Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd January 2026

3rd January, 2026.

I took photos, earlier: just so I could show you something.

Yes: my street’s had official snow!

Which looked nice, but felt cold!

On the upside … ?

I — like others — have been officially told I’m to receive a twenty-five pound Cole Weather Payment: one that will take five working days to go through.

The sooner it does, the happier I’ll be … !

~≈🥶≈~

I’ve mentioned, over the past couple of days, the issues I’ve had with my Mac.

An issue with Spotlight seemed to be causing overheating: especially with any number of Pages documents, open.

I attempted to death with it by emptying the caches in the ~/Library/Metadata/Corespotlightfolder.

So far?

That seems to have worked: although I’ve not tried recording video with many Pages documents open.

The one remaining time I’ve had an issue?

Is when using Finder to access my external drives.

Although that only seemed to cause issues, once.

So far?

So good.

But I have a workaround, if needed: and a rough idea — moving my Pages documents from iCloud — of more things I could try.

If needed.

~≈📄≈~

On a related theme?

When diagnosing the corespotlightd issue, I had to restart my Mac in Safe Mode: the mode that turns off extraneous extensions, and disables third-party apps.

To do that on an Apple Silicon Mac, you need to:

• Turn off your Mac.
• Press and hold the power button until the options screen comes up.
• Select your start up disc.
• Press Shift (⇧) to display the ‘Continue in Safe Mode’ button.

Bear in mind I have a Mac keyboard with two Shift keys, one at each end of the relevant row: and that I’m left-handed.

But, like everyone else, I use my off-hand to press Shift.

My right hand, in my case.

So … ?

Pressing the Shift key, the right Shift key, did nothing.

It wasn’t until I thought to try the left Shift key, that I got the ‘Continue in Safe Mode’ message, and was able to proceed.

I swore, a lot.

And am still a touch annoyed about that.

Yes: I know the regular, shorter, Mac keyboards have one Shift key, and that it’s placed on the left to make it accessible to the right handed majority.

But not everyone’s a north paw.

Apple could possibly re-think that bit of design: or update the Logic board!

~≈👎≈~

As I write … ?

Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is being bombed.

No-one had said why: although CBS News tells us that the 47th President of the USA has ordered it.

It wouldn’t surprise me: given the actions the President has ordered on Venezuelan shipping.

There’s possibly a lot we can say, there.

For a start?

The President is a blatant, two-faced, hypocrite.

Taking military action, military action of possibly dubious legality, whilst trying to broker peace deals between Ukraine and Russia, and between Israel and Hamas.

I know we expect lies and hypocrisy from world leaders.

But … ?

The 47th President is pushing the boat out, along side dropping bombs.

~≈💣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd January 2025.

3rd January, 2024.

You know … I have to head into town: to pick up some meds!

And I get the impression I’m going to have to rush today’s post as a result!

As I’ve got to look after my nephew, this afternoon.

Heigh … ho!

~≈👦🏼≈~

I’ve also got to confess … that a friend reminded me of something.

That, as I’m claiming a qualifying benefit, I can claim a bus pass that lets me travel for free.

At least in Essex: and possibly on buses run by Transport for London.

That … ?

That’s useful.

It’s just a shame I got reminded about it … on the day the bus fares went up!

~≈🚏≈~

Oh … yesterday was the anniversary of the original airing of “The Way Back”, the first episode of Blake’s Seven.

Following in the footsteps of the Doctor Who — The Collection box sets, the BBC have re-released the first series in a set that includes two copies of each episode: an upscaled version of the episode as broadcast, and one with updated effects.

I watched the updated version: which was interesting to watch.

About my only criticism?

Was with the original scripting of this episode.

Blake is framed for assaulting a minor.

Then, when transported to a prison planet?

Mixed, openly, with other prisoners.

There’s my criticism.

From the little I know of these things, any prisoner accursed of those sorts of crimes would not be mixed with the general run of prisoners.

They’d get seriously assaulted, if not murdered* …

~≈🚀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd January 2024.

3rd January, 2024.

Right then!

The years moves on: it’s now Wednesday … which means the things I need to do, yesterday, are done.

Including ordering a repeat prescription, and my third — and last — bit of help from the Essential Living Fund run by Southend Council.

I’m very aware they have a five week backlog: but, hopefully, that will turn up, quickly.

Every little helps, after all.

~≈Ò≈~

Today, by contrast … ?

I’ve little planned.

Except a phone meeting with my (new) Job Centre case worker.

I’m supposed — currently — to have one every three months: but haven’t had one since March.

I can only hope it’s productive!

~≈Ò≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd January 2023 Teaser

3rd January, 2023.

Right … I’m up early, today.

As I’ve got my nephew, early, today?

I need to get some shopping done early.

Oy … vey … !

At any rate … ?

I didn’t get to watch a movie, last night: so that’s something I’ll have to pencil in for later!

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-1-2021: Alaska

3rd January, 2021.

Right … 

It’s officially official … 

I’ve got time, tonight, to watch the next episode of Star Trek Discovery.

After putting in a lot of work watching Revolution of the Daleks.

No.

I don’t think it’s going to re-introduce us to a revived Torchwood: my comment on the review says as much.

But … ?

I think the episode, itself, is fine.

And I’m looking forward to seeing how John Bishop does.

~≈👩🏻‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-1-2018: The Genesis Block … !

Hmmm … 

If you were here, yesterday’s, you’d’ve read I’d making to uninstall, and wipe, a 2 terabyte hard drive: one I had used as media storage.

So … I have an extra 3·5”, two terabyte, internal SATA drive sitting around, in usable, and verifiably working condition.   (It’s the externally mounted drive labelled ‘UNTITLED’.)

Notice I say ‘verifiably’.

I took the thing into the Brentwood branch of CeX, yesterday: so I could sell the thing on.

To be told they couldn’t take it, as it didn’t show up on their testing system: or in the caddy they used to connect hard drives to their testing systems.

I got very politely assertive: pointing out the thing had — literally — finished being wiped that morning, was fresh out of my own dock, and in a format that a PC would be able to easily access.

They double checked their system: with one of their own stock of drives.

Turns out their enclosure was knackered … 

Wouldn’t you know it … ?

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-1-2016

Hmmm … 

Ageing fan of role playing games that I am … ?

I’ve just literally had had an eye on the RPG’s I remember from my young adulthood.

I’ve just had a look at a few on Amazon!

Eye watering prices, here!

I might just have to look elsewhere!

A shame in one way.

Runequest, in particular, had one of the most interesting background worlds.

I’d love to re-visit Glorantha, at some stage … 

~≈Ÿ≈~