Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th April 2026.

24th April, 2026.

Hmmm … 

There’s a newly introduced fund that’s supposed to help those of us on a low income: called the ‘Crisis and Resilience Fund’.

The arm of the fund aimed at Essex residents?

Is run by Southend Council.

I applied to it, a couple of weeks ago, if you recall: and was happy to wait.

I got the decision letter, a couple of days ago.

I’ve been refused help: as I’m ‘not in financial shock’ … !

My ‘Donate’ button’s in the sidebar … !

~≈£≈~

I’ve been following the progress of the Assisted Dying Bill through Parliament,

And, while I can’t see myself needing or wanting an assisted death?

Think it’s much like abortion: a thing that should be legally available.

Those of us who need it, should be able to get it: freely and legally.

Unfortunately?

The current bill is going through the House of Lords, and looks like it will run out of time.

I think that’s a great shame … 

~≈🏥≈~

Let’s move on.


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


 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 April is the feast day of Saint Ivo of Ramsey, patron saint of the town of Saint Ives.   The town is in which English county: Worcestershire, Essex or Cambridgeshire?

Q2)        24th April is Concord Day.   Where: Namibia, Niger or Nigeria?

Q3)        Mary, Queen of Scots, married François on 24th April, 1558. François was the then crown prince of where: Spain, France or Germany?

Q4)        Thomas Lucy was born on 24th April, 1532.   He was first elected as an Member of Parliament, when: 1569, 1571 or 1573?

Q5)        Finally … ?   Shirley MacLaine was born on 24th April, 1934. She played Dell Payton in which 1958 film: The Sheepman, Hot Spell or The Matchmaker?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        23rd April is Castile and León Day.   Castile and León is part of which European country?

A1)        Spain.

Q2)        What’s Castile and León’s currency: the Peseta, the Peso, the Real or the Euro?

A2)        The Euro.

Q3)        Ferdinand 2nd and Isabella 1st were the Catholic Monarchs of that country.   Which of them was the ruler of Castile?

A3)        Isabella 1st.   (Ferdinand was ruler of Aragon)

Q4)        On the region’s coat of arms, Castile is represented by a yellow castle.   León is represented by a purple what: cheese wheel, lion or bee?

A4)        Lion.   Wikipedia tells me that León’s name comes from the the Latin word, ‘legio’, the Roman word for a legion. I’m assuming the town of León was a Roman outpost.   (As a minor point, the castle in the coat of arms isn’t yellow: its heraldic name is or, or gold: purple is purpure.   You have to love heraldry.)

Q5)        Castile and León is a what: region, county or autonomous community?

A5)        An autonomous community.

Q6)        Does Castile and León have a named capital: yes, or no?

A6)        No.   (Although the regional government, and regional parliament, are in Valladolid, the region’s upper court is in Burgos, the Court of Audits is in Palencia and the Ombudsman in León.)

Q7)        Whet’s the region’s official language?

A7)        Spanish.   (If I’ve understood things, correctly, Modern Spanish is also called Castilian Spanish, as it evolved in Castile: part of the modern region.)

Q8)        Roughly 20, 000 to 50, 000 people speaking what: Castilian Spanish, Leonese or Basque?

A8)        Leonese: which has its roots in León.

Q9)        Castile and León has nine provinces.   Name one of them.

A9)        Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid or Zamora.

Q10)        Finally … ?   Arlanza, Bierzo and Cigales are Castile and Leonese whats: wine regions, beers or rhubarbs?

A10)        Wine regions.

Here’s a thought …

“I can’t define longevity.   I don’t know what it means.”

Shirley MacLaine, born April 24, 1934.

A Kelly Clarkson song …

  And an earworm …

The next ten question set will be announced when ready.

Your comments, and today’s answers, will be published in tomorrow’s Teaser.

AI is avoided when writing these questions.

Answers are as accurate as possible: at the time of writing.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!   (It was Léonese and wine regions, rather than Basque and beers!)

†        Actually, it’s ‘no’, Debbi, as the region has no official capital.   Regional government functions are split between Valladolid Burgos, Palencia and  León.   (‘Valladolid’ is a mouthful!)

        I know there’s been a few movies of Day of the Triffids, Debbi: and of The Midwich Cuckoos.   I think the only film that got anywhere near to the original novel was the George Sanders cut of Village of the Damned.