Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker — A (Quick) Review

31st December, 2019.

Do you follow my Daily Teasers, at all?

You’ve possibly read todays.   At least I hope you have.

These things don’t right themselves: and it’s nice to get appreciated.

At any rate?

I, my two sisters, and my nephew, Jude?

Went to see Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, today.

Yes … 

I’m thinking it’s good.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-12-2019: The 2019 Review of the Year

31st December, 2019.

It’s the last day of the year.

And … ?

And I forgot to look in on my GP surgery, yesterday.

My stomach is definitely twanging.

Hopefully?

It won’t last long: yesterday was a LOT better than Sunday, let’s put it that way.

And helped that I spent a lot of time sitting down: that seems to reduce the cramps.

~≈¥≈~

That’s helpful to know.

As I’m going to be sitting down a lot, today.

As my sisters are taking me to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, today.

Here’s hoping the final Star Wars film is as good a the trailer.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30th December, 2019.

30th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s a Monday morning.

Yes: I’m back to work.

At least, I would be … if I’d managed to find a job.

At any rate, I’m feeling … 

Mostly chipper.

Mostly.

The stomach’s playing up, again, so I’d need to check that with my GP about that.

And the fact we’re in to the post Christmas working week?   And I can therefore do stuff?

Well, that’s something.

~≈¥≈~

Remember, yesterday, I told you about a disc I needed to return?

I’ve done that: and not got my cash back.

As my local CeX argued it wasn’t faulty: the reason the second disc wouldn’t work was it was a ultra hi-definition disc, and needed a UHD disc, in order to play.

Hmmm … 

I’m not happy about that.

But did get a credit note … and the Dark Knight box set.

Now all I have to do?

Is return the copy of Dr Mabuse I’ve picked up.

I’m blowed if I can get the subtitles to work!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 29-12-2019: YMCA

29th December, 2019

I picked up a Blu-ray Disc, yesterday: the 4k version of Twice Upon A Time.

Lovely … you might think.

Except I think I’m going to have to take the thing back to the local branch of CeX that I got it from.

The main disc — with Twice Upon A Time on it — proved a bit tricky for my ripping software to deal with.

Whilst the second disc — with the various extras — just couldn’t be read at all.

Back it goes.   In the hope that I get as little argument as possible.

~≈†≈~

You know, you’d expect governments to get things right, wouldn’t you?

But … ?

This year’s New Year’s Honours list — I’m not on there, again! — and there’s various gongs all ’round.

Except, of course, there’s been a screw up!

On Friday, the Cabinet office managed to post up the list of honours recipients … complete with names and addresses … 

They do like to make it easy for stalkers, don’t they … ?

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-12-2019: Stan Lee

28th December, 2019.

It has to be said, I’ve got bad news.

The interview I went for for?

Last week … ?

Decided not to hire me.

I have asked for feedback: which should come through on Monday.

Hopefully, that’ll be information I can use.

Assuming I get an interview that I can use it at … !

~≈†≈~

One nice thing that’s happened?

Is that I managed to catch a movie, last night.

Yep: I’ve finally caught Joker.

I think — in amongst the incoherent video review — we can say one thing.

It’s one hell of a movie.

Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is something else!

~≈†≈~

Joker — A Review

27th December, 2019.

You know, now Christmas is over … ?

I have to admit to feeling less stressed.

I get occasional bouts of depression.

The job situation doesn’t help.

I can mostly deal with it.

But Christmas does get one felling glum … 

~≈†≈~

On the upside … ?

On the upside, and courtesy of Christmas gift-cards?

I’ve got seem Dr Who blu-ray’s coming my way.

And a copy of Moorcock’s Oswald Bastable series.

And, sitting in the movie collection … ?

A copy of the 2019, Todd Phillips directed, Joaquin Phoenix film, Joker.

Do we have a good film?

Well … 

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 27th December, 2019

27th December, 2019.

Right … 

We’ve officially come to the end of both Christmas … and my nephew’s birthday.

