Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-12-2024 — Living in a Box

26th December, 2024: Living in a Box.

Phew!

Christmas is officially over!

Barring the (metaphorical) hangover, obviously!

I am very aware, though, that I’ve ended up with a lot of gift cards: which will come in very handy!

AND a for Dummies Guide to macOS Sequoia.

I’m also very aware that my nephew, Jude, is now the proud owner of a shiny new phone.

Which took a lot of setting up!

And swearing.

It turns out the model concerned is like a lot of modern phones.

In an attempt to cut down e-waste, it comes with a charging cable … but no charging brick.

You have to use one you already have … or buy a new one.

Jude ended up borrowing Aunty Anna’s iPhone charger … and wait for the three that Grandma, Mummy and Aunty Anna have ordered to turn up!

Christmas, eh?

~≈🎄≈~

The charger situation has got me thinking I’m grateful.

For having enough money left in my account.

It’s Jude’s birthday, today: feel free to wish him a happy birthday on Bluesky and X.

At any rate … ?

I’ve bought him a laptop … and suddenly thought, when I got home, last night “I wonder if there’s a charger in the box … ?”

That could be embarrassing … !

~≈🔌≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-12-2021: Boxing Day.

26th December, 2021.

Right … it’s officially the case that my nephew, Jude?   Has had his main birthday, already.

Not something I thought was necessarily a good idea: but a new — ish! — phone seems to have gone down well.

And been gratefully received.

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A post shared by Paul Nik Nak Downie (@mrcuddy2977)

Now all we need to do … ?

Is top the dratted thing up!

~≈☎️≈~

I’ve got to admit, I’ve started reading a book called On the Other Hand: by Howard I Kushner.

It’s about left handedness: something I’m interested in, as I’m left handed, myself.

I’m also fair convinced that left handers face prejudices: I can remember seeing Reggie Yates — in Africa for a TV documentary — being berated by a tribal chief for using his left hand for something.

I’ve also had the odd comment.

Reading the preface to On the Other Hand, though, I read this: “… that toleration of left-handedness serves as a barometer of wider cultural toleration and permissiveness.”

Personally … ?

I think I can agree with that.

~≈☎️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-12-2020: Boxed In.

26th December, 2020.

It’s officially official: Christmas Day has — with its traditional grumpiness — now passed!

And … ?

I think I can say my family’s enjoyed the presents its been given.

I’m equally grateful for mine.

There’s socks involved: as well as masks and a lego Baby Yoda.

And some vouchers for Amazon: which are always appreciated.

At ANY rate … ?

It went well.

How was yours?

~≈📦≈~

In amongst the news?

I couldn’t help but notice Nashville.

It seems that — early on Christmas Day — a camper-van exploded in Nashville.

Why … ?

No-ones knows.

Although, apparently, humans remains have been found in what’s left of the vehicle.

To me?   That sounds like an act of domestic terrorism.

I’ve a nasty suspicion it’s some sort of White supremacists, acting in the wake of a contentious election.

But?

I think we’re not going to find out if it’s right-wing militia, or Jihadi terrorists, until an investigation’s done.

Whatever happens, there?

I can only hope this is an isolated incident: and not the start of something worse.

~≈📦≈~

The Daily Teaser — 26-12-2015: Boxing Day

Well … 

Christmas is — as far as I’m concerned — now over.

Well … unless you consider the fact there’s now 364 days until NEXT Christmas!

At any rate, the main stress is now over: leaving only bin bags of wrapping paper to be disposed of: andy the really fiddly presents to be set up.

Personally … ?   Personally, I’ve got two to arrange: a new monitor, and a fourth generation Apple TV.

I’m going to be having fun with that!

But frankly?   I’ll be heading over to my family’s today.   My nephew, Jude?   Turns five, today.   I’m hoping the harmonica I’ve got him goes down well!

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser — 26-12-2013: Boxing Day

Phew … !

It’s now — officially — not Christmas Day.

You knew that, didn’t you … ?

At ANY rate, I know I, and my family, have managed to give each other as many gifts as we could: I know I’m appreciating the new keyboard and mouse*.

At ANY rate … ?   Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a fairly good night’s sleep: especially after writing about last’s Dr Who Christmas special, The Time Of The Doctor.

But still feel tired … !   Hopefully, I’ll be able to get over that, given another really strong cuppa.

For ONE thing, my mother’s now got a new iPad mini she wants me to set up.   For another … ?   it’s my nephew, Jude’s, birthday, today.

The other-excitement’s going to give someone a heart attack … !

With THAT all said … ?   Let’s get a move on … !

~≈Í≈~

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions and answers, shall we?   Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 26th December is Boxing Day: it’s ALSO St Stephen’s Day.   Which king — according to the old carol — looked out on the Feast of Stephen … ?

Q2) That king was ACTUALLY a Duke of which European region: Transylvania, Bohemia or Moldova … ?

Q3) In which country of the British Isles is Saint Stephen’s Day ALSO known as the ‘Day of the Wren’ … ?

Q4) In horse racing, the King George 6th Chase is held on Boxing Day, at Kempton Park.   In which English county is Kempton Park: Surrey, Sussex or Kent … ?

Q5) Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia all have Saint Stephen as their patron saint.   Which Communist country were they once all a part of … ?

