Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-11-2023 — The Colour of Magic.

24th November, 2023: The Colour of Magic.

Right … it’s now Friday: and a day I’m hoping will not be Thursday!

Sainsbury’s — where I do my usual monthly shopping — has self service tills.

And, occasionally … ?

The staff manning those tills?   Have to check your shopping: to make sure you’ve got everything, and aren’t shop-lifting.

I got checked, with a lot of shopping.

And had to rescan everything: as a result forgetting to scan a box of cornflakes, and the machine not working … !

To cap it all off … ?

I lost the iTunes gift card I bought!

It wasn’t in the taxi, nor any of the bags: and I don’t know if I dropped it in the store until I get a chance to check, later.

And Apple themselves, couldn’t trace it from the receipt I had.

I’m still feeling annoyed and frustrated, this morning!

~≈¥≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?


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


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

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

Q1)        24th November, 2023, is the fortieth anniversary of the publication of The Colour of Magic.   In other words, the book was published in which years of the 1980s?

Q2)        The book and its sequels are set on the Discworld.   The Discworld is a what: magic mountain, flat Earth or an underworld?

Q3)        The Discworld is on top of four giant whats: elephants, rhinos or hyenas?

Q4)        Those creatures are standing on the back of a giant what: turtle, horse or raven?

Q5)        One of the book’s two main characters is called Rincewind.   Rincewind is a what: wizard, watchman or barbarian hero?

Q6)        The other main character is Twoflower.   He’s a what: tourist, time lord or toaster?

Q7)        Twoflower is followed around by the Luggage.   The Luggage is an extremely aggressive, highly magical, what: chest on legs, flying bottle or magic carpet?

Q8)        The main characters spent a lot of time in the Disc’s main city.   What is that city: Ankh Morpork, Pseudopolis or HungHung?

Q9)        What was the follow up to The Colour of Magic called?

Q10)        Finally … ?   Who wrote The Colour of Magic: Terry Pratchett, George Orwell or Charles Dickens?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        23rd November, 2023, is the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who’s first episode.   In other words, it debuted on 23rd November of which year of the 1960s?

A1)        1963.

Q2)        The show is having a what anniversary: a diamond, emerald or golden, anniversary?

A2)        A diamond anniversary.   (That explains why the BBC has revived the 1970s era diamond logo!)

Q3)        The first episode was called An Unearthly what?

A3)        An Unearthly Child.

Q4)        Who played the Doctor in that episode: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton or Jon Pertwee?

A4)        William Hartnell.

Q5)        The unearthly person in the title, is the Doctor’s granddaughter.   What’s her name: Susan, Rachel or Carol?

A5)        Susan: (Played by Carol Anne Ford).

Q6)        The episode introduces us to two teachers.   Barbara Wright was one.   Who was the other? (Just the first name is acceptable.)

A6)        Ian Chesterton, played by William Russell.

Q7)        That latter character appeared in The Power of the Doctor in 2022.   Who played the Doctor in The Power of the Doctor: Jodie Whittaker, Peter Capaldi or Matt Smith?

A7)        Jodie Whittaker.

Q8)        That actor played the Thirteenth Doctor.   Who was introduced as the Fourteenth Doctor in The Power of the Doctor?

A8)        David Tennent.

Q9)        More to the point, who’s playing the Fifteenth Doctor?   (I’m going to be strict on the spelling, here!)

A9)        Ncuti Gatwa.   (It’s pronounced SHOE-tee GAT-waa.)

Q10)        Finally … ?   The debut story has how many episodes: two, three or four?

A10)        Four.   You can find details of those episodes, here, here, here and here.

Here’s a thought …

“In a distant and second-hand set of dimensions, in an astral plane that was never meant to fly, the curling star mists waver and part … ”

The opening lines of The Colour of Magic.

And some videos!

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

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!

†        It’s pronounced ‘SHOE-tee GAT-waa’, Olga.   But that was exactly what I thought, when I saw it written down!   And my phone autocorrected it to ‘Nuclear Gateaux’ … !

        Yeah, I thought it would be something like that, Olga.   Sleeping in it’s going to be rough, if your experience is anything like mine: and I felt VERY self-conscious, going home on the bus.   If it’s any consolation, it’s only for a day: and will give useful results!

        Oh … so CJ Tudor’s happy with the series?   That’s VERY good to hear, Olga: I know some writers have a bad time of it.   The attempt’s to turn Sir Terry’s Mort into a movie, went badly.   Had it gone ahead, he’d’ve lost a lot of creative control over his own novels.   If Disney ever gives you or Debbi a call, I’d avoid them like the plague!

‡        I can imagine, Debbi!   (I’m reading Sir Terry’s biography: the section about trying to get Disney to make Mort is … interesting … !)

        Oh, did I mention I saw The Daleks In Colour, last night?   I’ll have my review up, later: but it’s an interesting watch.