Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2nd February, 2026

2nd February, 2026.

Right … it’s a Monday.

And I fell somewhat tired.

Why?

Partly because I’m up early: it’s a Monday, so I’m off to my weight management class.

But partly?

Because I was up, comparatively, late.

At least for me.

Yep: I caught a movie, and started on a review.

I wonder … can you guess what I watched … ?

~≈🧙🏽≈~

I’ve just had a suspicious call on 00491 791 797 826: from ‘Gareth’, of the ‘Microsoft Technical Department’.

It’s a old trick: someone phones you, claiming to be from Microsoft, so they can trick control of your computer from you.

I asked the usual question I ask in these circumstances: “Why are Microsoft phoning me about my Apple Mac?”

Gareth put the phone down.

How rude … 

~≈🍎≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2nd February 2025

2nd February, 2025.

Right … I’m officially up late.

Because … ?

Stupidly, I switched my alarm off, last night.

Would you mind kicking me … ?

I’d miss, if I tried.

~≈⏰≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-2-2024 — World Wetlands Day.

2nd February, 2024: World Wetlands Day.

Yes: it’s Friday.

And yes: I’ve had my weekly Trulicity injection.

The sooner I find out if I can move back to Ozempic, though?

The drug that seems to be far more efficient at helping lose weight*?

The happier I’ll be.

~≈Î≈~

Yes: it’s officially official!

I still have an earworm†.

The same one that was plaguing me, yesterday.

I get the impression it’s going to be as persistent as Jessica Lange‡!

Heigh-ho!

~≈Î≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2nd February 2023.

2nd February, 2023.

Right … stuff seems to be occurring.

Or, at least, happening on the Today programme.

From what they’ve said, today?

Debt collectors working for British Gas are targeting vulnerable customers: according to the Today programme’s interview, the contractor the company uses, rewards their workers with a points based rewards system.

Giving two points for installing a prepayment meter … and one point if they refuse to install one for a vulnerable customer.

On top of that … ?

Oil company, Shell, have reported their highest profits in one hundred and fifteen years.

A snappy old line of Terry Pratchett’s springs to mind.

“Tax the rat farms.”

~≈Ç≈~

There’s something else I noticed: floating across my time lines.

This piece from the Radio Times.

Seemingly, a poll of some five hundred people has been held on Twitter.

Should the BBC put all episodes of classic #DoctorWho on iPlayer? Share your thoughts and vote here 👇

— Radio Times (@RadioTimes) January 30, 2023

That very small sample suggests that a lot of UK fans would like to see both modern and classic episodes of Dr Who shown on iPlayer.

Something Russell T. Davis himself, seems to support.

I’ve … … 

I have mixed feelings.

Yes: it would be nice to access the entirety of the show on iPlayer.

But I’m very aware it could lose the BBC revenue, revenue it could use to offset the cost of production … and, hopefully, keep the license fee down.

We’ll have to see what happens*.

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-2-2022: Grand Central

2nd February, 2022.

Yes!   It’s officially official: I have a phone meeting with my Restart scheme meeting, today.

At ten.   So I’m feeling a little rushed: especially as I have to do my knee exercises, today.

I hate feeling rushed … 

But not as much as I hate side planks!

View this post on Instagram

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

~≈§≈~

Oh … 

Micheal Gove — the Minister for levelling up, the title actually includes the phrase, ‘levelling up!’ — is due to announce more funds for various UK regions: in an attempt to boost employment, and improve circumstances.

I’ve no problem with the idea: and welcome it.

But am sceptical about any funds that are being discussed: I think there’s a certain amount of number juggling and book cooking going on.

My problem — and it’s a minor one — is the term, levelling up.

I know the term from the various pen-and-paper role playing games I’ve played.

Players of these games have in-game characters.   Those characters can earn experience points for their actions: and will go up a level — become more powerful — once they’ve earned enough points.

They level up, in other words.

For me?   The government use of the term is a bad choice.

I hear it, and I don’t think of government help for impoverished regions of the UK.

No.

I think Michael Gove’s* pretending to be a wizard, in a games of Dungeons and Dragons.

That’s not a reassuring thought.

Because it means asking what the Government’s playing at.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-2-2021: The Presentation of Christ

2nd February, 2021.

You know, I had an appointment, yesterday: at the opticians.

