Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-12-2025 — Milton Obote.

28th December, 2025: Milton Obote.

Well, that’s me embarrassed … !

I’ve woken up, this morning, and turned on the heating … to find my boiler had lost pressure: and that I had no heating or hot water, as a result.

And twisting the relevant knob didn’t work.

So … ?

I started boiling a lot of water, for a bath, and phoned my landlords, to book an emergency repair.

Which, I was told, could take up to twenty-four hours … 

I booked the repair, and went back to contemplating my navel, filling the bath, and trying to organise a blog post.

Whilst a niggling thought — and the possibility of twenty-four hours-worth of cold — kept poking me.

With that in mind, I went and checked the boiler, again … and twisted both of the knobs on the thing.

Yes, you’re right.

I did have to make an embarrassed phone call* … 

~≈♨️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 27th December 2025.

27th December, 2025.

Post Christmas, I have left-over decorations.

Courtesy of my cousin’s daughter and wife: their shop has quite a range.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by R&R (@2quirkybirds)

The bauble I’m holding can be customised, so you know.

But, when I first got it?

Got me thinking not of Star Trek, but of drogna.

If you know what drogna are … ?

You’re older than you look.

~≈⬟≈~

One last Christmassy point?

I got Amazon gift cards: as I suspect so many of us do.

And … ?

Bought stuff on Amazon: managing to hit a discount option in the process.

This will sound counterintuitive … but it was something I didn’t want.

As I couldn’t work out if there were any hidden charges, either at the point of sale, or later.

So I contacted Amazon’s customer service people.

Who told me that, no: there would be no, extra, hidden charges.

I wasn’t reassured.

So, yesterday morning?

I sent the inevitable email to Jeff Bezos.

And got a far more reassuring reply: confirming what the customer service people had told me.

No: there’s were to be not extra charges.

Thank heavens for that.

~≈🏬≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-12-2025 — Babbage

26th December, 2025: Babbage.

Right … I’ve turned off the radio: there’s only so much Bill Bailey I can take at this time of the morning!

As nice as it was to hear?

There’s only so much Christmas-themed opera a body can takes!

Especially on Boxing Day.

~≈📦≈~

Boxing Day … or my nephew’s birthday: as that’s today, as well.

If you can get to his YouTube channel?

Feel free to subscribe: you’d make his day … !

~≈📽️≈~

Yesterday was Christmas Day: I hope yours went well.

My family’s did: I think we can say we’ve all ended up pleased with our respective presents.

I got a Rolykin Dalek from my mother: courtesy of my cousin Dean.

Or, at least, the shop run by my cousin Dean’s wife and daughter, Wendy and Hannah.

It’s possibly worth visiting, if you’re ever there: they do a range of stuff, including some third-party collectibles, and their own range of novelty jewellery.

~≈👽≈~

As a LAST thought … ?

Yes: I’ve finally finished my review of “The End of the War”, the last episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea.

That took a lot of work: I can only hope it makes sense.

Sense, or otherwise?

I do know I raise an issue, there.

The series can be watched in 4k, on the iPlayer: so long as you have a suitable TV.

However?

There’s no corresponding 4k bluray on Amazon: just the 2k, and DVD versions.

I think the BBC may have missed a trick, there.

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

The War Between the Land and the Sea — Episode 5 — “The End of the War” — A Review

20th December, 2025: “The End of the War”.

An Introduction.

Right … 

It’s officially Saturday.

Which means I’m writing this the day before Sunday, 21st December, 2025, and the day before the last episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Something I’ve been watching — and reviewing — ever since the most recent member of the Whoniverse franchise started.

Given that the BBC has broadcast two episodes a night, over the past two weeks?

I’ve had my work cut out for me.

But?

I’ve been looking forward to Christmas — this coming Thursday — and the final episode.

That final episode, “The End of the War”, airs tomorrow: and, frankly?

I’m looking forward to it.

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-12-2025 — Christmas Day

25th December, 2025: Christmas Day.

It’s Christmas Day.

And … ?

Bar the one car that’s just gone past, my street is as quiet as the grave.

It’s the one day of the year it happens: and quite beautiful.

With that said?

I can only wish you — and the neighbours, if they’re reading this — a very Happy Christmas.

It’s the one bit noise we should make, today.

~≈🎄≈~

Unless the noise is music, of course.

I always think the best Christmas song ever written, is one about two drunk people having a row in the middle of Times Square.

