Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-6-2026 — “The Dreaming City” (Ten questions)

7th June, 2026: “The Dreaming City”.

It’s officially official: I’ve missed mentioning something!

Yes: I’ get a mention in a Dr Who video … !

Well … I get a mention in @SaltyHammond’s review of Terror of the Autons.

I’d suggested covering The Abominable Snowmen in his next video: I’m looking forward to that!

~≈▶️≈~

Talking of videos?

My nephew, Jude, was over, yesterday: thoroughly some of the sillier sound effects in Final Cut Pro.

See if you can find the comedy honking noises!

~≈🪿≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

I’ve got Meatloaf’s Bat out of Hell on in the background.

The man’s death was a waste … but we can take a certain measure of comfort in one thing.

In recording the thing, he made one hell of an LP!

~≈🦇≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-2-2026 — Brave New World (Ten Questions)

4th February, 2026: Brave New World.

Right then … it’s Wednesday … !

Which means — as my nephew, Jude, was over, last night … ? — that it’s time for another of his videos!

You’re officially making ‘YAY’ noises, aren’t you … ?

~≈⚽️≈~

The former BBC2 series, Mock the Week, has been revived: on its new channel, TLC.

In a new, extended, form.

I caught the repeated, first episode, last night.

It was an hour long: in part, due to the various ad breaks.

It’s still funny … but I don’t think the ad-breaks, or the extended run-time, appealed … !

~≈📢≈~

Which reminds me … 

There’s a few TV shows I want to watch, then review: including the last series of Stranger Things, and Star Trek: Star Fleet Academy.

That’s going to have to wait, though, I think: until after my piece on the Ralph Bakshi version of The Lord of the Rings.

Which should be today.

Here’s hoping!

~≈🧙‍♂️≈~

As a last thought … ?

I’ve now, officially, deactivated my X/Twitter account.

And, surprisingly?

It’s not because of Elon Musk, or his politics.

Granted, I didn’t — and don’t — like what I know of his beliefs: but they didn’t stop my enjoyment of X, as a site.

I’ve met someone nice people as a result of being on the thing.

No, what’s got me leaving?

I have, for some sixteen odd years, advertised both this blog, and my YouTube videos, on X.

Quite repetitively so, in fact.

And, in the past few weeks?

Had my account limited.

Because those posts have been seen as spam, and — ha! — inauthentic!

So, after a lot of thinking?

I’ve deactivated my X account.

After thirty days, after 4th March, 2026, anyone using my account, @Cuddy2977, isn’t going to be me.

Feel free to follow me on Facebook, Mastodon, Instagram and Bluesky.

~≈X≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-9-2025 — On the Road.

5th September, 2025: On the Road.

Were you here, yesterday?

Then you’ll know two things.

I had my quarterly, HbA1c, test, yesterday.

And … ?

The bulb in the lamp sitting next to me failed.

I’m going to try and get replacement bulbs, today.

They’re needed, I think.

But … ?

And wouldn’t you know it … ?

The damn lamp switched on, this morning.

I think I’m getting a case of the hives … 

~≈🐝≈~

I also had blood tests, yesterday.

And … ?

The results should come in, in about a week or so.

I have a phone appointment on the 26th: which is where I find out the results.

This morning, though … ?

I’ve got the radio on, as always: and the BBC News, and the Today programme, has told me thousands of people will need re-testing for type two diabetes.

As some 55, 000 people have been misdiagnosed with the condition, as a result of wrongly-calibrated equipment.

I don’t think I’m affected: the results from the blood sugar monitor I have, tell me that.

Along side the lack of ill effects from the medications I’m on.

But?

I did have an oddly low reading from the quarterly tests, a few months back.

And have always wondered about that … 

~≈🐝≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 18-8-2025 — Lolita

18th August, 2025: Lolita.

Hmmm … 

There’s talk, doing the rounds.

And there’s things people spot.

And, inevitably?

Talk about things people spot!

I caught “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tale”, the most recent episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, last week.

And … ?

Inevitably, it gets discussed in some of the Facebook groups I’m in.

Including the fact people have managed screen grabs of the episode.

