Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th February 2026

20th February, 2026.

It’s officially official: it’s pay day, today.

Or, at least, the day I receive my PIP, my Personal Independence Payment.

I would love to go get some shopping.

But … ?

I’m expecting an engineer to turn up, today, between eight and one.

He’s the chap who’s here to see to the communal aerial.

Hopefully, he’ll be here, soon: and able to do something, quickly.

Given what I think the issue is, he should just have to change a cable.

But I could be wrong.

~≈📺≈~

Right or wrong … ?

It’s annoying: for a couple of reasons.

One … ?

Under normal circumstances, I occasionally have to re-tune my TV, if the signal goes funny.

Under normal circumstances, I only need to do that, once every, what?

Every three or four weeks, or so.

At the moment?

I have to do it, every time I switch on the TV: or switch from the AppleTV signal, to the aerial signal.

A dozen times or more, since reporting the problem.

It’s frustrating.

More so, than you think, actually.

Usually, when writing these posts, I have the TV turned off.

It’s intrusive.

But, at the moment, I’ve got Radio Four on: and the TV on mute: because I don’t want to retune it, again..

That’s still loud enough to be distracting, however quiet it may be and however mild a distraction others may find it.

Frustrating?

You bet: it’s an itch I can’t scratch.

~≈📺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th February 2025.

20th February, 2025.

You know, Brentwood Council’s a contradictory thing.

In a piece for the BBC news site, yesterday, the Council announced a planned pilot scheme: that will reduce black bin bag collections from once a week, to once a fortnight.

In an effort, we’re told, to “encourage recycling”.

Can I use the word “bollocks”, here?

Bollocks!

The Council had a recycling scheme: that saw residents putting recyclable waste into orange bags, then — in flats like those in Rollason Way — putting those bags into communal recycling bins.

In the parts of town where the scheme operated, recycling waste went into the orange bags, food waste goes into food waste caddies, garden waste into green bags, everything else went into black bin bags, collected — usually — once a week.

The orange bags were phased out, a couple of years ago: replaced by blue sacks for cardboard and paper waste, and white ones for plastics.

Which get left on the kerbside on the relevant day.

Except … ?

Except those sacks aren’t used here on Rollason Way, nor in council-run properties in Railway Square, nor in Drake House, on the other side of Brentwood High Street.

Nor outside the (privately owned and rented) flats in Saint James Road or Wharf Road, around the corner from me.

Nor, I suspect, in the council-run Four Oaks, where I used to live.

Nor, I suspect, in other flats: private, or socially housed.

Yes, they’re used in streets with houses: you’ll see them out on collection day

But they’re not used in communal housing.

I can remember getting the letter about the oranges bags being phased out: it told us we’d be contacted about the blue/white bags, and the various collection dates.

We’ve not heard a word, since.

And, given I live in a ground floor flat?

I can see that nobody — nobody — in Rollason Way is putting out those sacks.

If they were, I would notice: and, I suspect, be tripping over the things on collection day.

As would everyone else.

I have sent an email to Barry Aspinell, the councillor named in the article: and to the councillors for the Brentwood West ward.

But fully expect to hear nothing.

And fully expect to repeat to use the B word, again.

“Encouraging recycling”?

Bollocks.

This is a cost cutting exercise.

~≈🗑️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-2-2024 — Pon De Replay

20th February 2024: Pon De Replay.

Yes: it’s Tuesday!

Which means I’ve got to head into town: to see if some medications have come through.

Hopefully?

They’ll’ve turned up.

My supply of the relevant ones, runs out, tomorrow!

~≈💉≈~

Oh … 

I’ve finished a review!

Of episode three of classic Dr Who story, The Underwater Menace.

I’m just thankful I’ve not received a copyright strike for that video.

As I’ve highlighted this clip: 

I think the animators have made a cock-up!

~≈👽≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-2-2023 — The Futurist Manifesto.

20th February, 2023: The Futurist Manifesto.

Yes: it’s Monday.

And, frankly?

That mean’s I’ve got my nephew, this afternoon!

Finally!   We get to finish that video … !

~≈®≈~

Talking of whom … ?

I was actually at Jude and his mother’s new flat, yesterday: for my first visit

It’s in an old converted Manor House near me.

And it has to be said: some of the views are quite nice!

Apparently?   There’s even a nearby cricket ground, as well.

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-2-2022: Into Orbit

20th February, 2022.

You know, when I made that intro video … ?

I’d just taken a quick glance outside: noting the fact that the trees in the area weren’t swaying in the breeze.

Please pay attention to the word, ‘weren’t.’

Of course, I’ve got Radio Four on: as ever, today’s service is a little too happy-clappy for my taste.

Well … not so much happy-clappy as AOR themed praise and worship songs.

Give that old time religion, and I’d possibly be complaining less.

At any rate, I was listening to Radio Four, when the weather report came on.

Yep … 

My part of the world’s now ended up with a yellow weather warning: for wind.

It’s getting blowy, again … 

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-2-2022: The Number, 50.

19th February, 2022.

Right … I can safely say I’ve survived Storm Eunice.

Granted?   I spent most of the day, indoors, with my nephew, Jude.

And yes: he’s now posted another video.

If you’d like to hit the Like, Share or Subscribe, you’d be very welcome.

At any rate … ?

We’ve survived Eunice.   We have power.

Others haven’t.   Or don’t.

I’m thankful I’m alive and breathing: and thankful the few trees near me are upright.

The strangest part?