I think we can safely say all presents have been gratefully received: and used.

Including, I should add, the Chromecast.

Given Liverpool were playing on my nephew’s birthday … ?

Watching the match on Amazon Prime proved both enjoyable, appropriate, and showed my family how to use the thing.

That’s good.

Me, on the other hand, working out how access the information points on Lego Avengers?

Proved tricky.

But not as tricky as getting Hulk across the bridge.

Turns out getting Iron Man had to zap the logs on top of the hill, helped …

~≈Í≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-12-2019: #360

26th December, 2019.

Yep: that’s Christmas Day done.

Oh, at least, the stressful part of it.

Presents handed out, and food, eaten.

Or, at least, argued about.

I have to admit, I’ve now got some extra reading: the Glorantha Sourcebook has jumped to the top of my bedtime list, I know that … !

On top of that … ?

Jude, bless him, got a Playstation Four: along side copies of FIFA 2020 and Minecraft.

There’s more on the way, I know that: it’s his birthday, today.

On top of that … ?

I think the group present I got my family — a Google Chromecast media playing — went down well.

Once we got it set up.

And once negotiations about who’s paying for what, finish*!

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-12-2019: Christmas Day

25th December, 2019.

It’s official: today is Christmas Day.

And I, like many others, will be celebrating the day with my family.

It should be good: I’m looking forward to seeing how my nephew — he’s nine, tomorrow, if you wanted to surprise someone with an extra present — to the Christmas presents he’s been given.

Including the expensive one!

I’ve just managed to send one a link on how to set up a child’s account on the thing to my family.

Isn’t it amazing what you think of at the last minute?

~≈§≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 13 — Series Finale Pt 2/Hello Elliot — A review

24th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s Christmas Eve.

And … ?

Frankly, I’m indoors.

Partly thought lack of cash.

Partly through choice.

The enforced merriment of the season can be … 

… 

Mildly depressing, let’s put it that way.

On the up side … ?

On the upside, tomorrow is the big day.

Where we got to find out exactly what Jude thinks of his present … !

~≈◊≈~

Tonight, though … ?

Tonight, as I have a free evening … ?

I have the chance to finally finish watching Mr Robot, Series 4.

We have a finale to finish.

~≈◊≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-12-2019: Eve …

24th December, 2019.

Yep: I’ve learnt a trick!

I’ve been writing this blog for some time: and changed the design, several times.

With the effect that — occasionally — you’ll see posts floating past with  eye-waveringly off-colour lettering.

This one?

Was in a hideous shade of pink.

Until I managed to edit it.

Simply by copying the text into a lightweight text editor … and reimporting it back into Blogger’s editing page.

Result …

~≈¥≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 12 — Series Finale Pt 1/whoami — A review

23rd December, 2019.

Hmmm … 

I’ve got paid, today.

Ot, at least, received my benefits payment for the month.

Which — as always — never really lasts.

On top of that … ?

I’ve got a pre-pay electricity meter.

It’s a bit like a prepay mobile phone.

You head for a shop with the relevant payment machine, they put your payment key into their machine, put the money on, you go home, shove the key in the meter … and, by the power of technology, the money’s put on your meter.

Except, of course, for today.

When none of the machines in the shop in the High Street, recognised my key.

So … ?

I’ve spent an hour on the phone, today: getting in touch with my suppler, in order to get another key.

It’ll get here by Friday.

I’m just glad I’ve enough money on the meter to be going on with … 

~≈¥≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s a Monday … 

Which — if you’ve been paying attention, recently — means one thing.

Yes.

I’ve caught another episode of Mr Robot’s Series 4.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23rd December, 2019.

23rd December, 2019.

Yep: it’s a Monday morning: my benefit’s gone through … 

And, frankly, I’ve got to get my rear out of bed: so I can pay bills and get shopping.

It’s … 

Well, it’s that time of the month.

So to speak!

~≈†≈~

Hmmm … 

I got a message, this morning.

Through Facebook’s phone based, Messenger app.

One that vanished by the time I got to my desktop, to double check.