Including the fact that people have taken screen grabs at around the eleven minutes and twenty-eight seconds mark.

Quite what the suspiciously blue looking police box I’ve highlighted is supposed to be?

But that suspiciously blue looking police box I only found out about, after finishing my review … ?

Is suspiciously familiar looking to a Doctor Who fan … 

However suspicious, I thought that was a nice touch: and nothing more than a sight gag in the episode.

But I’m willing to bet someone’s going to start wondering if Paramount are going to replace Disney, as international streaming partners … 

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Talking of the Disney deal … ?

I’m wondering how many episodes the company signed up to fund.

Famously, they don’t seem to have renewed the deal: after the two Ncuti Gatwa led series.

As I recently realised that there were three anniversary specials, a five episode miniseries, and two eight episode series.

Twenty four episodes, in other words.

I’m wondering whether Disney thought they were getting three eight episode series of Dr Who.

But actually got three anniversary specials, a five episode miniseries, two eight episodes of the main series … and a couple of Christmas specials.

I’ll probably never know … 

~≈👨🏿‍⚕️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-6-2025 — Harry Potter (Ten Questions)

26th June, 2025: Harry Potter.

Right … it’s Thursday.

And … ?

I’ve got a couple of t-shirts on the way.

Printed ones, with the covers from the old Traveller games, on them.

I’m not sure I’ve picked the right colour for the shirts.

But?

At least they’re on route: and can (hopefully) be used for the next set of videos.

~≈🚀≈~

The one thing that has disappointed me?

Is NOT finding the 1980 cover of Runequest’s 2nd edition, online.

At least, not finding a large enough, good quality copy.

I’d love to have that on a t-shirt: although I realise the woman on the cover isn’t exactly practically dressed.

That armour’s going to chafe!

~≈👙≈~

There’s plans in the House of Commons.

Or — more accurately — the Government is planning to tighten various benefits: including Universal Credit, and Personal Independence Payment, the two I’m claiming.

I really don’t like the idea: anything that threatens the incomes of I and so many others?

Isn’t a good thing.

So … ?

I’m grateful the Government’s negotiating with its own rebel backbenchers: in order to ease the changes.

We’ll have to see how that vote goes: but … ?

Well played, them!

~≈🗳️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-3-2025 — The Shahnameh

8th March, 2025: The Shahnameh.

Right … does anyone need a second hand Mac … ?

I’ve got a 2023 M2 model for sale: that I’ll probably end up selling to the Romford branch of CeX.

Along side an unneeded monitor and a blu-ray version of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

We’ll have to see what Facebook’s Marketplace does … once I get genuine customers, instead of chancers!

~≈🖥️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-11-2023 — The Colour of Magic.

24th November, 2023: The Colour of Magic.

Right … it’s now Friday: and a day I’m hoping will not be Thursday!

Sainsbury’s — where I do my usual monthly shopping — has self service tills.

And, occasionally … ?

The staff manning those tills?   Have to check your shopping: to make sure you’ve got everything, and aren’t shop-lifting.

I got checked, with a lot of shopping.

And had to rescan everything: as a result forgetting to scan a box of cornflakes, and the machine not working … !

To cap it all off … ?

I lost the iTunes gift card I bought!

It wasn’t in the taxi, nor any of the bags: and I don’t know if I dropped it in the store until I get a chance to check, later.

And Apple themselves, couldn’t trace it from the receipt I had.

I’m still feeling annoyed and frustrated, this morning!

~≈¥≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-7-2023 — Neuromancer

1st July, 2023: Neuromancer.

It’s official.

I’ve got an earworm.

Well … not necessarily an earworm!

The song is the very catchy Prisencolinensinainciusol*: by Adriano Celentano.

It’s written in Gibberish that’s supposed to sound like English.

But — as catchy as it is? — it was the dancers that caught my eye.

It’s definitely strange!

~≈👯‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-10-2022 — Gulliver’s Travels.

28th October, 2022.

It’s officially the case: that my nephew was over, last night.

To see his uncle: and make some videos.

One is another of his Depressed FC games.

The other lets his subscribers know he’s got more Prime: the incredibly fashionably drink.

