Monday, 15 December 2025

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.

~≈!≈~

Sunday, 14 December 2025

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.

~≈✔️≈~

Saturday, 13 December 2025

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≈~

Friday, 12 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th December 2025.


12th December, 2025.


I think I can safely say ChatGPT can’t spell!

I put what I was going to use as today’s thumbnail through ChatGPT, and asked it to add a submarine called Boaty McBoatface.

And?

Got a ship called ‘Boaty McDDatface’.

Technology’s amazing.

At least it will be … when it learns how to spell … 

~≈⚓️≈~

It’s officially official: I’ve got reviews finished!

Or, at least, I’ve published my written review of “Plastic Apocalypse” done.

Along side the video version.


Here’s hoping they do well … !

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Thursday, 11 December 2025

The War Between the Land and the Sea — Episode 2 “Plastic Apocalypse” — A Review

6th December, 2025: “Plastic Apocalypse”.
The Introduction.

As I write, it’s still Saturday night.

And the burger I mentioned, here, is still cooking.

The chief difference that — right now? — the spuds are in the air fryer.

That’s still not grabbing your attention, is it?

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

That’s still a digression: so let me welcome newcomers to Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar, and tell them — you — there’s an associated YouTube channel, and that I write the Daily Teaser quiz, and movie and TV reviews.



Again, that isn’t something I need to remind long term readers, about.

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

I’ve started watching the Dr Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Starting with the first episode, “Homo Aqua”, on Sunday: and the second episode, “Plastic Apocalypse”, on Tuesday, 9th December, 2025.

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

Yes: I have started reviews of the first two episodes, early: but December is busy … !

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th December 2025.

11th December, 2025.

Hmmm … 

Something the Today programme’s been talking is relatively simple.

Is the idea of using what it describes as ‘digital screens’ — laptops, tablets, what have you — for school exams.

I’m in two minds about that.

On the one hand … ?

It could leave students open to accusations of cheating, exam markers open to accusations of interference, give dyslexics even more problems, cost schools and families a fortune in new kit …

And lord knows how many other issues!

On the other hand … ?

I’m left handed.

I’ve always found writing by hand to be uncomfortable at best, painful at worst, and extremely messy.

It left me — ha! — with ink-stained fingers, and messy cuffs.

It was slow, as well.   I’m half convinced I’d’ve done better at school exams, had I been taught to write faster.

By contrast?   I’ve always found typing — whether on a computer, phone, tablet or an old fashioned typewriter — a lot less painful.

And rapid.

So, yes: while I think problems with this need to be addressed, and addressed from the get-go, I can also see one problem for which this is a very good solution.

~≈↖️≈~

Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10th December 2025.

10th December, 2025.


Right … it’s Wednesday!

And … ?

I’ve finished my review of “Homo Aqua”, the first episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea, the latest Dr Who spin-off.


Now all I need to do is persuade people to watch it.

The fact that international audiences won’t be able to see the series until January is going to affect the figures, I think.

That’s not something that will affect my nephew’s lates video, I think.

You can watch that, here: 


If you can hit the like button, that would be nice … !

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Tuesday, 9 December 2025

The War Between the Land and the Sea — Episode 1 “Homo Aqua” — A Review

6th December, 2025: “Homo Aqua”.
The Introduction.

Right … it’s officially Saturday night.

And … ?

I’ve got a burger cooking as I write.

And will be plonking potatoes into the air fryer, shortly.

Ever buy Sainsbury’s own brand red skinned potatoes?

They seem to do well in the air fryer: although I could be wrong.

That’s possibly not something that’s grabbing your attention, now is it … ?

No: you’re possibly wondering if they mash well … 

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

That’s a digression … 

Let me make up for it by, instead, assuming you’re new to Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar, and the associated YouTube channel.

And tell you that I write the Daily Teaser quiz, and do movie and TV reviews.



That’s not something I need to remind long term readers, about.

So to them … ?

I say “Welcome back!”

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

So … ?

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

I should stress, again, that I review TV shows.

That I’m writing this introduction to a set of reviews a day early.

And tell you that I’m going to be watching the Dr Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Starting with the first episode, “Homo Aqua”, tomorrow night.

Hopefully?

I’ll have this first review — written and video — done by Tuesday: then have my written and video reviews of the second episode, “Plastic Apocalypse”, done by Thursday, 11th December, 2025.

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

The reason I’m starting a day early … ?

It’s December: and Christmas.

So I’m fitting this posts in-between real life and present wrapping … 

I can only hope the festive period is kind to us.

And the Sea Devils aren’t too scary!

~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9th December 2025

9th December, 2025.


Finally … !

I have a quiet day where I don’t have to go to a hospital!

Which is possibly a result: it means I can work on this review I’ve got stewing.

Heigh … … … … ho!

~≈⌘≈~

Monday, 8 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-12-2025 — How To Abolish the Monarchy

8th December, 2025: Abolition.


















Right … it’s officially Monday.

And the day of my last weight management meeting.

Or, at least, the last one of 2025.

The meeting’s restart in January.

Either way … ?

I want to find out what’s happening!

