Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6th July, 2023.

6th July, 2023.

Right … 

It’s official.

I had a failed gas meter fitting, yesterday.

The engineer that visited, couldn’t install the pay as you go gas meter: as he would’ve needed to wire what he called a communications hub into my electricity meter … 

The process stood a very good chance of wiping out my remaining credit.

So … 

No installation, then.

As the engineer couldn’t arrange it?

I’ve had to contact my supplier’s office to arrange it: who tell me it’s going to take another 28 days.

My suppliers, SSE?

Seem keen to delay things: for a customer who’s short of cash.

~≈ß≈~

The one thing I do know … ?

Is that it’s possible — from what the engineer told me — to have have both installed.

As the location of my gas meter is comparatively near to my electricity meter.

The gas meters for each flat are outside the building, and on street level.

Each flat’s electricity meter is in a cupboard near its front door.

Effectively?   Given most of the flats are on the upper floors?

The meters for each flat are more than the ten meters the engineer told me was a maximum communication distance.

Any of my neighbours above the ground floor?

Who want a smart meter?

Will have issues.

~≈ß≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Mum† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with everyone scoring ten out of ten.


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

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

Q1)        6th July, 1980, saw the birth of actress, Eva Green.   She plays Vesper Lynd: in which Daniel Craig Bond film?

Q2)        6th July, 1986, saw the birth of entrepreneur, David Karp.   He founded which website: LinkedIn, Tumblr or Twitter?

Q3)        6th July, 1950, saw the birth of writer, John Byrne.   He writes what: comic books, TV shows or podcasts?

Q4)        Louis Pasteur successfully tested a vaccine on Joseph Meister: on 6th July, 1885.   A vaccine agains what: rabies, polio or syphilis?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Nyasaland became independent from the UK: on 6th July, 1964.   What’s the country now called: Mali, Malawi or Mauritania?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        The UK’s National Health Service was launched.   On 5th July of which year of the 1940s?

A1)        1948.

Q2)        It was launched by the then Minister of Health.   Who was he: Aneurin Bevan, Clement Attlee or Ernest Bevin?

A2)        Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan.

Q3)        The Service was initially suggested by the Beveridge Report.   The report was released, when: 1940, 1941 or 1942?

A3)        1942.

Q4)        The Service is usually known as the NH what?

A4)        NHS.

Q5)        The service is funded, in part, by what: National Insurance, the Lottery Fund or Road Tax?

A5)        National Insurance.

Q6)        The English branch of the Service is called National Health Service (England).   What’s the Welsh one called?

A6)        NHS Wales: or GIG Cymru, if you’re that way inclined.

Q7)        More to the point, what’s the Scottish branch called?

A7)        NHS Scotland.

Q8)        You don’t usually pay to see a National Health doctor, or GP.   Your GP is a general … what?

A8)        General Practitioner.

Q9)        For many years, the National Health Service has been “free at the point of … ” what: use, usury or uselessness?

A9)        Use.

Q10)        Finally … ?   5th July, 2021, saw the Queen award the National Health Service a medal.   Which medal: the Victoria Cross, George Cross or Elizabeth Cross?

A10)        The George Cross.   (The Cross is the highest civilian award the UK offers: it’s only outranked by the Victoria Cross.)

Here’s a thought …

“Any opinion—even an informed opinion—expressed from behind the shelter of a screen name is rendered automatically invalid, as far as I’m concerned.”

John Byrne, born 6th July, 1950.

And a song …

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

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*         Yeah … ever since I started writing the Left-hander’s day Teasers, I’ve kept a list of notable south-paws, Olga.   Keanu, Laurence Fishburne, Rebecca Romijn from Strange New Worlds, Omar Epps, Lisa Edelstein and Robert Sean Leonard from House, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, the late Rik Mayall and equally late Sean Locke, Sue Perkins, Martin Freeman … I could go on!

        Ohhh … it sounds like those air raid shelters could be quite a tourist attraction: as well as a historical site.   The best Brentwood could do is the Secret Nuclear Bunker.   It’s signposted, if you’re ever in town.   (And I say that with a straight face!)

        The gas meter situation?   Is a bloody mess, Olga§, it really is.   The electricity credit getting wiped?   Comes from the fact that the engineer would have had to disconnect the electricity meter, wire in a communication hub — a specialised router, if I’m right — then reconnect the thing.   I’m … not happy … 

†        Hello, Mum!

‡        I hear Medicare’s a bit of a nightmare, Debbi!   (I think the very few Tory MPs who’ve suggested something similar to the US model … get a meaningful look, at the very least … )

        Oh, the next ten question set’s on the 15th, Debbi: it’s about Manitoba.   I thought something different might be the thing.

§        Oh, the lighthouse tower’s octagonal, Olga?   That’s different to the UK ones, I think: the few UK I know about, are round.

        Oh, I like the hat!   (Debbi, we need straw hats!)