Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4th March 2026

4th March, 2026.

It’s officially my birthday!

Yay!

‘Yay’?

Yes, yay … although, to be frank … ?

It’s just another day: although, admittedly, one with presents.

Given today sees Apple announce more of its latest releases … ?

Yes: I would like one … !

~≈🎂≈~

Hmmm … 

Are you on Facebook … ?

I am.

Although, last night, the site seemed to have issues.

At least, it did on the desktop: I had no problem accessing the site through the Android app.

What happened?

I don’t know.

But I’d love to find out … !

~≈🛜≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-2-2023 — The Emperor’s Birthday.

23rd February, 2023: The Emperor’s Birthday.

Right … it’s officially pay day.

Frankly?

That leaves me doing one thing: paying the bills.

Yes: it’s all fun and games!

~≈Œ≈~

I follow the news, occasionally: indeed, I’ve got Radio 4’s flagship Today programme on, as I write.

I’m ALSO aware I’m connected to the ’Net with what’s called a Social Tariff: a cheap internet connection, aimed at those of us on a low income.

Personally?   I think a bit more could be done to promote these.

And, possibly, make them cheaper.

It seems a few people agree: as various bodies have spoken to the relevant House of Lords committees, arguing more should be done to promote them, and that they should not be liable to Value Added Tax, for VAT.

Here’s hoping that helps!

~≈Œ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-3-2022: Vermont

4th March, 2022.

Right … I’m now, officially, a year older.

It’s my birthday.

I’m another year old, another year — Ha! — wiser … 

And definitely creaking.

Oh … and I share my birthday with Vermont, and Patsy Kensit.

Heigh ho!

~≈Ÿ≈~

Oh, JUST as a thought … ?

My nephew, Jude, was over, yesterday.

Would you mind hitting like on the resulting videos … ?   He’s managed three … … 

~≈Ÿ≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-3-2021: The Birthday Party

4th March, 2021.

Yes: it’s officially my birthday.

And, once again?

I’m not telling you my age, thank you … !

But if you want to put something in my tip jar, you’d be VERY welcome!

~≈🎂≈~

I mentioned, in yesterday’s Teaser, that the BBC were planning to revive BBC3.

Inevitably?

There’s now calls to revive Torchwood.

At least, according to this piece from the Radio Times, the BBC’s in-house listings magazine.

First things first?   I notice the cock-up.

The article mentions Naomi More: who bakes cakes on Twitter.

Rather than mentioning Naoko Mori: the Japanese born actress who played Torchwood regular, Toshiko Sato.

Secondly?

I’m not sure that reviving the series would necessarily be a good idea.

It’s been a long time since the show was on, after all, and it’s a very different world.

Personally?   I still remember Captain Jack saying that ‘his’ Torchwood, Torchwood Cardiff, was Torchwood Three.

Torchwood One was London: destroyed in the Battle of Canary Wharf.

And that Torchwood Two was in Glasgow: the man who ran it was ‘very strange.’

And that’s from Captain Jack Harkness!

But … ?   A one man Torchwood operation, a Dr Who linked, sci-fi equivalent, of Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe and Mike Hammer?

I’d’ve paid good money for that!

~≈🛠≈~

The Birthday Present.

Right ...

You’ll possibly notice that -- for the first time in a while -- I’ve not opened this with a video intro.

The simple reason?

I’m using the cheap laptop I got for my birthday: a Lenovo ThinkPad T400, which doesn’t have have  webcam.

It does, however, have a newly installed version of Ubuntu Mate on it.

If I get the chance?

I'll try and write about it ...

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-3-2020: The Birthday …

4th March, 2020.

Right … 

It’s my birthday: he says, in his best Gollum voice.

And … ?

Frankly, I’ve a dentist appointment, today, my knee hurts … 

And, yesterday, I had the first of what’s going to be a long line of diabetes checks.

The diagnoses is near enough confirmed: all that’s needed now is a blood test to check my red blood cell’s fat absorption … and a urine test to check my kidney function … 

Hmm … 

~≈§≈~

JUST as a quick thought?

I’m on Facebook: as many of us are.

The fact it’s my birthday?   Means the site sets up a charitable giving page in your name.

Considering it’s had an impact on me — the condition killed my Grandma, and my favourite writer — I’ve chosen the Alzheimer’s Society as my chosen charity.

Feel free to put some cash in.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-3-2019: Birthdaze …

4th March, 2019.

Yes: it’s that time of year again: when another year gets ticked off the calendar, and the age piles up.

Oy veh.

Frankly?

I’m planning on a quiet one: that’s going to involve picking up more medication, shopping … 

And hopefully, another episode of El Ministerio Del Tiempo.

One thing I will do?

Is ask you to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society for me.

I think the fundraiser I was running on Facebook has now — with many thanks to those who HAVE donated — closed off.

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-3-2018: the Big 5-0

4th March, 2018.

Yay … !

It’s officially my 50th birthday.

Quite how I feel about it, I don’t know.

Hmmm … 

Just recently?

I haver to admit, just recently, I’m getting intimations of mortality.   Bits of me are aching somewhat more than than they did, ten years ago.   And, of course, I’m very aware that I have less time on this Earth than — say — my seven year old nephew, Jude.

