Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 8-7-2026 — Number 189.

8th July, 2026: the Number 189.

Right, then: as we speak, stuff is being pencilled in!

Or, at least, drafted!

Yes: I’ve started watching For All Mankind’s fifth series, and am working on my review of the first episode.

That should be done by tomorrow, hopefully: keep your eyes peeled!

~≈♂︎≈~

In the wake of some financial scandals?

In the wake of some financial scandals, Reform leader, Nigel Farage, has handed in his resignation as an MP.

Or, at least, applied for the post of ‘Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds’, the Parliamentary equivalent.

He’s also announced he will be standing in the ensuing by-election, in an effort to clear his name.

It’s a publicity stunt, I think.   And one that would make me less likely to vote for the man: even given I’m not a Reform voter.

I’ll give the man credit for taking a political risk.

But?

I’d rather spoil my vote, than vote for a right wing candidate like Farage!

I’m also aware that — from what the Today Programme has said — if or when he is re-elected, he would still have a parliamentary enquiry into his finances.

I’m also wondering what would happen if his resignation were refused.

Apart from a certain amount of embarrassment, that is.

All of this is not why I’m annoyed about Farage’s actions.

Firstly?

Given his re-election wouldn’t stop a Parliamentary enquiry, I think any by-election is a waste of public money.

And, secondly?

The other, rival parties — Labour, the Tories, the Lib-Dems, Greens and Restore Britain — have all announced that they would not be standing in it: as they regard Farage’s actions as a stunt.

I can appreciate their point.

But think not opposing the idiot, not standing against him is profoundly undemocratic.

It’s denying voters a choice of candidates.

I can only encourage Clacton voters to either vote for the inevitable comedy candidates that turn up.

Or spoil their votes.

Or hope that Mr Farage’s resignation is refused: until the enquiry is completed.

~≈X≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-6-2026 — The Number 161.

10th June, 2026: 161.

Right … I had a visitor, yesterday … !

As you may or may not know, I was having issues with what’s called my ‘in-home display’: the little gadget that shows me how much money I’ve got on the gas and electric … wasn’t showing how much electricity I had.

Which was inconvenient.

So … ?

After a lot of to’ing, fro’ing, phoning, and chatting with engineers?

Cause of the problem — the smart meter for my flat, in a cupboard in a corridor, outside — was replaced, yesterday: and a new one installed.

A new one that now is communicating with the in-home display, and telling me I have some eighty or so pounds credit, available.

That credit?

Was transferred by a call centre agent from my electricity supplier: transferred from my gas supply, I should add, as I get my gas from the same supplier.

The roughly £170 that was on my old meter, though?

Is going to take some ten days to be transferred from the old meter, to the new one.

The sooner the better.

I could do with that money: I want to wash my socks!

~≈⚡️≈~

You’re possibly aware — as am I — that there’s been a gradual shift in entertainment.

Or, at least, in the media movies and TV shows are on.

There’s been a movement away from optical media — DVD and blu-rays, for example — to streamed content.

That’s affecting the games industry, as well: there’s moves from games sold on disc, to games made available online, for some years.

It seems many games companies are disabling popular games: with little to no warning.

Without even the decency to make an offline version available.

Something that — according to this piece — gamers are seriously annoyed about.

After all, gamers — like film and music fans, everywhere — stand a lot of money on these things.

And expect the content to be around for a long time.

What’s to be done about this?

I don’t know.

But there’s a lot of annoyed gamers, out there … !

~≈🎮≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 13-5-2026 — 133

13th May, 2026: № 133.

Right … it’s officially Wednesday … !

Which means it’s getting nearer to payday.

I’m looking forward to that: I’m ok for most things, but being able to buy a can of Diet Coke would be nice.

~≈🥤≈~

I’ve also managed to update my Mac: from macOS 26·4·1 to macOS 26·5.

I don’t think I’ve noticed much that’s different.

But there HAS been a lot of bug fixes.

That’s unusual in my experience: macOS is usually fairly bug free.

I can only hope those fixes were minor … 

~≈🍎≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

I’ve found out how to access a USB stick plugged into my router: and access it from my computer.

I’ve got a sixteen gigabyte one plugged in, as I write.

You’ve noticed I said that it’s a sixteen gigabyte one?

It is: quite why my system is telling me the thing’s got two hundred or so megabytes free?

I don’t know: I’ll have to check that out … 

~≈🥖≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-3-2026 — 71

12th March, 2026: Number 71.

It’s officially official: it’s Thursday.

So … ?

It’s officially the day after I was supposed to have a hygienist’s appointment.

Which fell through.

The hygienist was ill, it seems.

I found this out, as my dentist phoned me, yesterday morning: just as I was going for a stroll around the block.

I’m thankful it didn’t long to walk back to the flat, switch on the Mac, and re-arrange the diary.

That’s all sorted … but lord, the dentists know how to time things!

~≈🦷≈~

It’s that time of year when prices — rent, utilities, what have you — go up.

But also when, for those of us who get benefits, get whatever increases we’re due.

There’s possibly a sarcastic comment, there.

At any rate … I, like so many others, are due an increase in April.

So, of course, I’ve looked up the potential increases: and dound I’m due a ~£3 a week increase in Personal Independence Payments, and a £24 a month increase in Universal Credit.

Which will be useful.

A little lower down, there was an entry that said people like me, on Universal Credit with Limited Capability for Work, could expect a payment of £158·76p.

My morning started looking interesting: potential extra money is always promising.

But is always worth double checking.

So I did: leaving a message for my case officer on the Universal Credit website.

