Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 10-10-2026 — Double Ten Day

10th October, 2026: Double Ten Day.

There are some things man was not meant to know.

There are some things a man cannot know.

And there are some things man … just won’t have a clue about, either way.

The thing I’m clueless about, this morning … ?

Is why I’ve woken up with the word ‘telebiogenesis’ — a fictional science from Dr Who — floating around my head.

Why … ?

If I knew that, I’d be rich!

~≈👩🏻‍🔬≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 4-10-2026 — Lesotho

4th October, 2026: Lesotho.

“Weather we like it or not … ”

It’s an old children’s rhyme, if you didn’t know.

“Whether the weather be cold,

or whether the weather be hot.

Whether the weather, whatever the weather,

whether we like it or not!

That seems very appropriate … on a day when the BBC weather page told me it was misty, when I woke up … 

Only for me to look out of my front door: and find it wasn’t … !

Ho … … HUM … !

~≈🌁≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28-9-2026 — The Czech Republic

28th September, 2026: Czechia.

Once more unto the weigh-in, once more!

Yes: it’s Monday.

So … ?

I’m off to my weight management weigh in.

Hopefully, I’d’ve los something.

Which would be nice: I’ve gained a few pounds, over the past few weeks.

~≈£≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 16-9-2026 — A Night at the Opera

16th September, 2026: A Night at the Opera.

OK: that’s macOS 27 Golden Gate installed.

Yes: I know I was planning to leave it for a couple of days: to get past the inevitable slow download speeds you get  when a major update’s released.

But … ?

I had an afternoon, free!

There’s pros and cons to the OS, I think.

Visually, it’s gorgeous: window corners are far more consistant, the Liquid Glass language is nice, and the traffic light buttons have a nice, Aqua-style sheen.

On the downside?

On the downside, the system voice settings seem inconsistent, compared to earlier versions of the OS.

I’ve got one voice doing most of them: and one or two others doing the rest.

And can’t figure out how to change them.

There’s also space.

I had some seven hundred and sixty gigabytes of space left on my machine’s main hard drive: under Tahoe.

But now have some six hundred and eighty (~680) gigabytes left.

I’m assuming that space is chewed up by the large language model used by SiriAI.

I’m aware of a couple of things.

First?

I’m not sure what’s going on with the voices: but yes, I have filled out another entry on Apple’s feedback page!

Second?

The Golden Gate update is very big.

It’s going to give those of us with smaller internal drives a headache.

~≈🍎≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-9-2026 — Boston. (Ten Questions)

7th September, 2026: Boston.

On a day you officially know to be Monday turn’s out not to be a bank holiday … you know it’s time to go back to your weekly weight management class!

As it was a bank holiday, last week … ?

It means I’ve had a fortnight’s gap between weight-ins: an ono idea how I’ve done.

I’ll find out, later today.

~≈🍓≈~

Oh, in case you’re on Bluesky?

This post should make sense of any crypto-banana references in the intro video.

Some Computer Delegates are visiting today. Maybe me old fashioned, but me miss the days when they just wanted to take over the World. WOTAN here keeps trying to sell me CRYPTO, while B.O.S.S. just wants to promote TECH START-UPS! 🙄

[image or embed]

— Gruntleigh T Ogron (@gruntleigh.bsky.social) 6 September 2026 at 22:05

At least I hope it will: Gruntleigh can be a bit obscure, sometimes!

~≈🍌≈~

It’s not often I suggest following a YouTube channel … but if you’re a Dr Who fan … ?

@SaltyHam’s worth following: and his most recent video, about Patrick Troughton’s era as the Doctor, is very well made.

~≈🍌≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-9-2026 — San Marino

3rd September, 2026: San Marino.

Right, then … it’s officially Thursday … !

And Radio Four’s Today programme has been telling us they’re marking Norman Day.

In other words, they’re marking the Norman Invasion of Britain in 1066: some 960 years ago.