~≈𐄷≈~

I caught the first — first — episode of The War Between the Land and the Sea, last night.

And have come away mildly impressed!

But … ?

I’m thinking timing is a thing.

Two episodes were aired on BBC 1, last night: and now available on iPlayer.

The next two … ?

Will be aired on the 14th December, and the last on the 21st.

Which means I’ll be juggling my timings, in getting the reviews written!

At any rate … ?

I’m very aware that Disney+ will be airing the episodes in January.

And that that time difference will prompt people to VPNs, Virtual Private Networks, to access them.

Or just head for torrent tracking sites to access them.

Those episodes are on at least one, already …


~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Sunday, 7 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-12-2025 — The Death of Cicero.


7th December, 2025: Cicero.


OK, he says, brightly … !

It’s officially Sunday: and I’m going to be review a TV show, tonight.

Yes: The War Between the Land and The Sea starts on BBC1 at 8·30GMT.

I’ll caught the first episode, tonight, and the second, later in the week.

I’ll tell you what, though … it’s the first time I’ve started two posts on the trot … !


~≈🧜🏼‍♂️≈~

Saturday, 6 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th December, 2025.

6th December, 2025.














In the land of the humpty bongos, where the masticating parrots say “YURT” at frequent intervals …

In the land where flolloping mattresses hunt vagrant stewpots, and rentable conkers fly over the lucid purple clouds, where humming birds argue philosophy with ambulatory begonias … 

Where large fish point at passing spoof-wangers … 

There exists one thing.

There exists an insistence … on a world that makes rational sense.

Rational sense that does not include something that happened, yesterday.

Rational sense demands that the 47th President of the USA does not get a peace prize from FIFA: from the body that organises international football.

Which is exactly what happened.

The president got a peace prize … from a sports body!

I would say I’m speechless: as speechless as I possibly could be.

But … ?

I’m also thinking that’s the most pointless trophy a football body can hand out … 

~≈⚽️≈~

Friday, 5 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-12-2025 — The Great Smog


5th December, 2025: the Great Smog.


Right … that’s that Christmassy task done … 

Yes: I’ve officially made a mess … by wrapping presents … !

OK … there’s not many presents.

And a chunk of them are gift cards, so didn’t need much in the way of wrapping.

But … ?

It’s the job done for another year.

~≈🎁≈~

I caught this video a couple of days ago.


It’s one that tells us more and more government departments are adopting Huawei-made PCs, PCs that come equipped with HarmonyNext OS, the Chinese developed operating system.

Including, apparently, in many government departments.

I grant you: being reliant on one operating system isn’t necessarily a good thing.

If there’s an undiscovered bug in Windows 11, word gets around, quick.

But … ?

The Chinese government encouraging Chinese use of the OS — by consumers, companies and government departments — means it’s encouraging those same people to not use Microsoft, Google or Apple products.

All three are American companies: and outside of anyone’s control, but America’s.

The net result?

Is that China is promoting its own digital sovereignty: promoting the idea that — inside its borders — it’s going to prefer to use Chinese produced technology, that Chinese data stays controlled by China.

Personally?

I’ve always felt the UK should be doing something similar.

After all, the British made Ubuntu Linux has been around for years.

But it’s only recently Britain’s introduced laws to protect the vulnerable in the UK: and that BT has announced its digital sovereignty ambitions.

Should the UK take a cue from Beijing?

I think so … 

~≈📀≈~

Thursday, 4 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4th December 2025

4th December, 2025.


Right … 

It’s not Thursday.

Which means it’s the day after by regular diabetic retinopathy test: an eye test designed to see if type two diabetes has damaged the nerves in my eyes.

It hasn’t, over the last few eyes: so, hopefully, it won’t show any this year.

I do know I had to had the usually eye drops, when the tests were performed: so my pupils dilated enough for the interiors of my eyes to be visible.

Usually?   Things look brighter for some time afterwards, and we’ll have slightly blurred vision for some hours afterwards.

My vision is now back to normal.

But … ?

I swear, it takes longer every time!

~≈👁️≈~

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd December 2025

3rd December, 2025.


Right … it’s Wednesday: and … ?

I’ve dug up the sunglasses on a day that’s promising to be overcast, at the very least.

“Why the shades?”, I hear you ask.

That’s easy to answer.

Today’s the day for my diabetic eye check.

Experience — as well as repeated medical explanation — tells me the nurse carrying the procedure will use eye drops to make my pupils dilate, so the examination can see inside my eyes.

So, of course, on the walk home … ?

Things are going to look a lot brighter than they should!

Heigh … … ho!

~≈😎≈~

Oh, JUST as a thought … ?

My nephew, Jude, was over, last night.

Along side an early lift home from his mother, and a pizza.

It’s the first time I’ve known my nephew to have pepperoni on a pizza.

But not the first time he’s made a video … 


~≈📹≈~

The President of the USA is being a racist: and yes, there’s ruder terms I could be using.

In a recent, televised, Cabinet meeting — told how he wants Somalis to leave the country: or “… go back to where they came from”, as he put it.

I’m wondering all sorts of things.

