Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-11-2024 — Bloody Sunday

13th November, 2024: Bloody Sunday.

Right … I think I’ve got that sorted.

Late on Monday, I got an email from Brentwood Council: telling me I owed £417 in council tax.

When — as far as I knew — it had been paid in May.

So?

Wrote a suitably snotty letter.

And, yesterday;

• Went to Brentwood Library.
• Printed the letter out,
• Printed out copies of the bills,
• Printed out a copy of my Personal Independence Payment award letter,
• Stapled them all together,

And took them in to Brentwood Council.

Where the receptionist happily accepted the package.

Who, after as polite an inquiry as I could manage, told me two things.

• That there’d been a change of circumstances form sent out: which I don’t remember getting.
• I needed to fill in the online Council Tax Reduction — Working Age form: so my details were up to date.

That latter job … ?

Took about ten minutes.

Or, at least, ten minutes … on top of how ever long printing everything out and lugging it to Brentwood Council, took.

Ho — if you’ll excuse the phrase — hum!

~≈🪙≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-1-2023 — New Year’s Day.

1st January, 2023: New Year’s Day.

Right … it’s now the first day of 2023.

So … ?

I can officially say this: 

Happy New Year!

Frankly?

I can only hope the weather’s milder: the summer of 2022 — and the week before Christmas, 2022 — were comparatively extreme.

Forty degree heat, and -16, overnight?

Is not something I want to live through, too often!

~≈★≈~

At any rate … ?

I didn’t catch a film, last night: as I was looking after my nephew, Jude.

We ended up chatting, for the most part.

So there’s no video, today.

We’ll have to see what happens, next time.

~≈★≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 30-1-2022: Sunday, Bloody Sunday.

30th January, 2022.

Yes: things are happening … 

Other the past few weeks?

Russian troops have been massing on the border of the Ukraine.

Indeed, that was happening when I did a recent Teaser about the country.

President Biden, in the meantime … ?   Has warned that Russia may wall invade: as have various members of his government.

In response?   The UK has sent some troop to various NATO allies: with the PM contemplating sending more.

Personally … ?

I can’t help but think a few things.

Partly?   Starting a war in Eastern Europe is a bad thing.

Partly?   Whilst the UK doesn’t get that much in the way of gas from Russia, our European, NATO allies do.   I can’t see them approving something that could potentially put fuel prices up any further than they’ve already gone.   And potentially cut off supplies.

Partly?   The expense.   Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, have confirmed that they will be increasing National Insurance to help support the National Health Service.   They could easily increase other taxes to pay for a war.

Partly?   Because it’s the Iraq War, all over again: it’s Britain taking part in a US led war, something that’s none of our business.

Mostly?   It’s none of our business.

I voted Remain in the EU referendum: I’m still convinced staying was the right thing to do.

But I’m very aware many voted Leave: as they felt the EU was interfering with the UK’s domestic affairs.

I put the Iraq War on a par with that.   It was the US dictating UK foreign affairs.

Britain joining any US action in the Ukraine?   Would be Britain being dictated to by the US, again.

Not something I want.

Saying that?   I think there’s not going to be military action in or over the Ukraine.

This is so much sabre-rattling, to make President Biden — and Boris Johnson — look good.

But?

I can’t help but think of a line I think came from Not The Nine O’clock News: possibly from a Mel Smith or Rowan Atkinson character.

“America was late for the last two world wars: this time it wants to punctual.”

~≈💣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-2-2021: Days

6th February, 2021.

I have to admit, I started prepping up today’s Teaser post: at silly o’clock in the morning.

At the time?   There was a light on, in the station carpark, over the road from my flat.

Quite what workmen were doing there, I don’t know.

But it looked atmospheric.

~≈🚊≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-1-2021: New Year’s Day.

1st January, 2021.

It’s officially the case: it’s now 2021.

Frankly?

I can only hope it’s an improvement on 2020.

I know this: I know the Coronavirus is still causing issues.

I think it’s going to be doing that for some months to come.

I’m also aware that the UK has now formally left the EU: something I believe to be the greatest single mistake the country’s ever made, in the process.

Especially given the ongoing talk that Scotland wants it’s independence from the UK, in the wake of the UK collective bad decision.

Good luck, Scotland.

~≈†≈~

Just as an extra thought on the Brexit front?

You’ll realise the UK’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is a notable Leaver: as his incredible jingoistic claims tell us.

What’s going to embarrass him?

Is the fact his father, Stanley Johnson, has decided to seek French citizenship.

Good for him!

I wish I could do the same.

The UK outside the EU is a disaster waiting to happen.

~≈†≈~

On a more positive — ish — note?

I’ve now got a new external optical drive: which is working well enough.

And … ?

I’ve managed to make some spaghetti sauce for dinner.

And successfully change the recipe: adding more stock, and adding flour as a thickening agent later than I originally did.

About the only flaw?   I forgot to add the garlic I’d bought!

That’s was silly: but at least it means I have a little more experience, for the next time I do chilli con carne

~≈†≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-9-2017: Lord of the Flies.

Hmmmm … 

Looks like it’s the last bit of (paid) annual leave, today.

Frankly?

I’m visiting family today.

After all, I’ve not seen my nephew for a while.

Although I don’t know how much chatting we’ll do.

Yep.

Uncle Paul’s been conscripted into building a rabbit hutch … !

~≈Ê≈~

In all this … ?

In all this, I have to admit I’ve caught three more episodes of series three — Coven — of American Horror Story.

In the midst of all this?

The thing’s looking good.

And features some incredible strong female characters.

Series regulars, Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson, doing well as mother and daughter, Fiona and Cordelia: and are joined by Kathy Bates as a 19th century society hostess, and Angela Bassett as a voodoo priestess.

I have to say: Bassett is one of the most sympathetic — and plausible — villains I’ve seen on TV fr a while.

~≈Ê≈~

The Daily Teaser — 1-1-2015: New Year’s Day

I think I can officially say ‘Yuck’ … !

No, really … !

You see, I’ve actually worked out what the most exciting thing to happen to me in 2015: at least, so far.

It’s Bronchostop cough sweets!   Oh, and a bottle of Olbas oil.

Yes … I’ve got a cold.

Or been sold something that that’s supposed to stop a horse.

I think we can say — effectively — they haven’t helped my cough.

Hell of a way to start a new year … !

~≈Ë≈~