It’s nice, I’ll give him that.

But it’s not something I can afford!

~≈🥤≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-8-2022 — Animal Farm

17th April, 2022.

Right … we’re looking at blu-rays … 

You’ll’ve realised that I’m a fan of Dr Who: and have been for a while.

And … ?   I’ve got all surviving, available, episodes on an external drive not far from where I’m sitting.

I’ve also got this habit of collecting the Dr Who — The Collection series of blu-ray box sets.

They are extremely worth while: especially for the Behind the Sofa features.

Well … 

It seems the BBC are going to be releasing Season 2 of the classic series — Hartnell’s second, and the most complete of his three seasons — at some point soon.

For a given value of ‘soon’ … !

Assuming I can afford it … ?

I’ll be looking forward to it!

~≈¶≈~

I have a problem.

I’m due to attend a meeting at the Restart course I’m at: tomorrow.

The scheme usually sends me tickets: or, at least, buys them for me, and arranges it so I can pick them up at the station.

After, of course, I email them about it!

I’ve been doing that since Sunday.

And not heard a thing.

If I don’t go: my benefit gets suspended.

If anyone can lend me the price of a return ticket to Chelmsford, by tomorrow, I’d appreciate hearing about it!

~≈¶≈~

The Friday Question Set — 26-2-2016

You know, you have to love a Friday … !

No really.

Frankly … ?   I’ve got the TV on, and Joanna Gosling is standing in for Victoria Derbyshire: and wondering why.

There’s a hell of a lot on, about football.

Which ISN’T my favourite thing … !

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser — 23-4-2013: World Book Night

You realise it’s the 23rd of April … ?

You’d worked that out, hadn’t you: you’re As capable of checking a calendar as I am.

Which means you’ve possibly worked out two things.

1)        It’s Saint Georges Day.   Have a good one, if you’re celebrating it.   Try and avoid the dragons, I’d prefer a live audience that’s not been eaten by green scaly mythological creatures.

And 2)        It’s ALSO World Book Night: marking the birth and death of William Shakespeare, the death of Miguel Cervantes, and an old regional Spanish tradition that sees lovers give each other a book.   (Usually of love poems.)

Either way … ?   Have fun, today: if you see me, I might just give you something to read … 

As I’m one of the volunteer givers for this year.

Let’s move on … 

}}‡{{

Yesterday’s saw Debbi and Adrence putting in their answers.   With Debbi mentioning Big Bang Theory*, it also saw Adrence bagging nought out of seven, and Debbi bagging seven.

Let’s see how they — and you — do with today’s World Book Night questions, shall we … ?

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

Q1) 23rd April is World Book Night: in which year of the 1990s was it first celebrated … ?

Q2) In part, World Book Night marks the death of William Shakespeare, on Saint Georges Day: in which year of the 17th Century … ?

Q3) Equally to the point, that day also saw the death of Miguel de Cervantes.   Which of his works is considered by many to be the world’s first novel … ?

Q4) There are twenty World Book Night Books being handed out in the UK, this year: name any one of them … ?

Q5) In which Spanish region are books traditionally given to one’s sweetheart on Saint Georges Day … ?

Q6) Excluding things like The Bible, The Qu’ran and The Communist Manifesto, what 1859 book is supposed to be the biggest selling in the English language … ?

Q7) And finally … what name is given to the original official publication of Shakespeare’s plays … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 22nd April, 1915, saw which gas used as a chemical weapon, for the first time … ?

A1) Chlorine.

Q2) During the second battle of where … ?

A2) Ypres.

Q3) 22nd April, 1993, saw the release of the world’s first successful web browser: what was it called … ?

A3) Mosaic.

Q4) 22nd April, 1977, saw the first use of optical fibre, to carry live what: tv shows, phone conversations or computer data … ?

A4) Phone conversations.

Q5) 22nd April, 1971, saw the death of Dr Francois Duvalier: president — and dictator — of where … ?

A5) Haiti.

Q6) More to the point, what was his nickname … ?

A6) ‘Papa Doc’.

Q7) And finally … 22nd April, 1912, saw the first publication of Pravda: what’s the meaning of the word, Pravda, in English … ?

