Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30th April 2025.

30th April, 2025.

Did I mention my nephew was here, yesterday?

My nephew, Jude, was here, yesterday.

Yes: he’s uploaded more Mikey videos.

Jude’s still mourning, I think.

I do know he’s planning to do more for his regular channel, next week.

That should be something to see!

~≈👦≈~

Oh, did I mention series two of Andor is slowly being released?

More episodes turned up, yesterday.

So far … ?

It’s looking good: although various characters and scenes remind me of all sorts of things.

Mostly the Spanish Civil War, and the French Resistance!

~≈👨🏼‍🎨≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 29th April 2025.

29th April, 2025.

Right … 

It’s the day after.

“What?”, I hear you cry.

It’s the day after yesterday.

Which possibly means a lot: but there you go.

~≈⚡️≈~

I do know regular reader, Olga, lives in Spain: and got hit by yesterday’s power cuts.

She’s safe: as power is being re-connected.

Quite why the Cut happened?

No one seems sure.

I’d love to know what caused it: as, I suspect would Olga, and the rest of the Iberian Peninsula.

But … ?

I suspect it’s going to be a while before we find out …

~≈⚡️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-4-2025 — Sir Terry Pratchett.

28th April, 2025: Sir Terry Pratchett.

OK: it’s now officially a Monday: and it’s not a bank holiday!

And … ?

I’m up early, for my weight management meeting.

Hopefully, I’ve lost something: but can also look to next week’s bank holiday.

That’s another hour in bed … !

~≈🛌≈~

Oh … there’s local elections on Thursday.

Part from in areas where they’ve been postponed: because the relevant councils are being restructured.

Because it’s in Essex … ?

Brentwood’s is one of those elections.

Right at the moment … ?

I’m not sure whether to be worried, or not!

~≈❌≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 27th April 2025.

27th April, 2025.

What with one thing and another … ?

YouTube can be strange.

Quite it’s doing this, I don’t know: but … ?

It’s throwing videos of people dancing to M’s “Pop Muzik” at me.

Why … ?

I don’t know.

It’s possibly one of those things … !

~≈▶️≈~

At any rate … ?

I managed to catch “The Well”, yesterday’s episode of Doctor Who.

And … ?

It’s rather good: although I don’t know if my reviews manage to catch that.

Heigh-ho!

~≈🩻≈~

As a final thought … ?

I occasionally have a word floating around my head.

Usually?   It’s the word “yurt”.

Today?

It’s “dicastery”: a department of the Curia, the body that runs the Catholic Church.

I’m happy.

Because I know the word’s floating around my head, after the recent death of the Pope.

So that’s something!

~≈⛪︎≈~

Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 3 — “The Well” — A Review

*Spoilers* 

26th April, 2025: “The Well”.

Right then … 

It’s officially Saturday.

You’ve possibly realised that.

Especially if you’re reading this on a Saturday … !

At any rate?

It’s Saturday: and, at some point today, I’m going to be watching “The Well”: the third episode of this new series of Doctor Who.

I’m looking forward to it: and very aware it’s been described as ‘Very scary’.

Although that’s by Sharma Angel-Walfall: the episode’s co-writer.

Frankly?

We’ll have to see, won’t we.

I’ll have this post … later … !

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26th April 2025.

26th April, 2025.

Right … It’s Saturday … 

Which means … ?

It means that — as ever — it’s Doctor Who Day.

“The Well” looks interesting … 

~≈🌊≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-4-2025 — World Malaria Day.

25th April, 2025: World Malaria Day.

It’s officially official: I’m waiting.

For several things.

• An honest man.
• A huge stack of cash.
• The realisation that there is a loving God: that truly cares for me and mine.

Those are possibly going to take time.

Or, at least, turn up after the copy of Going Postal I’m expecting … !

Heigh … ho!

~≈🏤≈~

Just in case … ?

I have to admit to being concerned about Old Peculiar regular, Trevor: after not seeing him post on Facebook.

I’ve just spoken to his sister, Gill.

It seems he’s been ill, recently: but is on the road to recovery.

