Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-3-2025 — Saint Patrick’s Day

17th March, 2025: Saint Patrick’s Day.

Right … words … … … 

There have to be words, right?

That describes things, ideas, what have you.

The one I’ve got in mind is the word, ‘earworm’.

It’s the word used to describe a song — or a snatch of one — playing in your head.

I don’t have one: well, bar the usual Tammy Wynette/KLF tune, blasting through my head.

But I did wake up, this morning: with the word ‘Terpsichore’ — terp-SI-co-ry, if I’ve got the pronunciation, right — banging through my head.

Why … ?

I have no idea.

Beyond catching a clip from the film, Xanadu, yesterday.

Olivia Newton-John plays a version of the figure: which — I think! — is what put the word in my head.

My point, in the midst of all this rambling?

Is this: ‘earworm’ is the word for a song that’s stuck in your head.

What on Earth is the word for a word that’s stuck in your head … ?

I’m blowed if I know.

~≈😶≈~

All that … ?

Is, possibly, besides the point.

It’s Monday.

And, as ever, I’m up early.

It’s officially weight management day.

So?

It has to be said: it’s not in its usual room at Merrymeades, today: it’s upstairs.

Apparently, there’s a slipper swop in the usual room.

I might have to take my ratty old pair along: to see what happens!

~≈👣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-3-2025 — The Number 75.

16th March, 2025: the Number 75.

Right … it’s officially Sunday morning.

And … ?

Things are in the air: as they usually are.

Personally?

I’m looking forward to Monday morning.

I always tend to feel slightly lost, on Sundays.

I can only assume that’s a hold-over from my childhood: all the shops would shut on Sunday afternoon, and very little else would be open.

Ho-hum!

~≈🏬≈~

At any rate … ?

I know that the government had been planning to freeze some benefits: including Personal Independence Payments, one of the benefits I’m on.

Something I believe has been floated, to fund various defence measures.

At any rate … ?

I’d manage: hundreds wouldn’t.

However … ?

And as this piece from the BBC’s news site tells us?

There’s a rebellion brewing: as many concerned Labour MPs are concerned about it.

And that ministers are thinking of a u-turn: and thinking of not enforcing the charges.

Good for them.

My only other concern from the piece?

Are the usual words.

According to a Department of Work and Pensions spokesperson who says reform “… helps long-term sick and disabled people who can work to find employment.”

Going on my own personal experience?

Welfare reforms don’t help you find work.

Companies offering you a job you can do, and can get to, helps you find work.

Companies aren’t exactly doing that.

~≈👷🏻‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-3-2025 — David Cronenberg

15th March, 2025: David Cronenberg.

I have to say, I had a nice day, yesterday: company, light shopping, what have you.

This morning … ?

I’ve woken up to two things going off.

One?

I had to retune the TV.

Occasionally, it loses the BBC channels, and needs to be manually re-tuned.

That got me swearing.

On top of that … ?

The boiler pressure dropped to zero: which meant not heating or hot water.

Thankfully, the engineer who fixed the boiler the last time this happened had shown me what to do.

So I could correct that, as well.

But … ?

I can’t help but think the over night temperature had something to do with the boiler pressure.

And I did a lot of cursing, this morning.

~≈🥶≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-3-2025 — My Name Is Michael Caine

14th March, 2025: Michael Caine.

Yay!

It’s Friday … !

Which means we can do our best impression of a bunch of happy munchkins.

On a more serious note … ?

I’m very aware of the UK’s National Health Service.

I, like most of the country, rely on the service to stay healthy: and have family working in a local surgery.

So … ?

Yesterday’s announcement from the Prime Minister, that he was going to abolish NHS England — the arm’s-length body that runs the English branch off the NHS — and take the organisation back under central government control.

It’s a cost cutting measure, I think.

But?

A slightly worrying one.

This could affect the healthcare of many.

And directly affect my family.

~≈🖥️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13th March 2025.

13th March, 2025.

Yes: that’s right … !

It’s Thursday!

And I suspect that — on a personal front — it’s going to be a quiet one.

Unlike I do something drastic: like, I don’t know, make goulash!

Or spaghetti!

Or dinner … !

We’ll have to see what happens, there.

~≈¥≈~

A little while back, MP, Mike Amesbury, was prosecuted for assault.

Famously, he was suspended from his party, and had an on-again, off-again, sentence.

Personally?   I’d’ve been happier if he’s done his ten week sentence: why should an MP, an MP who’s supposed to know better, not do time?

When his sentence was revised on appeal, it looked to me as if he were being let off because he was an MP.

At any rate … ?

He’s now announced he’s to stand down as an MP.

Good.

If you’re an MP, you’re supposed to serve your constituents … not assault people.

~≈¥≈~