursday. In the meantime, the estate agent is coming to photograph the house as it’s going back on sale, and I’ve made an appointment to see an osteopath in Rhodes next week. What with all that and writing another instalment of my current series set in the past, it looks like I’m going to have a busy week. And people ask, ‘What do you do in the winter?’

Enjoy the greenery is another thing.

And make the most of the good weather while it’s there.

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