Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th April 2026.

5th April, 2026.

Did I mention I’m on YouTube?

I’m on YouTube: and now on 1253 subscribers.

That’s a re-assuring amount: and more than I was on, a couple of months ago.

Thank you, if you’re pressed the subscribe button!

~≈🎥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-4-2025 — First Contact Day.

5th April, 2025: First Contact Day.

It’s officially official: I am not complaining … 

Yet.

As you know, I've — and many others — have had issues with blu-ray copying app, MakeMKV: after Apple issued an iffy update.

The makers have now issued an update.

An update that will hopefully resolve the issues.

Although I am very aware there’s been at least one report on the relevant forum thread: saying they are still having issues.

We will have to see.

~≈👩🏽‍💻≈~

That update tells me a few things,

My more panicky side … ?

Tells me that buying a refurbished Windows laptop as an extra, back-up, machine — ha! — would be helpful.

Something that I could do … except that my less panicky side has told me that a little patience would be cheaper.

What will I do, if this update doesn’t help?

Bar reminding myself patience is a virtue?

I have no idea … !

~≈🃏≈~

One minor thing I know?

Is that — from what I had seen of affordable laptops? — was that eBay did or do plenty of refurbished ones.

At around the £75 mark: about €88, or $96.

That — to me — seems a reasonable price on the money I have.

I also know — courtesy of a news report from the BBC, today — that Nintendo have released their new Switch 2 console for pre-order.

Along side the newly updated version Super Mario Kart.

Which — in the UK, at any rate — they’re offering at £74·99.

To me?

That seems a hell of a lot!

Especially as you can get a refurbished laptop for that money.

You can get the various limited-edition, classic Dr Who boxsets for a lot less.

Even some of the games for my nephew’s PlayStation 5 are less!

I’ll be honest, if that were a movie on blu-ray?

For £75, I’d be expecting all the versions available in 4k, please a shed-load of extras … and a signed photo of Terry Pratchett!*

~≈🃏≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-4-2024 — The International Day of Conscience

5th April, 2024.

Right … it’s officially Friday.

And … ?

I’m reading up various bits and bobs: on how to install a version of macOS onto an external drive.

As my main drive is slowly running out of space.

I have a good idea of how to do it: but need to download the installer to do so.

Given how the App Store works?

It means the installer will be downloaded to my main drive: the one that hasn’t got the space … !

Added to that … ?

Is the simple fact I have to got to town, today: to pick up a sharps bin.

In the rain.

Ho … bloody … hum … 

~≈Û≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-4-2023 — Passover.

5th April, 2023: Passover.

Right … I’m up early, again!

Yes: I’ve an early morning appointment.

Believe it or not, with a lifestyle coach!

Who’s taking over my weight management course.

Yes: I can appreciate they have a job to do.

And, yes: I hope it will go well.

But — equally — it’s always struck me the word ‘lifestyle’ is very silly.

Especially as I’ve only heard it frequently used by aerobics instructors, influencers … and people who teach pilates!

~≈ß≈~

Oh … 

I had a phone tribunal, last Thursday: something long time readers will be aware of.

I still haven’t heard about the decision, as yet: so don’t know if it went my way, or not.

The letter is still due by Friday.

My bank account?

Equally as penniless.

Not knowing … ?   When I know people who were told on the day … ?

Is frustrating!

~≈ß≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th April, 2022.

5th April, 2022.

Yes: it’s Tuesday.

And … ?

The second day of a busy-ish week.

Frankly?

I’ve got to email my Restart case worker to arrange for tickets for Thursday meeting: and have to try And arrange transport for 12th May: I have a educational Diabetes meeting.

Meeting?   Possibly session is the right word.

We’ll have to see.

~≈Ç≈~

Just as a sad bit of news … ?

June Brown died, yesterday.

Dr Who fans will remember her as Lady Eleanor in The Time Warrior: everyone else will remember Dot Cotton from EastEnders.

Some of the show’s most powerful moments involved Dot.

It’s one hell of a loss.

~≈Ç≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th April, 2021.

5th April, 2021.

It’s officially official: I’ve got two books on the go, right now.

LeGuin’s The Lathe of Heaven: George and his lawyer, Helen, are meeting in a cabin in the woods.

One he didn’t own last week.

One that didn’t exist last week!

Ahem!

~≈📖≈~

The other one I’m reading?   Is actually a graphic novel; Strontium Dog: The Starlord Years.

It’s Johnny Alpha’s early adventures, taken from the character’s appearance in Starlord: and a hell of a lot of fun.

~≈📖≈~

As a final thought … ?

The first qualifying matches for this year’s Snooker World Championship take place, today.

Including one between veterans players, Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White: the only two men who’ve got through to seven — count ’em, seven! — World finals.

Hendry’s all seven of his.

White’s lost all his: four of them to Hendry!

I would love to see Jimmy White win this year’s final: hell, I think Snooker’s world body should just give the title to Jimmy!

Which isn’t going to happen, I know.

Jimmy qualifying will be shaky, I know.

