Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-5-2026 — World Fair Play Day

19th May, 2026: World Fair Play Day.

It’s officially official: I’ve gained weight … !

I’m … not surprised, somehow: lots of crisps, and a sneaky take-away on Saturday, probably didn’t help!

Granted, my weight’s up by only a small amount.

But, even so: it’s something to keep an eye on!

~≈⚖️≈~

I have to admit, I’m sorely tempted to design a t-shirt.

Or, at least, get one printed.

I’ve even got a couple of Paranoia themed designs in mind.

These: 

They’ll probably get someone offended: we’ll have to see.

~≈👕≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-5-2025 — The Commonwealth

19th May, 2025: the Commonwealth.

It’s officially official: I’m knackered.

But that’s what you get, when you’re up early on a Monday morning!

At any rate … ?

I’m off to my weight management group, today.

Hopefully, I’d’ve lost weight.

~≈🏋️≈~

As an up side … ?

I’ve finally manage to get my video review of “The Interstellar Song Contest” finished.

Granted: I think my whole chain of thought — on the poppy front —  could well be wrong: I’ve been reminded that the little girl seen in “The Story and the Engine” was a version of Captain Poppy, from “Space Babies”.

And … ?

Well … 

Feel free to leave me a comment!

~≈⚘≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th May 2024.

19th May, 2024.

Right then: it’s officially Sunday!

Which means … I’m definitely feeling my age!

But … ?

At least I got the reviews of “Boom” done.

I hope everyone likes my work … 

And had as much fun with the episode as I did!

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th May 2023.

19th May, 2023.

Yes: you know it, and I know it … 

I’m diabetic.

And constantly worry about my feet, so you know.

There’s always that worry about amputation.

At any rate?

I was up at my pharmacists, yesterday.

And … ?

Whilst they had most of my medications, they didn’t have one.

The high dosage Ozempic that’s been very helpful in controlling my blood sugar levels.

Their suppliers were out of stock.

I got the same story at the three other chemists I visited.

And the one chemist — near to where my family lives — on Ongar Road: I phoned them.

The last place I tried — right at the top of Warley Hill — had one pen left: but only of the smaller, 0·5mg, dose.

They — in collaboration with my surgery — have ordered another: so I can make up the supply to the needed dose.

And I’ve talked to my surgery’s diabetic nurse: to put alternatives in place*.

But … ?

That’s one hell of a situation.

~≈😷≈~

I can tell what you’re asking, though.

At least I think I can.

You’re wondering why there’s a shortage.

Ozempic’s a bit like Viagra.

The latter started out as a blood pressure medication: but its famous OTHER effect … sent off-label/non-prescription demand, and prices†, through the roof!

Ozempic, by contrast?   Is very good at lowering blood sugar levels.

But also has a reputation for helping users lose weight.

Which is debatable, in my case: but I could be wrong.

At any rate?

That’s what’s causing the shortages: celebrities are buying it — celebrities who don’t look fat, to me — to lose weight: when a long healthy walk could be far more appropriate.

That means there’s less Ozempic for those of us that do need it.

None of the chemists told me why the stockists were short.

Bar the one in Ongar Road: who told me the manufacturers were having some sort of manufacturing issues.

They didn’t get more specific than that.

‘Manufacturing issues’ … ?

Could mean anything.

Under current circumstances, I suspect ‘Manufacturing issues’ means the company can’t make it fast enough.

~≈😷≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-5-2022 — The Young Pioneers

19th May, 2022.

It’s officially official: I”ve got a meeting with my Restart case worker, this morning.

At nine.

Thankfully?   By phone: rather than by in person!

But, just in case this post is late?

I’m on the phone to a woman in Chelmsford … !

~≈§≈~

Oh … 

You’re possibly aware I have type 2 Diabetes: and am now on weekly injections of Ozempic to treat the condition.

I started those on Friday.

About the most exciting thing that’s happened to me, this week?

Is I’ve now got a sharps bin: for the used needles.

I’ve just got one question.

I can put the needles in the thing.

But do I put the use pen injectors in there?

I’ll have to ask my pharmacist, I think.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th May, 2021.

19th May, 2021.

Remember, on Monday, I’d had a Zoom interview scheduled?

One interrupted by some sort of technical problem?

One that got rearranged for yesterday … ?

It didn’t go ahead.

The thing seems to have been cancelled: at their end.

And without a word to me, to say it would be cancelled.

Frankly?   I think that’s a little unprofessional: and sent a — hopefully polite — email to say so, and that I would withdraw my application.

If the company — Purified Air, they’re called — treats people like that at the interview stage, what are they like to work for … ?

