Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-4-2026 — Elizabeth 2nd (Ten Questions)

21st April, 2026: Elizabeth 2nd.

OK, I’ve done it!

I’ve sent back the camera* I bought from Amazon.

This one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GDY2T7B3

It didn’t, if you’ll excuse the innuendo, have a hole in the bottom.

A mount for a tripod, in other words.

Which means I couldn’t screw it to the tripods I already have, plonk it on my desk, and film myself.

Nor would the camera fit in the cradle at the top of my tripod: with the flip-up screen, the flip up screen that would let me monitor any recording, flipped up.

I’m left … 

Well, I honestly couldn’t tell you how I feel about this.

But it has been a learning experience.

It means that, should I choose to buy another camera, I’m going to know what to look for.

A hole in the bottom for a tripod mount: or a screen that flips out of the things side.

~≈📸≈~

Oh, about the only other thing I bought, recently?

Is a blu-ray copy of The Day of the Triffids: the 1981, BBC version.

A version that’s fairly authentic to Wyndham’s original text.

About my only complaint?

Is that the box-set is quite vanilla: featuring only the six broadcast episodes, an omnibus version of the story, and an eight minute featurette about the show’s restoration for this release.

I can only hope that — were this to get a 4k version — that extra features would be included.

~≈🫚≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21st April 2025

21st April, 2025.

Did I mention today is a bank holiday in the UK?

Today is a bank holiday in the UK.

Just so you know!

Which means … that I don’t have a weight management meeting, this morning.

That’s disappointing, in one sense.

Chatting to the volunteers is nice, and monitoring my weight, a good thing.

On the upside … ?

On the upside, I can stay in be for an extra hour.

That’s an equally good thing!

~≈⏲≈~

I’ve got Radio Four: as ever.

It’s reassuring to have the news on, I think.

At any rate?

One of the presenters has mentioned there’s a film out about the ZX Spectrum.

Something I had as a youngster*.

As the Today programme hasn’t broadcast its piece, yet?

I can only assume they’re talking about this film.

Which looks well made, interesting … 

And is on Amazon at a reasonable price!

That looks very appealing … !

~≈🌈≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21st April 2024

21st April, 2024.

Right … it’s Sunday morning, again!

Which means … ?

Well, not a lot … bar that fact it’s going to be a quiet day.

I do know I’ve spotted something in the news.

Apparently, a woman in Hertfordshire is a tenant of my landlords: and received a small amount of compensation … after being overcharged on her services charges.

The figures she gave for hers?

Were similar to mine.

I was paying £44 a week, last year.

And now paying a fiver.

Hmmm … 

I don’t think I’d get anything from Clarion, on that front.

Not even so much as information on how to apply.

But … ?

I may as well send them an email: to see what happens.

~≈Ω≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-4-2023 — 111.

21st April, 2023: 111.

Right … 

I’ve calmed down, a little: after yesterday’s bad news.

I’m not getting extra financial help from the Job Centre.

I’ve a few other options, including one thing I am doing: applying for what’s called Personal Independence Payments, or PIP.

Even with the 19th May deadline, I can take my time with that online form.

However?

I am looking forward to Monday, my next meeting with my Job Centre case worker.

I think we’re due a word or two … 

~≈Ü≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-4-2022: Annie

21st April, 2022.

Yep: it’s official.

I’m up early: as I have to be in Chelmsford for 9:30.

I’m on a government sponsored programme, designed to help me back into work.

Today’s Chelmsford trip?   Is part of that: it’s a one day course to help older people find work.

Quite how it’ll go, or how much help it’ll offer?

I don’t know.

We’ll just have to see.

~≈Â≈~

Oh, so you know … ?

Jude’s done another video: involving the Sidemen.

Feel free to like: and subscribe to ANOTHER new channel!!!!!!!!.

I’ll warn you now, though: it’s a bit rude!

~≈Â≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-4-2021: Charlotte Brontë

21st April, 2021.

Yes: it’s true.

I caught Apple’s Spring Loaded event, last night.

Part of it, anyway, and right at the key juncture: when they announced the introduction of the new iMac.

Which, it has to be said, looks VERY good.

Granted, it’s possibly still got those swap space issues endemic to Big Sur: ones you’ll possibly have seen Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack, complain about, along side myself.

The machines only feature Thunderbolt/USB 3 ports: those of us with older peripherals will need adaptors.

And the new M1 chips aren’t as upgradeable as they could be.

Countering that … ?

The M1 processors are fast, the machines have far better web cams than the ones in my 2017, 21” model.

Oh, and the screen’s bigger.

Personally?

And remember this is me you’re talking to … 

Yes: I want one!

Now … has anyone got a few thousand pounds spare … ?

~≈🖥≈~

Love Songs.

21st April, 2020.

OK, sue me.

For once?

I actually fancied watching a film …

But simultaneously … ?   Simultaneously not watching one.

If that makes sense?

Much as I really do fancy catching the Italian version of Reanimator -- made in 2017, and called Herbert West - Re-Animator -- I also fancied an early night.

But also fancied breaking the rules, a little, and blogging … without making a video, for once.

-=§=-

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-4-2020: Bangkok

21st April, 2020.

Yes: I have dreams!

And, yes: I get earworms!

When I got up?

