Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2025 — Independence Day

4th July, 2025: Independence Day.

Did you have a power cut, last night … ?

We did!

At about half past seven.

I thought my fuses had blown, but no, it was a power cut.

One that lasted for about twenty minutes.

UK Power Networks, who are responsible for the electricity infrastructure, were pretty quick in getting a message out.

Letting people know that a cable was at fault, and that electricity should be back on between nine and ten PM.

Thankfully?   The cut didn’t last that long.

Just long enough for me to let the neighbours know I’d had a message about it.

It’s nice to see them … even if it’s at an awkward time!

Heigh-ho!

~≈🔦≈~

Just as a thought … ?

There’s been an announcement … !

Yes: the BBC’s announced that the next classic series to one released on Blu-ray is going to be season thirteen.

There’s no release date, as yet.

But … ?

I’m looking forward to seeing it.

It’s got a couple of favourite stories: including The Brain Of Morbius … !

~≈📀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2024 — Election Day.

4th July, 2024: Election Day.

Right … it’s Election Day!

Or, at least, the day after Wednesday.

Frankly?

That means fun was had with my nephew, Jude: as he’s managed upload another video.

Feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button, you’ll make his day!

~≈👍≈~

Inevitably?

I’m going to mention the UK’s General Election: taking place at a polling station near you.

Frankly?

I’m voting Green.

Their manifesto is offering to put Universal Credit up by forty pounds a week.

It’s probably as unrealistic, unfunded and impractical as any other political pledge … but, given my situation?

They’re the only party offering extra money, however nebulous that offer is.

~≈☒≈~

One party I won’t be voting for … ?

Is the Nigel Farage-led Reform Party.

Putting it bluntly?

From what I’ve seen of them, they are too right wing for my taste.

Certainly, some Reform activists are ever so slightly racist or homophobic.

And at least two candidates have defected to the Tories, as a result.

My one concern … ?

Is that, in my experience, some residents of my home town of Brentwood are exactly that: ever so slightly racist or homophobic.

And sympathetic enough to those activists, for Reform to do well.

Maybe not win the constituency: I suspect that will be the Tories, again.

But I think the Reform candidate could certainly come second, if they’re not the MP, by tomorrow.

~≈☒≈~

Just as a last political thought … ?

I notice politicians, these days, don’t ‘make promises’.

No.

After Tony Blair first used the phrase many years ago, politicians make categorical pledges.

I almost always think of chocolate, when I hear the phrase.

I first came across it in Orwell’s 1984.

When the main character has to alter records: to cover up a leadership U-turn about the chocolate ration.

A u-turn about not increasing it … after making a categorical pledge, a categorical pledge, rather than a promise, to do so.

Personally?

I always wonder what Orwell would be making of elections, these days.

~≈☒≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2023 — Rwanda.

4th July, 2023: Rwanda.

It’s officially official: it’s Tuesday.

Which means I’ll possibly have a couple of videos up, tomorrow!

You’d possibly worked that out, already, hadn’t you?

At ANY rate?

I spent a long time, yesterday: on the phone to my utility company: trying to arrange for a a new pay-as-you-go gas meter.

I’ve now got one due to visit me, tomorrow: to fit said meter.

My only big worries, right now … ?

Is how the credit I’ve got on the meter transferred to the new one.

Oh, and scheduling.

The engineer’s due between 10:00 and 14:00.

My PIP assessment?

Is by phone, at 9:00

Ever get the feeling I’m a headless chicken … ?

~≈Ï≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2022: Independence Day

4th July, 2022.

Right … it’s Tuesday-Eve.

Monday, in other words.

In other words?   The day before Tuesday.

The day I’m due another repair to my washing machine.

Hopefully?

I’ll end up with something workable.

~≈Ï≈~

Just as a thought … ?

The UK’s Army is generally considered one of the best on the planet.

How do we know, though?   I have no idea.

Frankly?

It’s not — thankfully — like they’ve been in a war, recently.

The Army HAS managed to embarrass itself, on line.

Yes: it’s had its Twitter and YouTube accounts, hacked!

Dearie, dearie me … 

~≈Ï≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4th July, 2021.