And covering one specific thing: the fact the millennia-old Bayeux Tapestry, the Tapestry made by the Normans to mark their success, is currently on display at the British Museum.

I doubt I’ll have the chance.

But I’d love to see that: it’s an authentic piece of history!

~≈🏰≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 22-8-2026 — The Russian Flag

22nd August, 2026: The Russian Flag.

It’s officially the case that a man in need of an Amazon delivery … is going to expect a dog’s dinner!

At least, they are: if that man is me!

Yep: I’ve got some stuff due from Amazon.

And given the mess they’ve made of the last few deliveries?

I’m expecting another one.

A complimentary thing is nice … unless it’s a complimentary cock-up … 

~≈🐓≈~

On a more serious note?

One of the things I’m expecting is a DVD copy of The Two Doctors: the Colin Baker-era story that sees the Sixth Doctor team up with Pat Troughton’s Second Doctor, and pits the pair against the Sontarans.

Yes, before you ask: I’ve got a 2k version of the story, already.

I’ve bought it for one specific extra.

During Baker’s era, the Dr Who office authorised a pice for the BBC show, Jim’ll Fix It: a show where children’s ‘wishes’ were granted by the presenter.

The late, and very unlamented, Jimmy Savile.

Savile, unfortunately, makes an appearance in the original cut of the sketch. 

I’m buying this: because I want that cut.

No: I’m NOT a fan of Savile’s!

And hope that any royalties for his appearance go towards his victims.

I want the cut because, without it, my collection is incomplete.

I’m a completist: what can I tell you … ?

~≈📀≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 14-8-2026 — The Falklands

14th August, 2026: The Falklands.

OK … I know social media sites have to fund themselves with adverts.

I know it has to be done.

But … ?

I object to repeated adverts.

I’ve had dozens of adverts for hooky external hard drives, for example.

More recently … ?

I’ve had a lot of adverts for a brand of refillable roll-on deodorant.

I with the algorithm would lay off.

My armpits aren’t that bad.

And there’s only so many times I’ll put up with being called a tosser … 

~≈🏏≈~

We’s now had the results in, of the Clacton by-election: and Nigel Farage has been re-confirmed as the constituency’s MP.

Much as I and many others hoped Count Binface would win?

He has earned enough votes to win back his deposit.

I have opinions.

Obviously!

First?

It’s nice to know Binface did well for a comedy candidate.

Secondly?

I hope that Farage’s re-election leads to the restart of investigations into his finances.

And that his attempted delay of the investigation gets factored into the thing.

Thirdly?

Farage refused to attend the announcement of the results.

Claiming Essex Police had told him not to, as they’d advised there were security risks.

Essex police say they’ve said no such thing.

I think Farage other reason for a no-show — “I am damned if I am going to stand on a stage […] and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies,” — is nearer the mark.

He didn’t want to be embarrassed by Binface.

Anymore than he already has been.

Lastly … ?

I think that — in triggering this joke of a by-election — Farage has done one thing very well.

He’s wasted public money on a delaying tactic: one that hopefully won’t stop the investigation into his finances.

And sees him named and shamed as the waster he is.

~≈🗑️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 20-7-2026 — Colombia

20th July, 2026: Colombia.

Right … it’s Monday, again.

And … ?

After taking weight loss medication, last Friday, it’s time for me to head for my weight loss weigh in.

Keep you’re fingers crossed, please: while you’re doing that, I’ll be hoping the bag of crisps I had, yesterday, won’t show up!

~≈🥨≈~

Andy Burnham* gets sworn in as Prime Minister, today.

I wish him luck: although my cynical side has a question.

When exactly, will he resign?

We’ve got through a few PMs, since 2016.

~≈🔟≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-7-2026 — New Brunswick. (Ten Questions)

1st July, 2026: New Brunswick.

I think it’s official.

No, I know it’s official.

