Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-6-2019: The Wicked Weed

16th June, 2019.

Yep: I do bedtime reading … 

Which possibly isn’t surprising, all things considered.

You’ve possibly worked out I like a good book, by now.

And, last night … ?

I managed to get started on Micheal Moorcock’s Mother London.

Two chapters in … ?

It’s looking good.

~≈§≈~

The Daily Teaser - 15-11-2011

Hmmm …

THAT was quite a night’s sleep …

I think …

There’s a lot of dots, there, I know, but that was certainly a bad night’s sleep.

Believe it or not … ? I actually had a nightmare.

Funnily enough, about leaving a packet of cigarette filters on a train, and forgetting to take with me when I got off, at a station.

Leaving me feeling rather angry, it has to be said.

Which is kind of what got me up at 5•30, this morning, would you believe!

No wonder I still feel ratty … !

»»·««

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — CyberHound that she is … ! — putting her answers: AND bagging 5 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) 15th November, 1971, saw Intel release their first, the 4004 microprocessor: which spacecraft was the chip — according to chip designer legend — was the 4004 used in … ?

Q2) 15th November, 1985, saw the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement: name either of the Prime Ministers involved with signing it … ?

Q3) 15th November, 1940, saw the Luftwaffe bomb Coventry: Coventry’s cathedral — largely destroyed in that attack — was dedicated to which saint … ?

Q4) 15th November, 1937, saw the birth of actor, Yaphet Kotto: in which film did he play Chief Engineer Parker … ?

Q5) And finally … 15th November, 1920, saw the first General Assembly meeting of the League of Nations: in which city … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 14th November, 1922, saw the BBC begin radio broadcasts in the UK: under what call sign?

A1) 2LO.

Q2) More to the point, where from … ?

A2) Marconi House, in the Strand.

Q3) 14th November, 2003, saw the discover of one of the furthest objects from the sun: what name was this given … ?

A3) Sedna. Or 90377 Sedna, if you want to be REALLY picky …

Q4) 14th November, 1970, saw the USSR enter the ICAO: what does ICAO stand for … ?

A4) The International Civil Aviation Organization.

Q5) 14th November, 1971, saw the formal enthronement of His Holiness, Pope Shenouda 3rd … of where … ?

A5) Alexandria*.

Q6) And finally … 14th November, 2007, saw the last direct-current distribution system in the US closed down: in which city … ?

A6) New York.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

The Daily Teaser: 7-6-11

Bloody HELL … !

You know I’ve been giving up smoking … ?

You didn’t … ?

You do, now … !

What’s surprising — or possibly worrying — is the simple fact that I was in town, yesterday, paying another to the Smoking nurse.

Picking up more gum … !

ANOTHER box of 105.

See what I mean … ?

It don’t half make you think.

I mean …

Well, I couldn’t exactly tell you how many cigarettes that equals.

But, my word, I’m wondering … !

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

»»•««

Yes, lets … !

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi, bless ’er, putting in her answers: AND bagging 7 out of 7. Lets see how she — and you — do with todays questions, shall we? here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 7th June, 1628, saw the King of England pass the Petition of Right, guaranteeing certain of his subjects right that couldn’t be violated: by which King … ?

Q2) 7th June, 1993, saw the Holbrook Hall Hotel collapse into the sea: in which English resort was that hotel … ?

Q3) More to the point, into which Sea … ?

Q4) 7th June, 1965, saw the US Supreme court effectively make what legal … ?

Q5) 7th June, 1952, saw the birth of actor, Liam Neeson: in which 2004 film did he play Dr Alfred Kinsey … ?

Q6) And finally … 7th June, 1977, saw Her Majesty the Queen celebrate her Silver Jubilee: how many years had it been since her accession to the throne … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 6th June, 1944, saw the start of the D-Day landings: what was the formal operational name for these landings … ?

A1) Operation Neptune.

Q2) More to the point, what was the names of either of the decoy operations … ?

Q2) Operations Glimmer and Taxable.

Q3) More to the point, what was the overall name for D-Day … ?

A3) Operation Overlord.

Q4) 6th June, 1896, saw the birth of Henry Allingham, at one point, both the world’s oldest man, and Britain’s oldest surviving WW1 veteran: with which branch of the forces did he serve as an Air Mechanic Second Class?

A4) The Royal Naval Air Service.

Q5) 6th June, 1933, saw the opening of the first drive-in cinema: in which New Jersey city … ?

A5) Camden.

Q6) Southwark Bridge was opened on 6th June, 1921: by which King … ?