Here’s hoping that’s quick!

~≈🏥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th April, 2025.

24th April, 2025.

Right: it’s official.

I am now the proud owner of a physical copy of The Rubber-keyed Wonder: a documentary about the ZX Spectrum, one of the UK’s seminal 8-bit computers.

The fact I’m also waiting for Penguin’s annotated version of Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch?

Is probably incidental.

At any rate … ?

The first of two discs is ripping as I speak.

Whilst I was sorely tempted to stream the thing through Apple’s TV.app — the film’s also available in the UK, through Amazon Prime — that raises issues.

I’m always concerned — as are many — that ‘buying’ a digital product to stream doesn’t give you permanent ownership of that product.

If the streamer’s license runs out?

You lose access to it.

Granted, Apple has a bit of blurb on its page about the film: that if you download it to a compatible device,  they can’t remove it from the device, and you don’t need an internet connection to view it.

I’m assuming Amazon have similar terms.

Even with those provisos?

That — to me, at least — that sounds like the streamers can still remove streamed content: even if they can’t or don’t remove downloaded content.

There’s also the fact the Apple and Amazon seem to only offer the film itself for rental/purchase.

But not whatever’s on the second disc that came with the physical copy I’ve bought.

That … ?

As far as I can see, that mix of extras and physical ownership makes purchasing decision, wise.

~≈📀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-4-2025 — By The Book

23rd April, 2025: By the Book/World Book Night.

Did I mention I’ve got a film on order … ?

I’ve got a film on order — The Rubber-keyed Wonder: 40 Years of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum — which should be with me, today.

In case you’re wondering … ?

It’s a documentary about one of Britain’s best known home computers: the ZX Spectrum.

I had one, myself.

Given that … ?

You can bet I was interested in get a copy of the documentary.

We’ll have to see if I can review it at some point.

Or find an online copy of Atic Atak.

That was possibly the best game written for the machine!

~≈🌈≈~

Today is Saint George’s Day, Payday … and probably a very good day to do shopping.

Now, really!

Except there’s an issue.

Yes: it’s officially bucketing down, out there.

I’ll tell you what: I think there’s going to be some very happy cabbies, out there!

~≈🚖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22nd April 2025

22nd April, 2025.

Right … I can hear whirring.

“Whirring”, you say?

Yes: whirring.

As the optical drive that currently holds a disc from the The War Game In Colour works with MakeMKV: to turn the disc’s contents into digital files.

I’m … 

Have mixed feelings about the thing.

Much like the The Daleks In Colour boxset released a few years ago,  this boxset includes the original DVD version of the story the colourised edition is a version of.

And, like The Daleks In Colour, that broadcast version is in the original 4:3, 704 × 576, resolution seen in 1966.

Like I say, I have mixed feelings about that.

Including that DVD version means I can re-rip the thing: and end up with a better quality, digital copy.

But … ?

It also means the BBC have missed the chance to upscale this original version to a 16:9 resolution that would work better on modern TVs.

Heigh … ho!

~≈📺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 21st April 2025

21st April, 2025.

Did I mention today is a bank holiday in the UK?

Today is a bank holiday in the UK.

Just so you know!

Which means … that I don’t have a weight management meeting, this morning.

That’s disappointing, in one sense.

Chatting to the volunteers is nice, and monitoring my weight, a good thing.

On the upside … ?

On the upside, I can stay in be for an extra hour.

That’s an equally good thing!

~≈⏲≈~

I’ve got Radio Four: as ever.

It’s reassuring to have the news on, I think.

At any rate?

One of the presenters has mentioned there’s a film out about the ZX Spectrum.

Something I had as a youngster*.

As the Today programme hasn’t broadcast its piece, yet?

I can only assume they’re talking about this film.

Which looks well made, interesting … 

And is on Amazon at a reasonable price!

That looks very appealing … !

~≈🌈≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-4-2025 — Andy Serkis

20th April, 2025: Andy Serkis.

It’s got to be said: I am officially bloody knackered!

I managed to catch “Lux”, yesterday’s episode of Doctor Who: at about three in the afternoon.

