Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-9-2026 — Sir Ian Holm. (Seven Questions.)

12th September, 2026: Sir Ian Holm.

OK, it’s now officially Saturday.

Which means I’m going to have buy a bag of spuds.

From Nisa, now I think of it.

The last batch of white potatoes I got from Sainsbury’s seemed to have a few brown spots, inside.

I don’t know if that was good or bad … but it wasn’t encouraging!

~≈🥔≈~

On a potato related theme … ?

I’ve a few red-skinned potatoes to last me until I can buy more.

And … ?

Well, they do very well in an air fryer.

From what I’d seen, roasting them in an air fryer gives them a nice dark colour!

Feel free to experiment!

~≈🥔≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-9-2025 — Saint Kitts and Nevis.

12th September, 2025: Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Right … it’s now officially Friday … and?

I’ve been toying with Image Playground, as it’s been tweaked*.

Feeding in photos of myself, and of Bobby the Cat, and appropriately silly prompts … ?

Gets these … 

That second one looks nothing like me … but at leasts the potato looks like a potato, and Bobby looks like Bobby … 

~≈🌅≈~

I’ve got the Today Programme on, again: and keep thinking it would make a good subject for a question set.

Possibly at another time, though!

However?

They’ve floated a news piece that caught my eyes: and probably grabbed the attention of spy-fiction fans across the planet.

Apparently?

MI6, Britain’s intelligence agency, is to launch a recruitment website called ‘Silent Courier’: on the dark web, the section of the World Wide Web hidden from regular browsers.

I really don’t want to be a spy: I doubt I’d be good at it.

But … ?   That wouldn’t stop me trying to find that site, given the chance … !

~≈🕵🏻‍♂️≈~

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

12th September, 2025.

Right, then: it’s officially official!

It’d Friday: and I’m working on a review.

Of the last episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, so you know.

That should go live by Sunday!

~≈🖖≈~

Oh, I’ve just noticed this piece on the BBC’s news site.

Apparently, more and more school children are hacking into school IT systems: and causing mischief.

Including one incident involving a seven-year-old.

I have just one question.

Why on Earth am I not surprised!

~≈🚌≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th October 2024.

12th September 2024.

Right … it’s officially Thursday: and my knee is twanging.

Frankly?

I’m thankful I’ve got prescription painkillers, painkillers that are starting to kick in.

That makes things easier!

~≈💊≈~

Oh, I caught another episode of Babylon 5, last night.

It’s nice to see an episode with the late, great David McCallum in it.

But wasn’t surprised to find out his character was the villain of the piece.

They’re easy to spot: they’ve all got British accents!

I’ll be surprised if episode five’s villain doesn’t.

At any rate?

I’m enjoying it … but struggling not to laugh at moments of high seriousness.

Especially when Ivanova said “You’re too young to experience that much pain.” to another of the guest characters.

And said this with a straight face!

Only Dallas got that camp!

~≈🧴≈~

Hmmm … 

I have sleep apnoea: a condition that means I get very erratic sleep.

Unless I use the CPAP machine I’ve been given.

It turns out that — according to this report — an epilepsy drug called Sultiame could be helpful.

Although the BBC report tells us more investigation is needed.

Personally?

I don’t know if I’d go for it.

The CPAP machine seems to be working well enough for me.

And, with type two diabetes, an under-active thyroid, depression, joint pain, low blood pressure, and lord alone knows what’s happening in my chest … 

I’m on enough medication, already!

~≈💊≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th September 2023.

12th September, 2023.

It’s Tuesday: and … ?

I’m expecting both my nephew: hopefully, we won’t have to walk far, to get dinner.

Before I do that … ?

I’m due to lodge an appeal against a decision by the Department of Work and Pensions: and spent a long time on the phone, yesterday, trying to start the thing off.

Right at the moment, though?

The relevant site’s having issues … 

That’s frustrating!

~≈©≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th September, 2022

12th September, 2022.

Yes: I’m expecting an — ha! — affordable delivery, today.

