Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-7-2025 — The AK-47.

6th July, 2025: The AK-47.

Yesterday … ?

I told you about the beeping that came from the block of flats, over the road.

Beeping that seemed to have started, after a recent power cut.

It turns out the beeping is:

• Fading, as the battery fades.
• Coming from the nearest bin.

As far as I can tell?

When the power-cut happened, it’s done something to the beeping thing: so whoever it is that lives in the relevant flat … ripped it off the ceiling, and chucked it, still beeping, into the rubbish bin.

I’d love to know who that was!

They’ve made the weekend very interesting … 

~≈🔔≈~

I applied for a pre-paid Mastercard, a few weeks ago: one that’s handed out by Southend Council.

And waited, and waited, and waited for it to turn up.

So?

I went into Romford, yesterday.

To sell a few DVDs and blu-rays, to raise a little cash.

When I got back … ?

The card had been delivered … 

Altogether, now: ho-hum!

~≈💳≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-7-2024 — Malawi

6th July, 2024.

Right, then … Saturday … 

And … ?

I saw a movie, on Thursday.

Dune: Part Two, so you know.

Hopefully?

I’ll have the review finished, tonight!

~≈∑≈~

A few weeks ago?

I put in a complaint to my landlords: about last year’s service charges.

I felt they were too high.

And asked that — if that were correct? — if I could be refunded.

I finally got a reply, yesterday.

Apparently?

The charges were correct, and covered pest control: so I’m not due a refund.

Hmmm … 

~≈∑≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th July, 2023.

6th July, 2023.

Right … 

It’s official.

I had a failed gas meter fitting, yesterday.

The engineer that visited, couldn’t install the pay as you go gas meter: as he would’ve needed to wire what he called a communications hub into my electricity meter … 

The process stood a very good chance of wiping out my remaining credit.

So … 

No installation, then.

As the engineer couldn’t arrange it?

I’ve had to contact my supplier’s office to arrange it: who tell me it’s going to take another 28 days.

My suppliers, SSE?

Seem keen to delay things: for a customer who’s short of cash.

~≈ß≈~

The one thing I do know … ?

Is that it’s possible — from what the engineer told me — to have have both installed.

As the location of my gas meter is comparatively near to my electricity meter.

The gas meters for each flat are outside the building, and on street level.

Each flat’s electricity meter is in a cupboard near its front door.

Effectively?   Given most of the flats are on the upper floors?

The meters for each flat are more than the ten meters the engineer told me was a maximum communication distance.

Any of my neighbours above the ground floor?

Who want a smart meter?

Will have issues.

~≈ß≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th July, 2022.

6th July, 2022.

It’s official: Sajid Javid, and Rishi Sunak — former Health secretary and former Chancellor, respectively — resigned their posts, last night.

As I write?   Radio 4’s Today programme is telling us about further resignations.

I’m … concerned about Mr Sunak’s going.

OK, he’s been replaced: by Nadhim Zahawi.

But I’m very concerned.

Will this mean the £650 Cost of Living payment still go through?   Or not?

What about the £400 energy payment?

‘Concerned,’ possibly doesn’t start!

~≈§≈~

All that aside … ?   I’ve had the engineer down: to look at my washing machine.

His diagnosis of why it was acting up … ?

Was that the control board — mother board logic board, what have you — had gone.

He’ll be back, next Tuesday, with a replacement: thankfully, one that’s covered by the warranty!

I’m looking forward to that!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th July, 2021.

6th July, 2021.

I have to say … I had a pair of meetings, yesterday.

Well … a meeting … and a training course.

The net result … ?

I’ve applied for more jobs: and have another meeting, today: to review changes made to my CV.

We’ll have to see how that goes, won’t we?

~≈Ê≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th July, 2020.

6th July, 2020.

Hmmm … 

I think I’m going to need a piece of paper: purely and simply so that I can put a sign in my front door.

Or in my window.

I’m selling off my kid sister’s old laptop: as she’s got a new one.

I’ve replaced the version of Windows on it, with the most recent version of Ubuntu*†.

As the version of Windows was refusing to connect to Wifi … or ethernet, USB peripherals, the built in DVD drive, what have you.

Oh, and the battery’s iffy: the thing works well enough, plugged into the wall.

Whether I’ll be able to sell it … ?

I don’t know: we’ll have to see.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-7-2018: Richard 3rd, AGAIN!

6th July, 2018.

Yep, it’s a Friday.

Yep: it’s ALSO a day off.

Yep: I’ve manage to tape Humans: and have it ripping as we speak.

~≈§≈~

Moving on, and keeping an extremely straight face?

I’m no legal expert: I’d defer to Old Peculiar regular, and recovering lawyer, Debbi Mack: who understands phrases like pro bono* and tort.

But I’ve had half an eye on the news that the EU parliament is to revise EU copyright law: in ways that seriously affect the way the internet works.

If I’ve understood things correctly?   The two contentious parts of the regulations would means restricting what a person could link to: link or embed.