This years sees the episodes turn up on iPlayer at eight in the morning, so you know.

Which I caught early: planning to get my reviews — written and video — done early.

I actually got the video finished and uploaded … at two in the morning.

After something went wrong with DaVinci Resolve: that meant re-starting the whole thing.

I can only hope the thing’s watchable!

~≈💥≈~

Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 2 — “Lux” — A Review

18th April, 2025: “Lux”.

Right then … it’s officially Friday.

Or, at least, I’ve started this post about a Doctor Who episode called “Lux” on a Friday, 18th April, 2028.

In the desperate hope that I can get it finished by Saturday 19th April: the day of broadcast.

I’d like to get some feedback on the day … !

At any rate: I’ve yet to see the episode at the time of writing this introduction, and am planning to catch the iPlayer version, rather than the broadcast version.

I’m looking forward to it.

Alan Cumming is playing the villain of the piece: and he’s usually interesting.

So long as his singing’s not too fruity … !

At any rate, by the time you read this … ?

It’ll be Saturday … 

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th April 2025.

19th April, 2025.

It’s Saturday … 

And … ?

I don’t think I’ve persuaded my nephew to have a shower.

But have helped him make more Mikey Memorial videos.

Feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button, folks.

~≈🐰≈~

It’s still Saturday … which means I’ll be watching Dr Who, today.

I’ll have any reviews up, later.

But you can watch last week’s, here: 

~≈📺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-4-2024 — HMRC

18th April, 2025: HMRC.

It’s officially Friday … !

Which, right now, means several things.

One … ?

I’ve had my weekly Mounjaro injections: which helps both with my diabetes and my weight.

Two?

There’s been reports that pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, has released a new medication called orforglipron.

It’s a new pill: pill, rather than injection, designed to treat diabetes, and help with weight loss.

Hopefully, when released … ?

It will be both effective: and plentiful!

Shortages of other such medications is notorious.

~≈💊≈~

Have you been following my reviews of classic Dr Who series, The Savages?

I hope so … !

Whether you have or you haven’t, I’ve now seen the final episode.

And thought you’d appreciate both my written, and video, reviews.

Feel free to leave me a comment!

~≈👨‍⚕️≈~

Doctor Who — The Savages — Episode 4 — A Review

16th April, 2025: Doctor Who — The Savages.

Right … 

It’s officially a Wednesday evening.

And … ?

I’ve been bored enough to give my microwave a once over.

One of these days … ?

I’ll defrost my fridge … and possibly mop the kitchen floor.

Possibly … !

~≈👨‍⚕️≈~

At any rate … ?

It’s a Wednesday evening.

And, rather than risk skin cancer in the sunshine?

I’m going to spend the evening in: watching vintage TV.

Or, at least, the last episode of the reanimated, classic, Dr Who story, The Savages.

I’m writing this on the 16th April, 2025: and should have it, and its video equivalent, up and posted by the 17th April.

I will hopefully see you tomorrow … !

~≈👨‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-4-2025 — World Hemophilia Day

17th April, 2025: World Hemophilia Day.

Right … it’s officially Thursday.

And … ?

I get some cash today: as I’ve just received a benefits payment.

That’s a good thing.

I’ve only got so much frozen food, and having something other than sausages* would be nice.

~≈🌭≈~

Have you heard of a planet called ‘K2-18b’?

I suspect that you — like me — haven’t.

I mean, it’s not usually something that gets talked about, day-to-day.

But … ?

Apparently, scientists have found potential signs of life.

Potential: because there’s a lot of debate about it.

But … ?

It would be nice to think there’s life out there: even if it’s only ocean-going microbes!

~≈🦠≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-4-2025 — Orkney

16th April, 2025: Orkney

Did I mention I had a set of blood tests, yesterday?

At Brentwood Hospital?

I had a set of blood tests, yesterday: at Brentwood Hospital.

And … ?

Once they were done, I got as far as Brentwood High Street … before I realised I’d left my glasses at the hospital.

I could kick myself.

