Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17th January 2026.

17th January, 2026.

Yes: that’s right.

It’s Saturday.

We can officially dance, sing, wave our arms around, and do stuff … !

If we can be bothered, obviously!

~≈🕺≈~

The UK’s Green Party has called for free bus travel for youngsters under the age of twenty-two.

A policy that’s in place in Scotland: and available for under-eighteens on Transport-for-London’s services.

I like the idea: and know it’s something my fifteen-year-old nephew, Jude, would benefit from.

I like the idea … but … ?

I’m mildly jealous … and wondering where the money to pay for it’s coming from … 

~≈🚏≈~

Former Tory MP, Robert Jenrick, has defected from the Conservatives, to Reform.

Normally?

I’d vote for neither party: even though, in the wake of Jenrick’s treachery, I’ve thought of voting Conservative to keep a Reform MP from not getting elected in Brentwood.

It was a close run thing, at the last General Election: with the Tories getting ~17, 000 votes, to Reform’s ~11, 000.

The Tory candidate scored ~36, 000 in the previous election: when Reform didn’t stand.

In all honesty, though?

I don’t think I’d vote for either party: both of them are too right wing for my tastes.

Either way … ?

I don’t think I’d be voting for Robert Jenrick: I feel those voters who did vote for him in 2026, voted for a Conservative MP, not a Reform one.

In defecting, he’s betrayed them: by denying them the MP they voted for.

Personally?

I think Mr Jenrick should do what other defecting MPs should do in his shoes.

Stand down, and stand, again, in the subsequent by-election.

That way, voters get to vote for a traitor: or vote for someone new.

~≈🗳️≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Irene*, Mum† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with Irene and Debbi scoring five out of five, and Mum on four.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

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

Q1)        Nyingchi was hit by an avalanche on 17th January, 2023.   City — and avalanche — were where: Mongolia, Japan or Tibet?

Q2)        Which US city was hit by an earthquake on 17th January, 1994: New York, Chicago or Los Angeles?

Q3)        17th January is the National day of Menorca.   It’s an island that’s part of which European nation … ?

Q4)        17th January is the feast day of Saint Sulpicius the what: Pious, Po-faced or Plentiful?

Q5)        Finally … ?   The Cherry Orchard debuted on 17th January, 1904.   Who wrote The Cherry Orchard: Aleksei Arbuzov, Isaac Babel or Anton Chekov?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        16th January is National Religious Freedom Day.   Where: Mexico, the USA or Canada?

A1)        The USA.

Q2)        Fulgencio Batista was born on 16th January, 1901.   He’d been a president where: Jamaica, Cuba or Puerto Rico?

A2)        Cuba.   (From what I’ve understood?   The Batista regime’s corruption was a big factor in its overthrow.)

Q3)        Edmund Crouchbank, the then Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, was born on 16th January, 1245.   Name one of the five original Cinque Ports.

A3)        Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover or Sandwich.

Q4)        The Space Shuttle Columbia launched on what was to be its last mission: on 16th January, 2003.   It disintegrated on re-entry, after what was damaged on launch: the engines, the left wing or the heat shield?

A4)        The heat shield.

Q5)        Finally … ?   16th January is the feast day of Saint Joseph Vaz.   He’s known as the Apostle of where: Ceylon, Sicily or Sardinia?

A5)        Ceylon.

Here’s a thought …

“The train’s arrived, thank God.   What’s the time?”

From The Cherry Orchard, which debuted on 17th January, 1904.

And a song …

The next ten question set is on 4th February: it’s about the Aldous Huxley novel, Brave New World.

Your comments, and today’s answers, will be published in tomorrow’s Teaser.

AI is avoided when writing these questions.

Answers are as accurate as possible: at the time of writing.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Morning, Irene: how’s Jim … ?

†        Hello, Mum!   (It was Cuba, Mum, rather than Mexico.   The Batista regime got replaced by Fidel Castro’s Communists.)

‡        She certainly is, Debbi!   I only know her from Top of the Lake, way back when: she plays a cult leader.

        Oh, you mentioned British accents, way back when.   There’s a character in the new series, called Commander Lura: played by Gina Yashere.   Bless her, she uses her Hackney accent.   Have a look at this clip!