Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-11-2025 — World Diabetes Day

14th November, 2025: World Diabetes Day.

Bugger!

I had an extremely funny introductory video done for today’s post!

One full of wit, humour, and satirical observations about politics!

But … ?

But I managed to bin it, and empty the bin, before Time Machine managed to back up my system, and save it.

Remind me to no kick myself: I’d miss!

~≈⏰≈~

The BBC’s been covering it all morning.

Seemingly?

Sky TV are to start broadcasting a UK version of the venerable US comedy series, Saturday Night Live: and are assembling the team as we speak.

It may do well … 

But … ?

I think Saturday Live/Friday Night Live— the UK series that made stars out of many UK comics — has been forgotten in all the excitement.

~≈☭≈~

Just so everyone knows?

I’ve got two ten question sets due: on the 5th and 17th, of December.

And have just finished the twelve question review of 2025: due on the 31st December.

Hopefully, you’ll enjoy them!

~≈⌘≈~

As a final thought … ?

You’ll remember I’ve objections to the Government’s proposed Digital ID scheme?

I’ve objections to the Government’s proposed Digital ID scheme: mostly based on cost.

There’s some good news about it: the petition on the UK government’s website has had something of an effect.

The proposal will be discussed in the House of Commons on 8th December, this year.

Hopefully, the whole silly idea will be scrapped.

~≈🆔≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-11-2023 — World Diabetes Day.

14th November, 2023: World Diabetes Day.

Right … it’s now Tuesday … and I have a heavy sense of Deja Vu.

You’ll remember former Prime Minister, David Cameron?

The Tory PM who put the country through the referendum that saw us leaving the European Union?

In possibly the biggest cock-up of his career.

You’d think that — after his resignation, and being replaced as an MP? — he’d not want to get involved with politics again.

He didn’t.

Until yesterday.

When the current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, appointed him to a seat in the House of Lords, and then as Foreign Secretary.

Beyond calling him Ricochet Dave?

I have to admit to being mildly concerned.

He’s an MP, a Member of Parliament: in the sense that he’s now a life peer, and member of the House of Lords.

But not a MP, not a member of the House of Commons, as his boss, PM Rishi Sunak.

That means that — as Foreign Secretary — he can’t enter the House of Commons, where his boss, the PM, and his fellow cabinet members sit.

He won’t face questions from the House, nor the opposition.

It’s been done before: Lord Carington, Mrs Thatcher’s Foreign Secretary, was a member of the Lords.

Quite how that works, I don’t know.

In one sense?

It’s a good thing for the current PM: he gets an experienced cabinet member, with an international reputation.

And who can offer advise on the job of Prime Minister.

That he can fire at any time.

On the down side?

Cameron is not accountable to the House of Commons*: nor can he be voted out of office.

That’s concerning.

~≈X≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8th September, 2022.

8th September, 2022.

Did I ever mention I’m diabetic?   And trying to lose weight?

I’m diabetic — type two*, so you know — and trying to lose weight.

And … ?

I’m on a plethora of medication for it.

Including an experimental one called semaglutide, one that’s marketed under the brand name, Ozempic.

Well, I say ‘experimental’: it’s works well at lowering blood sugar† levels, and has officially UK approval for that purpose.

Something I know applies in my case.

Ideally, it should be 42 or less.

When first diagnosed, mine was over 100!

My diabetic care team are trying to get mine to around 48 to 57.

At a check, before I started using Semaglutide?   It was 68.

And, at my last check?   Was 60.

Which my GP was very pleased with.

Before starting the drug?   It wasn’t moving much.

The reason I signed up for the drug, though?

Is that — reportedly — Semaglutide can be used as part of a weight management scheme.

It’s supposed to help.

Apparently?   Medical authorities in the US have cleared its use for weight control: in the US.

But British medical regulators haven’t.

They are prescribing it to diabetics with weight issues on an experimental basis, though.

To see if can help a person loss weight.

Which is why I checked my weight, this morning: to see if it had gone down.

It hasn’t: it’s at the same sort of live it’s been for the past couple of weeks.

OK: it’s good my blood sugar has gone down.

But my weight hasn’t.

It’s not gone up … but it’s not gone down.

I’m … not worried, per se.

But am a little concerned.

~≈🩸≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-5-2022: Stevie Wonder

13th May, 2022.

Right … I don’t know if I’ve done it right.

You’re wondering what I’m talking about, aren’t you … ?