Only to be told that the £158·76p payment was for those who’d been transferred from Employment Support Allowance, to Universal Credit with Limited Capability for Work.

I wasn’t surprised, as I wasn’t expecting to get any extra money: it’s nice to get it confirmed.

But equally?

It would’ve been nice to get an extra payment.

Heigh … ho!

~≈£≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-9-2025 — № 249

6th September, 2025.

Did I mention I have a blu-ray on order?

I’ve got a blu-ray on order: of the classic 1980s comedy, The Young Ones.

Why?

Especially given it’s on the BBC iPlayer?   And I bought a streamed version through Apple’s TV.app?

Well … 

One: the version on the iPlayer is edited to remove language now considered offensive.   The streamed version hasn’t.   I’m hoping the bluray version hasn’t, either.

Two?

The blu-ray version has extras both the TV.app and iPlayer version doesn’t.

Finally, three … ?

I’ve been watching the science-fiction/horror series, Alien: Earth, just recently.

The series features Adrian Edmondson — Vyvyan, from The Young Ones — as a corporate heavy.

I’ve had Vyvyan’s “I don’t want my forehead to rust” line banging through my head, since I started watching it!

Argh!

~≈🎭≈~

I have to admit, I can see why the … … 

Actually, no I can’t: I can’t see why the iPlayer version’s been cut.

Well … I know why: it’s some offensive language in the episode, “Flood”.

Which has always struck me as mildly hypocritical of the BBC.

Especially when the iPlater release of Porridge released on iPlayer at the same sort of time as The Young Ones, just had a content warning: rather than heavy handed editing!

Heigh-ho!

~≈🥣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-5-2025 — The Number 144.

24th May, 2025: 144.

Hello, that’s changed … 

I’ve JUST pasted the labels into this blog post: and a pop-up has told me I can have no more than twenty such tags.

It’s changed: no more than two hundred characters, yesterday.

That’s a minor point: that’s possibly too minor at this time of the morning.

Heigh-ho!

~≈☟≈~

At ANY rate … ?

It turns out the US President is threatening fifty percent tariffs on goods made in the European Union.

And twenty-five percent ones on Apple-branded smart phones: but later expanded that threat to cover all smart phones.

My first thought, when I heard the news?

Was that I know the current administration is right wing.

Right wing enough to suspend the various diversity hiring measures in US law.

And — potentially — have a right wing leader who may be prejudiced towards various minorities.

Including gay people.

I mentioned that as Apple is the only tech company I know of to have an openly-out CEO: in the shape of Tim Cook.

So I felt this could be a personal thing for the President.

But I’m also aware that Apple is moving a lot of its manufactoring capabilities from China, to India, as a results of the Presidential imposed tariffs on Chinese made goods.

Which includes goods made by Apple: the Mac mini two feet away from me was made in a factory in Shenzhen, for example.

So I’m also aware that the President wanted to encourage tech manufactoring in the US.

But … ?

I get that impression Apple — as other companies — makes things in China, India and other places: because it’s cheaper for them to do so, to make stuff abroad, rather than make them at home.

The President should maybe impose tariffs … as well encourage lower costs in the US.

Personally?

I think he won’t do that: just as I think his prejudices may be a factor.

~≈🍏≈~

Just as a last thought … ?

Something’s gone wrong, somewhere.

I went for my diabetic review, yesterday.

And … ?

My results hadn’t come through.

I could’ve sworn I had those tests, recently!

In fact, I know I did: I left my glasses at the hospital, and had to go back for them!

Quite what’s happened, there, I don’t know: but I’ve rebooked the test, and the review!

~≈🅱️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 26-3-2025 — The Number 75.

16th March, 2025: the Number 75.

Right … it’s officially Sunday morning.

And … ?

Things are in the air: as they usually are.

Personally?

I’m looking forward to Monday morning.

I always tend to feel slightly lost, on Sundays.

I can only assume that’s a hold-over from my childhood: all the shops would shut on Sunday afternoon, and very little else would be open.

Ho-hum!

~≈🏬≈~

At any rate … ?

I know that the government had been planning to freeze some benefits: including Personal Independence Payments, one of the benefits I’m on.

Something I believe has been floated, to fund various defence measures.

At any rate … ?

I’d manage: hundreds wouldn’t.

However … ?

And as this piece from the BBC’s news site tells us?

There’s a rebellion brewing: as many concerned Labour MPs are concerned about it.

And that ministers are thinking of a u-turn: and thinking of not enforcing the charges.

Good for them.

My only other concern from the piece?

Are the usual words.

According to a Department of Work and Pensions spokesperson who says reform “… helps long-term sick and disabled people who can work to find employment.”

Going on my own personal experience?

Welfare reforms don’t help you find work.

Companies offering you a job you can do, and can get to, helps you find work.

Companies aren’t exactly doing that.

~≈👷🏻‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-11-2024 — The Return of 25

25th November, 2024: the Number, 25.

Right … 

It’s officially Monday: and … ?

I’m heading into town, twice!

Yep: I’ve got my weight management class, this morning.

And a hygienist appointment at 14:00.

Heigh … wait for it, wait for it … … HUM! 

~≈🦷≈~

Nik Nak's Daily Teaser — 27-12-2023 — 361

23rd December, 2023: 361.

Right ... it’s officially Wednesday.

And frankly?   I was expecting a new Mac Mini, on Friday: Friday the 29th, I should say.

Apparently, though?

It’s now due, today.

I’ve even been sent text messages about it.

I can only hope it gets here soon: it would be nice to set things up, early!

~≈🖥≈~