How more Christmasy do you want?

How more Christmasy can you get?

The only way to get more Christmasy … is to have a song by two of the best male singers of their respective generations.

One of whom is in recovery from a serious drug habit: the other*, a major investor in tape recorder technology.

Either of those songs … ?

Is a contender for “Best Xmas Song Ever Recorded”!

~≈🎶≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-12-2025 — Christmas Eve

24th December, 2025: Christmas Eve.

I am officially up early: for a diabetic review.

Way too early!

So early, in fact, that my eyeballs hurt, and there’s utter silence from the street!

Frankly?

That’s actually quite nice.

There’s a certain romance to early mornings.

~≈🌅≈~

I know it’s Christmas: it’s silly season, in other words.

And, as a result of seeing a news piece on the King’s Christmas Message, this year?

I’ve got Roger Miller’s version of “England Swing’s Like a Pendulum Do”, floating around my head.

I can’t help but think one thing.

Whoever wrote the song had only heard of Westminster Abbey, and the Elizabeth Tower … 

~≈🛎️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-12-2025 — Festivus for the Rest of Us.

23rd December, 2025: Festivus.

You know … there’s an old Catalan tradition …

This time of year, the inevitable Nativity scenes go up: and, in Catalonia?

There’s usually a Caganer: a ‘shitter’, in other words.

I have to confess, I don’t usually do Christmas decor … but having one in the window would certainly surprise people!

In all honesty, though?

I’m not too worried.

The only disappointment is the fact my Mac doesn’t have a Caganer emoji.

Heigh ho … !

~≈🎅🏻≈~

I think I need a haircut … !

No, there’s no ‘think’ about it: I need a haircut.

I just don’t know where’s going to be open in the run up to Christmas: and I’d hate to have to leave it … !

~≈💈≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22nd December 2025.

22nd December, 2025.

OK: I’ll admit it!

I’ve got an earworm, lurking around again!

Joy Sarney’s “Naughty, Naughty, Naughty”, before you ask.

I wish I knew why: I’ve only ever seen a Punch and Judy show, once!

~≈👊≈~

Hmmm … 

The thought occurs: that it’s almost Christmas, and almost pay day, as well.

And … ?

I’ll be able to sort out my bills when that happens.

And sort out one last roll of wrapping paper.

For the one present that managed to turn up late!

There’s always that one Amazon delivery … !

~≈🎁≈~

Which reminds me … I have my usual diabetic review, on Wednesday: which I think will include my annual foot check.

Yes: I’d’ve got it out of the way.

But … ?

It’s at 10·10 in the morning.

Yes: I’m going to be up early … !

~≈🕓≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-12-2025 — Dalek Day.

21st December, 2025: Dalek Day.

Right … it’s officially Solstice.

Which means it’s the shortest day of the year, and it’s going to start getting dark, early.

Does it mean we have an excuse to start singing?

Not if you have a voice like mine!

Some else can do the job!

~≈🔔≈~

Did I mention yesterday wasn’t the Solstice … ?

Yesterday wasn’t the Solstice.

But did see my nephew pay a visit: and upload a video.

Feel free to hit the like button … !

~≈🚀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th December 2025.

20th December, 2025.

OK … 

I’ve got another earworm, this morning.

It’s my own damn fault: I had a sudden mental image of a reporter, and her camera crew, turning up to report on people who are dancing.

And … ?

Bam: I get DJ Casper turning up … 

Alongside a bunch of line dancing Chicagoans, and a camera crew … 

~≈👯≈~

On other fronts … ?

I’ve finished my review of “The Witch of the Waterfall”, the most recent episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button!

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

The War Between the Land and the Sea — Episode 4 “The Witch of the Waterfall” — A Review

14th December, 2025: “The Witch of the Waterfall”.

An Introduction.

It’s not often I duplicate posts: at least, not often I use the opening of one post as the opening of another.

Except it’s something I did, last week: when writing my introduction to my reviews of the first two episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea.

And it’s something I’ve repeated with this week’s episodes.

Sue me!

Additionally?

It’s not often I complain about Apple.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m something of a Mac fan: I’m writing this on a 2024 Mac mini, using macOS Tahoe 26.2, and Safari 26.2, to write this post.

I had problems, updating to the new versions, last Thursday: when, after the update ro 26.2, my browser would not stay logged into my usual websites, after switching the thing on in the morning.