It’s Wednesday!

Although quite why I thought it was Tuesday, I don’t know.

I spent most of Friday, just gone, convinced it was Saturday.

Why do people’s brain do that?

Tell them it’s Day A, when it’s actually Day B?

I wish I knew.

It would possibly explain a lot!

~≈📆≈~

On other fronts?

I had a letter, the other day: from the NHS hospital that had carried out my most recent stool sample tests.

The letter told me I was — thankfully! —   free of any issues.

I have to admit to mixed feelings.

On the one hand, ‘free of any issues’ means I have nothing that needs removing.

No polyps, no cancerous bodies.

It also means I’ve avoided a colonoscopy.

Which is a good thing: as effective as they are, they’re not exactly comfortable!

On the other hand?

I’ve got the worry that the test has missed something.

And that — as uncomfortable as the procedure is — having a colonoscopy means I could be certain I’m free of bowel cancer.

It’s … well … 

It’s a mixed result, I think.

~≈🚑≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 23-4-2026 — Castile and León (Ten questions)

23rd April, 2026: Castile and León.

Right then … !

It’s payday!

Which means several things.

I’ve just spent ten minutes working out how much spending money I’ve got!

And swearing at the DWP: as the annual increase in Universal Credit doesn’t go very far.

I would say that pay raise is better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.

Ha!

Since when … ?

~≈£≈~

One good thing … ?

Is my shorts.

Short videos, I should add!

That’s certainly helped my subscriber numbers.

Thank you, if you’re one of them!

~≈📽️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 31-3-2026 — Newfoundland

31st May, 2026: Newfoundland.

Right, then: today is a day of general overexcitement.

Or possibly general yayness.

Because?

At yesterday’s weigh-management weigh-in, I found I’d lost some eight hundred grams: about one and three quarter pounds.

That’s good: so long as I can avoid treating myself to a bag of crisps*!

~≈🍟≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-3-2026 — Greece is the Word. (Ten Questions)

25th March, 2026: Greece is the Word.

OK … there’s been a lot going on, recently … 

For one thing?

YouTube’s playing silly buggers, uploading today’s Teaser video.

Well … they were … or BT’s internet connection was.

One of the two … !

At any rate?

That didn’t stop me uploading a video, last night.

Yes: I caught the penultimate episode of Stranger Things, and finally posted my review.

Make of that, what you will … !

~≈🦑≈~

Nicholas Brendon died, a few days ago.

I knew from his work in Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, playing the affable everyman, Xander Harris.

So I was sad to hear about his death.

But equally, puzzled: as, from the little I read?

He died in bed, of natural causes: at fifty-four.

Of natural causes!

I have to admit to being puzzled.

I know he had addiction issues.

But fifty-four seems too young to be dying of natural causes.

All I can do is be puzzled by his death … whilst offering his loved ones my condolences.

~≈🏜️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1/3/2026 — Nebraska (Ten Questions)

1st March, 2026: Nebraska.

I like somethings: and dislike others.

But you’ve possibly worked that out.

I don’t like the current, 47th, US President.

And make it a point of honour to not use the man’s name.

I don’t know if I’ve managed there, but I can at least try.

I don’t like unnecessary military action: at least, action I feel is unjustified.

So … ?

USA military action in Iran, taken in conjunction with Israel, is what I regard as unjustified.

I grant the Islamic republic’s unpleasant, and has violated the rights, and taken the lives of, protestors.

Furthermore?

The action taken has seen the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

If that doesn’t start a war?

I’ll be both grateful, and very surprised.

~≈🇮🇷≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 28/2/2026 — Andalusia

28th February, 2026: Andalucia.

Hmmm … 

That seems to work … 

I’ve subscribed to Apple’s Creator Studio, just recently: and found out that I could use a mix of Final Cut Pro, and Compressor, to make 8k video.

So … ?

I used the stock footage I keep for the quiz videos to make a dummy 8k video I could share via YouTube.

