Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-9-2025 — Ebay

3rd September, 2025: Ebay.

Hmmm … 

I mentioned, yesterday, that I hate a meeting with my Job Centre case worker, today.

I wish I hadn’t … !

I managed to head to the relevant website, yesterday, utterly convinced the meeting was yesterday, and panicking, yesterday, because the site was telling me, yesterday, that I was too early or too late, for the meeting.

So I phoned the Job Centre to find out what happened.

They, very politely, told me I’d phoned a day early.

I’d kick myself.

Except I’d possibly miss … 

~≈🦵≈~

I’ve had the Today programme on.

And … ?

They’ve been reporting that — once again — the idea of a digital ID system is being discussed.

I still object.

If the ID in question is something like a bank-card sized card — something like a modern UK driving license — I have to ask who’s paying for that?

Anyone who wants a UK driving license has to pay for it, themselves.

Mine was paid for by the Job Centre: as I need it for ID at a couple of job interviews, but couldn’t afford it.

And not having one was seen as hampering any job interview.

Would I — in theory — have to pay for one myself?   And be able to claim for it through the Job Centre?

I doubt I could afford one, otherwise.

Would this ID card be a smart-phone app?

The same sort of problem applies: I could only afford a new smart-phone because I’m claiming Personal Independence Payments.

Those of us without a smart-phone, and without the means to pay for one, would also need financial help.

Who’s going to be providing the cash … ?

~≈🦵≈~

Graham Linehan is a comedy writer: as I recall, he’s the man responsible for The IT Crowd and Father Ted and has been arrested at Heathrow Airport.

Over some posts on what’s now called X.

Arrested by five officers: who the Today programme tells us were armed.

The number of officers seems excessive.

But, if they were armed, as well?

That’s just a little over the top … !

~≈👮🏼≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd September 2023.

3rd September, 2023.

Right … it’s official Sunday.

And, frankly?

I’m going to be doing very little, today.

Well, bar filming some Teasers.

And possibly offering buying advise.

Either way … ?

I’ve got an early night, planned: I’ve an early start, tomorrow!

~≈Œ≈~

Before I forget?

Yes: I’ve caught another episode of Good Omens.

Here’s the video review!

~≈Œ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd September, 2022

3rd September, 2022.

Arrrggghhh … !

I missed my meeting at the Job Centre, yesterday!

After getting a message from the Job Centre to tell me I’d missed it!

I got my times mixed up: I thought I was due in the afternoon, when the meeting was in the morning!

Bugger!

As soon as I got the email, five minutes after I was due at the Job Centre?

I headed up there.

Which meant I arrived, just after everyone had gone to lunch!

Thankfully?   One of the senior staff was still on duty: and able to update the system to show I’d attended.

And my actual case worker?   Bless him, managed to modify my records: and book up a next appointments.

Which I’d better not miss.

~≈¥≈~

Hopefully?

The fact I turned up, combined with the fact it’s the first time I’ve missed a meeting in years?

Been on time for every meeting since 2019?

Means that I’ve hopefully dodged a sanction,

Hopefully.

But, given this is the Department of Work and Pensions I’m dealing with?

I don’t know what’s going to happen.

If you could keep your fingers crossed for me, I’d appreciate it!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd September, 2021.

3rd September, 2021.

Yes: it’s true … 

I’ve got a video meeting, today, at the Job Centre in Basildon.

One of the usual ones I have every two to three weeks.

This could be a key one.

I’m signed off ill, at the moment.   The fit note that covers this runs out on the 5th: so I have to make sure the Job Centre know’s my GP’s surgery has told me I can only order the next on on the 6th.

I’m also supposed to have been sent a form to fill in.

That’s not turned up, yet.

All that … ?

And I’m supposed to buy milk, bread and pick up some medications in town!

It’s a busy day, ahead … !

~≈£≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-9-2020: Charlie Sheen

3rd September, 2020

Right … 

That’s that idea put paid too!

If you recall?   I’d been trying to get hold of funding to buy a laptop?   So I could do a European Computer Driving license course?

I got turned down by the Shaw Trust, the people who run the Work and Health Programme I’m on.

They can only buy one if I get a conditional job offer.

So … ?

I did a little research: and found I could possibly get help from what’s called the Flexible Support Fund.

Something that I usually access with help from my Job Centre case worker, and that usually pays for fares to interviews.

So I asked the Job Centre about help.

In theory?

According to them … ?

I could get help in the form of a budget advance.

Which wouldn’t cover the costs … and is something I’d rather save for emergencies.

I could possibly have put in for help from the Flexible Support Fund … 

Except — wouldn’t you know it — for two facts.