You’ll possibly realise I live near a train line: one going from Shenfield to Liverpool Street.

Trains were cancelled: still are, as I write.

The strangest thing?

Was the fact Jude and I didn’t notice the silence of the trains … because of the howling of the wind … 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paul Nik Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977)

~≈🚉≈~

Over the past few days?

There’s been concern about the situation in Eastern Europe.

We’re told that Russia is going to invade Ukraine.

Indeed, no less a person than President Biden has said so.

Personally?

I’m sceptical.

Partly because it’s politicians talking the situation up.

But mostly?

Because I remember Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair — Tony Blair to you and me — saying Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

That turned out to be … I’m tempted to say ‘lies,’ ‘misleading’ or ‘unreliable information.’

Let’s just I put the idea Russian’s going to invade the Ukraine on a par with Hussein’s ownership of WMD.

Being blunt?

It’s utter bollocks.

~≈🤥≈~

The Mandalorian — Series 2 Episode 3 — Chapter 11 The Heiress — A Review

20th February, 2021.

Yes: it’s another post about The Mandalorian.

Why?

Because I happen to like the series!

As ever, though?

It’s a post I’m starting tonight, on Saturday, 20th February: so I can, at least, get an early night.

Frankly, I’ve just started re-reading Killing for Company: and want to get another chapter finished!

I’ll catch you tomorrow.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20th February, 2021.

20th February, 2021.

It’s officially the case: it’s Saturday.

And frankly?

Beyond phoning the chemist to reorder my medications?

I’m expecting it to be boringly quiet.

~≈😴≈~

Just as a quick additional thought … ?

A friend has pointed me to this piece form ITV’s news site.

Seemingly?

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is in discussions with Chancellor Rishi Sunak: to extend the £20 uplift to Universal Credit by six months.

Which is nice: and certainly be welcome to me, and many others.

I’ve a question or two, though.

Why not make it permanent?

That would be a far better option, from where I’m sitting.

Additionally?

If it does get extended by six months … ?   Do the PM and the Chancellor realise they’ll be getting the same question, leading up to October.

“Will you make the change permanent?”

We’ll have to see.

~≈💰≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-2-2020: Rihanna

20th February, 2020.

Right … I’m eternally grateful to YouTube!

I woke up this morning, with Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road ear-worming its way through my head.

But managed to replace it … 

With Rihanna’s Pon de Replay.

Which has now, stubbornly, taken up residence.

I may have to start listening to the theme tune to El Ministerio del Tiempo* … 

Alonso and company manage to chase most things off … 

Ahem!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-2-2018: A Mir Fancy.

20th February, 2018.

Yep, you’re right … 

The trains got delayed, last night!

Not that I, a seriously knackered commuter wanting to go home, minded a basic delay.

Please note, I say basic delay.

Last night’s wasn’t basic.

It was full on ‘one hour delay caused by points failure’ type delay, or nothing.

With the net result?

There’s a very tired blogger sitting in front of a posh computer, this morning!

~≈§≈~

Talking of which … ?

And just in case you’re interested?

So far, it’s day two of using my nice shiny new iMac, and I have to admit to a couple of minor disappointments.

It turns out that HandBrake needs work: the DVD decryption library it relies on to circumvent copy protection needs to be installed via Terminal.   Which I’ve tried … only to be asked for a password I don’t recognise.

There’s workarounds: mostly involving things like RipIt, which let you copy DVDs minus the digital rights management protection.

So it’s not the total lose you’d’ve thought.

Still … it’s a little disappointing.

The only other disappointment?

Is that long time favourite games, Pac the Man X and Connect M no longer work under High Sierra.

That’s a real disappointment.

Granted, it means less distraction, but even so … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-2-2017

Hmmm … 

I’ve got the radio on, at the moment: Radio 4’s Today programme, is my default early morning  listening.

Radio isn’t as distracting a TV, I think.

They’ve just announced an interesting bit of news: at least, interesting to a technology watcher like me.

It seems that Google and Bing have signed up to a voluntary code of practise: that means they will make sure links to illegal content — usually to sites like Pirate Bay or Demonoid — that host pirated content.

I’m thinking it’s a small step.

But possibly one that’s circumventable.

After all, we can always uses something like Tor.   The web browser always you to — in theory — get around such restrictions: by routing you around the ’Net so that you appear to come from another country.

You can also subvert it — possibly — by using a search engine that hasn’t signed up to the code.

There’s a few of them … 

~≈†≈~

The Daily Teaser — 20-2-2016: Swanning About

You know, Harper Lee died yesterday … 

Which is sad.   I read To Kill A Mockingbird — many years ago — and, while it’s not my favourite book, it’s still one that left a mark on me and many other people.

One I felt deserved company from a writer who clearly had a knack for it.

We’ll never know, now, whether she had more, other than Go Set A Watchman.

~≈É≈~

It get’s worse.   I’m listening to Radio 4’s Today programme.   And they’ve just announced the death of Umberto Eco, the man who wrote The Name of the Rose: a book I loved, as I did it’s accompanying film.

Personally?    I might just have to re-read both The Name of the Rose, and To Kill A Mockingbird, as a mark of respect to both.

Not doing so?   Would be rude.

~≈É≈~

In the midst of all this?   The fact Prime Minister David Cameron has renegotiated the terms of the various EU treaties governing the UK’s membership of the organization, and will be announcing the date of the referendum* on the subject at some point today, practically gets overlooked.

~≈É≈~