Q6) Two Spanish regions also have Saint Stephen as a Patron saint: name either …

Q7) Which one hit wonders had a hit with ‘BoxerBeat’ … ?

Q8) In which English county would you find the village of Box … ?

Q9) What nickname is given to the flight — or data — recorder on planes and other form of transport … ?

Q10) Finally … a humidor is a box designed to contained what … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Today is Christmas Day: obviously!   Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure in which religion … ?

A1) Christianity.

Q2) The first recorded use of the word ‘Christmas’ — the Old English word ‘Crīstesmæsse’ — was in which year: 1037, 1038 or 1039?

A2) 1038.

Q3) The Ancient Roman festival that corresponds to Christmas Day was the Dies Sol Invictus: which translates as the Day Of The Victorious … what … ?

A3) Sun.

Q4) Traditionally, Christmas pudding is made a few days in advance of Christmas Day: on Stir Up … when … ?

A4) Stir Up Sunday.

Q5) Which obligate hemi-parasitic plant are you allowed to kiss under, on Christmas Day … ?

A5) Mistletoe.

Q6) Christmas song, Jingle Bells was originally written to celebrate which US holiday … ?

A6) Thanksgiving.

Q7) The original Christmas Cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole: in which year of the 1840s … ?

A7) 1843.

Q8) Christmas Jones appears in which James Bond film … ?

A8) The World Is Not Enough.

Q9) Noted judge and barrister, Christmas Humphreys, QC, was one of Britain’s best known converts to which religion … ?

A9) Buddhism.

Q10) The ‘x’ in Xmas actually represents which Greek letter: sigma, omega or chi … ?

A10) Chi.

I’ll leave you with this thought from Snopes …

“Gifts among equals were exchanged on or before Christmas Day, but beneficences to those less fortunate were bestowed the day after.”

From the Snopes Entry about Boxing Day.

And with a piece of 1980s frippery … 

Enjoy your day.

*        One of the Apple Magic Mice: takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s not bad … !   Actually … ?   It’s something of a joy to use … !

†        Likewise, Debbi! And I hope the day went well for you and Rick … !   (Actually, did I tell you … ?   Ruth and Jude got me a Gallifrey University: Prydonian Chapter t-shirt.   Families, hey … ? :D )

The Boxing Day Teaser — 26-12-2012

Gaaaaaaaaah … !

THAT … was a LONG day!   No, really!

But that’s Christmas for you.   If it’s not a long day, you’re probably doing something wrong.

After all, right now, I know I’ve a post to put up about yesterday’s Dr Who special.

AND I’ve also got to wear a certain pair of socks.   Bless him my nephew, Jude — happily playing with the toy garage he was given for Christmas, yesterday* — managed to bag those for me.

Bless ’im … !

Hmmm … 

Let’s get moving on, shall we?

I’d like to start playing with my new iPod … !

~~~~~

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Debbi and Andy putting in their answers.   With both scoring 5 out of 5º, it also saw Andy receiving the traditional round of applause for doing a rough job on Xmas Day, and Debbi telling us about THIS postª.

But let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video … 

Q1) 26th December is — obviously — Boxing Day.   It’s also the feast of which Saint … ?

Q2) It’s also —  in the Irish Republic — the Day of the Wren: which pre-decimal English coin had a wren on the back … ?

Q3) Who became the first Afro-American to win the World Heavyweight Boxing champion, on Boxing Day, 1908 … ?

Q4) Which two Commonwealth countries usually start Test Cricket matches on Boxing Day … ?

Q5) And FINALLY … UK football teams usually play what on Boxing Day:  charity matches, cup finals, or matches against local rivals.

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) Christmas Day is the traditional date of Jesus’ birth.   In which year was this … ?A1) There’s no one year: instead historians suggest — at most — anywhere from 7 to 2 BC.

Q2) More to the point, Jesus’ birth was supposed to be during the reign of which Jewish king … ?A2) Herod the Great.

Q3) Equally to the point, the Ethiopian Church celebrates Christmas Day, when … ?A3) 25th December.   Although, as this is using a modified version of the Julian calendar, it usually falls around 6/7 January.   (It’s ALSO still 2005, in that calendar.)

Q4) In which year of the 1640s did Cromwell’s Parliament ban celebrating Christmas Day … ?A4) 1647.

Q5) And finally … Name either of the Gospels that give accounts of Jesus’ birth.A5) Matthew and Luke.

Enjoy those, everyone.

I’ll leave you with this appropriately arcane quote from Punch, about today.

“Boxing Day. I hope it will be made clear on this foggy anniversary of it to every foreigner who is passing his first Christmas in London, and who may have read that la boxe has been put down in this country, that the shops are not closed and a holiday given to those employed therein to enable them to spend Boxing Day in fist-fighting, an old English sport and pastime not now kept up, except under the influence of an excess of liquor, Pugilism being mainly restricted to conflicts on the question of who was the architect of the Houses of Parliament.”

From a 1968 edition of Punch.

And with Living in a Box, by Living in a Box … 

Oh and a rather punchy little tune from Jo Boxers … 

And a final knockout from LL Cool J … 

*        Actually … ?   I wouldn’t mind one of those, myself … It makes all SORTS of noises, when you push the cars through the carwash … !

º        Well, it was Christmas.

ª        Nice piece of work, there, Debbi: that Mr Peanut must’ve been a touch scary … !