I’ve managed to track down the person’s whose name was on the thing, just to let them know there’s possibly an issue.

But beyond that … ?

Well … I’m blowed if I know what’s happening!

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22-12-2019: Solstice

22nd December, 2019.

Yep: it’s Sunday.

A quiet Sunday … where I’m betting the shops are going to be jammed.

And the streets extremely damp.

Right at the moment … ?

At the moment, south east England isn’t having a heat wave or wildfires.

Quite the reverse.

~≈Œ≈~

Can I make a confession … ?

I’m in one or two Terry Pratchett groups, over on Facebook.

And, inevitably — as we’re talking about J. K. Rowling’s comment about transgender women — we get … language.

No, not THAT kind of language.

We get meaningless acronyms.   Or, at least, acronyms we’ve never heard before, and would appreciate an explanation of.

The one that got me bothered?   TERF.   Apparently, it’s stands for Trans-Exclusionary-Radical-Feminist.

Granted, I realise that text messaging by phone encourages acronyms.

As do character restricted services like Twitter.

But … ?

On something like Facebook, or in a news article, essay, or even in a blog post, like this?

I’d appreciate an explanation of whatever it is you’re talking about.

~≈Œ≈~

The Banana Splits Movie — A Review

21st December, 2019.

You know, it’s Christmas.

You must have noticed, yes?

It’s the decorations, jollity, rain … 

And the incredible amounts of carol singers in whatever your equivalent of Brentwood High Street is.

Depressing, isn’t it … ?

At least, depressing enough — now that I’ve finished the bulk of my Christmas cards — that I actually felt I deserved a movie.

Yes.

The Banana Splits Movie.

Yes, it’s a movie … of those Banana Splits.

Quite whether it was worth the effort … ?

Hmm … 

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21st December, 2019.

21st December, 2019.

Right, I’ve officially had the interview.

Yesterday, so you know.

I’m job hunting at the moment: something regular readers will already know.

And had an interview, yesterday, for a Brentwood-based insurance company.

It … 

I have to admit, it seemed to go well.

But will find out, by January, at the earliest.

Here’s hoping … 

~≈®≈~

You know, there’s times I despair at humanity, sometimes.

I’ve always thought well of the Reverend Richard Coles‡: presenter of Saturday Live, and The Big Painting Challenge.

So, when I heard his partner, Reverend David Coles, had died?   I was sympathetic.

And angry, too.

It seems Reverend Coles has been getting hate mail.

Ye GODS … !

I think the last think any one who’s lost a husband/wife/partner wants in these circumstances is some bloody idiot telling them their loved one’s going to hell.

The fact police are investigating, may well be small consolation.

All I can do … ?

Is hope the idiots who’ve done this get caught.

Is offer my condolences to Reverend Coles.

And remind the senders of the hate mail about Matthew — 7:12.

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you:
do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Do unto others, an’ all that …

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-12-2019: Macau …

20th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially official.

I’ve got an interview, today.

And … ?

I have to admit I’m having a certain amount of déjà vu.

As I’ve had an interview with this company, before.

Which didn’t go well.

No, it’s not the  bookies I was interviewed by, earlier this year, it’s a local insurance company.

One I was interviewed by, last years.

I have to admit, I’m nervous: as ever.

But also convinced that — given I didn’t get the job last time — that I won’t get the job, this time.   And that going, this time, won’t be worth the effort.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-12-2019: Desmond Llewelyn

19th December, 2019.

Yes: at last!

I’ve managed to get hold of some Sellotape!

AND managed to wrap up the few presents I’ve been able to afford this year.

It’s — effectively — done and dusted.

Now all I have to do?

Is make sure my nephew does find them, when he comes over, this afternoon.

Thankfully?

There’s tucked away where he can’t find them … 

~≈É≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-12-2019: UN Arabic Language Day

18th December, 2019

Right: it’s definite.

I’ve finished the course.

I’m unemployed, so you know.

And?

As well as well as monetary help, I get occasional help extra help.

