Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-6-2026 — The Number 161.

10th June, 2026: 161.

Right … I had a visitor, yesterday … !

As you may or may not know, I was having issues with what’s called my ‘in-home display’: the little gadget that shows me how much money I’ve got on the gas and electric … wasn’t showing how much electricity I had.

Which was inconvenient.

So … ?

After a lot of to’ing, fro’ing, phoning, and chatting with engineers?

Cause of the problem — the smart meter for my flat, in a cupboard in a corridor, outside — was replaced, yesterday: and a new one installed.

A new one that now is communicating with the in-home display, and telling me I have some eighty or so pounds credit, available.

That credit?

Was transferred by a call centre agent from my electricity supplier: transferred from my gas supply, I should add, as I get my gas from the same supplier.

The roughly £170 that was on my old meter, though?

Is going to take some ten days to be transferred from the old meter, to the new one.

The sooner the better.

I could do with that money: I want to wash my socks!

~≈⚡️≈~

You’re possibly aware — as am I — that there’s been a gradual shift in entertainment.

Or, at least, in the media movies and TV shows are on.

There’s been a movement away from optical media — DVD and blu-rays, for example — to streamed content.

That’s affecting the games industry, as well: there’s moves from games sold on disc, to games made available online, for some years.

It seems many games companies are disabling popular games: with little to no warning.

Without even the decency to make an offline version available.

Something that — according to this piece — gamers are seriously annoyed about.

After all, gamers — like film and music fans, everywhere — stand a lot of money on these things.

And expect the content to be around for a long time.

What’s to be done about this?

I don’t know.

But there’s a lot of annoyed gamers, out there … !

~≈🎮≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 9th June, 2026

9th June, 2026.

It’s Tuesday, again: doesn’t it come ’round, quickly?

As do visitors.

I’m up early, today: as I’m expecting an engineer from my electricity provider: who will hopefully be able to install a new smart meter.

And transfer the balance from the old account, to the new.

Here’s hoping … !

~≈⚡️≈~

I had an appointment, yesterday afternoon: with my dentist’s trainee hygienist.

Up until yesterday?

As I’m on benefits, and the hygienists in question are trainees, these had been provided for free.

Unfortunately?

I felt decidedly unwell, heading for the bus-stop: and extremely woozy by the time I got to the surgery.

Woozy enough to immediately cancel the appointment, and rebook.

As far as I can tell?

I had a mixture of a bout of low blood pressure: and what’s known as a ‘hypo’, a dose of low blood sugar.

And really didn’t think sticking around would be a good idea.

So?

I cancelled, and re-arranged for August, the next available date.

Unfortunately, and because of changes?

This means I’m facing a charge for the next appointment: of £41·50.

Something that the receptionist told me is something the university had insisted on: in order to cover their costs.

I can appreciate that.

Especially as, from what I know, the students have to cover their own travel costs.

I’m assuming the university helps with that.

So?

A charge makes sense.

I just wish it didn’t exist: or was cheaper.

That forty-one pounds is steep, on my income.

~≈£≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8th June, 2026.

8th June, 2026.

Right, then … it’s a Monday … 

So I’m off to my weight management class, again.

Hopefully, I’d’ve lost a bit, this week.

Given I’ve gained over the past few weeks.

Here’s hoping!

~≈🦷≈~

Once that’s done?

I’ve got to go home, have lunch … 

And then head back for the High Street.

Yep: I’ve an appointment with the hygienists.

I might need to have a chat with them.

Up until now?

I’ve been able to use the trainee hygienists for free: as I’m on Universal Credit.

I was thinking I should change the appointment, though: just to make sure I didn’t need to go up Warley Hill, twice on the same day.

Except that — as it seems my dentists rules seem to have change — I’d be facing a charge if I did that.

Why?

I have no idea!

But … ?

It means future appointments are going to have to be rationed.

The price is affordable: but not one I want to pay more than once a year … 

~≈🦷≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-6-2026 — “The Dreaming City” (Ten questions)

7th June, 2026: “The Dreaming City”.

It’s officially official: I’ve missed mentioning something!

Yes: I’ get a mention in a Dr Who video … !

Well … I get a mention in @SaltyHammond’s review of Terror of the Autons.

I’d suggested covering The Abominable Snowmen in his next video: I’m looking forward to that!

~≈▶️≈~

Talking of videos?

My nephew, Jude, was over, yesterday: thoroughly some of the sillier sound effects in Final Cut Pro.

See if you can find the comedy honking noises!

~≈🪿≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

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

The man’s death was a waste … but we can take a certain measure of comfort in one thing.

In recording the thing, he made one hell of an LP!

~≈🦇≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-6-2026 — Stranded at the Drive In

6th June, 2026: Drive-In Saturday.

Right … it’s officially Saturday: and I’m bored and frustrated!

Bored … as it’s the weekend.

I’ve been persistently trying to contact BT: to re-arrange my broadband connection.

I managed to contact them, yesterday.

To find that my original request hadn’t gone through, as they had me listed at the wrong address: Number one, instead of number two.

And that they would be contacting me this coming Friday, to give me a date for the upgrade.

That’s … 

Frustrating.

Especially as it’s now the weekend: which means I have to wait until Monday, before I can chase this up!

Arrrgh!

~≈🛜≈~

The other frustrating thing … ?

My Mac’s seems to be stuck in a permanent bout of overheating: something seemingly caused — according to the bundled Activity Monitor app — by a process called corespotlightd.

As per suggestions on Apple’s Community Support pages, installing Macs Fan Controls seems to help deal with the temperature.

But is dealing with a symptom — the overheating — rather than the problem: which, as far as I can see, is how the Mac’s Spotlight feature deals with the location of Pages files.

I get the impression this is going to take a long time to solve … 

~≈🥵≈~

Yesterday was sad: as the death of actor, Anthony Stewart Head: best remembered as Giles, in Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, as Uther Pendragon in Merlin, and from a series of coffee adverts, back in the day.

Apparently?

He died of complications of pneumonia, at the age of seventy-two.

It’s sad … especially as — from the little I know — the condition is eminently treatable … !

It’s … well … 

Sad … 

The man will be much missed.

~≈🥵≈~