Then would sign me out when I switched it off.

As you can imagine?

It was very frustrating.

Contacting various people proved little help: including Apple’s community forums.

So?

I contacted Apple’s Support line.

Where an extremely helpful young person managed to diagnose the issue.

All I had to do, it seems, was make a small change to Safari’s preferences: turning off the cross-site tracking option in Safari>Settings>Privacy.

That seems to have solved the problem, for now: although I don’t know what long term issues may happen as a result.

I hope they’re minimal.

But I’m also aware I had that box checked for several years: with no problems.

Why it’s happened with this update?

I don’t know!

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

My problems aren’t why you’re here.

You’re possibly here out of curiosity, boredom, or a random social media post.

So, if you’re a newcomer to Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar, I’ll have to repeat what I’ve said in earlier posts.

In other words, say “Welcome aboard”, tell you I write the Daily Teaser quiz, and about films and TV shows I’ve watched.

One of those shows?   Is the Dr Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea.

I saw the first episodes, “Homo Aqua”, and “Plastic Apocalypse”, last week, and caught the third episode, “The Deep”, last Sunday.

This post?

Is about the fourth episode, “The Witch of the Waterfall”.

Yes: I’ve started this post, early.

But?

It’s Christmas.

It’s busy!

And the weather is acting up.

Let’s move onto the review, shall we … ?

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-12-2025 — Here We Goa, Again

19th December, 2025: Goa.

OK: you’ve possibly realised this … but I, like many of us, get infected by the occasional earworm.

This morning … ?

It’s Joy Sarney’s only hit, 1977’s “Naughty, Naught, Naughty”.

Why on Earth I’ve woken up with the blessed thing banging around my head … ?

I really don’t know.

Answers on a postcard, please … !

~≈🎵≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th December 2025.

18th December, 2025.

You know, console games are getting popular.

What do I mean, ‘getting popular’?

They’ve been around for a while, after all: and my nephew, Jude, is frequently on his.

And was a regular player of the FIFA range of football games: until licensing changes meant the game stopped being manufactured, and was replaced by EA Sports FC.

My nephew kept playing the ‘new’ game: recording, editing and posting, them to YouTube.

So … ?

He was mildly interested to hear that FIFA — football’s world governing body, and the body that licenses the sport to manufacturers — are, once again, going to license the sport out to manufacturers.

Or, at least, licensed it out to Netflix: so it can only be played if you have a Netflix subscription, on either a smart phone, or on some smart TVs.

It’ll be free to play for Netflix subscribers.

Quite what Jude will make of that, I don’t know.

We’ll have to see …

~≈⚽️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-12-2025 — Ludwig van Beethoven (Ten Questions)

17th December, 2025: Ludwig.

Yes: it’s official.

I’ve finished my review of “The Deep”, the third episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Hopefully, that’ll get a few views: despite the spoiler warning … !

~≈§≈~

The War Between the Land and the Sea — Episode 3 “The Deep” — A Review

*Spoilers* 

13th December, 2025: “The Deep”.

An Introduction.

It’s not often I duplicate posts: at least, not often I use the opening of one post as the opening of another.

Except it’s something I did, last week: when writing my introduction to my reviews of the first two episodes.

It’s not often I complain about Apple, either.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m something of a Mac fan: and writing this on a 2024 Mac mini, using macOS Tahoe 26.2, using Safari 26.2 to write this post.

I had problems, after updating to those versions, Thursday: when, after the update, my browser would not stay logged into my usual websites after a restart.

You can read more details, here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/256210549

But, after contacting Apple’s Support line?

It seems all I had to do to correct the issue, was to make a small change to Safari’s preferences: turning off the cross-site tracking option in Safari>Settings>Privacy.

That seems to have solved the problem, for now: although I don’t know what long term problems may happen, as a result.

I can only hope those are minimal.

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Me complaining isn’t why you’re here!

No.

So if you’re a newcomer to Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar, I’ll have to repeat what I’ve said in earlier posts.

Tell you I write the Daily Teaser quiz, about films I’ve seen and TV shows I’m watching.

Whether you’re an old timer, or new to this blog?

I started watching the Dr Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, starting with the first episodes, “Homo Aqua”, and “Plastic Apocalypse”, last week.

I’ll be doing the same thing, for episodes three and four, this week: and something very similar for the last episode!

Yes: I’m starting this post early.