The results told me a few things.

Firstly?

When I upload an 8k video to the site, YouTube reduces the resolution to 4k.

The copy I’ve just downloaded?

Is some forty megabytes: compared to the approximately two gigabytes I uploaded.

I’m assuming the reductions are made, to allow YouTube to keep storage space and bandwidth — and thus costs — to a minimum.

Secondly?

It took ten minutes to render some three minutes of 8k footage.

I’d say that’s acceptable: but know longer videos will take longer to render.

I’m also aware the process had my machine running extremely hot to the touch: something I’m aware would happen, given my machine’s specs.

It’s got an M4 processor, and sixteen gigabytes of RAM, so you know.

The suggested, minimum, RAM is exactly that: sixteen gigabytes,

But the recommended minimum is thirty-two.

I can only tell you this, as a result.

Recording, and rendering, in 8k is something I’d love to do.

But would need machinery, and money, I don’t have.

That’s a shame: but that’s life.

~≈8️⃣≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7-2-2026 — Grenada

7th February, 2026: Grenada.

Yay!

It’s Saturday … !

Which means … it’s the day after Friday, the day after I had an electrician visit.

It’s something I’d arranged a couple of weeks ago: as I’d had a couple of minor — very minor — electric shocks from the old switch.

Something the electrician told me wasn’t too risky: but agreed that I right in requesting the repair.

I was better safe than sorry.

~≈💡≈~

Just as a quick question … ?

I use Transmission if I ever need to download stuff via torrent: there’s a lot of open source software you can get that way.

Are you using it, as well?   Version 4·10, on a Mac running macOS Tahoe 26·2?

Are you getting problems?

Funny error messages, non-existent progress bars, what have you?

If you do, and have successfully done something about it, can you let me know, please?

Cheers!

~≈⚙️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-2-2025 — New Zealand (Ten Questions)

6th February, 2026: New Zealand.

Right … it’s Friday.

But you knew that, already.

I’ve taken my weekly dose of Mounjaro.

But you’d guessed I’d be doing that, too.

Just as equally … ?

I possibly need to go out, too: light shopping and healthy exercise calls.

But … ?

It’s throwing down, out there … !

~≈🌧️≈~

As a last thought … ?

An old friend is a Kiwi expat: and sent this photo:

Cheers, Donna!

~≈🥝≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 11-1-2026 — Morocco

11th January, 2026.

Right … sauce … 

I’ve actually managed to make some spaghetti sauce, last night.

Just not very good spaghetti sauce!

I’m convinced I didn’t use enough tomatoes: and it’s not as creamy as it could be.

Frankly?

It’s more a spaghetti stew, a stew you can put on top of spaghetti.

Still: I’ve five more tubs of the stuff.

And I can always have it with potatoes, if I didn’t fancy pasta!

~≈🍝≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 19-12-2025 — Here We Goa, Again

19th December, 2025: Goa.

OK: you’ve possibly realised this … but I, like many of us, get infected by the occasional earworm.

This morning … ?

It’s Joy Sarney’s only hit, 1977’s “Naughty, Naught, Naughty”.

Why on Earth I’ve woken up with the blessed thing banging around my head … ?

I really don’t know.

Answers on a postcard, please … !

~≈🎵≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-11-2025 — Plymouth.

12th November, 2025: Plymouth.

Wouldn’t you know it … ?

I got my dates mixed up!

I had thought my gas safety check was due, yesterday.

It wasn’t until I opened my emails, yesterday, and got a reminder … that I realised the thing was supposed to be today.

Where do I put my face … ?

~≈🤦🏼‍♂️≈~

As it turns out … ?

Nowhere!

Robert Heath — my landlord’s boiler contractor — have just phoned.

Apparently, their tradesman is off, for some reason.

So they’ve rescheduled for two weeks time.

Ho … … … hum!

~≈🐫≈~