The Bluestocking - where Spring has sprung and the grass is riz.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Welcome all. Can the gerbils please ensure that all the Tunnocks products are safely stowed in the capacious larder, and perhaps the quokkas could be responsible for counting everyone onto the bus and back off at the new thread - many thanks!

@FuzzyPuffling is bird of the month!

Fuzzy, how terpsichorean of you! I had no idea you were into Interpretative Dance💃

Hello again, Boily,
Judging from that story, you have nothing to fear from AI, your stories are a trillion times better!

I hope all Bluestockingers have had a good night and are finding the strength to deal with sorrows old and new.💙

I do like Murfmeister the ninja dachshund though. That’s original I think - haven’t seen her in the Bluestocking before. Hmm - maybe that’s my new username the next time we have a new thread.

Agree completely with @MarieDeGournay re stories written by AI. Absolutely no contest! The AI story is derivative, unnecessarily whimsical, not very interesting, sentimental and a weak, crappy ending.@Boiledbeetleis the best! Bring me the vibrant prose of the boiled beetle!

I liked the quokka magician we met under a levitating teapot - but only if the teapot was empty😦

That reminds me of earlier AI images of the serving staff at the Bluestocking, we often saw levitating crockery and laden trays supported solely from above by tiny little paws, didn't we?. So maybe that's AI being consistent

But not a patch on the real Boily stories.

The gerbils have a guild!?

Can’t have too many dachshunds, IMO. And it’s also accurate that they drink tea though they’re more slurpers than sippers - well, you try lapping a cuppa.

The dog (not a dachs) that we had when I was a teenager was a tea enthusiast.

Brains and Batshit have never had the opportunity. They had a tasty melange of kibble and mixed leftovers for their dinner tonight and are now blissfully asleep.

My betting is that we'll need a new thread tomorrow - or possibly even today if we get our skates on.

Oh, I do hope so….

Very honoured to be Bird of the Month.

I'm.going to start painting again, and might try some studies of puffins.

Studies of puffins - what a good idea! It would make a change from parrots, who are, like, so totally over-represented in art?

And you literally can't move for magpies in most art galleries.

I had a long beach walk today. The tide was out. I prefer it when the tide is out. The hound was happy; he prefers it when the tide is out too. We are tide-out people, I suppose.

Thought I’d share my riveting update.

It appears they do. It also explains the lack of service at the bar tonight!

A spokesgerbil for FGS (For Gerbils Scotland) is apparently the next speaker!

And joining us on stage via zoom...

Swashy, many nautical types prefer it when the tide is in. If they're up muddy estuaries, it lets them get the dinghy off the mooring.

This gerbil guild idea... what are they talking about? Wage slavery? We'll be getting demands for reduced hours and bonuses soon...

I fear this is my fault. I am passionate about trade unions and was talking while very pissed waxing lyrical in the Bluestocking last night about workers' rights and power in a union and solidarity etc.

I'm impressed they're organised a conference so quickly.

But also, they shouldn't be working more than six hours without a proper break, and they need holiday and sick pay and possibly overtime on Sundays, bank holidays and the night shift, and maybe danger money for the security beavers if they have to manhandle men from the Staunch Ally, and as we rely on them, maybe a bonus and a pay rise could be negotiated...

I'm wondering, Magpie - did you make that image yourself? I just found my parrot one readymade on the internet, it's amazing what is already in existence!

Trusty AI! I was slightly shocked it was perfectly happy to knock off Botticelli like that. Although one of her norks looks distinctly wrong in the magpie version.

@EdithStourton
Out for walking; in for galleoning 😊.

@MyrtleLion
Crikey.
Are we their employers or are they self-employed?
Because, if the former (and I do hate myself for this) it felt easier when they were happy little gerbil slaves. Or servants. Or just loyal friends who love their acts of service.
And I can’t face the tax returns…

It's the NI that worries me...

Thing is they’re happy to be paid peanuts, or maybe pumpkin seeds. And they don’t need to work long shifts because there’s so many of them. They’ve plenty of time for their musical theatre etc hobbies.

@EdithStourton @Swashbuckled don't worry, the giant wombat is a very talented freelance accountant.

Ah Giant Wombat. She's looking well.