It would make my position as a blogger, very difficult, to give you an example.   Again, if I’ve got it right, it would make the movie and tv reviews I write, difficult, as I couldn’t find a trailer or scene on line, that I could embed into a post.

That’s something I’d rather not go through, frankly.

The relevant decision of the EU parliament, yesterday?   Was simply to delay things until September.

All I can hope?   Is that the law is not passed.

I’d rather have a free hand in what I show you.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak‘s Daily Teaser — 6-7-2017: Sly … !

*Yawn* … 

I’m up late … 

Actually, no I’m not … 

I’m up at the usual time.

But I went to bed, late!

Which is what happens when you do late night blogging about a newly discovered TV show.

Newly discovered, I should add.

American Horror Show has been around for a while, but I’ve only just seen the first series.

And it’s rather watchable: especially Jessica Lange!

~≈Ê≈~

American Horror Story — Series 1: Murder House — Episodes 11 & 12 Birth and Afterbirth

5th July, 2017

Oh, right … 

I think that’s sort of what I had in mind, possibly.

Right now?

I’ve got Machine Age Voodoo, by Australian noise band, SPK.

Mostly because I can remember seeing one song — Metal Dance — on The Tube, many years ago.

Top of the Tops, the BBC’s long running music show?

Was relatively mainstream: featuring whatever happened to be in the charts, mimed by the artists.

The Tube?   Could be really way out: live

Which is why Metal Dance stuck in my my mind.   

The band did it live, looked like they walked straight off the set of a Mad Max film, were decidedly odd … 

And had live angle-grinders as part of the gig!

Odd doesn’t even start!

~≈Á≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-7-2016

Well, that seemed to go well.

I’m not necessarily happy at work: and decided to a little job-hunting.

I managed to bag an interview, yesterday: at a local takeaway pizza place.

It seemed to go well.

Frankly?   They always do.

But I’ll know for sure … 

If they phone up and offer me the job!

We’ll see what happens, shall we?

~≈◊≈~

Oh, I almost forgot to mention … I’ve been reading short story collection,Press Start To Play: a collection.

One reason I bought it?   You’ve possibly realised I’m a fan of the late Sir Terry Pratchett.

His daughter, Rhianna?   Has an entry in the book: called Creation Screen.

Which I finally managed to finish, a couple of nights ago.

Hmmm … 

It’s a little dryer than I expected: and there’s other short stories in the collection that grabbed me, sooner.

But … ?

I liked it.   I know Ms Pratchett has her own career — her work as a video games journalist, and games story developer is well known and respected — but I think I’d like to see more work with the name Rhianna Pratchett on it.

~≈◊≈~

Torchwood Series 3 — Children of Earth — Day One — A Review… We Are Coming!

6th July, 2009.

Oh …

My …

Good …

Lord …

I love it when the BBC just HANDS me the source material for a post!!

And, boy, have they done that, tonight. I’m writing this, as the first episode of “Torchwood: Children of Earth” — or “Day One”, as they’re calling it — has finished.

And, my word, I am impressed!

To the point where I’m watching it again!!

The plot’s got me intrigued, it really has; schoolchildren all over the Earth, simultaneously stop … and scream … And, a few scenes further on, in unison, say “We Are Coming” …

The only adult who does this is a mentally ill man called Clement McDonald*.

It seems he has a history; the opening scenes are of Clement as a child, undergoing a seemingly classic alien abduction, with a coach-load of class-mates.

And it looks like he’s got a better sense of smell than Hannibal Lecter …There’s more, too; it looks like this series is also laying on the confrontation between UNIT and Torchwood, as well, unless I’m wrong.

Which I could well be …

Because there also seems to be another government agency at work there, one that’s implicitly tied into Floor 13 of Thames House. And one that’s certainly capable of doing a lot to Captain Jack, and Torchwood itself.

I’m also thinking that families are going to be a running theme with this series; there’s a beautiful scene between Jack and his daughter and grandson, another between Ianto and his sister and her family …

And a bit of good news for Gwen; at least, if it wasn’t for the fact the world seems to be about to be invaded by the mysterious 456, it would be good news.

Families, you’ve got to love them …

I’m thinking several are to be deeply affected …

•••••

Just as an always final point, I’m also going to wish No Idea’s Adrian a Happy Birthday! I’m hoping it goes well for you, and the Team do well, up at the Rising Sun!

•••••

* Who seemingly had a Scottish accent, as a child. Actually, there’s one thing I’d not mind seeing, actually. We know Torchwood One, the base in London, was destroyed at the Battle of Canary Wharf. We know that Torchwood Two is the Cardiff branch. We also know that Torchwood Three has never been shown to us. That’s in Glasgowº. Does Clement McDonald tie in? I’d like to know …

º We have, by now, of course discovered that he doesn’t. I’m still thinking, at this stage, that that’s a shame. But, thanks to the excellent detective work done by Life, The Universe & Combom, that Torchwood Season Four, has been approved …