One?   It can only really be used if I have a conditional job offer.

And two … ?

I can’t use it … as I’m on the Shaw Trust’s Work and Health Programme, and help like that is supposed to come from them.

Ever get the feeling you’ve been had … ?

~≈fi≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-9-2019: WW2 — The Anniversary

3rd September, 2019.

Now that’s a sad thing to see.

Terrance Dicks,  the former Dr Who writer, and script editor, has died at the age of eighty-four.

Having had a long career in TV: writing for many serials.

He also did something else, too.

He novelised many Dr Who episodes for Target Books, back in the day.

And got a lot of people my age, reading.

I know: I was one of them.

The first book I bought was Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster: his print version of Terror of the Zygons.

What CAN I tell you?

Except that Dicks will be much missed.

RIP, Terrance.

~≈§≈~

Oh, I think I’ve solved a mystery.

Or, at least, had it solved for me.

If you recall, I mentioned in yesterday’s Teaser, that there were a lot of police cars on my street: and a police forensic’s van.

It turns out the Gazette’s found out what’s happening.

It seems that — after a concern for welfare report — a man has been found dead in his flat.

That’s another sad thing to here.

I’m just wondering who that was.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3rd September, 2018.

3rd September, 2018.

Yes, it’s official: I actually managed to get myself a halfway decent night’s sleep, last night.

OK: I’d been up since four, yesterday.   And didn’t particularly want to get to bed late.

Who does!

The one thing it did do … ?

Is give me the opportunity to finish Michael Moorcock’s Behold the Man: a tale of a time traveller with a messiah complex who goes back in time to meet Jesus.

Only to find the historical Jesus … is a retar … mentally chall … has extreme learning difficulties.   Mary is a … working girl married to a Joseph who’s not the minor noble some would have us believe.

The traveller ends up claiming the role of Messiah, himself: and ends up dying on the cross, himself, saying “It’s a lie, a lie,” as his last words.

His dead body ends up rotting away in a doctor’s house: with the news of the disappearing body starting rumours.

It’s a riveting read.

And bound to offend someone: if it hasn’t already.

It was published in the 1960s.

~≈§≈~

Just as a quick thought?

A group of us — myself included — have been briefly discussing age discrimination on Twitter.

There are laws but that doesn’t mean they’re followed. My mom put in for a job where my hubby works. She was well qualified & willing to take less $$ but the job went to a 21 yr old w/no experience. My husband later overheard the HR lady say we don’t want old people working here

— Aileen (@dsmom09) September 3, 2018

Which is something I try and follow.

I’m not, after all, getting any younger.

But I’m VERY aware there’s all sorts of discrimination doing the rounds.

At any rate?

I’ve got Radio Four’s Today programme on in the background.

Which announced today that a disabled golfer was suing his local council: for refusing to let him play on a council run golf course, without a letter from his doctor.

The council was Brentwood: my local council.

I’m somehow not surprised … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-9-2017

You know … 

Something that went past me — in last week’s news — was the fact that the Democratic Unionists, one of the two biggest parties in the Northern Irish Assembly, want to resume a power sharing government in the Stormont Assembly.

The fact Sinn Féin have objections?   Goes without saying.

The fact both parties seem to be resting to sniping at each other in the press — rather than anything worse — is a good thing, as far as I’m concerned.

The fact that the New Irish Republican Army claim to have developed a new kind of bomb?

Adds a worrying factor to talks.

Personally?

Personally, I was a youngster during the 1970s and 80s: growing up with the impression The Troubles made Northern Ireland a dangerous place to visit.

I lived and watched the Northern Irish peace talks, that led to the Good Friday Agreement, and felt they were a good thing.   Especially as that led to the likes of the extreme unionist Reverend Ian Paisley, and rabidly republican, Martin McGuinness, working together in relative harmony.   

Bloody miracle, that was!

Right now?   Given Brexit, stalled talks in Britain, delayed talks in Europe, and a New IRA making waves?

I’m seriously worried there’s more Troubles coming.

And hope they won’t.

~≈Â≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-9-2016: We’re Shopping

Right … 

Remember, yesterday, I was fuming about my (lack of) hours, at work?

Thankfully?

I’ve got them sorted.   After having a quiet word with my boss.

As you can imagine?

I think a fuming member of staff made an impression.

~≈†≈~

Oh … 

Just as a thought … ?

Is anyone out there good at building robots?   Heavy engineering, Arduino board programming, what have you … ?

Myself, and a friend at work, are thinking it could be fun to … you know … build a robot, and enter it on Robot Wars.

If any one has a skill, pots of cash, and a workshop they want to contribute … ?

They’d be WELCOME … !

~≈†≈~