A7) Truth.

Enjoy those: I’ll leave you with this rather relevant Elvis number … 

And with this thought from Umberto Eco …

“Books are not made to be believed, but to be subjected to inquiry.”

Umberto Eco.

Have a good day … !

*        I’ve got to admit, Debbi, I’ve never actually seen it: I’ve got Freeview, as it’s free … !   Which means I can never work out something my friends are raving about is on … !

Crazed Ideas at 2 in Morning …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I — occasionally — have ideas.

No, seriously!

Some of them even work out: the one where I thought ‘I could do pub quizzes’ worked out, until the recession hit.   (I’m not cheap, in that sense: AND provided booby prizes.)

Another seems to be doing well: ‘I know, I’ve now got an internet connection, what about I write one of those blog thingies everyone’s banging on about … ?’

That seems to still be going, several years later … … … … 

Then there’s the ones you only get at two in the morning.

And have no conceivable way of putting into practise.

Like the one I had at two, this morning, when I couldn’t sleep: that still seems to make a certain vague amount of sense.

Even if it would take a lot more money and engineering skill than I have.

☱☲☴☲☱

Ever read Arthur C Clarke’s short story, The Sentinel … ?

No … ?

Basically, it’s the short story that formed the basis for the film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

And follows a a moon bound scientist, when he and his team find a tetrahedral beacon — under a dust covered forcefield — tucked away in the one of the more obscure bits.

Well … 

It wasn’t so much the story that caught me.

As a mental image of an astronaut looking as this glass tetrahedron: and thinking/explaining to himself that it’s a marker beacon.

You see, what was floating around my mind, at the time … ?

Was Doomsday.

Sort of.

Well … 

A Doomsday vault, to be precise … 

☱☲☴☲☱

You see, what I also had in mind … ?

Was what happens to all that stuff, it everything goes — and I’m hoping you’ll excuse the phrase — tit’s up … ?

What happens to all that information … ?

All that knowledge, art, literature that we, as a species, have produced over the centuries?

And it sort of came to me.

We need somewhere to  put it.

Somewhere safe, along the lines of the Doomsday plant Vault, the Global Seedbank, in Norway.

Only … ?

Well, it occurred to me putting it on Earth wouldn’t necessarily be a good idea: earthquakes, volcanoes, continental drift, what have you, would be certain to do some damage.   Not counting what a nutter with a gun or a simple pair of pliers could do.

That idea, this morning … ?

Was this … 

What if we had a giant knowledge bank on the Moon … ?   Under a marker buoy of some sort … ?   Oh, and with SOME form of instructions on how to get to it: you know, literally, “Dig here, build a generator, here’s how to make a computer, and speak our language.”

That sort of thing.

Let’s be frank, here.

Death’s scary … 

It’d be nice to have something in place for the inevitable day the species pops its clogs … 

The World Book Night Pick-up …

Hmmm ...

Look’s like Blogger'as not exactly compatible with the version of Internet Explorer*, anymore.

Which is ...

Well, it does make for a certain amount of awkwardness, uploading the photos I meant to show you.

But, at least, I've now managed to get hold of the books I'll be handing out, on World Book Night, this coming Saint Georges Day.

Of course, the one problem, at the moment … ?

Is how exactly to get them home.

The box is a BIT bigger than I was expecting … !!!

*        I initially posted this from Brentwood Library, where the books I’m due to hand out had been delivered … 

Getting A Book Out …

Hmmm …

Well, that’s nice to know …

I book that I’ve ordered from Brentwood Library has finally turned up.

William Gibson’s Pattern Recognition.

Just so you know!

Actually …

Bizarrely, that’s actually mildly disappointing in one regard.

I was expecting a book of poetry, as well, which doesn’t appear to have turned up.

Still … ?

I’ve got to admit to having been something of a fan of Gibson’s, ever since I read his Sprawl trilogy, some yeas ago.

Here’s hoping Pattern Recognition follows nicely on …

»»·««

Oh, one other thing … ?

I had an appointment the Practise nurse, at my GP’s yesterday: I’m in the last few weeks of trying to give up smoking.

