Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2025 — The Today Programme

28th October, 2025: The Today Programme.

Hmmm … that could’ve come at a better time … 

I’ve got Venetian blinds in my flat.

And have one on my front room window, one that’s been here, ever since I’ve moved in.

Quite an expensive one, if I remember rightly … !

At any rate … ?

The string pulley, the thing that adjusts how open the individual slats are … has given up the ghost.

Which means … ?

Well, I’m going to have to:

• Stay in the dark until I raise the money.
• Ask my increasingly tall nephew to help me put a new one up.
• Be thankful it’s not stuck in ‘Open’.
• Marvel at the price differences on Amazon!

Yep: there’s price differences.

A good set of replacement blinds, ones that will last as long as the current ones, cost upwards of ninety pounds.

An affordable set, one that will last about five minutes?

Around twenty.

Frankly?

It’s Commander Vimes’ Boots, again …

~≈🥾≈~

Oh … I mentioned, a few days ago, that my Work Coach — my case worker from the Job Centre — had been replaced: by a trainee!

That rookie worker has now been in touch: and we have a phone meeting scheduled for today.

At 14:30.

I’d’ve been happier had it been by video: I’d get to see what they look like.

But … ?

I’ll get by with an audio call.

~≈🥾≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th October, 2023.

28th October, 2023.

Right … 

It’s now officially Saturday.

And, frankly?

I’m thinking a film could be a good idea.

Once I’ve got some videos edited.

We’ll have to see.

~≈¥≈~

I’m sure you — like I — have seen the news of a mass shooter in Maine.

And the news that the suspected shooter — a man called Robert Card — had been found dead, by his own hand, after a three day manhunt.

That’s unfortunate.   As unfortunate as if he were to have been (understandably) shot by local police.

Because?

It means we — and the families of his victims — can’t ask him why he did this.

‘Unfortunate’ is possibly putting it mildly.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2022 — Gulliver’s Travels.

28th October, 2022.

It’s officially the case: that my nephew was over, last night.

To see his uncle: and make some videos.

One is another of his Depressed FC games.

The other lets his subscribers know he’s got more Prime: the incredibly fashionably drink.

It’s nice, I’ll give him that.

But it’s not something I can afford!

~≈🥤≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2021: Escoffier.

28th October, 2021.

Right … the UK’s had it’s Autumn Budget, yesterday: the statement from the UK’s Chancellor about government spending.

It’s the usual mixed bag of things.

Those of us who drink … ?   Will welcome the alterations to the various alcohols duties announced.

Many will welcome the money for various public departments.

Many of us receiving Universal Credit will be angry about the removal of the twenty pound uplift handed out during the Pandemic: and were looking for that to have been made permanent.

Just so you know?   Universal Credit features a taper: an amount of money you lose, per pound, for every pound you earn.

The last time I worked, I lost sixty-three pence (63p) for every point in my pay packet.

What Mr Sunak did, yesterday, was reduce the taper by eight pence.

Were I working?   I would now lose fifty-five pence (55p) in every pound.

I’d get to keep more benefit.

That, and the rise in the national living wage are something I welcome: in theory.

It’s great … if you’re claiming both the benefit, and working.

For me and many others, who aren’t working?

It’s useless.

Thanks for nothing, Mr Sunak.

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th October, 2020

28th October, 2020.

It’s officially official … 

It’s a Wednesday!

You’ve possibly noticed.

At any rate, Brentwood’s had something of a blow.

Brentwood has — or, at least, had — a leisure centre: called the Brentwood Centre.

It was a mixture of exercise facilities, performance space, swimming pool and licensed bar: and various other bits and bobs.

Unfortunately?

It seems the charity that runs it, the Brentwood Leisure Trust, has closed: after not receiving help from Brentwood Council.

That’s, temporarily, closed the centre itself.

In these times … ?

That’s a shame.

~≈😐≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2019: International Animation Day

28th October, 2019.

Yep: I’m officially getting old.

I managed to get one of those decongestant inhalers, yesterday: something you can get to help clear a blocked nose.

They’re  usually cheap … and helpful, this time of year.

And guess what I managed to do … ?

I managed to waste £1·50: and forget to put it into my shopping bag.

Anne, Debbi, Olga?

Can one of you kick me: I’d only miss!

