Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th December 2025.

16th December, 2025.

That’s always a worry … 

I’m diabetic: which you possibly already knew.

And, as such?

I have a blood sugar testing machine: and the testing strips, and lancets, that go with it.

And the associated sharps bin.

That bin … ?

Is something I have to ask Brentwood Council to dispose of: usually, through a website.

They usually phone me to tell me when the next pickup is, and I have to leave it out, the night before.

The worry?

Comes from the fact I’m convinced the collectors won’t turn up.

Or if one of the neighbours will complain: there’s one I’m convinced will!

Or that a neighbour’s dog will get into the bin, when it’s being walked.

The collectors got here at 06:39.

The neighbour hasn’t complained.

And, as far as I can tell, no dogs sniffed around my bucket.

That’s three less things to worry about … 

~≈🪣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16th December 2022.

16th December, 2022.

I’m am vaguely thankful!

Why?

Because I had a visit form a carpenter, yesterday: here to sort out my bathroom door.

It took him all of ten minutes.

To shave of the bottom of the door frame, a door frame that had warped over the years.

I’m thankful it was an easy thing to do.

Now all I have to do … ?

Is sort out the bath … !

~≈🛁≈~

Drat!

I managed to miss the Today show’s interview with Daniel Craig: publicising his new film, Glass Onion, and talking about his time as James Bond.

I’ll catch it on BBC Sounds, later.

I also note that Henry Cavill won’t be re-joining The Witcher, or as Superman.

Apparently?

He’s in talks with Amazon: about a potential Warhammer 40, 000 series.

The man’s a noted fan of the game:

So that makes sense.

However … ?

I’m very aware he’d be perfect for Bond: the job’s free, right now … 

~≈🛁≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-4-2020: Monday

13th April, 2020.

It’s officially official: it’s Easter Monday … 

And life goes on.

Lockout is still in place, here in the UK.

And, for many of us, that’s still frustrating.

There’s also a certain amount of sadness, as well.

As yesterday saw the death of comedian, Goody, and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue panellist, Tim Brooke-Taylor.

The world’s a smaller place.

~≈†≈~

How are you with mis-selling?

A couple of weeks ago, I was looking for a gift for a friend.

And managed to buy three of these USB flash memory drives: from a third party Ebay seller called Fashionjiacl.

They, supposedly, had a capacity of some two terabytes: roughly two thousand hours of video, depending on the format and resolution.

At the advertised price, two terabytes is a godsend: especially if you are unemployed, and don’t have much money to spend.

I ordered three: which took a while to get to me.

When they did?   I immediately start copying my Dr Who collection over to one of them.

That took about twenty-four hours, given the amount of data.

The data didn’t copy.

The stick — which was showing up both mo my Mac, and my Ubuntu MATE laptop, as a two terabyte drive — wouldn’t hold more than approximately thirty-two (32) gigabytes.

So … ?

I complained to the sellers: who — initially — only offered a thirty percent refund: roughly the price of one of the sticks I’d bought.

I told them this wasn’t good enough.

They then offered a thirteen pound refund.

I refused, again.

And told Fashionjiacl that, unless I got a full refund, I’d be reporting the to the consumer show, Watchdog, and watching a blog post about it and reporting them to Ebay, itself.

Something I’m still thinking of doing.

They refunded the money: which arrived in my bank account, yesterday.

I’m happy with that.

But?

I’m left with a bad taste in my mouth.

For a start?

Fashionjiacl is STILL offering hooky USB sticks on Ebay.

They HAVE added a footnote to say the devices are not the advertised two terabytes, but nearer thirty-two gigabytes: at the bottom of the page, in the proverbial last place we would look.

Something they weren’t doing when I bought them.

I’m assuming the things would still show up as two terabytes in any computer they’re connected to: so any one buying them would have no way of accurately know what the things could hold, or are holding.

I will give Fashionjiacl credit for refunding my money.

But … ?

I believe they are guilty of mis-selling.

And, given that this sort of thing seems to be common?   It’s something I thought I should warn you about.

~≈†≈~

The Adjustment Bureau: Hats, doors and Chick Flicks

You know, I’ve GOT to admit I think tonight’s my fault, I really do … !

Bizarrely …

Hmmm …

Maybe I’d better explain, there, hadn’t I … ?

You’ve probably worked out — by now — I’m something of a movie fan, haven’t you … ?

One who’s on a budget, like’s having friends over, and will happily admit that the films we get to watch can be a bit of a tombola, sometimes.

Very much so.

Tonight … ?

Well, I’ll happily admit I had Kevin D over, bless him.

AND a copy of the recent DVD release, The Adjustment Bureau.

Hmmm …

»»·««

3/7/2011

Right, now, where was I … ?

Oh, yes, The Adjustment Bureau, the film Kevin and I caught last night …

The Adjustment Bureau stars Matt Damon as an up and coming politician, David Norris.

As the film starts, Norris is in the middle of what turns out to be an unsuccessful campaign to run as Senator for New York: during which … ?

During which he meets Elise, a contemporary dancer — played by Emily Blunt — in the Waldorf Hotel’s toilets.

To cut a long story short … ?

To cut a long story short, he mets and flirts with her, eventually meeting her on a bus into work, after his campaign fails to get him into the Senate.

But is told — in NO uncertain terms by a chap called Richardson — that he’s just been adjusted, what happens if he talks about it … and that he Elise cannot be involved in a relationship, as it’s going to upset … ‘the plan’ …

Not a good start to a day, is it … ?

»»·««

Now …

I’ll leave others to give you a better picture of The Adjustment Bureau

But I also am very aware that both Kevin and me felt …

Well, several things: usually, you can tell if a film’s holding our attention by the amount of extraneous talk, during the half-time tea-break. Which FRANKLY, went all over the place, and even included a brief riff — from both of us — about which was the film most likely to have a bigger following from the Gay community*.

But The Adjustment Bureau did mange to keep us entertained. But where we both felt we had an issue … ?

Was the simple fact that The Adjustment Bureau seemed — and possibly the trailer is at fault, here — to be marketed slightly badly.

Can I be blunt … ?

It’s a science fiction romance: and no, I’m not talking scientific romance, in the sense H. G. Welles meant, either, in the sense he meant what we now call a sci-fi story.

No, The Adjustment Bureau is a good old fashioned romantic chick-flick.

Admittedly, one based on a Phillip K. Dick novel, complete with Adjustment Bureau team members dressed as though they were still in the original, 1954 short story.

But none-the-less, a chick-flick, all the sameª.

Saying that … ?

Saying that, I think the pair of us would’ve been happier if the trailer had made that a touch clearer, even though we both found The Adjustment Bureau entertaining.

On a personal front … ?

Hmmm …

Well, I’ll be frank … ?

I’ll be giving The Adjustment Bureau a ★☆☆☆ …

* Priscilla, Queen of the Desert — Kevin’s candidate, on the grounds it’s about two gay guys and a transgendered womanº crossing the Australian desert in a bus called Priscilla — or my candidate, Street Fighter. It’s got Kylie Minogue in it: it could only be gayer with Judy Garland … !

º Played by Terence Stamp, who also appeared as Thompson, one of the Bureau members in The Adjustment Bureau. And who looked scarily like Sîan Phillips, in Priscilla …

ª And one that Kevin happily admitted to getting confused with Source Code.