Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th January 2026.

28th January, 2026.

Right … it’s officially officially: daylight is a’comin’ in … 

And … ?

It’s Wednesday … !

This time last week, I’d been due to meet my Job Centre case worker: eventually being told that I wouldn’t need to job hunt: and would have to phone in for my next appointment, by the 11th March.

Why?

I don’t know.

But that search, and the associated paperwork, has been a defining thing for me for the past few years.

~≈👨🏻‍💻≈~

You’ve possibly realised I’m a Terry Pratchett fan: and deeply saddened by both his death, and the dementia diagnosis that was a contributor to it.

So … ?

The fact the Today programme mentioning the news that his condition may have been visible many years before he was diagnosed?

Grabbed my attention.

I can only hope that this leads to if not a cure: then certainly better treatment, and longer quality of life.

~≈🧠≈~

I’m STILL having issues with X/Twitter.

I’m still — seemingly — in Twitter jail: and still can’t talk to a human about it.

I’ve even paid for the basic Premium service: so I can talk to a human about the situation.

That’s going to take another twelve hours.

Frankly, and at the moment … ?

It’s frustrating … !

~≈❌≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th January 2025.

28th January, 2024.

Right … it’s now Tuesday … which means it’s the day after Monday.

And, disappointingly, my weight’s gone up!

Can someone do me a favour, please?

Remind me to avoid kebabs!

~≈🥙≈~

Just as a thought … ?

I managed to catch Star Trek: Section 31, on Saturday.

And managed to publish my written and video reviews, yesterday.

Feel free to hit the Like button on those.

But enjoy the movie, if you watch it!

~≈🖖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-1-2024 — Data Privacy Day.

28th January, 2024: Data Privacy Day.

Yes: it’s officially Sunday.

And frankly?

I’ve turned the radio off: Radio Four’s Sunday morning services can be a touch loud!

It’s now … um … … 

Quiet.

I might have to put the radio back on, in a bit!

~≈Ç≈~

Oh … I’ve managed to pick up a few (cheap) bits and bobs from Amazon.

Including a (cheap) new webcam.

One that — in theory — can record in 4k.

That might be useful.

Another thing?

Was a cheap copy of Orwell’s “Politics and the English Language”.

OK, I know it was an essay he wrote, and published in a magazine called Horizon.

But I wasn’t expect it to be quite so small.

Even given that?

It’s still, like so much of the man’s work, very quotable!

“When one watches some tired hack on the platform mechanically repeating the familiar phrases […] one often has a curious feeling that one is not watching a live human being but some kind of dummy”.

“Politics and the English Language”, George Orwell*.

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th January 2023.

28th January, 2023.

Right … it’s Saturday.

And?

Well, I was hoping for warmer weather: it’s been nippy, so far.

But?   I’ve just checked the BBC’s Weather page for the area.

It’s still looking cool!

~≈Œ≈~

Bless him, Piers — the reporter I talked to on Thursday — has come through.

And posted his article on the Warm Home Discount on both Essex Live, and This Is Local London.

Aside from the fact I really don’t photograph, well?

I think it’s a good pair of pieces.

I can only hope something can be done as a result.

If you can hit share, I’d appreciate it.

~≈Œ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th January, 2022.

28th January, 2022.

Hmmm …

I have to say, I think I’ve lost a little weight.

Which is handy: I’m due to go to the second of two weight management programmes, this week, today.

Both seem to be going well.

Although I have to admit, yesterday’s is interesting: as a Zoom meeting, there’s less of a walk.

And the group setting — as the few AA meetings I’ve been to showed me — can be helpful.

We’ll have to see what happens.

~≈¥≈~

Can I make a confession?

I’m mildly worried.

I had a medical assessment on Monday: to see if I qualify for any extra financial help.

The decision’s due — at this point — in some six to seven weeks.

I have to admit, I missed mentioning a couple of points at that assessment: ones I felt could have helped my case.

About all I could do about it — at my Job Centre case worker’s suggestion — was phone the assessors.

It turns out the case had been closed at their end, and forwarded to the Department of Work and Pensions, the department that makes the decision.

I might just have to wait: and — if needed — start a Mandatory Reconsideration, the initial stages of an appeal.

We’ll see.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-1-2021: The Diet Of Worms.

28th January, 2021.

Busy, busy, busy … 

I’m expecting a couple of phone calls, today: one form my GP, and another from a weight management programme I’m on.

Hopefully?

Both will go well.

~≈¥≈~

You’ll possibly have realised I’m out of work: and on Universal Credit.

Like others?   I’m getting an extra twenty pounds a week: as a result of an uplift the Government introduced, to help survive COVID-19.

It’s due to end in April.

And many in the Government are discussing what should happens.

There’s been talk of replacing the uplift with a one-off £500 payment: or a £1000 one.

Which are nice: but not as useful as the twenty pound payment.

So … ?

So, seeing this piece on the Wales Online site was interesting.

Seemingly?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is planning to extend the uplift for six months.

Then taper it off.

Again, that’s helpful: frankly, it’s my preferred option of the three I’ve seen discussed.