In this case?   I’ve had help: from a course designed to help with basic CV writing, interview technique, what have you.

I’ve now officially finished: a day or two early,

Whether it helps me find a job?   Is a whole other question.

But at least I’ve finished it, and can add it to my CV.

~≈¥≈~

Have you got any spare sticky tape?

Sellotape, in other words: rather than Durex*, bondage tape, lingerie tape, surgical tape or duct tape!

I was going to wrap up the very few Christmas presents I’ve been able to afford, this year.

Please not, I say was.

Ha!

It wasn’t until I went to look I realised I’d run out of sticky tape.

Hey … 

Ho!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17th December, 2019.

17th December, 2019

You know, I’ve done most of my Christmas cards: and got them posted.

Written, stamped, posted and hopefully on the way to their respective destinations.

Bar a few I can hand deliver, that’s that lot done.

Now … ?

All I have to do is wrap up Xmas presents.

I just hope I’ve still got some Sellotape.

Someone’s getting a great big pile of stuff … 

~≈†≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 11 — eXit — A Review

16th December, 2019.

You know, being out of a job can be …  depressing, at times.

It can also have it’s upsides.

One very simple one … ?

Is that you get the occasional bit of help.

In my case?   I’ve been put on a course that’s supposed to help with CV writing and interview technique.

Whether it will?

Is something else.

The real upside?

Is that, with a little hard work, we should get to finish a day or two early.

Tomorrow, in other words.

Which certainly appeals.

At any rate, I had no actual homework, to do, tonight.

Which is good.

It meant I could actually watch some TV.

Yes: I’m almost done with Series 4 of Mr Robot

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-12-2019: Kazakhstan

16th December, 2019.

Right: it’s officially done for another year.

“?”

I hear you ask.

I’ve officially done my Christmas cards.

There’s going to be a few lucky people who who end up with CDs, as well.

Including one person who’s going to end up with a copy of New Boots and Panties.

Considering Plaistow Patricia’s on there?

It’s about the only time I’ve had to include an Explicit Content warning with a Christmas card!

~≈†≈~

I have to admit, after all that handwriting?

I told a bit of a break.

I actually ended up playing a game or two on the Apple TV: I’ve got a few.

Including one called Marble it Up: Mayhem.

You have to roll a marble around an obstacle course.

It’s actually a lot more fun than it sounds: especially if you grew up on an old ZX Spectrum game called Spindizzy … 

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-12-2019: Going Underground

15th December, 2019.

Man in the High Castle *Spoilers*

Yes: it’s official.

I need to get my my Christmas cards finished off.

I’ve managed to send three.

On the cheap, unfortunately, but them’s the breaks!

At least this year?   I’ve got until Friday to post them.

~≈†≈~

Just as a quick thought … ?

Just as a quick thought, I’ve officially finished watching The Man in the High Castle.

I caught the last episode, last night.

It’s … 

It’s a good series, overall.

About the one flaw?

Was that Amazon could’ve gone for the doomy ending: seeing San Francisco bombed.   Which, let’s face it, had been trailed for two seasons.

Instead … ?

We got a nice ending … that went for deeply ambiguous … 

And very reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

~≈†≈~

The Man in the High Castle — Series 4 Episodes 10: Episode 10 Fire from the Gods — A Review

14th December, 2019.

Yes: it’s officially Saturday night.

With little in the way of cash.

Which, unfortunately?   Is the perils of unemployment.

You have plenty of time to do whatever you want … 

But no actual cash to do it with.

Frankly?

That means a cheap night in, watching TV.

Yes: you’re right.

The last episode of The Man in the High Castle.

Hey ho … 

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th December, 2019

14th December, 2019

Right … It’s the last weekend before the last week of my course.

And … ?

Well, I’m looking forward to finishing it.

It’s been nice to get out of the house to do something productive.

Or vaguely productive.

At any rate, I now have a couple of days free: and can get on with my laundry.

Now … 

Does anyone have an ice box?

