Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-11-2019: Blunt

16th November, 2019.

You know, I get the feeling something’s happening that I’m not getting told about.

I — finallyish — had my boiler fixed, yesterday.

It seems to be giving me both heating and hot water.

But … ?

Having had the supervisor down — who told me the element needed replacing — the the engineer, yesterday — who told me the job looked like it would take up to three hours, then took half an hour to replace a sensor, and then told the boiler still needed replacing — I’m getting the feeling there’s a lot of … 

If you’ll excuse the language, I’m getting the feeling there’s a lot of crap being talked.

~≈§≈~

Hmmm … 

Can I make a confession?

I’m not a fan of the BBC’s Children in Need charity shindigs.

So … ?   Last night, I had V for Vendetta on, instead: whilst writing a few teasers, and adding questions to my quiz spreadsheet.

Ha!   That thing used to fit on a floppy disk, many years ago.

There was a Dr Who themed piece, though: for a little girl called Anastasia, who needed up getting her own Sonic Screwdriver.

Which is nice.

I’m … hmmm … just a touch disappointed they team didn’t write and produce a themed scene: as they’ve done in earlier years.

Oh, well … 

~≈§≈~

The Daily Teaser — 19-6-2014: Spies Like Us

Hmmm … 

That’s that started on, then.

Just so you know, I’m jobhunting.   

Which means, of course, I’m on benefits, at the mo.

No, that’s not easy.

And yes, it means I have to do what the job centre tells.

Which is fair enough.

Saying that … ?

Today, I have to start a regime of daily visits to the Job Centre.   Thankfully, that’s only around the corner from me.

And next week … ?   Next I have to start on a Fresh Start Course.

Which possibly sounds like I’m expected to be in two places at once.

On top of this … ?   I’ve ALSO had to tell the section of the Job Centre that runs the Mandatory Work Programme, exactly why I was at the Saint Francis Hospice Charity Shop for two days.   They think I was there for one.

Sounds like the branch’s manageress hasn’t told them she gave me my marching orders at Four in the afternoon: and didn’t tell me the complete story of WHY she was booting me off the placement.

Don’t you just hate that … ?

~≈Â≈~

The Daily Teaser — 15-10-2013: The Spying Game

I hate Mondays, I really do … !

Yes, I know that’s yesterday: but lord, that was a rough one.

First thing … ?   Well, the first thing, was that I left my wallet in the High Street.   Thank heavens the staff of Iceland found it and kept hold of it for me.

Then, in the evening … ?   My toaster made my flat explode.

Well, not quite.   I managed to turn on my (rather old) toaster at the same time as my oven: and blew a fuse.

It took an electrician from my landlord some two hours to get out to reset my fusebox, and how I should check it out for myself: and quietly told me he felt the toaster was the problem … !

Yeah, like I saw … I hate Mondays … !

~≈Â≈~

Moving on … ?

Moving on, yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: and bagging five out of five.

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) 15th October, 1917, saw the execution of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle MacLeod.   What was her better known stage name … ?

Q2) Which country was she accused of spying for … ?

Q3) In which European country was she executed … ?

Q4) How was she executed: hanging, firing squad or electric chair … ?

Q5) As well as being a spy, and courtesan, MacLeod, famously, was what … ?

Q6) Finally … During which war was the execution … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 14th October, 1322, saw Robert the Bruce defeat Edward 2nd.   Name  the country either ruled … ?

A1) England or Scotland.

Q2) Many years later, 14th October, 1586, saw Mary Queen of Scots go on trial: for conspiring against whom … ?

A2) Elizabeth 1st.

Q3) 14th October, 1957, saw the monarch of Canada open Canada’s parliament.   Which monarch are we talking about … ?

A3) Elizabeth 2nd.

Q4) 14th October, 1979, saw the first US Gay Rights march: on which US city … ?

A4) Washington.

Q5) Finally … 14th October, 2012, saw who, famously make a very high jump: from the stratosphere … ?

A5) Felix Baumgartner.   (Effectively, he jumped from a height of roughly 24 miles.   With all due respect to Herr Baumgartner … he’s NUTS … !)

Enjoy those.

I’ll leave you with this thought from the lady, herself …

“I am a woman who enjoys herself very much; sometimes I lose, sometimes I win.”

Margaretha Geertruida Zelle MacLeod.

And with this tune: a Bosnian Eurovision entry that seemed appropriate, when I saw it float past … 

Have a good day.

*        Here’s hoping your Monday wasn’t as rough as mine, Debbi … !   (Oh, and can you say ‘Hello’ to Rick for me, please … !)

The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 19-6-2013: Spies Like us …

It’s got to be said, for once … it’s actually a nice day!

Believe it or not!

So I’m to try and make posting this week’s Brentwood Gazette Teaser as quick as possible.

JUST so I can go out and enjoy some sun.

Whilst avoiding a sun tan: me getting me shirt off to get one will probably make my neighbours complain.

Or phone the coastguard to tell them there’s a beached whale, twenty miles inland … !

At ANY rate … 

~≈î≈~

At ANY rate, let’s get a shift on … !

Here’s this week’s questions … 

Q1) 19th June saw Julius and Ethel Rosenburg executed for spying on the USA.   In which year of the 1950s … ?

Q2) Which country were they spying for … ?

Q3) They were passing information about what, to the enemy: encryption, the A-bomb or US Army plans … ?

Q4) At which prison were they executed: Alcatraz, Sing Sing or Folsom … ?

Q5) In which US state is that prison … ?

Q6) Moving on … what’s the name of the USA’s intelligence agency … ?

Q7) What’s the UK’s foreign intelligence agency … ?

Q8) The chief of that agency is known by which letter: M, C, X or I … ?

Q9) What name Britain’s counter-intelligence and security service … ?

Q10) And finally … Britain’s signals intelligence is the Government Communications Headquarters, or GCHQ.   In which Gloucestershire town is GCHQ … ?

And here’s last weeks questions and answers.

Questions.

Q1) 12th June saw the Peasant’s Revolt reach Blackheath.   In which year was the Peasant’s Revolt … ?

Q2) Under the rule of which English King … ?

Q3) Blackheath is now — predominantly — in which London borough: Lewisham, Greenwich or Camden … ?

Q4) The revolt famously started in Fobbing: and which other Essex town … ?

Q5) The Revolt started when peasants rebelled against the collection of what: a land tax, a window tax or a poll tax … ?

Q6) One contributing factor in the Revolt was a labour shortage caused — roughly thirty years earlier — by which disease: HIV/AIDS, leprosy or the Black Death … ?

Q7) What was the name of the Lollard preacher famously involved with the Revolt … ?

Q8) Which of the Revolt’s leader’s led insurgents from a church in Great Baddow … ?

Q9) The Blackheath meeting saw the Essex contingent of the Revolt met by the Kentish contingent: who led the Kentish contingent … ?

Q10) And finally … The Peasant’s Revolt’s climaxed in which London area: Smithfield, Spitalfields or Saint John’s Wood … ?

Answers.

A1) 1381.

A2) Richard 2nd.

A3) Lewisham.

A4) Brentwood.   (OK, who got this wrong … ?)

A5) A poll tax.

A6) The Black Death.

A7) John Ball.

A8) Jack Straw.

A9) Wat Tyler.

A10) Smithfield.

The Gazette’s two sites have links, so you know.

Enjoy the week … !