One thing that DID put a smile on my face, and snapping away madly with me camera phone … ?

Was a fully laden carriage: with FOUR horses, I should add.

Now what the hell they were up to, I’m blowed if I know.

But it was nice to see.

Identity Crisis: Blood, Swearing … And Terribly Entertaining …

Can I ask you a question, here, folks … ?

Can I … ?

Actully, no, forget I asked … !

I’m going to, anyway … !

Ever hear the phrase, page-turner … ?

You have … ?

Me too …

And I’ve always felt that — with rare exceptions — it’s not a term I apply to every book that I read.

Terry Pratchett’s usually an exception, for example: Thud, Nightwatch and Nation, in particular.

Oh, and Dune …

I really can’t be forgetting Frank Herbert’s Dune …

The point I’m trying to make, here, is simply that it’s not often I come across a page-turner.

I think I just have …

»»•««

Do you remember, a while back, I wrote rather extensively about Brentwood Library, and how it was going to have its hours adjusted … ?

As part of that, Debbi, bless ’er — writer, recovering lawyer, and one of my regular contributors — got in touch with Essex Library’s head, Susan Carragher, and offered to donate some copies of her first novel, Identity Crisis.

I went and ordered a copy, as soon as I got word they were in …

»»•««

I’m glad I did …

Identity Crisis sees Stephanie Ann “Sam” MacRæ — Maryland lawyer at arms — finding her working day starting with something nasty at her office: her friendly local plain-clothes police officer, Detective Derry … accompanied by the somewhat obstreperousª FBI agent, Special Agent Jergins.

Seems they want to ask a few questions about a former client of hers, a certain Melanie Hayes.

Who’s gone missing.

After her ex boyfriend — Melanie had filed a Domestic Abuse complaint against him, with Sam’s help — has been fatally shot …

On top of that … ?

Sam’s found out that there’s quite a few odd things happening with bank account: which is at the same bank where Melanie works …

And on top of that … ?

There’s a bunch of seriously unfriendly Mafiosi floating around in all of this, with threatening cars that make President Obama’s Beast look lightweight …

»»•««

Now, I was saying page turner, earlier … ?

Yes, I was, wasn’t I … ?

Now, I know that one could — arguably — make the point that Identity Crisis is possibly a little much like a latter day Miss Marple.

Possibly …

One could also argue that Identity Crisis is possibly even a touch tame*: especially me, having seen various shades of gruesome horror movie and crime thriller, over the years.

That’s also possible …

On the other hand, though … ?

On the other hand, though, Debbi, bless her, has written a bit of a corker … !

I actually found meself patiently going to bed and spending a long time reading Identity Crisis, night after night and chapter by chapter, wanting to know what happens in the next chapter, and how Sam either deals with a problem, finds information, or puts another next piece of the puzzle in place.

Identity Crisis is a rock solid read, literally a page-turner.

And what’s more … ?

It’s also an entertaining one, that’s built a nicely solid introduction to Sam McRæ and her world …

That I think I’ll be heading for my local library to see if I can’t get hold of Least Wanted.

I want to know what happens next … !

Identity Crisis by Debbi Mack.

Lulu.com; July 2009

ISBN: 978-0-557-08325-1

Paul: “Identity Crisis? It’s a Keeper!” ★★★☆

* In spite of one use of the ‘C’ word: I’ve known people who have done serious time, for serious crime and are seriously nasty, and even they’ll raise an eyebrow at that one … ! (To be fair, though, Debbi DID tell me she was trying to drop the hint that these guys weren’t pleasant … )

ª I‘m almost tempted to say mildly snotty. Or even slightly tetchy …

The Library’s Scores a Goal … !

You know, I think I’m going to make Debbi nervous, here, I really am … !

Because … ?

Well …

I can’t imagine a writer not being nervous when she find’s out someone’s reading a book of hers … !

But at any rate … ?

At any rate, I’ll be frank, Brentwood Library has finally taken delivery of Debbi’s first novel, Identity Crisis.

And I’m going to be frank … ?

I’ve think I’ve got my bedtime reading sorted, for the next few days …