But?

It’s Christmas.

And I wanted to have a good bitch!

Let’s get on with the review, shall we … ?

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th December 2025.

16th December, 2025.

That’s always a worry … 

I’m diabetic: which you possibly already knew.

And, as such?

I have a blood sugar testing machine: and the testing strips, and lancets, that go with it.

And the associated sharps bin.

That bin … ?

Is something I have to ask Brentwood Council to dispose of: usually, through a website.

They usually phone me to tell me when the next pickup is, and I have to leave it out, the night before.

The worry?

Comes from the fact I’m convinced the collectors won’t turn up.

Or if one of the neighbours will complain: there’s one I’m convinced will!

Or that a neighbour’s dog will get into the bin, when it’s being walked.

The collectors got here at 06:39.

The neighbour hasn’t complained.

And, as far as I can tell, no dogs sniffed around my bucket.

That’s three less things to worry about … 

~≈🪣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-12-2025 — The Bill of Rights.

15th December, 2025: the Bill of Rights.

Right … it’s official: it’s Monday.

And?

I’m up late!

I’m usually up early on a Monday: as that’s the usual day for my weight management meetings.

However, it’s off until January 5th: over the Christmas holiday.

I won’t know how my weight’s going for the festivities … but at least I get to sleep in!

~≈🥱≈~

Ever since a recent update, I’ve been having problems with Safari: my default browser.

Due to the updated version logging me out of everything — and I do mean everything! — after I’ve started my Mac, up.

It’s a frustrating thing to have happen: as it adds about half an hour’s work to my morning.

And seemed to be something that the usual solution — clearing caches, history, cookies, or all three! — seemed not to solve.

I didn’t think of re-trying in Safe Mode: although I doubt that would have worked.

But did think of checking on Apple’s Community Support forums.

With not a lot of luck!

Such a lack or luck that I eventually gave in … and contacted Apple’s web-chat based support system.

It turned out that I needed to untick the ‘Prevent cross-site tracking’ options in Safari>Settings>Privacy.

Cross site tracking, so you know, involves a website leaving what’s called a cookie on your system: so that frequently used information can be reloaded, easily, when you re-visit a website.

It allows third parties to track what you’re doing: which can lead to privacy concerns.

But it also allows you to sign into sites more easily, speed up web-browsing and … well, not have a mess when trying to write a blog post!

What sort of badness could come of this?

I don’t know.

But the problem’s solved for now.

~≈!≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th December 2025.

14th December, 2025.

Right … 

I think I know what’s going on.

I updated my operating system, a couple of days ago.

Ever since?

I’ve had issues signing into Blogger.com: and needed to sign into everything, every time I start Safari, after re-starting my machine in the morning.

It’s meant that when I start a post?   I can’t upload photos to it, without having to reset God knows what!

The workaround that I’m using for now … ?

Is simply that I log into the site with Firefox, upload photos, then switch back to Safari.

It’s a right royal pain … 

~≈🦊≈~

About the only thing I can say for certain, though … ?

Is that is the photo uploading problem only happens, only needs the work-around … when I’m adding the first photos!

The next ones, like the ones of the this morning’s gorgeous sunrises?

Aren’t causing issues … !

Why … ?

If I knew that, I possibly wouldn’t have an problem!

~≈📰≈~

14th December, 2025: 10:53

Just as a revision to this post … ?

I’ve contacted Apple’s Support people.

It seems all I had to do to correct the login issue was to make a small change to Safari’s preferences: turning off the ‘Cross-site tracking’ option in Safari>Settings>Privacy.

That seems to have solved the problem, for now: although I don’t know what long term problems may happen, as a result.

Here’s hoping those are minimal.

~≈✔️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-12-2025 — Saint Lucy’s Day

13th December, 2025: Saint Lucy’s Day.

I think I’m having a frustrating morning!

I managed to update my Mac from macOS Tahoe 26·1 to macOS Tahoe 26·2, last night.

When Apple’s own information page tells you an app may “be able to access sensitive payment tokens”, you take it seriously!

Even if you only have half an idea what the phrase means!

It sounds like money’s involved, so I’d rather be safe, than sorry!

Unfortunately?

It’s made uploading photos and video to this blog, fiddly: and meant I’ve hopefully corrected it by adjusting my privacy settings.

But … ?

I’m betting it’s going to happen again, tomorrow!

~≈G≈~