Except I’d possibly miss … !

~≈👓≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15th April 2025.

15th April, 2025.

Right … 

It’s officially Tuesday: which means that it’s raining!

It also means my nephew was over, last night: still in mourning for a much loved pet rabbit … but in a place where he could to do something about it.

Yep: he’s made a video and uploaded it to YouTube.

Feel free to comment … 

~≈🐰≈~

I’ve been following the news: including the news that the Manchester Arena bomber, Hashem Abedi, has attacked prison officers in HMP Frankland.

According to a letter seen by the BBC?

The families of his victims haver said:

“… [Abedi] should not have access to anything that he can weaponise”.

Seemingly, he’d made improvised knives from baking trays.

I’m sympathetic to the families.

But also very aware prisoners can turn anything into a weapon.

Jam jars, Marmite jars and peanut butter jars, can be put into socks: and used as improvised coshes.

That’s why, I’m told, prisoners are only allowed sachets.

Cut off the bristles of a toothbrush, melt the head with a lighter, and attach razor blades … and you have an improvised knife.

The amount of each a prisoner has are supposed to be monitored.

I’m told spray on deodorant isn’t allowed in prison: that and a lighter gives you a flamethrower.

Then there’s rolled up bedsheets: garrottes and rope.

You can turn toilet roll into string, the same way.

When the families say Abedi shouldn’t have things that can be weaponised, I think they are well meaning … but a little innocent.

Prisons are full of people who can weaponise anything.

~≈🚓≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14th April 2025.

14th April, 2025.

Did I mention Mikey the Rabbit … ?

Mikey was my nephew, Jude’s, pet rabbit: and sadly died on Saturday night/early Sunday morning.

Jude is 14, and owned Mikey for some eleven years.

Like any one that age, utterly heartbroken.

I’m saddened, myself: it’s amazing how close we can get to pets, even at one remove.

Hopefully, though … ?

Jude will recover from this.

But … ?

Mikey will be much missed.

~≈🐰≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13th April, 2025.

13th April, 2025.

It’s officially official: and … ?

A morning after I’ve had a bad night’s sleep!

Quite why I was up and down, repeatedly heading for the loo, all night?

I really couldn’t say … !

But … ?

I only feel slightly tired.

Heigh … ho!

~≈🥱≈~

At any rate … ?

I managed to catch “The Robot Revolution”, yesterday.

The opening episode of Doctor Who is very watchable: and Varada Sethu plays a very assertive new companion, in the shape of Belinda Chandra.

Something I reiterated in my written and video reviews.

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

There’s a prisoner called Hashem Abedi: currently in a segregated wing in HMP Frankland.

Who … ?

Is being investigated after assaulting two prison officers with home made weapons … and hot oil.

How on Earth did he get hold of that … ?

From what little I know, the only way he’d get access to hot cooking oil would be if he was allowed to work in the kitchen by the prison officers.

How he was allowed to work in the kitchen, after carrying out a similar attack at HMP Belmarsh … ?

I don’t know.

But someone’s made a mess of something … 

~≈🛢️≈~

Doctor Who — Series 15/Season 2 - Episode 1 — “The Robot Revolution” — A Review

*Spoilers*

11th April, 2025: “The Robot Revolution”.

Anybody reading this post possibly knows I’m here.

Possibly.

It’s another random post on another random blog: whose owner and writer is mildly frustrated at the amount of time his copy of Safari takes to load up his content.

That’s possibly beside the point.

Regular readers will know two things.

One?

I’m bad tempered.

Two?

I’m a Dr Who fan.

One who — at the time of writing — has been reviewing classic Dr Who series, The Savages, for the past few weeks.

I hope you enjoy my reviews.

I’m going to start reviewing the new series of Doctor Who, tomorrow: when the first episode, “The Robot Revolution”, airs.

I’ve started this post early … ?

As I’ll be baby-sitting — if “baby” is the right term for a fourteen year old! — my nephew, tomorrow day-time.

So … ?   We — or possibly just he — will be making a video and uploading it to his YouTube channel.

Feel free to subscribe: to both his and mine.