But mostly how the many Somali-Americans, and the American Somali community, feel about that.

A man holding the highest office in the land, a man who’s supposed to protect all Americans, regardless of origins, is starting to pick on people.

Or, at least, pick on more people: Americans of Mexican origins aren’t fond of the man.

I’ve got to ask … 

Who’s next, Mr President?

~≈🇸🇩≈~

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-12-2025 — Slavery

2nd December, 2025: Slavery.


Right … my computer’s on-board speaking clock has just told me it’s 8·15.

Which mean’s it’s been some forty-five minutes since I got a call on my landline: from +491-7597572769

From what a Google search tells me, it’s a number in Germany.

With a caller — at the other end — claiming to be from BT, and who wanted to help block problems … by altering the settings on my mobile phone … 

It was a scam: after all, how many times do BT phone you … especially at that time of the morning … ?

What made this different?

Was that the scammer had an East European accent: rather than the more usual Indian accents I’ve heard from other scammers.

Hey … ho … !

~≈📞≈~

In other news … ?

I’ve finally finished my review of this year’s version of Frankenstein.


Whether the review’s fair is a whole other matter!

~≈🎬≈~

Monday, 1 December 2025

Frankenstein (2025) — A Review

27th November, 2025: Frankenstein.
The Introduction.

I need several things.

Money?

Dinner … ?

An occasional film?

There’s several things I could do with.

And yes: one of them is dinner.

I’ve got a burger cooking as we speak.

Yes: money’s handy.

Payday’s tomorrow, which is nice: but feel free to put something in my tip jar!

That’ll clean up the last of the Christmas, and birthday, presents.

Once dinner’s eaten, though … ?

I’m going to have a change in direction: and watch a movie.

And, yes: you’ve possibly guessed — from the poster — that the film I’ll be watching is very different to the last one I caught.

Given a well done burger, and time?

I’ll have this review done by 1st December. 


~≈🧟‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st December 2025.

1st December, 2025.


Right … you’ll possibly remember me mentioning that a house not far from my place had burnt down.

Sadly … ?

It seems that at least one person has died: and another — I’m assuming the spouse — is seriously injured, and still in hospital.

Thankfully — or not, depending on your point of view — the police are treating the event as non-suspicious.

So … ?

That means it was an accident: and not murder.

That possibly doesn’t makes things easier for the survivor.

~≈🔥≈~

Yes: before you say anything … 

I am up early!

Although not as early as last week.

But I’m up early for similar reasons.

I’m off to hospital: for my regular diabetic blood tests.

Thankfully … ?

It’s in Brentwood Community Hospital: rather than Basildon.

The trip’s going to be shorter … !

~≈🏥≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

I caught Frankenstein, the 2025 version, on Friday.

It’s rather good.


I’ll have a fuller review up, later … !

~≈ᛘ≈~

Sunday, 30 November 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30-11-2025 — Saint Andrew’s Day.

30th November, 2025: Saint Andrew’s Day.


In the midst of the words he was trying to say, in the midst of his laughter and glee … 

He suddenly realised he left someone off of the Christmas card list!

Thankfully?

I’m going to eternally grateful I’ve got a couple of cards and stamps left!

~≈🎄≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s Saint Andrew’s Day.

So … ?

I’ve been over-using ChatGPT, again!

And using ‘Ewan McGregor’ and ‘Peter Capaldi’ as prompts.



Hopefully, I won’t get into trouble, there … !

~≈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿≈~

It seems the fire on Friday … has now been picked up by the BBC’s news site: and can be found, here.

And, while they and other news sites aren’t saying so … ?

There’s talk — talk, mind! — that someone died in the blaze.

If that’s truly the case … ?

I can only hope the fire was accidental: a chip-pan fire, say, or an overheating tumble dryer.

If it were deliberate … ?

And someone died … ?

That’s not arson, but murder … 

~≈🔥≈~

Saturday, 29 November 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 29-11-2025 — Yugoslavia


29th November, 2025: Yugoslavia.


Right, it’s now Saturday … 

And I’m still having earworms.

Yes: Sheldon Cooper’s still playing the blessed bongos in my head!


Why … ?

If I could work that out, or why the bongos are following the Yugoslav Dalek around, I’d make a big fortune … !


~≈🪘≈~

I was in town, yesterday: picking up a few bits.

And, on the way back … ?

Got passed by a police car: and a fire engine.

And heard what turned out to be an ambulance, as well.

It turns out there’s been a fire in a house not far from where I live: something a neighbour managed to grab a photo of.


Going by the damage in that photo?

And assuming it IS of where the fire happened?

It’s quite serious: so the talk that someone died in the fire, understandable.

And a tragedy … 

~≈🎇≈~

Friday, 28 November 2025

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th November 2025.

28th November, 2025.


OK … I caught a movie, last night.

And, hopefully?

Will have my written and video reviews up by Sunday.

I have to say this, though … the film in question is very good … 

~≈🪘≈~

I have a confession … I have an odder than usual ear worm, today.

Yes: The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper is playing the bongos at me!


Why … ?

If I knew that, I could earn a fortune … !

~≈🪘≈~