Which went well enough: I’ve now got two pairs of spectacles on order, which I pick up, next week.

Given I’ve another hygienists appoint, a health check with the opticians, a meeting with my Health and Work programme and a meeting with my Job Centre case worker?

I’ve a busy few days ahead of me.

If it wasn’t for COVID?   I’d be having a social whirl.

At ANY rate?

I’m out of work, as you know: and finding job hunting a rather grim chore.

So you know?

In order to claim benefits, we’re supposed to keep an online journal, to show the Job Centre we’re actively seeking work.

I did my usual job search, yesterday: keeping notes about what I’d applied for as I went.

Which is a result of long practise, I should add.

I’m grateful I did.

As, for some reason?   I couldn’t log into my account on the Universal Credit site: for most of the day.

I thought — at first — that the problem could be something to do with the arson attack on three BT junction boxes in Chelmsford: that maybe the damage had cut the lines to the local servers.

The servers would be working, in other words: but totally inaccessible.

But, according to a Tweet I got from the Job Centre?

Hi, we are aware of an ongoing issue which is preventing our colleagues and customers from accessing the Universal Credit system. This is an national issue which is currently being investigated as we speak.

— JCP Jobs Plus More (@JCPJobsPlusMore) February 1, 2021

It was a national incident.

What caused it, and what’s possibly happened?   I don’t know.

I notice it happened on a Monday: a day experience tells me will be very busy, as people with problems that couldn’t be addressed at the weekend, phone the people who can solve them.

On top of that?   It was the day after web retailer, Asos, announced it was buying three of Arcadia’s brands: but not taking on the physical shops.   Meaning a lot of Arcadia employees would be trying to get through to the Universal Credit site.

Which is what I think could have caused the problem: god knows how many people applying for Universal Credit, and overwhelming the system.

I won’t know, until the Job Centre, or the Department of Work and Pensions, make a statement about the incident.

Where does that leave me?

Mildly worried.

Have my bank details on the site, been hacked?   My personal details?   Will I be paid as normal?   Will I need to change my passwords?   Will it happen, again?   Will I need to keep another offline diary?   Will I get sanctioned?

I don’t know: I’m going to have to cross those bridges when I get to them.

What actually happened, yesterday?

I don’t know.

But I’d like to find out.

I think the bodies running that site owe us an explanation, if nothing else.

~≈🖥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2nd February, 2020

2nd February, 2020.

Yes: I have a quiet Sunday ahead, today.

Well, I say quiet … 

Frankly, it all depend on how noisy my washing machine gets!

It does make a racket … 

Which is why I didn’t switch it on, last night: it would’ve interrupted For All Mankind.

And why I’m not planning to clean anything when Dr Who’s on, tonight.

Ahem!

~≈†≈~

About Brexit?

You and I both know that — in 2014 — Scotland had an Independence referendum … one that saw Scotland decide to remain in the UK.

With the EU Referendum, in 2016?

The UK decided to leave: something I believe we are going to regret.

Especially when you consider the Scottish Nationalists — who now form the majority of Westminster MPs — have taken that as a mandate to hold a second Independence referendum.

As the 2016 referenda show a majority of Scots wanted to stay in the EU.

Frankly?

Given the money, I’d love to move to an independent Scotland, that was an EU member.

It’s about the only way I’d be able to remain an EU citizen.

Given that … ?

The fact former EU president, Donald Tusk, has announced he’s sympathetic to a second such referendum?

Sympathetic — with caveats — to Scotland joining the EU?

Given that, I think a second Scottish Independence referendum is a good thing.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 2-1-2017

Ooooh, but that’s better … 

Did I tell you I’ve had a cold, for the past few days?

I’m blaming the weather: last week was vaguely freezing.

Not nice, in other words.

The happy thing is … ?

I seem to be recovering, right now.

Which is nice.

Frankly, the only thing running faster than my nose was Usain Bolt …

~≈®≈~

The Daily Teaser — 2-2-2016

Remember me saying, yesterday, that Lincolnshire County Council had been hit by ransomware?

Well, it seems the council has its systems back up: after taking them off-line for a few days.

The BBC article mentions that the ransomware kicked off after an email was opened.   Which only confirms what I thought might have happened.

Somehow, something got through their spam filters!

I hope Brentwood Council’s paying attention …

~≈Â≈~