I had the Sugababes singing away in my head: why I do not know.

Right now, though?

Linton Kwesi Johnson’s taken over!

At least I can say I’ve got a bit of variety in there … !

~≈¥≈~

Something else I DO remember?

Is having a dream: it’s not often I remember them.

Well, I say ‘a dream’.

More like a snippet of a dream.

Of starting work in Harold Wood Library.

A version of it the size of a large caravan.

You know … I THINK I’m over doing the cocoa!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21st April 2019

21st April, 2019.

Yes, it’s true.

I’ve actually had a scam email!   One that claimed to be from the UK’s TV Licensing body.

And one that looked — at least, at first glance — like the real thing.

Complete with a photo of Dr Who actor, Samuel Anderson: Danny Pink, if you can remember that far back.

The only reason I (eventually) twigged it was a scam?

Well, obviously, I double checked the email address.   The scammer’s did use the correct one: donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk

Obviously, they didn’t start the email with ‘Dear Paul’: or any other greeting, now I think of it.

The bit that clued me up … ?

Was simply the fact they told me my direct debit had failed: and they needed my bank details to reset it.

It took me a second or two to remember … that I don’t pay by Direct debit … I use a swipe card … !

Phew!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-4-21: The Death of a Prince.

21st April, 2018.

Yep: it’s officially official.

I’ve managed to scrape together enough cash to my myself … 

A haircut … !

I don’t know about you, but I feel a bit better for it.

I’m a bit less … you know … shaggy … 

~≈§≈~

Just as an extra point: from the news section … ?

It seems the government’s scheme to roll out local TV stations — the nearest to me is London Live* — isn’t going well.

At least … the UK’s communication watchdog, ofcom, has decided to stop any further rollout.

On financial grounds.

Personally?

I think that’s sensible.

I’d guessed there’d not be a market for them.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-4-2017

Hmmm … 

I was — was — vaguely planning to tell you I’d seen a film last night.

Oh, I saw a film, last night: the flawed but watchable, and very visual, The Void.

Yes, I know I say flawed: but it’s worth a go, for all that.

Then … ?

Someone started shoot a gun off: on the Champs-Élysées, in Paris.

My thoughts go to those shot.

My worries?

Are that this could hand right-wing extremist, Marine Le Pen, the French election.

~≈Ê≈~

In other news … ?

I’ve finally managed to catch a significant Coming Soon trailer: for series ten of Dr Who.

The significant bit?

Isn’t John Simm, back again for one last outing.

Nope.

It’s THAT bit with Peter Capaldi, going orange … 

I think Christmas will be interesting … 

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 21-4-2016

Oh, goody!

They’re in!

I don’t know if you knew it, but Saturday is World Book Night: something I’ve been taking part in for a few years, now.

And frankly … ?

Always one who waits for the books to turn up.

I check my emails, daily, in the morning.

Partly to see who’s had a try at the Daily Teaser.

But also to see if there’s anything else that’s turned up.

I’m waiting for a Freedom of Information request I’ve put in to turn up.

But HAVE had the delivery note turn up.

The books I’m handing out on World Book Night have turned up.

All I have to do now, is picked them up.

~≈Ê≈~

Screamers

Hmmm; well, there’s an entertaining-ish way to spend an evening.   Me and Adrian managed to catch the 1995 film, “Screamers”, tonight.

Which isn’t a stunning film.

But is worth watching, if nothing else is on.

And it’s also one that — from what I read on it’s Wikipedia entry — is one that is fairly close to its source text: in this case, Phillip K Dick’s “Second Variety”.

That’s something I’m pleased about.   I’m rather picky about screen adaptations of novel being as close to their source as cinematically possible

I also know it’s possibly one of the only Canadian films I’ve seen; which possibly explains the lower than usual budget I’d’ve expected for a 90s era sci-fi film.

I don’t know if Canada’s film industry has as big a budget as its more southerly neighbour: that makes any flaws “Screamers” has excusable, to an extent.

I’m not including the basic story, acting, and script; they were all excellently done. 

And, although it did seem a little derivative of — for example — “Terminator”, one thing I did notice was that the original short story it’s based on dates to 1953.   Which makes the dated feel to “Screamers” understandable, if not necessarily excusable.

And probably made the film version of “Screamers” long overdue.

Actor	Role	Notes
Peter Weller	Colonel Joseph A. Hendricksson	Leader of The Alliance on Sirius 6B
Roy Dupuis	Becker	A screamer disguised as an NEB Soldier
Jennifer Rubin	Jessica Hansen	A screamer disguised as an NEB Soldier and black market merchant
Andrew Lauer	Ace Jefferson	Alliance soldier that crashes in a ship on Sirius 6B
Charles Powell	Ross	An NEB Soldier
Ron White	Chuck Elbarak
Michael Caloz	David	A Type 3 screamer that tags along with Hendricksson and Jefferson
Liliana Komorowska	Landowska
Jason Cavalier	Leone
Leni Parker	Corporal McDonald
Sylvain Massé	NEB Soldier	An NEB Soldier carrying a message to Alliance Command on Sirius 6B
Bruce Boa	Secretary Green	An administrator of The Alliance
Tom Berry	Technician
Henry Ramer	Screamers Crawl Narration (voice)