A6) George 5th.

Q7) And finally … June 6th, 1971, saw the launch of which of the Soyuz spacecraft … ?

A7) Soyuz 11.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later. After leaving you with this tune from birthday boy, Dean Martin …

Again with the Smoking Thing ... !

Again with the Internet Explorer thing ....

You can just hear me whinging, can't you ... ?

Can't you ... ?

At any rate, those of you who know me will realise that, if I'm using IE, I'm not indoors, sitting at Bruce, but beloved, but getting older, Mac Mini, but in Brentwood Library, typing this post at one of their Windoze machines.

And not enjoying it, to be frank.

But I thought I should let you know that I'm just waiting for a Doctor to sign my repeat prescription for nicotine patches.

On the upside, though ... ?

I've just had the first weekly check-up from my GP surgery's practise nurse, who's had me blow into the little blowy thing they check you with, as part of the treatment.

And apparently ... ?

I've gone from 17, last Friday, to 1, today.

Not only is that a rather impressive drop, but the nurse tells mne that's very impressive ... !

Prescription Gum ... !

You know, I've got to admit, I’m writing this post at Brentwood Library.

Which mean’s ... ?

Which means I’ll probably copy edit it — and add photos — when I get home.

The version of Internet Explorer on the library’s systems being clunky, even compared to newer versions of Internet Explorer.

But I thought I’d let you know two things.

Firstly … ?

I can’t believe I got through the box of thirty pieces of nicotine replacement gum I got prescribed to help me pack up smoking, by this morning!

And I'm grateful the Smoking Nurse did me a repeat prescription.

For a box of one hundred and five … !

I’ve had one already.

Heigh-HO ... !

»»•««

Hmmm …

Actually …

Can I make a confession … ?

I’m like a lot of smokers.

Recovering smokers … ??

Quitters … ?

Attempted Recovery smokers … ?

Whatever … !

At any rate, I think I’ve managed to come up with something that helps me cope.

Although if it helps anyone else, is something else.

But I know that — like many smokers — I tend to keep my cigarettes near me.

Or tobacco tin, I should say.

At the moment … ?

At the moment, I’m writing this part of the post at my computer desk, at home.

Most of the time, I’d have my tobacco tin right in front of me.

But to be frank, I figured that if I’m going to try and give up smoking by replacing cigarettes with the patchesª and gum, then having the gum in front of me, instead of the fags*, would mean I’d be reaching for those, first.

So far … ?

So far, it’s working, touch wood … !

* Now I know my American readers will raise and eyebrow at that one, but I also remember something that Oscar Wilde’s supposed to have said: that England and America are two countries separated by a common language …

ª There’s an old phrase you hear a lot, at AA meetings: that it’s the first one that does the damage. You hear variations at any given 12-step group. I know it’s a cliqué, but cliqués become cliqués because there‘s a certain truth to them: to quote an old phrase I heard, somewhere, cliqués are the hammers and nails in the communications toolbox. In this case … ? The patches don’t half help me avoid that first one.

Stopping Smoking.

Hmmm …

Can I be honest, here, folks … ?

Can I … ?

I wrote — in this morning’s Teaser — that today’s the day I’m officially giving up smoking.

So far … ?

So good.

But while I know that gum and patch are helping, I’m ALSO very aware that I’m still wanting a cigarette.

Aren’t I just … ?

I can see why the various bits of literature I’ve been given recommends going for a stroll.

Which is what I’m going to do, after I’ve posted this.

But can I ask you a favour … ?

Can I … ?

If you’ve got any ideas for how to cope — or how you coped, if you’ve packed the habit — I’d like to hear it!

Leave me a comment … !

Smoking …

You know …

I’ve got to admit I’m slightly nervous, I really am …

You see, I’ve got to admit, my Doctor — the family one, bless him, rather the one played by Matt Smith et al — has been telling me for years to pack up smoking …

That’s part of the job, after all.

But it’s not a decision I’ve looked at, easily.

I don’t think it’s a decision any smoker does.

But just recently … ?

I’ll be frank, with the loss of the job at CeX, my finances have taken a bit of a hit.

So …

I made an appointment with my local GP’s nurse.

To see about giving up smoking …

Very efficient nurse, I’ve got to admit …

Who didn’t mind my rather sad ‘smoking nurse’ gag …

««•»»

But … ?

But at any rate, I’ve now got a packet of the strongest nicoyine gum and a separate one of the nicotine patches.

And a stop date set for tomorrow.

Wish me luck …