But it would be superb to see him win this year’s final … !

~≈🎱≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th April, 2020.

5th April, 2020.

It’s got to be said, there’s one minor thing that’s bothering me, at the moment.

My hair.

It has to be said, it’s been receding for a while.

I’ve less hair to comb, more forehead to wash.

Right at the moment, though … ?

I’m feeling distinctly shaggy.

And am very aware I’m going to get shaggier.

The Virus … ?

Has closed my local hair dressers!

~≈¥≈~

Did I mention I did a little shopping, yesterday … ?

I did a little shopping, yesterday.

At, while I was at Sainbury’s?

Some tried for find parking space for their Lamborghini.

View this post on Instagram

Who the hell is the show off in the Lamborghini?

A post shared by Paul Nikolas Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977) on Apr 4, 2020 at 4:16am PDT

A Lamborghini!

For God’s sake’s, just to do some shopping, that’s a bit … you know … 

Conspicuous … 

~≈¥≈~

Just as a final thought?

I’m not a sports fan: although, as an ex barman, I’m very aware that knowing which team’s doing what is helpful.

One thing that has caught my eye in current conditions?

Is the fact that the PFA, the union for professional footballers, has refused to accept a 30% pay cut, during the Corona Crisis.

Apparently?   It would reduce tax revenues used to fund the NHS.

When many people in the UK are going through extreme financial hardship as a result of the Lockdown, I think that’s a bloody arrogant line for some of the richest media stars in the UK to take.

Many of the PFA’s member could take the cut, and still be better off than many of their fans

I’m seriously tempted to swear at the nearest available Premier League footballer.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th April, 2019

5th April, 2019.

Oh, for heaven’s SAKE, Google!

Once again, we have a photo uploading issue, today!

With all due respect to Sergei Brin and Larry Page?

Why can’t I upload a photo to this post!

~≈§≈~

At ANY rate … ?

I’ve got some paperwork to send off.

Seemingly?

There’s a possibility I can claim some extra benefits: because of  the depression I’ve suffered with foe many years.

Filling in the form … took a while.

Especially as I went to Brentwood Library to fill it in.

Just to get away from the distractions of home.

Will I get it?

I honestly couldn’t tell you.

We’ll have to see.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5th April, 2015

5th April, 2018.

I’m assuming you watch the news?   Is that right?

I’m also assuming — if you do — you’d be glued to one of two news in the UK: either the BBC’s news channel, or to Sky News.

Personally, I prefer the BBC’s channel: there’s no adverts.   Apart from things like tonight’s fantastic episode of whatever!

I also tend to prefer BBC Radio 4, first thing in the morning.   Again, no adverts … and a general unbiasedness.

At ANY rate?  Recently, Aunty Beeb’s reported on a slew of knife and gun crime in London.

I’m not actually complaining about that.

The crime, that is: there’s little I can do to stop it.   Putting a few pence into a crime prevention charity’s pot — as and when the tin comes rattling around — could help.   But complaining would little.

So that’s not my issue, this morning.

No … 

We’re getting these reports from London.

How much crime are we getting, elsewhere?

I think the BBC’s being a little remiss, here.

It’s JUST reporting violent crime in London.

Not from the rest of the UK.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-4-2017

Hmmm … 

I’m looking at the situation with Ken Livingston.

He’s been suspected from the Labour Party, recently: after allegations of anti-Semitism.

I do know the allegations came in, after an interview Ken did, last year — one on Radio 4’s Today programme — where he pointed out Hitler had tried working with German Zionist groups, in order to get Jews out of Germany.

Personally?

I don’t know if Ken Livingston is or isn’t.

But am fairly certain, based on my own, fairly limited knowledge of history*, he has a point: that senior Nazi figures were trying to work with Zionist groups, especially in later years of the war.   Not because the Nazis were pro Jewish — anyone who thinks that, really wants to write history based quiz questions! — but because the Nazis wanted Jews out of Germany.

I’ll apologise, now, if that’s offensive to anyone.

But must ask: does that make me anti-Semitic?

Sod off!

I’ve known too many good, nice, wonderful, Jewish people to give anti-Semitism — indeed, ANY form of racism — any time.

But the situation gets me thinking: that people should maybe check the evidence, first.

~≈®≈~

The Daily Teaser — 5-4-2016

Hmmm … 

I’m something of a fan of the series, Gotham: although it’s not one I’ve written about.

Something that annoyed me with the first series, here in the UK?

Was the fact that the air dates Channel Five selected for it matched its US air dates, very closely.

And included a mid-season break: something that’s common with US TV stations, but not here in the UK.

That break was something I found incredibly irritating.

And, if events are anything to go by, something other fans have found annoying, to the point of saying so.

Leading to Channel 5 delaying broadcast for a few weeks, in order to air Gotham series 2 in open complete block.

Well done C5!

Well … 

ALMOST Well Done.

Last night, Gotham took a one week holiday.

So Channel 5 could show a Neighbours special.

Thanks for that … … … … … … 

~≈Ê≈~