Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-9-2024 — David McCullum

25th September, 2024: David McCullum.

Hmmm … 

Every so often, I’ll order something from Amazon.

Usually on payday: and usually for stuff that’s both cheap, and very useful.

One of the most recent ones?

Was supposed to be delivered by a third party delivery firm called Evri, yesterday.

By ten pm.

It hasn’t.

It’s been delayed: and will now be delivered by the 26th, at the earliest.

I had to pay extra for that delivery.

So, understandably?

I’m not happy.

~≈🏞️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-3-2022: Patrick Troughton

25th March, 2022.

Right … 

Restart it is, then … 

I’m unemployed, so you know: and claiming various benefits.

And trying to claim others.

I’m also on what’s called the Restart Program: a Job Centre mandated programme designed to help me find work.

My next meeting, by phone … ?

Is at 9:45 GMT: today.

Heigh ho: let’s go.

To quote the Ramones.

~≈Â≈~

At any rate … ?

I had Jude over, last night.

Yep: there’s MORE videos.   Try finding Among Us memes when a fussy eleven year old asks you to!

~≈Â≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-2-2022: Iain Banks

16th January, 2022.

Yes: I’m expecting a phone call, this morning.

From my physiotherapist.

I’m — sort of — looking forward to it.

There’s one set of exercises I really don’t like!

~≈Á≈~

Then, this afternoon … ?

I’ve got a face to face meeting with my Restart case worker: in Chelmsford.

I’m not looking forward to the trip: but at least have the ticket.

I picked it up from Brentwood station, yesterday.

That, despite my doubts about the process, went through OK.

They bought and paid for it, and emailed me a reference number: I fed that into the ticket machine, at my end, put my bank card in … and shoved the ticket in my wallet.

That bit went well.

I’m just not sure how well the meeting will go.

~≈Á≈~

You’ll have realised I’m not working, by now.

I, like others in my shoes?

Am on Universal Credit: the bog standard unemployment benefit, here in the UK.

For many years, though?

There’s been discussion of what’s called a Basic Income, or Universal Basic income.

A set amount payed to everyone, and enough to live on.

I’m not necessary sure I understand it: nor, necessarily approve of it.   I think there’s flaws, in other words.

Today?

The Welsh government’s announced it’s starting a pilot scheme.

Care leavers in Wales will be given £1, 600 per month: taxed.

And will affect people’s eligibility for benefits.

That’s worries me, some-what.

If you’re on Universal Credit, there’s a wealth of other benefits you can claim.

Not least, free prescriptions, glasses and dental care: up to a certain amount, any way.

What concerns me?   Anyone on this scheme won’t be able to claim those: if it means they can’t claim benefits.

We’ll have to see what happens, I think.

~≈Á≈~

The Daily Teaser — 30-5-2012

You know … we didn’t see a drop of rain, yesterday … 

We REALLY didn’t.

That’s despite the fact it felt — all day — as if it were JUST about to.

Actually … ?

It felt much like this morning: like the thunderstorm’s going to hit, any minute now.

I’m kind of glad it didn’t, though.   I was being interviewed for a job, in Basildon, yesterday.

The fact it was too hot to wear a coat meant I’d’ve ruined the outfit I was wearing.

And frankly … ?

It was so hot, I had to shove everything in the wash, the minute I git in!

Weather, hey … ?

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

♫♬♫

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi putting her answers: along with being flattered, getting compared with John Lydon, AND admitting she’s out there, RIGHT on the edge*, ALSO bagging 6  out of 6.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 30th May, 1631, saw the publication of France’s first newspaper: what was it called … ?

Q2) 30th May, 1859, saw the first chimes of Big Ben ring out in London.   What’s the name of the clock tower Big Ben is in … ?

Q3) 30th May, 1981, saw the assassination of Zia Rahman: which country was he the president of … ?

Q4) 30th May, 1431, saw Joan of Arc burnt at the stake: during which war was she active … ?

Q5) More to the point, for how many years did this war last.

Q6) And finally … 30th May, 1913, saw the end of the First Balkan War: which country became independent, after the relevant treaty was signed … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 29th May, 1660, saw who ascend the throne of Great Britain … ?

A1) Charles 2nd.

Q2) 253 years later, 29th May, 1913, saw whose ballet provoke a riot on it’s debut in Paris … ?

A2) Igor Stravinsky’s.

Q3) More to the point, what was the name of the ballet … ?

A3) The Rite Of Spring.

Q4) 29th May, 1953, saw Hillary and Tenzing reach the summit of  Mount Everest: which country are Tenzing Norgay’s people native to … ?

A4) Nepal.

Q5) 29th May, 1999, saw Olusegun Obasanjo become his country’s first civilian president for 16 years: what is that country … ?

A5) Nigeria.

Q6) And finally … 29th May, 1999, saw the Space Shuttle Discovery  dock with what … ?

A6) The International Space Station.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a tune, shall I … ?

Happy Birthday, Cee Lo … !

*        Nothing wrong with that, Debbi … !   Those of us standing behind you can only applaud, offer support … and be inspired … !

A long day in Chelmsford and Hutton …

You know, that’s really not the best photo of Tim and Dave, is it?

Is it?

Allison’s sister, Jan, and Jan’s daughter — Allison’s niece, Sophie — look a bit better, don’t they?

But at least we’ve room for improvement, don’t we, boys?

Now I’ve got to admit, I think I’ve had a very long day, today: I was up at five, this morning, to go to an interview in Chelmsford: for an assistant manager’s job at Cherlmsford’s Star Co-op.

Whether I get it, I don’t know.

I hope so.

But will find out on Monday.

Wish me luck …

But, at any rate, I do know that while I was in Chelmsford, I managed to help Dave out with his CV and Web cam.

Doesn’t he go ON, Tim??

Which I think are now working, even if Dave — bless him — hasn’t quite got the hang of it.

Can’t say as I blame him, I know I’m not that familiar with ’em!

Any way, the other thing I had a look at for Tim, was one of the netbooks: think we’re going to have trouble installing UNR on to them, as — whilst they recognise that the USB drives with UNR on — they can’t boot from them.

And the Set-up Menu — accessible through hitting the ‘f1’ key — won’t grant access to anyone without the password.

Adrian, I think I might just be phoning you, at some point on this one … !

•••••

But one thing I have managed to track down is why Jan and Sophie’s printer won’t work …

I spent a fruitful — if mildly frustrating — half an hour, when I got back from Chelmsford, trying to find the various Ubuntu options for Jan and Sophie’s Lexmark M1270 printer.

Until — eventually — we figured out what the PC was doing: trying to download the relevant drivers from the ’Net.

Which was fairly pointless, as they’re not actually online.

Dongle time, I think …