I’ve got the Patrick Troughton Second Doctor story, The Abominable Snowmen, on route from Amazon.

It’s one of the lost serials.   

And one that’s been reconstructed.

Thanks to some clever animation: and audio captured by fans when the shows were originally broadcast in the 1960s.

It should be an interesting watch, and interesting set of reviews … 

And possibly an interesting unboxing video.

~≈⛄️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th September, 2021.

12th September, 2021.

Nice things and sad things … nice … and sad … … 

Did you ever hear about the Crucible Curse?

Basically?   Any snooker player that wins the World Championship won’t win the year afterwards.

Oh, they’ll win again: Steven Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ray Reardon, have all won multiple times.

Just not the year after their first win.

It’s supposed to be a largely psychological thing.

If I’ve understood it, a player’s first win at Snooker’s biggest event is partially a result of them have low expectations.

And therefore no pressure.

The second year … ?   There’s tons of stress … as everyone’s got their eyes on the defending champion.

So … ?

I heard the news, this morning, that the UK’s Emma Raducanu has won the women’s Championship in New York.

As a qualifier: a complete unknown, coming out of nowhere, and winning the event without dropping a set.

Good for her.

But … ?

I’m thinking the Crucible Curse — or, at least, a tennis equivalent — might come into effect, here.

Can she win the next big event?

Given she’s won this?

Good luck on that Front, Emma.

~≈🎾≈~

Sad things … sad things … 

Did you ever hear of a Spanish singer called María Mendiola?

She was one half of Baccara: the duo that had a huge hit, back in the day, with Yes Sir, I Can Boogie: and died, last night, at the age of 69.

That’s sad: especially when you consider 69 is no age at all!

The least I can do … ?   Is play that song.

It only seems right.

~≈🎼≈~

Altered States — A Review

12th September, 2020.

OK: for those who’ve actually watched my intro video, there?

I think we can safely say a couple of things.

One?

I’ve reached a conclusion.

It’s possible to watch a film, AND do a Max Headroom, impression in the same evening.

And, yes: in case you were wondering.

It’s the first time I’ve sat down with a movie, in quite a while.

Two?

Right now, it’s rather late.

I MAY start this now.

But finish the write up in the morning.

At any rate … ?

You’ll have possibly guessed from the poster: that I’ve seen the 1980, Ken Russell directed, William Hurt vehicle: Altered States.

It’s been years since I saw it last … and it’s … interesting … 

~≈Ü≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12th September, 2020.

12th September, 2020.

Right: I’ve finally finished the first season of The Mandalorian: having caught the last episode, last night.

It’s got to be said, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.

What’s more?

There’s a potential new villain … 

Does that cutting tool look familiar … ?

Hmmm … 

~≈Ì≈~

I have to admit, I got tinkering, when I was writing the review of that episode.

I’ve been tinkering with the new Blogger interface: and not found it totally to my liking.

There’s no way of embedding YouTube videos into a post: in what’s called Compose mode.

As it turns out … ?

You can insert embed code in what’s called HTML mode.

Which looks like this: 

And is very intimidating, if you’re not used to it.

Last night’s Mandalorian post looks OK, but took a lot of jumping about.

Which means I’m going to take a bit of time, using the new interface for the Teasers.

~≈Ì≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-9-2019: Marathon

12th September, 2019.

Right … 

I’ve HAD the haircut I was talking about, yesterday.

And, it has to be said, I feel a lot less shaggy!

It’s only minor … 

But it’s nice to have done … !

~≈Œ≈~

Something that’s not nice … ?

And that’s been causing a riot on at least one Terry Pratchett group I’m in … ?

Is The Watch, the upcoming BBC America adaptions of Sir Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch series of novels.

I’m … 

I’m not happy.

I noticed this article, yesterday, announcing the cast.

I’m … … 

I can cope with Richard Dormer bagging the key role of Commander Vimes.

Although I’d’ve preferred Idris Elba.

But I’m more concerned about other elements.

For a start … ?

Lara Rossi’s been cast as Sybil Ramkin: wife to Sam Vimes.