~≈§≈~

Oh, just as a quick question … ?

Were you ever a fan of the band, Nirvana?

It seems that the cardigan Kurt Cobain wore at the band’s famous Unplugged gig was sold for some $334, 000: about £260, 000.

Which is nice.

Mind you … ?

I think they could’ve given it a wash, first … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2018: Lady Liberty

28th October, 2018.

Just recently … ?

We all saw the news of letter bombs sent to various public figures in the US: usually Democrats who’ve been vocally opposed to Donald Trump.

Yesterday?

A day after the letter bomber was formally charged?

Something that reminded me of letter bombs sent during the Troubles.

Yesterday … got worse … 

When a man in Pittsburgh went to a small synagogue in the city: killing eleven people whilst shouting ‘All Jews must die.’

I’m tempted to tell you “The mind boggles.”

That wouldn’t do justice to my reaction … 

I’m truly shocked.

I know, perfectly well, there are people out there who don’t like others: purely on the basis of race, religion, what have you.

Views I don’t agree with, I should add.

If you do?   I’m not going to agree with you: you’re entitled to have them, but I don’t like them, I don’t want them, and I’m not to agree with them.

I’m ALSO thinking something else.

You’re perfectly entitled to be as racist, as anti-semitic, as homophobic, as Islamophobic, as you want.

But, if you think — as this man seems to — that murdering people because they’re Jewish, Black, different, is a good thing, ridding your country of people who are fundamentally wrong … ?

That’s where my tolerance stops.

Killing is out and out wrong.

And, as far as I’m concerned, killing people is wrong.

Killing people because they’re different to you?

Is even worse* … 

~≈§≈~

That’s the other thing that strikes me … 

My first thought when I saw news of this crime hit the news?

Was that someone would bring guns into the argument.

I don’t know if the USA’s allowing common gun ownership necessarily has anything to do with this crime.

Although make guns a lot harder to buy could’ve helped.

I know perfectly well from living in the UK, that this sort of hate crime is common, here: there’s been plenty of hate crime — attacks on synagogues, mosques, gay bars — over the years.

The big difference?   Because of UK gun control laws, there’s no shooting injuries involved in these incidents.

So possibly, America could do with thinking about tighter gun control may help.

But am very aware it will take time.

I’m also thinking this …

That President Trump’s opinion — that’s it’s a terrible thing — is good.

But that his other opinion — that an armed guard in the synagogue — would’ve helped?

I’m not convinced.

Guns in a holy place are an idea I find particularly blasphemous.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28th October, 2017

You know … 

I’m actually mildly annoyed.

I’m starting work, today, at two.

But was asked, Tuesday, whether I could start at 11, today.

Something I was happy to do, and that got confirmed, yesterday morning.

And then got cancelled, yesterday afternoon!

I know management are having trouble communicating: email accounts seem to have gone astray.

But you’d think maybe a note would be an idea … !

~≈Â≈~

At any rate … ?

I mentioned, yesterday, I’d had a very long day?

One upside to it was quite simple.

I managed to catch another episode of Freak Show, the fourth series of American Horror Story.

I don’t know if it’s the best one they’ve made: I’ve still not seen series 5, six or 7, yet.

But these first two episodes are rather good: and loaded with references.

Go look at Twisty, THEN have a look at old portraits of Joey Grimaldi.

Then phone me … !

~≈Â≈~

Nik Nak’s Friday Question Set — 28-10-2016

Right … 

Right now: I’m vaguely rushed.

As I’m off to my new job, in a minute or.

But … ?

I’m not letting that stop me putting up this week’s Friday Question Set.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2016: Prospero’s Books

Right … 

It’s official: today, I’m back to work.

And, in all probability, it’s ALSO pay-day.

Which means paying bills, and buying train tickets.

OK, bills aren’t good.

But being able to pay my own way, is.

~≈Ê≈~

Did I mention my two sisters, Anna and Ruth, have managed to book a few days holiday in NewYork?

Complete, of course, with my nephew, Jude.

Apparently?

New York hotdogs are the best.

I might just have to ask my sisters to bring some back with them.

Although, frankly?

I think one of the new MacBook Pro’s would be a NICE present for an ageing uncle!

I’m SURE Jude can persuade someone … 

~≈Ê≈~