Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2025 — The Big, Fat Review of 2025.

31st December, 2025: the Review of 2025.

I never thought I’d have to announce the death of a regular commentor on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

But I did, a few weeks ago: whenever I announced the death of Trevor Veail.

As bad tempered and snotty as he could be, some times?

He was an early supporter of both this blog, the live quizzes it was designed to promote, and the questions it was supposed to give away.

His death?

Was sad: and he, himself, will be missed.

The reason I mention this … ?

Is twofold.

His (private) cremation is happening as we speak.

And a memorial site has been set up in his memory, a memorial site you can find, here: 

https://trevorveail.muchloved.com

Feel free to leave a message, there.

~≈✝≈~

One thing I do know … ?

Is that Trevor was a fellow Dr Who fan.

I don’t know if he saw my reviews: but I still have distinct memories chewing over who the Dalek voice was, in the trailer for “The Parting of the Ways”.

But … ?

I’m pretty sure he’d be happy to hear the classic series is being re-released on bluray … and capable of being copied … 

~≈🧑🏼‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2024 — The Big Fat Review of 2024.

31st December, 2024: the Big Fat Review of 2024.

Right … it’s 31st December, 2024: and the last day of the year.

And … ?

Well, for a start, I’m going to say “Happy New Year” to anyone reading this.

In the exception that it’ll be 2025 by the time you read it!

~≈📅≈~

On top of that … ?

I’m very aware that I’ve had my most recent set of blood tests: and thankful I had lots of water to drink.

I hadn’t had enough, the last time I went in for testing: so the phlebotomist couldn’t get any blood out of me.

I have an appointment with my GP in a couple of weeks: hopefully, those all important sugar levels are down!

~≈🍩≈~

Just as a final thought … ?

I’ve long advocated ripping — copying and transcoding —  DVD and Blu-ray Discs.

For a variety of reasons.

You get a digital copy of the disc you can stream to streaming boxes, one that’s not going to vanish from Netflix/iTunes/Amazon Prime, and you’ve backed up your property.

And — if need be — you can sell that disc to offset the cost of purchase.

I’ve also long told friends that you can use a mix of MakeMKV and HandBrake to do this.

I also use MetaZ: to add thumbnails and metadata.

Yes: the legal situation on this is iffy … 

But it’s both doable, and shouldn’t cause problems: if done purely for personal use.

And also nice to see no less a person than tech blogger, Linus Sebastian, advocating the same process.

I’m just a little disappointed the channel’s taken my comment down.

Maybe mentioning how you can stream the results of the process to an AppleTV 4k wasn’t a good idea … 

~≈📺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2023 — The Big Fat Review of the Year.

31st December, 2023: The Big Fat Review of the Year.

Just as a thought … ?

Can someone remind me to not upload to iCloud … when I’m trying to upload files to YouTube?

I’ve extra iCloud storage: that I’m now using to store large files on.

Or, at least, I’m in the process of upload large amounts of files on.

Or to, I should say!

At any rate, I’m uploading files to my iCloud storage.

And upload today’s Teaser video to YouTube.

The latter — as, I suspect, a result of the former! — is taking its time!

You have to love bandwidth issues, don’t you … ?

~≈👨🏻‍💻≈~

As you know … ?

I’ve had a lot of help, just recently: both in attempting to fix my old iMac.

And in acquiring a new one.

So … ?

I thought I’d show you what I’ve bought with your money.

And let you know I have it hooked up to a 24” Benq monitor over HDMI, two external hard drives*, a blu-ray drive, a webcam and a pair of speakers.

With the drives, webcam and speakers hooked up via a couple of hubs.

I hope that’s interesting: and suggests possible set-ups for others.

~≈👨🏻‍💻≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2022 — The Big Fat Review of 2022.

31st January, 2022: The Big Fat Review of the Year.

Right … it’s officially New Years Eve: enjoy the party, if that’s how you’re marking it.

But stay safe: I’d to see a reader get hurt in some way.

Personally?

I might just watch a film.

I’m not sure, yet: but have plenty of choice, if I do.

~≈🍿≈~

In other news … ?

I’m thankful Google Lens exists, I really am!

I mentioned, yesterday, that the batteries were going on my thermostat: something that made me seriously anxious!

Anxious enough to get in touch with my landlords: to see what they could go.

Before they booked up a repair — it would have been non-urgent, and take time to go through — they offered to get an engineer to phone: to talk me through the replacement.

I happily agreed: after letting them know my phone numbers!

He phoned at 14:00.

Some hours after I’d found the instructional video on YouTube: by taking a photo of the thing, and searching for it in Google Lens.

The engineer got a polite thank you … 

~≈♨️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2021: The Big, Fat Review of 2021.

31st December, 2021.

Right … it’s New Years Eve.

And, frankly?   I’m not necessarily planning anything big.

Beyond wishing you a Happy New Year: and expressing the hope that 2022 is an improvement on 2021.

Oh … 

And mention it’s a Friday: for me, that means another episode of Evil of The Daleks.

~≈Ê≈~

There’s times weird coincidences happen.

Or, at least, ones that seem significant: to me.

Yesterday?   I wrote a teaser for 16th January.

One with a theme: the late Dian Fossey, the primatologist who inspired the film, Gorillas in the Mist, and whose best known study group were the ones met by Sir David Attenborough.

Today?

I’ve got today’s Today programme on in the background.

As ever, for the time of year?   The show’s being run by a series of guest editors.

In what seems to me, like a meaningful coincidence?

Today’s episode is being guest edited by Fossey’s old friend and colleague, Dr Jane Goodall.

You have to love synchronicity, don’t you … ?

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2019: The 2019 Review of the Year

31st December, 2019.

It’s the last day of the year.

And … ?

And I forgot to look in on my GP surgery, yesterday.

My stomach is definitely twanging.

Hopefully?

It won’t last long: yesterday was a LOT better than Sunday, let’s put it that way.

And helped that I spent a lot of time sitting down: that seems to reduce the cramps.

~≈¥≈~

That’s helpful to know.

As I’m going to be sitting down a lot, today.

As my sisters are taking me to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, today.

Here’s hoping the final Star Wars film is as good a the trailer.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2018: Review of 2018

31st January, 2018.

It’s New Year’s Eve: and frankly?

Frankly, I’m not actually going to be celebrating.

I’ve not really got the cash to go out: and the pubs around here have this bad habit of only letting you it … 

If you’ve paid for a ticket.

OK, I don’t drink: and haven’t done for years.

But that still strikes me as a bit cheeky: even though, as a former barman, I’m very aware it’s a handy way of filtering known  problem drinkers out of the premises.

Personally?   I’ll possibly have an early night, now I’ve got the next few weeks of teas videos done.

But there’s three things.

1. Have a happy new year.


2. Be careful, and drink responsibly.


3. If you end up dancing on tables?   Burn the negatives!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2016: The Review of 2016

You know … 

I still want to go back to bed!

No, really!

The worrying thing?

Is that means I could miss the Amazon order that I’ve been expecting for the past few days: you’d THINK they’d’ve left it with a neighbour, wouldn’t you?

Especially as I’ve left instructions with them, saying that, for about eighteen months.

You’d think they’d get the hang of things, wouldn’t you?

~≈Â≈~