I’m diabetic: and on a slew of medications.

Up until today?   That’s included Metformin, Aloglyptin and Dapagliflozin.   The last one’s also known as Forxiga: which is much more pronounceable!

I’ve now had — under medical advice — to stop using the Aloglyptin: as I’ve started using an injectable medication called Semaglutide: also called Ozempic.

Apparently, the two don’t work well, together.

I’ve also received instructions on how to use the thing: it’s an injection pen, similar to ones used for insulin.

Oh … and given a link to video instructions.

It’s powerful enough that I only need to take it once a week.

But?   I don’t like the look of the side effects.

And … ?

Well, I’ve never had to inject myself with anything, in my life.

I’m hoping like hell I’ve used it correctly!

~≈Ü≈~

In other news?

You’ll have realised I thoroughly enjoyed the Denis Villeneuve Dune Pt 1.

Yesterday saw an announcement.

Christopher Walken has been cast in Dune Pt 2: as Emperor Shaddam 4th, himself.

That’s a genius piece of casting!

Especially as Walken’s been known to dance around when worms get mentioned.

If you know, you know!

~≈Ü≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-11-2021: World Diabetes Day

14th November, 2021.

Right … it’s a Sunday.

And … ?

Frankly, I’m having dinner and my mothers, today: and hopefully be able to pick up the repaired phone on the way.

I just hope the shop’s managed the job on time.

And that I get home for Dr Who!

~≈®≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1st September, 2020

1st September, 2020.

Right … 

I’ve officially got another phone meeting, today: with my Shaw Trust case worker.

The people running the Work and Health programme for the Job Centre, in other words.

Given the funding situation?

I think I’m going to want a word … 

~≈®≈~

One thing I do know … ?

Is that — apparently — the NHS have started a programme for those of us with type two diabetes.

It’s a series of soups and shakes designed to help those of us who have it — and who are overweight — lose weight: and hopefully put the condition into remission.

It sound similar to something I tried in my early twenties.

It worked, then.

But I’m very aware that it would be a lot more difficult, now.

I’ve some thirty years worth of bad habits built up, since then.

We’d have to see what happens.

~≈®≈~

Ever heard of Mr Sin … ?

The character was a robot in Dr Who story, The Talons of Weng Chiang: and was a robot … with the brains of a pig.

It turns out science is imitating art, again.

Tesla boss, Elon Musk is developing what he calls his Neuralink: a brain-computer interface.

Personally, I’m thinking he’s been inspired by something similar in the Culture novels of Iain M. Banks.

The reason I mention Mr Sin … ?

Is that it seems Elon’s used a pig: as an experimental subject for one of his Neuralink chips.

Apparently the pig’s called Gertrude.

Rather than Mrs Sin … 

~≈®≈~

Diabetes: Day 15

Right ...

There is not introductory video.

But then, I'm using the laptop -- a refurbished Thinkpad running Ubuntu Mate 18.04 -- with no web cam to write this.

As you may or may not know?   I've recently been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Which ... doesn't seem to be affecting me much.

However?

I am now on medication for it: a drug called Metformin.

Which, right now?

Is making me fart ... quite a bit!

I'm also trying to -- ahem! -- improve my diet.

~≈U≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22-3-2020: Sunday in the Park

22nd March, 2020.

It’s officially official: the world’s a mess.

Or, at least, my hair is.

I think I need a haircut.

We’ll have to see how the budget — and the coronavirus — goes, this month.

~≈∑≈~

One thing I do know … ?

Is that I had dinner, last night.

Complete with some sweet potatoes, rather than regular potatoes: they’re better for those of us with diabetes, I’m told.

I have a burger, with peas, and — instead of all potatoes — a mix of regular and sweet potatoes.

That went well: the ‘replacements’ were definitely sweeter but cooked just as well.

I’ll tell you one thing, though.

Sweet potatoes — at least, these ones — weren’t half difficult to chop up.

If you have a spare chainsaw, I’d appreciate it!

~≈∑≈~

Diabetes: Day 5

17th March, 2020.

Right ... no introductory video ... again.

Which is possible something you're grateful for.

But has at least made this post quicker to start.

And quieter.

I'm writing this in Brentwood Library, after all.

Which you may have noticed from my new Instagram account.

At any rate ... ?

I'm at a loose end.

~≈U≈~

Diabetes: Day 1

Glucose molecule.

20th March, 2020.

Right ...

Those of you who read Nik Nak's Old Peculiar on a regular basis?

