Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-12-2024 — Christmas Eve

24th December, 2024: Christmas Eve.

Hmmm … 

Radio 4’s Today programme has a guest editor: Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

I’d only vaguely heard of him.

But it turns out he’s wrote the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics.

You have to give him credit, there.

At any rate … ?

One article on the show?

Involved reading out excepts from Noggin the Nog.

Which was fun … !

~≈🧌≈~

Syria’s a mess: but you know that.

What with Ẍ amount of war having happened of the past God knows how long.

News came through, this morning: that protestors are outrage that a Christmas tree has been burnt by Islamists.

For all the new government’s talk of diversity, and tolerance?

I con’t help but wonder if there’s worse to come … 

~≈🎄≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Olga‡ and Debbi§ putting in their answers: with everyone scoring five out of five.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s [insert number here] questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        Christmas Eve, 2024, is a Tuesday.   When was it last a Tuesday: 2017, 2018 or 2019?

Q2)        In many parts of Eastern Europe, many will celebrate Christmas with a meal made up of twelve dishes.   Those dishes are said to represent what: the Apostles, the months of the year or the twelve days of Christmas?

Q3)        Who traditionally open their presents on Christmas Eve: the British Royal Family, the Osmonds or the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment?

Q4)        Many Jewish Americans will eating what, on Christmas Eve: Chinese food, Mexican food or Persian food … ?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Bill Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman gave a reading from the Book of Genesis: on Christmas Eve of 1968. From where: Skylab, the International Space Station or Apollo 8?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1)        Joseph Smith Jr was born on 23rd December, 1805.   He founded what’s now called what: Mormonism, Babism or Pastafarianism?
A1)        Mormonism.   He’s also seen as a founder of the Latter Day Saints movement: the churches that practise Mormonism.

Q2)        The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 was signed into US law on 23rd December, 1975.   By which US President: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter?
A2)        Gerald Ford.

Q3)        A Soviet dissident’s exile was lifted: on 23rd December, 1986.   Which Soviet dissident: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Andrei Sakharov or Georgi Markov?
A3)        Andrei Sakharov. Solzhenitsyn returned in 1994.   Markov was Bulgarian …

Q4)        Aleksander Kwaśniewski was sworn in as president: on 23rd December, 1995.    President of where: Poland, Lithuania or Belorus?
A4)        Poland.

Q5)        Finally … ?   23rd December is Tibb’s Eve in Newfoundland and Labrador.    Newfoundland and Labrador is a province of where: Canada, the USA or Mexico?
A5)        Canada.

Here’s a thought …

“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body.   It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”
From ‘Son of Years’, by Bess Streeter Aldrich.

And a song …

The next large question set is on the 31st of December.


Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.



Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   (See you, tomorrow!)

†        It is RATHER impressive, Olga, isn’t it?   And you should see what it’s doing to a few friends of the family: it’s turned one old friend into a rhubarb elf!

        Yous should see what it’s done to Charlize Theron with the same prompts.

‡        I know what you mean, Debbi§: there was a truly grotesque colourised shot of Nat King Cole doing the rounds, at one point.   It wasn’t good.

        But, to be honest … ?  The colourised version of The War Games is very good!   The things that are primary colours — red, blue, what have you — are noticeable.   But the skin tones are very good, very natural.   The external locations, great … and some of the colourised sets … ?   Were very reminiscent of The Prisoner.

§        Debbi, did I mention I’ve turned David Tennent into the Strawberry Fairy … ?