Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-4-2019: Auguste’s Alzheimer’s

8th April, 2019.

Yep: I’ve got a man coming over: to fix my cupboard!

Well … I say cupboard … 

A couple of days ago, now, the door came off the cupboard housing my boiler: managing to land on my head, in the process.

That hurt: but hasn’t seemingly done much damage.

But?   It’s something that left me with a boiler, peeking over the top of the door.

Which looks a bit odd.

At any rate … ?

I’ve reported it to my landlord.

Who’ve got a repair man heading over, today: between eight and one.

The only downside?

I have to stay in to let the bloke in.

I’m going to get cabin fever, aren’t I … ?

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11th February, 2018

11th February, 2018.

Hmm … It’s morning … 

And?

As ever on a Sunday morning, I’ve got the radio on.

Radio 3*, if you must know.

Usually, I’ve got no problem Radio 4’s Sunday Service.

Except this morning’s seemed just a little bit too happy clappy.

It’s just a little bit too enthusiastic, first thing on a Sunday morning!

~≈§≈~

One thing I did catch, though?   Before I turned over?

Was the Radio 4 appeal, for this week: on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Society.

Speaking as both a Terry Pratchett fan, and as the grandson of someone lost to it?

It’s a VERY good cause.   If you wanted to make a donation, you can do via the Radio 4 donation page, here: or through the Alzheimer’s Society donation page, here.

Sir Terry Pratchett put it like this, once.

Demons need naming … in order for us to be able to fight them.

Unfortunately, they also need cash.

~≈§≈~

Back in Black

12th February, 2017.

You know, I felt I should maybe write.

Which is a little non-specific, I know.

I could be writing a lot … 

A poem …  a song … a teaser … 

All sorts of things.

But I wanted something known.

~≈⚰≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-9-2016

Hmmm … 

That could be good news … 

You’re — possibly — aware I’m a long term fan of writer, Terry Pratchett.

And one who not only saw Alzheimer’s Disease kill both his favourite writer, and a much loved grandmother.

So … ?   As you can imagine, I’m not a fan of the condition.

And usually keep an eye on news about the condition.

News came in, yesterday: that the early studies of a new drug — Aducanumab — seem to show it has had very good results on a group of 165 patients.

I know the drug’s in it’s early stages.

I’m VERY aware it comes too late for both my grandmother, and Sir Terry.

But … ?

I can only hope this is a good sign.

Alzheimer’s may not be curable.

But this drug, if it can be shown to work well?

Sounds like a very good treatment.

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 8-4-2015

Oh, well, that’s THAT done … !

You’ve probably known — for some time — that I’m a fan of writer, Sir Terry Pratchett.

His recent death was something that saddened me, deeply: especially as he’d died from Alzheimer’s, a condition that complicated my grandmother.

I’m looking forward to The Shepherd’s Crown, his last novel: it get’s released in September.

With a certain amount of sadness: I, as every other fan, won’t be able to get it autographed.

Saying that … ?   Saying that, I’ve been keeping my eyes on Discworld Monthly, over on Facebook.

And several people have managed to change they message alert tone to the Bingley Bingley Beep noise used by the Dis-organisers owned by Sir Samuel Vimes.

Something I’ve done myself.

I might have to change that.

I can see why Old Stoneface get’s annoyed … … 

~≈Â≈~

Ripples …

OK … 

I was going to write this post, briefly and quickly, on my phone.

As you may or MAY not realise, I‘ve a new phone: a Sony Xperia E1.

It’s a nice little phone: one I’ve downloaded a basic writing app for, as well as the Blogger app.

In the vague expectation of writing something on the proverbial go, for Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

Quite WHAT, I don’t know.   But I’d think of something, no doubt.

But frankly … ?

Well, the version of Android on my phone — Kitkat, apparently — is broadly similar enough to iOS to be reassuring to me.

But different enough to be bloody awkward.

I couldn’t work out how to select ALL the text I’d written, in order to transfer it to the Blogger app, in other words!

~≈ß≈~

Sir Terry Pratchett — 28 April 1948 to 12 March 2015: Oh … Fuck …

Yes … 

I know … 

I don’t USUALLY swear in title of a post, here on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

No, really … 

But I’ve just LITERALLY got home from my mothers.

I’ve been mowing her lawn, today, so you know.

There’s ALSO very few days when a piece of news makes me feel physically sick.

Today’s the day both happened.

Today is the day Sir Terry Pratchett — Alzheimer’s sufferer, Assisted Death campaigner, writer, ex-journalist, former publicity man for three nuclear generators, and, frankly, my literary hero — died.

And believe me, writing the word ‘died’ is possibly the most hideous word I can imagine writing.   And the most difficult.

Today, Terry Pratchett died.

And, right now … ?

I, along with many others, feel as if I’ve lost a friend.

~≈®≈~

Debbie Purdy: RIP

Right To Die, Campaigner,
Debbie Purdy.

You know, dreams are funny things.

I’ve gone to bed just recently, wondering if I’d wake up in the morning: and reading or hearing news that right to die campaigner, writer, broadcaster and my favourite novelist, Sir Terry Pratchett, had finally died.

He’s campaigned for years for the right to an assisted death: as a result of succumbing to a form of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Something I know I’m still unsure about.

I’d seen the disease kill a much loved grandmother, many years ago: so hearing he’d contracted a version wasn’t a good thing.

Either way … ?

Either way, I’d followed the various news items about various right to die campaigners assorted battles: including those of MS sufferer, Debbie Purdy.

Sadly, my late night dream, thought, premonition, call it what you will, came true …

For a given value of true.

~≈®≈~

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≈~

Terry Pratchett: The Embuggerance …

You know, I’ll possibly have to write this up, later: when I know more.

But I’ve just seen this piece from The Guardian float past.

Terry Pratchett, my favourite author, and a man whose work I’ve followed for some time, has had to pull out of the biggest Discworld convention on the planet.

As a result of the slowly increasing effects of the version of Early Onset Alzheimer’s was diagnosed with.

~≈Í≈~