She actually had a job as a nanny for the royal family, and used this to pass information on to the rest of her anarchist network.

Well, that was interesting, ChatGPT had immediately backed down, and (correctly) admitted that the whole vair/verre thing was half-baked at best. The next step was obvious - how would it justify a screeching 180˚ turn?

Apart from a mealy-mouthed qualification at the end, it simply reproduced the incorrect verre/vair folk etymology. So I decided to challenge it...

So, I thought I would find out what ChatGPT thought. Here's the Cinderella Test.

Dear BBC,

As an atheist, I would like to point out that the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception refers to the belief that the Virgin Mary was born without original sin; it isn’t just a fancy way of saying ‘virgin birth’.

#BBC #Callthemidwife

Brighton, UK. Crowds gathering for the December 21st 'Burning the Clocks' procession. I like the light and the lines; the lady in the warm coat helps to capture the wintery mood.

#photography #streetphotography #brighton

Knepp Castle, Sussex UK. King John stayed here - but since it was knocked about a bit in the Civil War, it's mainly used as shelter by grazing cattle.
#photography

Shop in Lewes, Sussex UK.

#photography

Merci F et D

Next time you visit an old church in England or Wales, keep a look out for (rare) memorials with 'dual dates' - a result of the complications caused by the 'official' year still starting on April 25, while ordinary folk increasingly marked it on January 1st. This example is in Bath Abbey.

The damage done here on the South Coast was particularly intense, as can be seen from these two photographs of Brighton's famous pier.