Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th January 2026.

7th January, 2026.

It’s officially Wednesday … which means I have a hygienist’s appointment, this afternoon.

Which means it’s going to have warmed up.

OK, it’s STILL going to be in single figures: but it would’ve warmed up.

A bit … 

~≈°≈~

I’ll happily admit to having a copy of the Dr Who season 13 box set: quietly ripping in the background.

The fact my current Mac can do so with several apps open, and relatively little overheating?

Is pleasantly surprising.

With just Handbrake going on its own?

It doesn’t overheat, at all!

Which is nice … !

But possibly beside the point: or, at least, beside the point I wanted to mention.

The box set includes a sixty minute omnibus cut of The Brain of Morbius.

That I believe must have been the version released on VHS, back in 1984.

If I recall correctly?

There was a stink about release: certainly amongst the fans I knew.

People were generally aware the original story had four episodes that ran to some twenty-five minutes each: that the complete story should have been one hundred minutes or so long.

We were very aware that the BBC were selling a version that ran to a mere sixty minutes in length.

With roughly an episode and a half edited out.   Forty minutes, I should say*.

The thing was expensive, as well: a price equivalent to the modern box sets, which have far more content.

The feeling was the BBC had us diddled: was overcharging fans for an unnecessarily shortened version.

When they re-released the tape, in a one hundred minute version, in 1990?

The feeling was ‘mildly annoyed’: and that Aunty should have released the full version in the first place … !

To quote John Lydon?

“Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?”

~≈📺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-1-2025 — John the Forerunner

7th January, 2025: John the Forerunner.

Right … it’s officially Tuesday … and Radio 4’s Today programme has a piece on, about the way McDonald’s staff are being treated.

It’s an on-going thing for the company: some of its franchise managers make Harvey Weinstein look good!

That’s certainly not making the company look good!

But that’s not really relevant to my day.

It’s a day where I have nothing planned: and I’m feeling vaguely lost.

After all, the past couple of weeks have been busy … !

~≈🎅🏻≈~

At any rate … ?

Yesterday was Monday: a day that saw me at the dentist in the afternoon … and at my weight management meeting in the morning!

Thankfully?

I’m down four hundred grams: just shy of a pound.

That’s pretty good: post Christmas!

~≈🏋️‍♂️≈~

As a final thought … ?

You’re possibly aware I claim an extra benefit: called Personal Independence Payment, or PIP.

I had thought I’d be eligible for a free bus pass as a result.

After a phone call, yesterday … ?

It turns up I’m not.

I don’t have enough points in the relevant section of my claim.

That’s a bit of a git: free bus travel could’ve been helpful.

~≈🚍≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-1-2024 — Tricolour Day.

7th January, 2024: Tricolour Day.

Yes: it’s officially official.

I’ve been experimenting.

OK, ok: not seriously experimenting.

More like playing.

With, believe it or not, with the air-fryer I got for Christmas.

Yes, I’ve worked out how long it takes to cook a baked potato: which includes the enormous one the vegetable stall in Brentwood High Street does.

Oh, and I did sausages I needed for a sausage sandwich, lunchtime, in the thing, too.

Daft as it sounds?

It’s a nice learning experience.

~≈🥔≈~

If you’re not in the UK, you possibly don’t know about the Post Office Horizon scandal.

To try and summarise?

Many sub-postmasters — the folks that run the small sub-branches you’ll find in many shops in the UK — have been falsely accursed of various shades of fraud: after being issued with faulty computer software.

It’s a story I’ve had half an eye on for many years.

So couldn’t help but the recent coverage of the scandal.

Coverage … that was a result of the ITV series, Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

I’ll possibly have to catch that.

Although I’ll have to ask … 

Why on Earth has something that’s been brewing since at least 2009 … now getting more coverage?

I always amazes me what a TV show can do … 

~≈✉️≈~

Nope — A Review.

6th January, 2023: Nope.

Right … 

Just out of curiosity?   How’s the audio on that intro video?

I have to admit: I got curious about the basic — very basic, I’m no sound engineer! — things I could do with the open source sound app, Audacity.

I think — by adding a distortion effect to the audio, then reimporting icon into iMovie — I’ve got an interestingly tinny effect.

That’s possibly not what you were expecting, were you?   A discussion of audio tweaking!

No.

You were expecting me to do what I’ve been doing on odd evening.

Telling you I’m planning to watch a movie … once I’ve had dinner.

Dinner’s will be going onto a plate, any minute.

Then eaten.

Then?

I’m going to watch a film … and tell you about it, tomorrow night … 

~≈🍿≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th January 2023 Teaser.

7th January, 2023.

It’s Saturday, isn’t it … ?

The morning after the night before.

And?

The morning after I watch a movie.