Her ethnicity isn’t an issue for me: although I’m aware others may not believe that.

The simple fact is the usual authorised pictures of Sybil — those by Paul Kidby, who did much of the  art for the later Discworld covers — present Sybil as a larger lady.   She’s supposed to be able to handle half a dozen dragons on a leash.

Ms Rossi’s too slim, in other word: slim enough that the phrase ‘fat shaming’ can be thrown into the conversation.

This version of Sybil is also described as a ‘vigilante.’

When the original character — in the novels — runs a dragon sanctuary*.

There’s other things.

Carcer?   Gets described in the article as ‘wronged and wounded.’

As a HELL of a lot more sympathetic as he actually is.

Carrot?

Isn’t being played by a redhead: nor does he seem to be carrot shaped.

The article tells us Carrot gets trained by Constable Angua: who doesn’t join the Watch until a couple of books after Carrot.

And as for Cheery … ?

The character’s described as a ‘non-binary forensics expert’: making her sound like like an LGBTQ activist, looking to carve out a third gender space.

She’s not.

She’s a dwarf woman, struggling to get her femininity recognised in the extremely sexist dwarf society.

Just a BIT different.

Frankly?

Given what I’ve seen … ?

I’m going nowhere near this series.

I don’t think it’s going to be anything like the Terry Pratchett novels I know.

~≈Œ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-9-2018: How To Do Art In Caves …

12th Sept, 2018.

I have to admit to hearing some sad news: last night, actually, although it’s been repeated, this morning.

Fenella Fielding’s died.

I have to admit, I was never a huge fan.

But Carry On Screaming?   Wouldn’t have worked without her.

Frankly?

Neither would The Prisoner.

Her announcements over the Village loudspeakers?

Were part of what made the setting so atmospheric.

~≈§≈~

Midnight Special — Curious …

Did I mention I’m job-hunting, at the moment … ?

I’m job-hunting.

So you know.

And there’s lots of things I should, and shouldn’t be doing.

Obviously, wasting the little money I do have on fripperies is one of those.

Frankly?

I’d call things like cigarettes and alcohol fripperies: especially as I’ve given up both.

The one thing I do think isn’t a frippery?

Is spending the minimal money I do have not on recreational substances … but on the occasional film.

The way I see it?   Is that I get some reasonably priced entertainment: and that you, as a reader, get to see what I’ve been spent tax-payers money on.

Assuming what I write about a given film interests you enough to go and rent it for yourself?

It also gives you some entertainment, keeps me occupied … 

And keeps us both off the street, bothering the neighbours.

~≈†≈~

So … 

As you can guess, I like a movie.

Job-hunting being what it IS, over the past few days?

I’ve been pounding the streets for the past few days: handing out my CV to all and sundry.

Or been at my Mac Pro: filling in online application forms.

Today?

Has been something of a good day.

As I’ve managed to book up three — three — interviews over the next few days.

I can only hope and pray one of those interviewers decides I’m worth hiring.

That fact?

Got me thinking I need to celebrate those small successes … 

With a film.

More specifically?

With the Jeff Nichols directed, Midnight Special.

Yes, I felt celebratory … 

The film, though … ?

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-9-2016: Lascaux

Right … 

It’s Monday.

And it’s a Monday where I’m due back at my local Job Centre: for a meeting where I’ve got to take in as much ID as possible.

Frankly … ?

It’s completely understandable: especially given the amount of fraud that the government’s benefit office faces.

But, LORD, it’s frustrating.

Especially when the Job Centre now doesn’t let claimants print stuff using its facilities … !

Frustrating … ?

Doesn’t even start!

~≈†≈~

The day’s not complete doom an gloom.

Or, at least, not complete doom and gloom.

I was in Brentwood High Street, on Saturday.

Doing the usual (recent) thing: of handing out CVs, to various shops.

One of those?   Was the Brentwood branch of a noted local bookshop.

I’m going back in, today: to have a chat with the manager.

Here’s hoping something can come of it.

~≈†≈~