I think I’m going to need to defrost my fridge.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-12-2019: Friday the 13th

13th December, 2019.

I’m in the UK.

A UK that’s just had a General Election.

A General Election that’s going to see the UK leaving the European Union.

As it sees the Conservatives win a huge majority: some seventy-eight seats, if the BBC’s right.

I believe the UK is going to suffer for this.

I’m a confirmed Remainer.

I feel staying in the EU is a good thing.

And that the UK will suffer as a result of this election.

Partly, because the Tory Government will push for Brexit.

And partly?   Because the other party that’s done well is the Scottish Nationalist Party.

They’re going to push for an Independence referendum.

Good for them.

If the SNP get it and win it, somewhere in the UK gets to stay in the EU: even if it means the UK breaks up.

I don’t think the UK deserves to exist under this Government.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-12-2019: General Election 2019

12th December, 2019.

Just so you know?   I’m jobhunting.

And?

My Job Centre’s put me on a course to try and help improve my interview skills: along side a few other things.

Yesterday, though?

I couldn’t get to the course: because the buses didn’t turn up!

There was literally no sign of them: going up or going down hill.

Why?

I don’t know.

But I’d like to know why: it sounds like I have a lot of catching up to do as a result.

~≈¥≈~

Right … 

It’s General Election Day.

Yay … 

I’m planning to try and vote on my way to the course, today.

To vote Green.

1. I’ve never voted Tory in my life and don’t plan to, today.
2. Labour?   Around here is a wasted vote.
3. Liberal Democrat?   I’ve not voted for them since they betrayed their voters by joining the coalition in 2010.   I expect them to be equally treacherous, again.

So, this year?

It’s Green … or spoil my vote.

The parties available give me no other choice.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-12-2019: Indiana Wants Me

11th December, 2019.

Did I tell you I have dreams?

No, not the metaphorical, aspirational ones.

The ones we have when we’re asleep.

I have a pair of nodules on my right lung: ones that I’m worried about, and that are being monitored with yearly scans.

And that, thankfully, aren’t growing.

You can imagine relieved I am to know that!

So … ?

The dream I had, last night, was unpleasant: I dreamt I got a call, telling The nodules had grown, and that I needed to head for the hospital … 

Unpleasant is putting it mildly.

~≈¥≈~

On other fronts … ?

Do you read the Times?

I don’t … but occasionally, an interesting article from the paper floats across my social media timelines.

Including this one: where John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, has suggested breaking up the various big technology corporations.

Companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, et al?

The problem I spotted, with-in about two sentences.

How on Earth are government authorities in the UK … supposed to break up American companies?

I wonder about politicians, sometimes … 

~≈¥≈~

Mr Robot — Series 4: Episodes 10 — 410 Gone — A review

10th December, 2019

Yes: it’s officially official.

I’ve actually watched a TV show, tonight.

But … 

I’m thankful for emails.

I’ve been on a course, today.

Part of the work?

Part of the work was to draw up a poster: stating our theoretical company’s diversity.

The version I did?

Was bloody awful: at least that’s what I felt.

So I did another, when I got home: that I felt was better.

OK, still not perfect … 

But better, I felt.

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

About TV … ?

Yes: I’ve been watching TV shows, again.

And if you hadn’t guessed?

Yes: I’ve seen another episode in Mr Robot’s fourth series.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-12-2019: Number 10?

10th December, 2019.

Right … 

It’s official: I’ve had half an hour extra in bed.

As the course I’m on is now starting at ten, instead of nine thirty: we are, as a group, getting ahead of ourselves.

I can’t complain.

An extra half hour in bed is always welcome.

~≈†≈~

I have to admit, I’ve got a Youtube channel.

And, of course, I get advertised to!

We all do.

Yesterday?   I opened up Youtube, so I could do my usual amount of uploading.

And … ?

Faced a huge advert from the Conservatives encouraging me to vote for them.

They can b*gger off!

Especially as I’ve got a ‘Vote Green’ poster in my window … 

~≈†≈~