I’ll have my review of the thing up, later.

But I’m fairly sure of one thing: director, Jordan Peele, is a Stanley Kubrick fan.

At least … going by the intertitles … 

~≈Ç≈~

Doctor Who — The Evil of the Daleks: Episode 5 — A Review

7th January, 2022.

Right … 

It’s a Friday evening: and I’m looking forward to two things.

Dinner: fish and home made chips, if you must know.

And another episode of classic Doctor Who serial, The Evil of The Daleks.

Episode 5 if you must know.

I’ll be back to finish this written review, later.

~≈📺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th January, 2022.

7th January, 2022.

You know, I don’t often get political.   But do like a rant: usually about stuff that affects me directly.

Cash usually does.

I’m unemployed, and job hunting: and, as such, I’m on what’s called Universal Credit, the standard unemployment benefit.

There’s a few other bits and bobs available: but that’s the main one.

During the start of the pandemic?

Thos of us on UC were given a twenty pound a week uplift: an extra bit of money equivalent to some £86 a month.

It got withdraw in September of last year.

Much to my disappointment, and the disappointment of many others.

The reason I mention it today … ?

Is that an article from the I newspaper floated across my timeline, yesterday: calling for the uplift’s reinstatement.

I’d love it if it did.   My electricity bill, for the month … ?   Was seventy quid.

That £86 would be bloody handy.

As much as I need it?

I seriously doubt it’ll happen under the current government.

~≈£≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-1-2021: Nicolas Cage

7th January, 2021.

I have to say, I’ve been following the news: and don’t think the USA’s sane.

Overnight, there’s been a literal riot on Capitol Hill: the site of the US equivalent of Parliament.

Incited by President Trump.

A riot … that’s seen armed protestors … at least one of whom has been shot.

It’s … 

Well … 

Democracy is not supposed to be like this.

I can only hope that — come Inauguration Day — these scenes aren’t repeated.

~≈🏛≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th January, 2020.

7th January, 2020.

It’s officially true.

I’ve been very good … and donated to charity.

Actually, no.

Before you ask, I’ve not actually donated cash.

I have to confess that, like a lot of book lovers?

I’ve got shelves of them: and, over time, you build up more.

To the point where getting rid of some is about your only option.

I spent a chunk of my morning, yesterday, carting three bags full in a couple of shops, yesterday.

I can only hope they go to good homes.

~≈†≈~

You’ve possibly realised I’ve caught the Joaquin Phoenix cut of Joker, haven’t you?

And thoroughly enjoyed it, I have to say.

I think my good review’s been justified.

Joker has received eleven nominations at this year’s BAFTAs …

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th January, 2018

7th January, 2019.

Yes … about tomorrow … 

I’ve got a job interview lined up on Wednesday.

Happily?

The Job Centre is happy to fund both my train trip … and a haircut.

That is extremely welcome.

OK, I’m an ugly ol’ wossname … 

So, presentationally?

A trim could be welcome.

If for no other reason than to same money on conditioner!

~≈¥≈~

Either way … ?

How are you with earworms … ?

I have have still got Trans-X’s Living on Video banging around my head.

To be brutally honest … ?

The dratted thing’s a pain!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-1-2018: The Probe

Hmmm … 

I have today, and tomorrow, off.

Obviously, I’m going to be doing laundry, wiping surfaces, and — excitingly — doing ironing.

Oh, the delights … !

At ANY rate … ?   At ANY rate, I’m wondering what to watch, tonight and tomorrow.

I may just have a chance to watch … 

A movie … 

You never know … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-1-2017

Bleugh … 

I think I’m getting too old for early mornings.

But?

I can at least be grateful that — right now — I’ve got my health, my wits, and an internet connection.

Oh … 

And had enough of a connection to do some online shopping.

I’ve now got Moorcock’s Behold The Man, LeGuin’s The Other Wind and Keyes Flowers for Algernon — arguably one of the best SF novels ever written — on order.

I’m looking forward to reading them.

But?

I’m wondering what’s going to turn up first: them, the new router, or the spare ethernet cable I’ve got on order.

What do you think … ?

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 7-1-2016: Lucky Sevens

Ye mothering GODS, but I feel lovely.

He says, mustering up the kind of irony a body can only use, when it’s got up after a bad night.

Seriously bad night: I slept.

But only intermittently: getting up to go to the loo.

What the hell was going on, there, I REALLY don’t know.

Personally … ?   Personally, I’m just glad I’m off work, at the mo.   Quite how this would affect me, I don’t know: but suspect ‘badly’ would be the word to use.

The one thing I do know … ?   Is that whether or not I head back to bed, I’m indoors: and ready for the much talked of internal hard drive.

Here’s hoping the blessed thing turns up, when I’m awake!

~≈fi≈~