Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-2-2019: What The Dickens?

7th February, 2019.

Yes: I’ve got the heating on!

It’s … 

Not as cold as it’s been.

But … ?

I thinking I’m feeling my age … or a draft.

Whatever I’m feeling … ?

I’m aware that Ofgem — the UK’s energy regulator — announced a cap on gas prices, a few weeks ago.   Only, today … announced they’d be raising that cap … 

‘Draft’ is possibly not the word …

~≈§≈~

On other news?

I’ve managed to bag a copy of Dr Mabuse: Der Spieler.   One you can’t, unfortunately, pick up on the iTunes store.

It’s something I’ve got ripping in the background.

I’ve also Der Golem on order.

Once they’re both safely ripped?   I can watch them … and sell the hard copies to my local CeX.

I’ll let you know what they’re like, then … !

~≈§≈~

Just as a final footnote … ?

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council and representative of the European nations, was in a press conference yesterday.

Publicly stating that — during the 2016 Referendum — the remain side showed no leadership.

And publicly wondering if there was a special place in hell for Brexiteers.

I THINK I’m with Mr Tusk.

The Cameron led Remain campaign announced for if they lost: instead, they seemed to take the view that they wouldn’t lose.

The same with the hellhound Leave side.

They could tell us about some benefits … 

But not HOW they were going to do the deed.

Hell is one place for them … 

Just as “Farce” is a good way of describing how Brexit has gone since then.

~≈§≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Badwolf*, Olga†, and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with all three scoring five out of five.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 7th February saw the birth of writer, novelist, essayist and social critic, Charles Dickens.   In which year?

Q2) In which Hampshire town … ?

Q3) He published various short pieces for various newspapers: under which pen name?

Q4) What was Dickens’s first novel?

Q5) Which of Dickens’ novels is set in both London, and Paris?

Q6) Actress and singer, Nell Campbell — credited as Little Nell, when she played Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show/The Rocky Horror Picture Show — takes her stage name from a character in which Dickens novel?

Q7) Dickens appears in Dr Whoepisode, The Unquiet Dead, when A Christmas Carol gets a mention.   The Doctor is actually trying to remember the name of which other ghostly, Christmas, Dickens story?

Q8) Talking of A Christmas Carol?   Who’s the first ghost to visit Scrooge?

Q9) Lon Chaney, Sr, Richard Dreyfuss and Timothy Spall, have all played which Dickens character?

Q10) Finally … ?   Dickens’ last novel was unfinished at the time of his death.   What was it called?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1) Eight footballers were killed in an air-crash: on 6th February, 1958.   Which team were those players from?

A1) Manchester United.

Q2) Who was the team’s manager?

A2) Sir Matt Busby.

Q3) The crash was at an airport in which German city?

A3) Munich.

Q4) The plane launched from then Yugoslav city?

A4) Belgrade.

Q5) Finally … ?   Name any one of the players who died as a result of the crash.

A5) Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards*, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor or Liam ‘Billy’ Whelan.

Here’s a thought …

“If any one were to ask me what in my opinion was the dullest and most stupid spot on the face of the Earth, I should decidedly say Chelmsford.”

Charles Dickens.

And a poem …

Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Have a good day.

*        Morning, Badwolf: how are we with obscure German movies?

†        You’re right, there, Olga.   I even turned off all my music and video players, yesterday, so I could concentrate!   Which is a shame, Brian Eno’s kind of handy background music!   I’ve actually got my next appointment, today: I can have a natter with my work coach about it.   (I still owe them 80p from the last set of tickets …)

‡        The new Dune’s looking potentially interesting, Debbi.   I’m just not convinced about Stellan Skarsgård as Vladimir Harkonnen.   The character’s supposed to be extremely obese: built like Kenneth McMillan and Ian McNiece, who’ve played the part previously.   I’ve a funny idea Frank Herbert modelled the character on an older Orson Wells: chunky, with a deep voice.   (Oh, sorry about The length, Debbi: but it IS Charles Dickens … !)