Just to top it off?   Time seems to go faster than it did.

Morbid, huh … ?

On the upside … ?

The upside … ?

I’m starting to get a few messages in via Facebook and Twitter.   Friends are contacting me.   The gang at work managed to decorate my desk.   And least one major present has already rolled in.

Intimations of mortality, yes … 

Here and now?

Here and now, though, I’m happy to be alive … 

~≈§≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-3-2017

You know … You can TELL you’ve got a week end off, can’t you?

You can’t … ?

You’ve not been paying attention to your holiday allowance, then, have you?

Personally?

Right now is the start of a weekend off for me.

Because?

Well, it’s a birthday treat: today’s the day I turn another year older and wrinklier.

That’s always traumatic enough to need a bit of time!

~≈Â≈~

Did I tell you I don’t drive?

I don’t drive.   So tend to rely on the bus, the train, cabs — or my own too feet — if I need to get somewhere.

So don’t follow the news about cars, driving, what have you.

I do follow the technology news.

It seems ride hailing app, Uber, are in trouble.

It turns out they’ve got software built into the app that lefts them avoid picking up the people that monitor these things.

People who monitor these things … in every country in which the firm operates … 

Someone’s in trouble … 

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser — 4-3-2015: The Birthday Present …

*Yawns*

You know, I WAS planning to try and get some sleep, last night.

Really.

 Instead?

Managed to get talking — via SMS — with an old friend.

Which was nice.

It ALSO amazes me the kind of thing you get talking about, at that time of night … !

~≈∑≈~

The Daily Teaser — 4-3-2013

Well, it HAS to be said: I’m now officially a year older … !

It’s my birthday, today!   So, frankly, I’m going to be thanking everyone for the cards I’ve had, already.

And show you the Universal Dock my family got me for me birthday: that’s it, hooked up to the TV.

I’ve got to admit, it did take a while setting that up.

The cabling, and playing videos wasn’t the problem.

Oh, no.

Working out which channel to use took me a while: it turns out my TV uses the channel meant for old fashioned VHS recorders.   There’s possibly an irony, there … !

At ANY rate … ?

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ? 

≈≈~~≈≈

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers:along with telling us she’s feeling remarkably clear headed, she also managed to bag 6 out 6.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we … ?

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

Q1) 4th March, 1933, saw Franklin Delano Roosevelt inaugurated as US President: what had he used as his campaign song … ?

Q2) More to the point, how many FULL terms did he serve as President … ?

Q3) 4th March, 1675, saw John Flamsteed named as the Royal Astronomer: by which King … ?

Q4) 4th March, 2012, saw who elected as President of Russia … ?

Q5) 4th March, 1923, saw the birth of noted TV presenter and amateur astronomer, Sir Patrick Moore.   What was the name of the TV show he presented for many years … ?

Q6) More to the point, what was the name of the star catalogue he created … ?

Q7) And finally … 4th March, 1985, saw the US Food and Drug Administration approve a blood test for which disease … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 3rd March, 1284, saw which Principality incorporated into England … ?

A1) Wales.   (Under the Statute of Rhuddian, so you know.)

Q2) 3rd March, 1924, saw Caliph Abdul Mejid 2nd, deposed: which Caliphate had he been ruler of … ?

A2) The Ottoman Empire.

Q3) That empire is now known as which country … ?

A3) Turkey.

Q4) 3rd March saw a plane from that country crash in Paris: in which year of the 1970s … ?

A4) 1974.

Q5) 3rd March, 1923, saw the first publication of Time magazine.   Who did name as their Person of the Year, in 2012 … ?

A5) President Barack Obama.

Q6) And finally … 3rd March, 1991, saw two countries vote to become independent from the Soviet Union: name either of them.

A6) Latvia and Estonia.

I’ll leave you with this quote from fellow birthday boy, the late Sir Patrick Moore …

“I’m only a four-dimensional creature. Haven’t got a clue how to visualize infinity. Even Einstein hadn’t. I know because I asked him.”

Sir Patrick Moore, 4 March 1923 – 9 December 2012

And with this tune from Swiss band, Yello: as it’s also frontman, Dieter Meier’s birthday … 

*        Well, you’re definitely looking as sharp as ever, Debbi.   Actually … I think that’s possibly the cue for a song … 

(Oh, YouTube’s got the original Lotte Lenya cut, too … )

Thank You

You know, I think — right at the moment — I owe quite a lot of people a ‘Thank You’, as well as a big wet slobbery kiss.

As Gender appropriate, of course …

At any rate, I do know I think I’m going to be thanking Andrea, Simon, Trevor, Andy, Tim and new-comers James and Elizabeth who ALL took part in today’s Teaser! Thank you one and all!

I’m also going to be thanking Mum, and my two sister’s Ruth and Anna, who between them, got me the DVD of Watchmen, and something else that’s on it’s way.

And, of course, to Allison — sitting right behind me, now — who managed to pick me an iTunes card.

Which, of course, went on a copy of the Kraftwerk album, Trans Europe Express, along with a copy of The Best of Sting and The Police.

Thank you, one and all!