~≈¥≈~

It’s officially official: I’ve got a hospital appointment on Friday.

For a somewhat invasive procedure.

One I’m hoping won’t take too long: but suspect will take a while.

But … ?

It’s one I know I have to fast for, AND take a powerful laxative in order to work.

I’m not looking forward to it: but, given it can rule out some quite serious conditions … ?

It needs doing.

~≈¥≈~

Aquaman — A Review

14th May, 2019.

Yes: I think I’m right.

It’s a Sunday night: and frankly?

Frankly it’s been one of those Sunday nights where I could’ve been staring at four walls, doing nothing … 

Or trying some of the sillier games on Facebook.

Don’t ask.

Really, don’t ask: 2048 Hexagon Elimination is just a bit too addictive … !

Ahem … 

!

At any rate, it’s a quiet Sunday night.

One where I fancied a film.

Yes: I’ve finally given up and watched the James Wan film that is … 

Aquaman … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th May, 2019

19th May, 2019.

Yes: it’s official: I have a kid sister who’s in Brentwood Operatic Society’s production of the Madness  musical, Our House.

Which I thought was fun.

Jude, on the other hand?

Only liked the bits with Mummy in them.

Oh, and preferred the BOS version of Spamalot.

There’s no pleasing some people!

~≈§≈~

Oh … 

You can possibly tell I voted Remain, in the 2016 Referendum, can’t you?

I’m not a Leaver, let’s put it that way.

So finding crowds outside the Sugar Hut — the Brentwood High Street venue that’s home to The Only Way Is Essex —, a couple of days, ago?

I had to struggle to get through.

From what I could gather from the journalists?

It was a Brexit Party meeting: complete with party Leader, Nigel Farage.

At a recent Edinburgh meeting, police had asked the local McDonalds to STOP selling ice cream and milkshakes: after various politicians had ended up with a faceful of milkshake.

Personally?

I just wish I’d had the cash.

There’s a Burger King a few doors from the Sugar Hut … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19th May, 2018

19th May, 2018.

Yes: I’m back at work for ten.

And frankly?   Can’t believe I’m going to be there until seven o’clock, tonight.

I’m quite possibly going to go back to bed, once I get home.

And not worry too much that I’ve missed the wedding.

~≈§≈~

On other fronts?

I note that there’s been another school shooting in the USA.

And can’t help but think one thing … 

That these crimes seem to be getting more frequent … and monotonously so … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-5-2017

That’s a worry.

I’m something of a Mac fan.

Part of the appeal?   Is simply the fact the Mac platform is rarely hit by malicious software.

The recent ransomware attack that hit many Windows machines?

Would have slid off my Mac.

There’s been a few though.   I can still remember the Inqtana, a few years ago: ad that was a relatively innocuous proof-of-concept virus.

There’s been a few more serious ones doing the rounds.

A while ago, Transmission, the BitTorrent client, had issues: when a spiked version of the application was issued … from Transmission’s own sites.

Something similar’s recently happened: with popular video transcoder, HandBrake: someone’s sneaked a spiked copy of the installer onto one of HandBrake’s own mirrors, that installs a back door, allowing passwords to be harvested from one’s Mac.

I’ve made sure my system’s OK: there’s no trace of the malware, here.

I’ve also quietly advised others to do likewise, if they’ve downloaded HandBrake during the relevant period.

But I can’t help but think a few things.

The one thing I notice from the HandBrake and Transmission attacks?

Is that the attacks happened in a similar way.

In other words, the infected installers were sneaked onto the app’s legitimate download sites.

People were tricked into downloading them, because they thought they were the legitimate apps.

I think we are going to have to be more careful about downloading things: even from the genuine sites.

I ALSO think app developers are going to need to hike up their security, in order to stop this sort of thing.

Or, at least, keep it to a bare minimum.

I also think the trick’s going to catch on.

Next time?

Some-one could well be downloading a spiked copy of Microsoft’s Office suite: from Microsoft’s own site.

Nasty idea, that …

~≈∑≈~

The Daily Teaser — 19-5-2016

OK, I’ll admit it: I’ve broken into my savings!

Up until a few months ago, I’d had a lot of backed up TV series on a high capacity external hard drive.

Which then went and died, after falling off a table!

About the only series I hadn’t recovered?

Was the rebooted Battlestar Galactica: something I always felt was one heck of an improvement on the original.

Still … ?

I’ve had enough savings in my account to go and buy a copy of the box set.

Which is good.

Mind you … 

Buying Season Nine of Dr Who was possibly over doing it … 

~≈®≈~