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.

~≈☒≈~

Elections 2024.

4th January, 2024.

11:32

I have a confession to make.

Simply this: that I’ve not spoken about politics on Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar for a while.

And never done so on my YouTube channel, @MrCuddy2977.

There’s been — from where I’m sitting? — very little to write about.

However?

I’m writing this at the start of January of 2024.

And I’m very aware there’s a chance of a General Election, this year.

Whilst I’m aware it can be as late as the 28th January of 2025?

I’m also aware it’s more than likely to be this year.

I’m very aware that general elections — and any accompanying local elections — may give us the chance to vote for a suitable candidate.

But?

Radio Four’s Today programme spent time telling us Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer was, is or has, made a speech, today.

In part?   He’s said;

“Do not listen to the siren voices that say we’re all the same.   We’re not, and we never will be.”

I have to say … I think I may disagree.

I’ve always felt that MPs — red, blue, yellow or what have you? — are much of a muchness.

Additionally?

In a speech in Mansfield, today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tells us his “working assumption” is that there will be an election in the second half of this year.

That means any time from July, onwards.

That gives political parties time to start writing election manifestos: and sling mud at each other.

This gives the likes of you and me a chance to have a good long think about who — if anyone — we want to vote for.

~≈X≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-12-2019: Friday the 13th

13th December, 2019.

I’m in the UK.

A UK that’s just had a General Election.

A General Election that’s going to see the UK leaving the European Union.

As it sees the Conservatives win a huge majority: some seventy-eight seats, if the BBC’s right.

I believe the UK is going to suffer for this.

I’m a confirmed Remainer.

I feel staying in the EU is a good thing.

And that the UK will suffer as a result of this election.

Partly, because the Tory Government will push for Brexit.

And partly?   Because the other party that’s done well is the Scottish Nationalist Party.

They’re going to push for an Independence referendum.

Good for them.

If the SNP get it and win it, somewhere in the UK gets to stay in the EU: even if it means the UK breaks up.

I don’t think the UK deserves to exist under this Government.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-12-2019: General Election 2019

12th December, 2019.

Just so you know?   I’m jobhunting.

And?

My Job Centre’s put me on a course to try and help improve my interview skills: along side a few other things.

Yesterday, though?

I couldn’t get to the course: because the buses didn’t turn up!

There was literally no sign of them: going up or going down hill.

Why?

I don’t know.

But I’d like to know why: it sounds like I have a lot of catching up to do as a result.

~≈¥≈~

Right … 

It’s General Election Day.

Yay … 

I’m planning to try and vote on my way to the course, today.

To vote Green.

1. I’ve never voted Tory in my life and don’t plan to, today.
2. Labour?   Around here is a wasted vote.
3. Liberal Democrat?   I’ve not voted for them since they betrayed their voters by joining the coalition in 2010.   I expect them to be equally treacherous, again.

So, this year?

It’s Green … or spoil my vote.

The parties available give me no other choice.

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-11-2019: Free Danzig

15th November, 2019.

Right … 

It’s official.

I started the morning with Tommy Cooper’s Don’t Jump off the Roof, Dad, banging around my head.

Why?

I don’t know: but it’s mildly irritating.

I THINK I’ve managed to replace it with Spike Jone’s Cocktails for Two.

Which could possibly be even worse … 

~≈†≈~

Another thing to mention … ?

Or not, if you’re trying to avoid politics?

I’ve officially had words with the local Greens: and they’ve managed to get enough money together to pay the deposit that lets their candidate stand in this year’s election.

That’s a good thing.

For starters, it means I can comfortably put up the ‘Vote Green’ posters.

It means I don’t have to take down the campaign fund appeal: the one you’ll see in the sidebar, when you use a desktop browser.

It also means I won’t have to spoil my vote in this election.

Which is what I be doing if the Greens hadn’t stood.

I know there’s arguments that spoiling your vote is a waste of a vote.

Possibly, it is.

I would make a counter argument, there.

Here in the UK, you have various ways of abstaining from a vote … if you’re a local councillor, or member of Parliament.

Beyond either not turning up to vote … 

Or spoiling your vote if you do.

Personally?

I think whoever wins this year’s election should look at reforming the voting process.

If, for no other reason that to include a None of the Above option.

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-6-2017: Elected

Right … 

It’s official … 

It’s Polling Day … !

Which means, of course, that today is the day to do one of two things.

Either not vote: sign of protest, it’s raining, or you just can’t be bothered.