By the time that’s done, and he’s headed home?

I’ll sitting in with “The Robot Revolution”

And should be able to let you know what I thought by Sunday, 13th April.

Come back the: and let’s talk about it … 

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th April 2025.

12th April, 2025.

Right: it’s officially Saturday.

And I’ve got two things to do, today.

Obviously, looking after my nephew is one thing.

The other?

Is catching “The Robot Revolution”, the opening episode of Doctor Who’s most recent series.

My only big question, on I realise show’s my ignorance?

Is I’m not completely sure how to pronounce the name of Varada Sethu, the actress playing new companion, Belinda Chancdra.

I think it’s va-RAR-da, with the stress on the middle syllable … but believe she pronounces it as va-ra-da, with the stresses, apparently, placed equally.

Or possibly as va-rad-a … !

One day … ?

I’ll get the hang of it!

~≈👸🏾≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th April 2025 — Six Questions

11th April, 2025.

Right then: it’s officially Friday!

Yay!

We can hop, skip, dance and wave our hands in the air.

If we want to.

Hand waving or not?

I’ve woken up thinking today is Saturday.

Why?

I have no idea … !

~≈👋≈~

Either way … ?

I’ve finished another review: of episode three of The Savages.

Feel free to leave me a comment … !

~≈📺≈~

As a final thought … ?

I’ve been using DaVinci Resolve — the free version, available though the App Store — to edit some of the videos, here.

I have to say, it’s not a bad app.

But … ?

It’s only now I’ve used it for a while, I realise quite how much iMovie does for a user.

It removes the green fringing I get when compositing video, automatically: something I have to do manually in DaVinci, for example.

Comparing the two, DaVinci can layer far more elements together than iMovie can.

But?

DaVinci tends to crash when using multiple, intensive, effects.

And tends to lose clips on external drives when it does so.

Can I recommend it others?

Yes: it’s powerful.

But yes … it’s got quirks.

Enough quirks, on the computer I use, to say that, given the money?

I’d be buying Final Cut Pro, rather than the premium version of DaVinci.

It strikes me Apple’s own pro software would be the far more stable of the two.

~≈👨🏼‍🎨≈~

Doctor Who — The Savages — Episode 3 — A Review

9th April, 2025: Doctor Who — The Savages.

The story of the day, so far … ?

Is that I’ve had a meeting with my job centre case worker.

And … ?

May have to do a course as a result.

We’ll have to see how that goes, I think.

At any rate … ?

It’s Wednesday.

So — as regular readers will know — it’s time for me to watch another episode of classic Dr Who serial, The Savages.

Then — from the position of a man getting his retaliation in, first! — telling you what I thought about it.

Just so you know?

You can read earlier reviews, here.

Or watch them, here.

See you tomorrow … !

~≈👨🏼‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10th April, 2025.

10th April, 2025.

Yes: it’s officially Thursday … !

And?

I don’t have to go to a meeting: nor am I expecting a visitor.

That’s possibly a good thing.

What may or may not be helpful?

Is the fact my Job Centre case worker feels I should do a course: one aimed at people in their fifties.

That may or may not have an effect, may or may not be affordable, may or may not be in the area.

But … ?

I think it’s busy for both me, and my case worker …

~≈📎≈~

You’re possibly aware I’ve caught a few movies, recently.

And, as a result?

I’ve come to the conclusion that — in the case of movies who’ve had multiple versions* — studios should sell those multiple versions.

I bought versions of Blade Runner, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, with that in mind: they had the original cuts, along side the director’s cut.

Those latter cuts are usually the director’s preferred version, I should add.

At any rate … ?

The elephant in the room … ?

Is Star Wars.

Bar the fan-made, un-official, remakes of the original cuts?

There’s only special edition versions of the original trilogy available.

However?

One interesting bit of news I noticed?

Was this piece from the Guardian: a piece that tells us the original cut is to be aired by the BFI, the British Film Institute, in the summer.

Hopefully, that will generate a demand for the original cuts.

It would be nice if those were on sale.

~≈★≈~