Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22nd November 2025

22nd November, 2025.

It’s officially official … I’ve paid my bills … !

Well … all bar the gas bill: and that I can get done, today.

Strangely, though … ?

I’m grateful it’s rain, out: that I’m going to get wet, heading out to pay the thing.

As, going by the predictions for my area … ?

It’s going to be warmer than it was, yesterday!

~≈☔️≈~

Coins … … … 

I have coins.

Which you’d possibly guessed.

But the weird thing … ?

Is that it’s only now — some years after his coronation, and after notes and coins with the King’s face on them started circulating — that I’ve received Charles 3rd coins in my change.

Yes, I know.

That’s not exactly note-worthy.

But … ?

It struck me as mildly coincidental that I have £1·05 worth of the things.

In other words, cash equivalent to an old English coin called a guinea, worth twenty-one shillings back then … 

And £1·05, now.

The reason it struck me as significant?

Is race horses are usually auctioned in guineas*, even now.

And the King, much like his late mother, is a bit of a one for the gee gees … 

~≈🏇🏼≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21-11-2025 — World Television Day

21st November, 2025: World Television Day.

It has to be said: I’m feeling quiet … 

Which is odd for me.

Or possibly not: given recent news.

With that said … ?

Gill Veail — Trevor’s sister — has asked me to thank everyone that’s passed on their condolences, after his recent death.

Thank you: you know who you are.

~≈💐≈~

It’s officially official: I have the sun in my eyes.

Which is what happens on a sunny day, when you buy cheap blinds!

Or, at least, have cheap blinds … on a sunny day.

Either way … ?

I can’t complain too much.

Yes, it’s a cold day … but yes, it’s also payday.

Which means I can do something positive.

Like shop … !

~≈🪙≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th November 2025.

20th November, 2025.

I have to say: I was feeling fairly chipper, for most of yesterday.

I’d found out Disney will be releasing the original, theatrical, cut of Star Wars in 4k: at least they will, going by this article.

The theatrical cut: rather than the updated ones released under George Lucas.

I’d found out that the Geldof-penned “I Don’t Like Mondays” had been released on 13th July, 1979.

Six years, to the day, before the Geldof-organised Live Aid was staged: on 13th July, 1985.

Yes: there’ll be a Teaser about the song.

I think the co-incidence will inspired a question or two.

But I also — towards the end of the day — learnt some sad news: after being contacted by Gill Veail, yesterday.

Gill … ?

Is the sister of Trevor Veail: who, famously, has commented on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar for many years.

Has?

I should correct myself, there, and say ‘had commented’.

As Gill contacted me, yesterday, to tell me Trevor had died, yesterday evening.

I’m saddened.

~≈🪽≈~

I got to know Trevor, many years ago: when I worked at what’s now the Hutton Junction in Shenfield.

And was one of the first punters I’d served, there.

You could pretty much guarantee Trevor would be in, most lunchtimes, and ordering at least two pints of Courage Best: as he tended to favour bitters.

And managed to catch my attention, as he was impressively knowledge about Dr Who, and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels.

And about various vintage computers: from what I knew, he’d worked on some of the first business mainframes, back in the day.

He was also one of the first people to take part in the quizzes I ran at the Hutton.

And one of the first to comment here, on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

Yes.

Trevor could be a right, royal, pain in the bum, sometimes.

He got barred from the Hutton, at least once

And there’s certainly a few comments, here, that were less than polite: and got firmly deleted.

But generally?

Trevor was a warm, caring human being: which is why I tried to keep in touch with him, in his last days.

He’d had a fall, at home, a few months ago: and had some hard to treat leg ulcers, and cataracts, as a result of diabetes.

I’m also reminded Trevor told me, many years ago, that he’d been diagnosed with some form of autism.

Which possibly added to his struggles.

I couldn’t even tell you if he was able to read those letters, at the end.

But … ?

They were sent: which is possibly the point.

I tried to make sure I kept in touch with someone I saw as a friend.

I’m very aware the world’s a worse place for his loss.

RIP, Trevor.

~≈🪽≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-11-2025 — O Milésimo

19th November, 2025: O Milésimo.

Hmmm … 

I was online, yesterday.

Which you’d possibly guessed.

I was online, after posting the day’s Teaser: trying to answer a question on Quora.

When I got this message;

Quite what happened there?

I didn’t know.

But I was getting the same sort of message from X, DownDetector, and a few other sites.

I was getting those messages from those sites in every browser on my computer.

And getting them after restarting my computer, twice, and restarting my router.

What I did find, after checking with the BBC’s news site?

Was that Cloudflare, the infrastructure provider the sites used to connect to the ’net, was having issues.

Something known as a configuration file had stopped working correctly: and was causing problems with Cloudflare’s security checks.

And refusing to connect people as a result.

The panic is now officially over.

Until the next time this happens … … 

~≈🗂️≈~

Just as a thought … ?

You’re probably very aware the opening episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea is due to start airing on the 7th December: at least, start airing in the UK, on 7th December.

The BBC have since announced that an edited version of The Sea Devils — the Dr Who story that introduced the creatures — will also air on the 7th.

Yes, I am going to watch that.

But it’ll probably go on the back burner.

December’s looking busy … 

~≈🗂️≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

Can I persuade you an AI-generated, football playing Dalek is something you want … ?

OK, maybe not … 

~≈🗂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18th November 2025 (Six Questions)

18th November, 2025: Six Questions.

I’ve noticed a news piece from the BBC’s news site.

One that tells us car thieves are using expensive bits of kit to steal cars.

You’d possibly guessed something like that was happening, hadn’t you?

Me, too.

According to the article?

The devices work by hi-jacking the signal from the car’s electronic keys — at longer ranger than you’d expect — then using it to open the cars doors.

And, apparently?

The things are being sold on the dark web for at least £20, 000.

No: I don’t want one, before you ask.

For starters, I don’t drive: so stealing a car is a bit stupid!

And?

The piece tells us the government is planning to outlaw these things.

Which probably won’t stop sales of the things: just put the price up.

The reason I mention it?

Is a personal belief.

That the devices were originally sold for legal purposes.

To allow mechanics to get you into your car if you lost the key: or for the engineers or sales staff, to set the car up for a new buyer.

I’m guessing it’s only later that a clever criminal has thought “That’s handy, Harry.   Stick it in the oven!”

Am I right … ?

I don’t know.

But if I am, it’s a very good example of an old line of William Gibson’s.

“… the street finds its own uses for things.”

“Burning Chrome”.

~≈🔑≈~