Will probably realise I usually put in an introductory video in at the start of a post.

At least, I have done for a couple of years, now.

The result of being gifted a desktop with a webcam.

It's made something of a difference to my YouTube channel, I know that.

Viewers get to see more of me ...

At any rate ... ?

I'm out of work.

Recently been given a laptop ... without a webcam.

So I'm in Brentwood Library ... blogging old style ...

~≈¥≈~

The Daily Teaser — 14/11/2014: World Diabetes Day

Oh, LOVELY … !

Someone’s kicked the front door in … !

I have to admit, the street I live on … ?   Is mostly, an OK place to live.

OK, you get the ODD incident.   Mostly what — back in the day — we used to refer to as ‘handbags as dawn’.

Last night … ?

Given the state of the front door window, last night, I think we can say this was suitcases, rather than handbags.

Someone … ?

SOMEONE had a little too much to drink, last night … 

~≈Ê≈~

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 14-11-2011: World Diabetes Day

Hmmm … 

I’m thinking, here, that I’m going to have to rush, here … !

Frankly … ?

Frankly, Damon Albarn’s going to have the biggest radio audience of his LIFE, helping the BBC’s radio service — ALL of it! —  celebrate its 90th birthday.

So … 

Without much ado, here’s this week’s Gazette Teaser: written by yours truly!

Q1) 14th November is World Diabetes Day.   Diabetes is caused by a shortage of which hormone … ?

Q2) More to the point, that hormone is usually produced by what: the liver, the pancreas or the kidneys … ?

Q3) The shortage of that hormone leads to too much what: sucrose, glucose or fructose … ?

Q4) The full name of Diabetes, is what … ?

Q5) Noted 80s singer, Mari Wilson famously suffers with Type 1 Diabetes: in spite of that, she clocked up a UK № 8, with what song … ?

Q6) Fellow sufferer, Halle Berry famously won her Best Actress Oscar for which 2001 film … ?

Q7) Actress and diabetes sufferer, Mary Tyler Moore, does a lot of work for diabetes charities in the US: during the 1960s, she famously played the wife of which actor … ?

Q8) Author, H. G. Wells also suffered with the condition: which of his novels was turned into an album by Jeff Wayne … ?

Q9) Wells, Wilson, Berry and Moore all shared their condition with the Godfather Of Soul.   Who was the Godfather Of Soul … ?

Q10) And finally … Author and Merry Prankster, Ken Kesey, suffered with diabetes: his one well known novel was turned into which Jack Nicholson film … ?

And here’s last week’s questions and answer: links are on the Gazette’s version of this page.

Questions.

Q1) 7th November, 1996, saw NASA launch its Mars Global Surveyor: NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space … what … ?

Q2) More to the point … the Mars Global Surveyor was launched from NASA’s Cape Canaveral Airbase: in which US state is Cape Canaveral … ?

Q3) Moving on, slightly … in which year did the Mars Global Surveyor reach Mars: 1997, 1998, or 1999 … ?

Q4) Mars, of course is known as the what planet: red, white or blue … ?

Q5) More to point, name either of Mars’ moons … 

Q6) The highest known mountain on any planet in the Solar System is on Mars.   What’s its name: Tartarus Mons, Chronus Mons or Olympus Mons … ?

Q7) More to the point … Is that mountain a volcano: yes or no … ?

Q8) While we’re being Martian … science fiction classic, War Of The Worlds, was all about a Martian invasion of Earth.   Which English wirter wrote that novel… ?

Q9) Which recent film told us all about the adventure of John Carter of Mars … ?

Q10) And finally … Bugs Bunny cartoon, ‘Haredevil Hare’ saw the first appearance of which cartoon character: Martin the Martian, Marvin the Martian or Michelle the Martian … ?

Answers.

A1) Administration.

A2) Florida.   (Apparently, it’s separated from the nearby Merritt Island by the Banana River.   Well … it made me smile … )

A3) 1997.

A4) The Red planet.

A5) Phobos and Deimos.   (The names mean ‘Fear’ and ‘Terror’, in English: the two moons were named for the Roman God of War’s two sons.   Mars also has a daughter called Clancy: although I don’t know the Latin translation …)

A6) Olympus Mons.

A7) Yes: it’s what’s called a shield volcano.

A8) H. G. Wells.

A9) John Carter.   (Pay attention, everyone … )

A10) Marvin the Martian.

Have a GOOD week … !