Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th November 2025.

24th November, 2025.

Yes: you’re right.

Being up this early in the morning is ridiculous!

Many things are.

Man’s inhumanity to man.

Man’s inhumanity to woman.

The way shopping trolley’s move.

Plenty of things are thoroughly ridiculous!

But … ?

I have a hospital appointment: so that the CPAP machine, the Continuous Positive Air Pressure machine, I have can be checked.

It’s going in for an MOT, in other words.

The only downside to getting it checked … ?

Is the fact it has to be done at Basildon Hospital, between 9·45 and 12·15.

Which means a seventy minute bus trip, and getting up early to do so.

At times like this?

I wish I was having a colonoscopy.

At least the hospital organises an ambulance for you!

Heigh … ho!

~≈🚍≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th November 2024.

24th November, 2024.

You’ve possibly realise I have a second hand Mac I want to sell: after buying a new model.

Which is why I headed for Romford, yesterday: it’s my nearest branch of recycling retailers, CeX.

I went … hoping to be able to make a good amount of cash: and a vague notion of buying a cheap phone from the Romford O2 shop.

Unfortunately?

CeX wouldn’t take the Mac.

As it turns out the thing had no function operating system.

Even though I was upset, soon realised what had happened: I’d obviously not reset the thing properly.

I’m gutted!

But … ?

Will probably have another go at resetting it: as soon as I can find a monitor to let me access the thing.

Frankly?

I’m glad I didn’t get rid of the old mouse and keyboard: they’ll come in handy … 

~≈🖥️≈~

As an extra thought, about the new machine … ?

I know how space I have on it.

Mostly because I know how to access the diagnostic tools that tell me what’s been used, and what’s available.

On most of my Macs, I’ve always had the various drives connected to whatever machine I’m using showing on my desktop.

In a way that — in theory — shows how much space is available.

The information panel I’ve called up?

Tells me I’m using 124 gigabytes, out of a maximum of 995.

The ‘Info’ line under the main drive’s icon … ?

Tells me I’ve some 929 gigabytes free: when it should be showing some 871.

Quite what’s been happening, there, I don’t know.

And it’s not something I’m going to worry about, too much: this machine has plenty of drive space.

But it’s been happening since I updated to macOS Catalina on my old iMac.

~≈💽≈~

As a last thought … ?

I’ve got Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, on in the background.

The way the songs segue into each other, makes the technique sound effortless.

I’m also very parts of it remind me of the White Noise LP, An Electric Storm.

Floyd’s “Breathe (In the Air)”, and “On the Run”, in particular.

Why I’m reminded?

I really don’t know!

~≈♩≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-11-2023 — The Colour of Magic.

24th November, 2023: The Colour of Magic.

Right … it’s now Friday: and a day I’m hoping will not be Thursday!

Sainsbury’s — where I do my usual monthly shopping — has self service tills.

And, occasionally … ?

The staff manning those tills?   Have to check your shopping: to make sure you’ve got everything, and aren’t shop-lifting.

I got checked, with a lot of shopping.

And had to rescan everything: as a result forgetting to scan a box of cornflakes, and the machine not working … !

To cap it all off … ?

I lost the iTunes gift card I bought!

It wasn’t in the taxi, nor any of the bags: and I don’t know if I dropped it in the store until I get a chance to check, later.

And Apple themselves, couldn’t trace it from the receipt I had.

I’m still feeling annoyed and frustrated, this morning!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th November 2022.

24th November, 2022.

I have to admit, I heard some sad news, yesterday.

Wilko Johnson* — founder member of Dr Feelgood, and influential guitarist — died on Monday.

The man was someone I’d seen playing at the Essex Arms, many times, when I worked there.

Wilko could be … awkward, sometimes.

But could pack the place.

And play like nothing else I’d ever seen, and was the guitarist who went on to inspire lord knows how many musicians.

Especially the punks of the 1970s.

I can appreciate that: I could never watch him play, without thinking “Well, I could do that.”

Strange?   Yes.

Inspiring?

Definitely!

~≈®≈~

On a personal note?

I didn’t got shopping, yesterday: I’m going to do that, today.

I did manage to pay off my bills, though.

Usually?

I pay a lot of them by swipe card: it means I don’t go accidentally overdrawn, and get a penalty charge.

The downside?   Is that I end up visiting three different shops: as each shop’s PayPoint terminal does different things.

One shop does TV licenses, but not the cost of living vouchers: another doesn’t take the license fee, but will take pre-payment keys, and the vouchers.

And, in the case of my local post office?

They can take rent, and council tax, bills: and mobile phone top ups.