Or vote: for a candidate, or to deliberately spoil your vote.

Personally?   I’m pencilling voting Green: as it looks like they’re standing.

And will not be voting for the Liberal Democrat candidate: the party’s position on legalising cannabis is not something I’m keen on.

But, f you don’t like the look of any of your candidates?

The last couple few elections — local or General — I’ve not been happy with the individual candidates.   And spoilt my votes by putting ‘X’s in all the boxes.

I’d urge everyone to do the same.

~≈Ÿ≈~

Just as another quick thought?

I had the day off, yesterday.

And, of course, watched a movie.

Martyrs, if you’re curious.

It’s a good film, I think.

But, in its depiction of violence towards women?

Not the most comfortable of viewing …

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-5-2017

Hmmm … 

Elections … 

Funny old things, elections.

You get ALSO sorts of ideas getting floated, come election time.

One policy that the Greens have put forward?   Is that of decriminalising prostitution.

That’s not something I have any kind of emotional connection to: couldn’t comment on, one way or the other.

Although, if I’ve understood what I’ve seen in the media, correctly?   Prostitution is already legal in the UK.   Looking for a hooker on the streets, running a brothel, and advertising your services as a prostitute is what’s illegal.

Whatever.

What got me?

Was the Liberal-Democrat policy to legalise and regulate the sale of cannabis.

I used to smoke cannabis: and gave up, at about the same time I gave up drinking.

Mostly as a general principle.   Abstaining from one substance I knew was having bad effects also implied keeping off something that could do just as much damage.

It wasn’t as if I was having delusions.   But was noticing I felt just a little paranoid when I used: feeling, say, that the driver of the police car that had just gone past, knew I’d had a joint, just by looking at me.

Can I make a confession?

I’ve know about half a dozen or so people who’ve had some form of schizo-affective disorder: what they used to schizophrenia.

Complete with paranoia and hallucinations as a factor.

All of them?   All of them, in private conversations with me, pointed at their cannabis use: and blamed it for either triggering or aggravating their schizophrenia.

I know that’s very anecdotal, very experiential and very unscientific.

I’m not voting Conservative: never have, never will.   I won’t be voting Labour: I feel they have no chance in the Brentwood and Ongar constituency.

I’m planning to vote Green, should the party stand in the election.

I realise there’s good arguments for legalising cannabis.   If nothing else, one could raise extra tax money from it.

But, given my personal experiences?   And my belief that any cannabis tax money so raised will be going on an mental health services for cannabis users, as a result of an explosion in demand for them?

Legalisation is not something I can support.

I will not be voting to Karen Chilvers, the Lib-Dem candidate for Brentwood in the up-coming General election, as a result of this.

I can’t support her or legalisation.

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser — 8-5-2015

Well, it’s official.

We now have a Tory government in the UK.

Frankly?   Well, frankly, and personally, I’m not surprised.

Either at Tory winnings.   Or the Labour defeat.

I’m pleasantly surprised that the Scottish Nationalists have done as well as they have: they’ve taken 56 seats out of 59.   Which means that they will hold huge influence in Westminster.

And will hopefully do a lot of good, there.

The non-surprise for me?

Is how badly the Liberal Democrats have done: they’ve lost some 46 or so seats, on the current figures.

I’m very unsurprised.   I’m a lifelong Lib-dem voter.   One who, this time around, could not vote Liberal Democrat.

They slept with the enemy.

I couldn’t vote Liberal Democrat, after that.   Neither, it seems, could many others.

Elections are like that: they’re the one guaranteed form of karma, going.

~≈fl≈~

The Daily Teaser — 7-5-2015: Elected … !

Right, that’s THAT done!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got books.   Quite a few books.

Just enough to always need shelf space.

Which I managed to pick up, the other day: in my local branch of B&M.

They do a fair selection of cheap furniture.   Including a bookshelf that I assembled, quickly, yesterday, and out in my bedroom.   It’s now got every one of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels I own.

Although, thinking about it … ?

I might just need another … 

~≈§≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 6-5-2015: Elected

Right: right now, I’m very aware there’s a few things I’d like to do, today.

Build a shelf unit, for a start.

Get some cleaning and laundry done.

Oh … 

And MAYBE get some Teasers written: along with the appropriate slideshows.

These things, in other words … 

But I’m ALSO aware I’ve STILL got to post up today’s Gazette questions!

Oy veh … !

~≈Â≈~