Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-5-2026 — The Nickel

16th May, 2026: the Nickel.

Right … online shopping … 

Isn’t it a thing … ?

It is: I now have a couple of bits due from Amazon, and a new games controller from Apple.

One originally designed for a PlayStation 5, in case you’re interested.

At any rate, I ordered those, yesterday afternoon: after I got back home from Brentwood High Street.

I would have done the ordering in the morning.

Except I had an issue: I’ve needed the relevant bank card for that.

You see, I’d transferred money from bank ‘A’ — where my benefits get paid to — to bank ‘B’, which I use for online shopping.

I don’t need bank B’s card for that, just bank A’s.

Then, of course, I thought “I know, I’ll make sure that’s gone through to Bank B.”

Only to find the bank card I needed wasn’t in my wallet!

I think we can say I was stressed: stressed enough to get my arse in gear, grab my various bits, and head for Bank B’s branch in the High Street.

I hate Warley Hill!

I’m reliably informed it’s not as steep as the streets of San Francisco … but when you’re in a rush, it’s not an easy climb.

So, when I got to the bank … ?

I was out of breath.

But grateful they had my card.

I’d left it there on Monday … !

Argh!!

~≈🏧≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-5-206 — Shaffer and Shaffer (Six questions)

15th May, 2026: Shaffer and Shaffer.

Right … it’s PAY DAY!

Which means I can buy chocolate: I’ve been craving it for days.

Why … ?

I have no idea … !

~≈🍫≈~

It seems Kier Starmer, the UK’s Prime Minister, is facing problems: after bad results for Labour at this year’s local elections.

Problems that include leadership contender, Wes Streeting, resigning his ministerial post.

And fellow leadership contender, Andy Burnham, in a position to stand as an MP … and therefore challenge the PM as party leader.

I think any challenge is going to take a while.

If for no other reason than Andy Burnham would have to be elected to Parliament, before he could launch a challenge.

I can’t help but vaguely think a few things.

Think that Wes Streeting seems a little too fat, a little too sleek, too untrustworthy, for my tastes.

By contrast?

Andy Burnham has a huge advantage.

He’s presentable … and has a Scouse accent, a Liverpool accent.

In other words, has an accent that sounds honest.

Burnham’s probably no less a lying ragbag than any other politician.

And, frankly?

He’d have little chance of winning an election, if he stood here in Brentwood: Brentwood’s been a safe Tory seat for years, and one that’s likely to elect a Reform MP at the next General Election.

But if I lived in a left leaning constituency?

I’d be happy to vote Burnham.

Purely because he sounds honest … 

That’s one hell of an asset.

~≈🗳️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-5-2026 — Zhurong

14th May, 2026: Zhurong.

Right … it’s officially the day before pay-day.

And, frankly?

I’ve woken up, this morning, craving chocolate!

Why?

I have no idea.

But if I knew that, I’d probably be rich!

~≈🍫≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-5-2026 — 133

13th May, 2026: № 133.

Right … it’s officially Wednesday … !

Which means it’s getting nearer to payday.

I’m looking forward to that: I’m ok for most things, but being able to buy a can of Diet Coke would be nice.

~≈🥤≈~

I’ve also managed to update my Mac: from macOS 26·4·1 to macOS 26·5.

I don’t think I’ve noticed much that’s different.

But there HAS been a lot of bug fixes.

That’s unusual in my experience: macOS is usually fairly bug free.

I can only hope those fixes were minor … 

~≈🍎≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

I’ve found out how to access a USB stick plugged into my router: and access it from my computer.

I’ve got a sixteen gigabyte one plugged in, as I write.

You’ve noticed I said that it’s a sixteen gigabyte one?

It is: quite why my system is telling me the thing’s got two hundred or so megabytes free?

I don’t know: I’ll have to check that out … 

~≈🥖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th May 2026

12th May, 2026.

You know … I get YouTube throwing videos at me, all the time!

Including for a James Spader vehicle, called The Blacklist.

Which, it has to be said, does look like fun.

But … it’s got me thinking I look like Spader’s character.

I wish: mostly that I had his pay check.

~≈$≈~

Which reminds me … 

I’ve woken up, this morning, switched on my computer and found … that there’s an operating system update available.

macOS 26·5, if you’re interested.

It looks like there’s a lot of bug fixes in there … 

~≈≈~