But, frankly?

I’d far rather the payment were permanent.

~≈¥≈~

As a result of all this … ?

Old Peculiar regular, Olga, and I have been chatting about the idea of a Universal Basic Income: a flat Rate benefit that every one would get: regardless of their employment status.

It’s a nice ideal … but, as someone who’s always had issues with his benefits?

I’m very aware that the amount we receive is only half the problem.

The BIG issue, if you lose your job?   Or a benefit changes?

Is the delay in receiving a new benefit.

There’s always a delay which causes arrears to build up: arrears that cause problems.

If you can keep ahead of those, you’re fine: but the guaranteed delays means you can’t.

(Universal Credit’s paid monthly: unlike Job Seekers Allowance, which was paid fortnightly.   JSA took two to three weeks for the first payment.   UC caused more problems, and had more opposition, because it took up to six weeks for the first payment.)

After Olga and I chatted recently about UBI?   I was left feeling more convinced it could be just as iffy as Universal Credit: the change from one to the other would cause the same issues, as it had the same delays.

So I had something of a sniff around the various UK political parties 2019 manifestos.

The Tories seemed keen to keep Universal Credit.

Labour were only going to announce any changes after an election win.

The Liberal Democrats?   Were planning to change to a UBI, but didn’t announce any figures.

The Greens — who I’ve been voting for since 2017 — were planing to introduce one.

And, in their 2019 manifesto?

Say:

“People who were reliant on Housing Benefit before UBI was introduced will continue to receive it, so that they can cover their rent.”

I’ve highlighted this to Paul Jeater, one of the senior Green figures.

And not had a response I’m happy with.

The manifesto seems to say that anyone now on Housing Benefit will still get it.

The problem, there?   Is simply that anyone who’s on Universal Credit doesn’t get Housing Benefit.

Oh, I grant: we get what’s called Universal Credit’s Housing Component. 

But not Housing Benefit.

The Component’s replaced Housing Benefit: in my case, four years ago.

Everyone else I know getting UC is getting the same Housing Component.

Effectively, we’re not getting Housing Benefit: we’re getting a larger Universal Credit payment, to help cover our rent.

As things stand?

The manifesto tells me the UC housing component will get removed: and not be replaced.

Much as I’m happy to support the Greens locally?   And was happy to support them in the 2019 General Election?

Much as I’m happy to support them locally?

I don’t think I can support them nationally, unless their position changes changes.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-1-2020: Canada’s Flagging …

28th January, 2020.

It’s official: I have earache!

Mild, at best.

And blameable on the fact I need to get them syringed.

Of course, the problem with that … ?

Simply that my GP’s no longer do it.

I’d have to go private.

Where I’m supposed to get the seventy pounds to pay for it in the one private place in town that does it?

I don’t know!

~≈‡≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th January 2019

28th January, 2019.

Yes: I’ve got a phone call, later.

From Apple’s usually quite good support services.

Hopefully?   I’ll be able to discuss the situation with iMovie.

It might just turn out to be a short conversation.

As, this morning?

I’ve had a reply on the post I put on on the Apple Community Forums.

That one at the bottom, from Rich … ?

Seems to have helped, for now.

I’m ALSO going to give Old Peculiar regular, Debbi Mack, a big ‘Thank You,’ as well.

She’s also managed to help, by giving me a few pointers on her own set up: those details will come in handy, when I’m phoned.

Thanking, you, Debbi.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th January, 2018

28th January, 2018.

No, really … !

I had that USB hub, a couple of days ago!

OK, it’ll be cheap enough to replace, if I can’t find it.

I’m just wondering where I put the one I had … 

~≈§≈~

On other fronts?

I notice President Trump’s been interviewed: by Piers Morgan.

And stated he’d’ve taken a ‘tougher stance’ on negotiating the Brexit deal.

Personal feelings about Brexit aside — I voted Remain, thank you — I think I’m vaguely offended.

A US President, taking a position — an interfering and very public position — on a sovereign UK matter?   Especially on one that more conservative-leaning* people in the UK — the UK equivalent of some of Trump’s own US base — see Brexit as a matter of the UK’s independence from foreign interference?

Is something I, as a proud Briton, find deeply offensive.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-1-2017

You know, when I went to bed, last night?

I had half an idea of how to start this post.

I was going to tell you about shopkeeper, Brian Thompson, has plead not guilty to selling what’s called a fully loaded Kodi box.

Kodi, so you know, is an open-source media player.   It can be used as the software part of a Kodi box: a media streaming box.

That can be heavily modified: to allow access for free to normally paid for content.

Brian — like others — sells the fully loaded versions: which have been so modified*.

The court case?   Is to try and prosecute him for doing so.

~≈Â≈~

But then I woke up.

To hear the sad news that actor, John Hurt, had died: after battling pancreatic cancer for a long time.

I’m saddened to hear it.

The man was an acting giant: bringing depth and gravitas to whatever roles he played, and leaving behind a body of work that’s going to make him very hard to forget.

The world’s a worse place, without him.

~≈Â≈~