But their long out-of-order terminal hasn’t accepted gas and electric pre-payment keys.

Since last December.

Yesterday, though?

I walked into the Post Office to pay my rent, and phone bills … and asked about gas and electricity.

And was incredibly pleased when I found out the terminal had been repaired: and I could pay, there and then.

I’m a happy bunny: who hasn’t had to tramp all over the high street!

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th November, 2021.

24th November, 2021.

Yep: I’m up early!

Extremely early: at least for me.

“Why,” I hear you ask?

Because I’ve got a dental hygienists appointment at eleven.

So I’m up earlier than usual, to get there on time.

The upside?

I can pick up some bits and bobs, while I’m in town.

~≈Á≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-11-2020: Black Beauty

24th November, 2020.

It’s got to be said: I think I have an issue … 

You’ll remember, of course, that I’m due to start a European Computer Driving License course.

And, to that end … ?

Managed to borrow a laptop from my landlord’s Digital Futures team.

I got a call from them, last night: they check up on a regular basis, it seems.

The one thing I managed to clear up?   Was that I’d not be able to install an extension I’d need: one that would let me use the course’s online software.

I don’t know if there’s any alternatives, there.

~≈Ç≈~

How am I feeling about that … ?

Well … I’d love to say I’m annoyed.

I’m not.

I can understand why my landlord’s don’t allow someone who’ve they loaned a laptop to, to install stuff on it.

It’s a basic security measure: they’d rather not have something nasty installed along side any apparently safe software.

So I can understand it.

I’m disappointed, though, however much I can appreciate it.

We’ll have to see what happens, when my (potential) tutor contacts me.

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-11-2019: William Webb Ellis.

24th November, 2019

Yes: I’m actually thankful.

I’ve managed to afford two things.

First off?   I’ve managed to sign up for Apple’s Arcade service.   As they’re offering a free month.

It had to be said, the service also seems to be cheap enough, and, like the iCloud backups I used, seems to come out of the funds I’ve accrued using iTunes Gift cards.

About my only complaint?

Is some of the games need a bit of tweaking: just to make sure they can be played on the Mac, itself.

It’s not a PC!

Secondly?

I’ve also had a haircut.

Hopefully, in time for tomorrow’s interview.

The only problem?

Is — inevitably — it’s going to start growing, again … !

~≈¥≈~

Just as a final thought … ?

The Series Twelve trailer has been released.

Here … 

Yep: there’s Cybermen.

I loved the Moffat era weaponised corpses presentation of them.

But want to see what’s the Chibnall/Whittaker era will do with them.

There’s ALSO the fact that — unless I miss my guess — Stephen Fry and Lenny Henry are in the same episode: playing M and James Bond, respectively.

We’ll have to see.

~≈¥≈~

Oh, JUST as a final thought for those of us in the UK?

We’ve got until 26th November, 2019, to register our vote in the election open the 12th December.

If you haven’t yet?

You might want to get a move on … 

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th November, 2018.

24th November, 2018.

It’s a Saturday morning, and here I am … 

Not exactly financially able to get out and splurge.

But there you go … 

If nothing else, though?

I know I’ve had a brief chat with one of the staff at the local job centre: and found there’s help some financial help available.

And implied there’s help available should I want to put in for a provisional drivers license.

Which would come in handy in situations where I need ID.

Here’s hoping I can do something about that: no ID has cost me one job interview, already … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24th November, 2017.

Ah HA!

It looks like it’s holding!

I don’t know about you, but I ten to rely on Wikipedia for writing both the Teaser, and the  quizzes I wrote for the pub quizzes I ran.

But could never afford — for much of the time — to make a donation.

I have, however, made a positive contribution.

You see the screen shot of the Wikipedia page for the 21st November?

The entry about Robert Mugabe’s resignation?

That woz me, wot dun it!

Ahem!

In other words, it was me that created the entry, flagged up the fact on the relevant talk page … and is desperately hoping it’s still there in a years time.

Frankly?

I’m enough of an tart for the attention, to go Wheeeeeeeeeeee … ! whenever I see the page: and that my bit’s still there.

But on a more serious note?

It’s nice to know that a contribution I’ve made, is still in place,

I just hope it’s still there, next year.

It’s be nice to use it as the basis for a 2018 question.

And it’s nice to make a positive contribution, however small.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-11-2016: Farrokh Bulsara

Phew … 

It’s the last of the days off for a while.

So, of course, today I’ve pencilled in making a lot of videos.

Oh … 

And finishing off laundry!

Exciting stuff, huh?

Well … 

That’s if dirty pants are you thing.

Don’t look at me.

I’m not the one with the specialised website … !

~≈Ç≈~