Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-5-2026 — The Istanbul Convention

11th May, 2026: the Istanbul Convention.

Yes: it’s another Monday morning.

And the start of the last week before pay-day!

Which means … ?

Being thankful I’ve just enough change for me to get the bus uphill: to get to my weight management meeting.

But feeling slightly glum.

As I always do in this last few days before money goes in the bank.

Hopefully?

I’ll find out if I’ve lost weigh, today: that usually helps my mood.

~≈⚖️≈~

Just as a quick thought … ?

I’ve Meatloaf’s Bat out of Hell album on in the background.

After all this time?

It’s still one hell of an LP.

“You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” has one of the funniest openings of any song I’ve heard.

~≈🦇≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-5-2026 — Fred Astaire

10th May, 2026: Fred Astaire.

Did I mention I was in Brentwood High Street, yesterday?

I was in Brentwood High Street: I got a bus up, so you know.

And … ?

Well, for a start, there was a couple of police officers hanging around Brentwood Station.

Just over the road from it, at any rate.

There was a few police cars going up and down Brentwood High, as well: and a few officers wandering around.

Presumably enjoying the sunshine, on top of whatever they were supposed to be doing.

There was something else, as well: one of the live facial recognition vans that Essex Police use.

Why on Earth the thing was in Brentwood high street, yesterday, I don’t know.

Especially when they’re supposed to be patrolling Southend on Sea*!

~≈👮‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9th May 2026

9th May, 2026.

Right … I’m worried … !

That I’m starting to look like a chunky version of Raymond Reddington: the James Spader character in The Blacklist.

I wouldn’t mind: except I’ve never actually watched it: just the clips YouTube keeps throwing at me!

Whether I do or I don’t … ?

The show does look interesting … 

~≈📋≈~

Algorithms … algorithms, though … 

Algorithms are all over the place: and are usually serving up adverts.

Or, their serving me adverts.

One repeated ad?

Was for an unnamed brand of external flash drive, a 16 terabyte drive, for “the price of a chocolate bar”.

Around a pound, in other words: even though the advert didn’t give a price anymore specific than that.

I was both sceptical: and laughing my head off.

Because?

Some six years ago, I got conned by a third-party seller on Ebay — calling itself fashionjiacl* — a seller that was selling two terabyte USB stick for a very attractive price.

Sticks that turned out hold no more than thirty-two gigabytes.

I got my money back from them: and swore to be more careful.

And — when I saw this question on Quora — was happy to share my experience.

So, seeing these ads for incredibly cheap, sixteen terabyte sticks?

Ads that tell me that people are still falling for this scam?

Leaves me laughing, leaves me sceptical, leaves me saddened … 

And leaves me wanting to mention the scam when I can …

~≈💻≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-5-2026 — You Little Cola Nut!

8th May, 2026: Coca-Cola.

Yay!

We’ve got the local elections out of the way!

At least … we’ve got them out of the way for another … um … year?

With the way the local elections are structured, and the various postponements that have happened, have happened … ?

I’m not actually sure when the next ones are.

They’ll probably creep up on us, next May.

However?

All I can say is this.

Yes, I voted: and voted Green.

But yes: given how right of centre Brentwood is, I suspect Reform will do well.

Even if I felt the one Reform candidate hanging around outside the polling, yesterday, looked vaguely ridiculous.

Like a cross between the US President, a spiv, and a member of the Raving Loonies.

Only in a worse suit … 

Yes: I know.

I sound insulting.

But … ?

I really don’t like Reform … !

~≈🗳️≈~

That aside … ?

Results are coming in.

And it sounds like Reform have done well, overall.

I’m only hoping my ward has gone Green: although we won’t know, until the count’s finished.

Here’s hoping.

~≈🗳️≈~

Many years ago, I wrote a piece that said it would be difficult to get a fire engine down my street.

I still feel that would be difficult: given the amount of congestion, the amount of parked cars, on Rollason Way.

So, when I saw this article: one that tells us of a fire in Benfleet, one that fire fighters found difficult to get to because of the parked cars?

I felt … well … 

Justified in my concerns, to be honest.

Congestion is not just an issue, here.

~≈🧯≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-5-2026 — Elected

7th May, 2026: Elected.

Right … it’s official.

It’s officially Election Day, here in the UK.

Which means you can start singing old songs … 

Or you can go and vote: the walk will possibly do you good.

~≈🗳️≈~

As a thought?

Yes: I still take the position I have for a few years.

I’m voting Green.

But … ?

If Green candidates weren’t standing, I would be spoiling my vote.

And would urge others to do the same: should they not see a candidate they could comfortably vote for.

Bar walking past the polling station … ?

We have no other way of abstaining.

~≈🗳️≈~

As a last electoral thought?

One I’ve mentioned, before?

I could neither vote for the Conservatives, nor for Reform.

Both parties are too right-of-centre for my tastes.

But, given I know my home town?

I suspect Reform will do well.

No: I don’t like that one bit.

But have to face the possibilities, and the political realities.

~≈🗳️≈~

I found out, yesterday, that a documentary about the film, Threads, had been released.

I was interested.

But frustrated there was no apparently release date.

It turns out that — according to the distributors — there’s a new 4k blu-ray release due in July of this year.

The documentary is included in this release.

That could be worth spending money on … 

~≈☢️≈~