4th July, 2021

Right … the interview, yesterday, didn’t go well.

Well … 

The conversation between men and the interviewer went well enough.

But it was only then that I was able to confirm that the job was at the Billericay branch: with a projected start time of 05:30.

When the earliest bus from Brentwood leaving at six?

The job, unfortunately, couldn’t happen.

~≈😞≈~

Just as pleasant thought … ?

Or pleasantish, anyway.

The Evil of the Daleks, one of the missing Classic Doctor Who stories, is to be released in an animated form on 27th September, 2021.

At least … it gets released here in the UK.

Assuming the £20 benefit uplift stays in place?

It’s something I can afford to look at.

~≈🙂≈~

Talking about that £20 extra benefit payment … ?

The extra payment ends in September: which could make Christmas miserable!

But … ?

Although it’s not — seemingly — been posted to the BBC’s news site, it seems that former Conservative ministers of the Department of Work and Pensions have written an open letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Encouraging him to keep the payment in place.

As where MPs, at Mr Sunak’s recent appearance in Parliament.

Frankly?

I’d hope it’s kept.

It’s a much needed boost.

~≈😟≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2020: Independence Day

4th July, 2020.

I THINK I’ve got something out of O2: the company that supplies my mobile phone service.

A couple of weeks ago, the phone mast in my area went down: and is currently being replaced.

The process has been going on for a couple of weeks.

Between you and me?   I expected it to take another week or so.

The scaffold being being built, to get to the roof of the relevant building?   Is only halfway up.

At this rate … ?

It’s going to take at least another week.

At any rate … ?

I managed to get through to the relevant person at O2.

They HAD offered me a £30 credit onto my phone account.

Then upped it to a £45 credit.

Then — finally — agreed to put £45 into my bank account.

As I’d repeatedly pointed out that £45 on my phon was a fat lot of good … if I was getting no signal … 

It should go through with in seven working days.

And will mostly be spent, paying for the landline calls I made … phoning O2 … 

~≈Ü≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2019: Independence Day

4th July, 2019.

OK … it’s not perfect … 

But I’ve got a cheap green screen.

As you may or may not have noticed.

Quite how long I’ll be using it?

I don’t know.

But … ?

At least I’ve got an entertainingly Max Headroom thing going on  … !

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2018: Independence Day.

4th July, 2018.

Interesting … 

If you’re me, that is.

I’m not gay: so you know.

But this piece from the BBC’s news site, telling us the government is planning to ban what’s called gay conversion therapy.

The idea that various forms of treatment can stop you being gay.   (Including what’s called conversion rape.   The idea is that raping a lesbian magically stops her being a lesbian.   The logic of that escapes me.)

At ANY rate?   I’m sort of sympathetic to the ban: although I don’t know if it — like the ban on mobile phone use whilst drivingª — would work.

There’ll be someone.

At any rate … ?   I’m sympathetic,

As I can still remember horror stories about kids being forced into using their right hands.

Here’s hoping.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-7-2016

Well … 

It’s official … 

We’ve survived a Monday Morning … with out a celebrity dropping dead … !

Which is possibly something to be thankful for.

At any rate … ?

It’s a Monday: one I have off.

And one I … 

Well, frankly, intend to do laundry on: and maybe shop, as well.

Oh … and possibly catch a film: possibly … !

~≈Ï≈~

The Daily Teaser — 4th-July-2014: Independence Day

You know, I’ve had something of a roller-coaster week: emotions going up and down, to match the various bits of good and bad news I’ve received.

I had another unwelcome bit, last night: although not one that affected me, directed.

I’m a Terry Pratchett fan.

So the news, a few years ago, that he’d been diagnosed with a form of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease touched me, deeply.

As was his involvement in the Right to Die campaign.

~≈Î≈~

Thankfully — or possibly not — the progress of his condition has been slow.

Although, having lost a grandmother to the condition, I’ve always felt that, with each screened interview, I could see the effects of the condition digging in.

There was news from The Guardian, yesterday: Terry’s had to cancel an appearance at an up-coming convention.   Something he’s never had to do, before.

I’m definitely not happy.

And can’t help but wonder this.   When will he be taking this option.

~≈Î≈~