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 — 4-5-2026 — The Cornwall Railway

4th May, 2026: The Cornwall Railway.

It’s officially official: yesterday, saw the opening frames of the 2026 snooker World Championship final.

The final’s between Wu Yize and Shaun Murphy: with the score at 10-7, we see that Wu has a three frame advantage.

And, if he keeps playing the way he has been … ?

I’ve been wrong about these things, before … but if he keeps playing the way he has, he’ll be heading home with the trophy … 

~≈🏆≈~

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 — 4-1-2026 — Burj Khalifa

4th January, 2026: Burj Khalifa.

It’s officially Sunday morning … and?

I’m up, about and cold! 

But, more importantly, very aware it’s colder, outside.

As I write?

The BBC’s Weather website is telling me it’s -3ºC, out.

I’m grateful I’m indoors: my thermostat’s telling me it’s 21°C!

Warmer than outside … although my feet are complaining it’s nippy!

I’m just grateful I’m not next door to an old friend: who lives in Finland.

She’s just told me it’s -16°.

‘Nippy’ is possibly not the word … !

~≈🥶≈~

I mentioned, yesterday, that the US President was bombing Caracas, the Venezuelan capital: in a move I felt was an illegal act of military aggression.

You’re supposed to declare war before you do these things: and have a pretence of an excuse for doing so, if nothing else.

Former president Obama did, when US special forces violated foreign soil, to kill Osama bin Laden: the Bin Laden had organised the 9/11 World Trade Centre attacks.

The 47th President’s excuse?

Was that Venezuelan President Maduro was a drug trafficker, and should face US justice on US soil.

The US President also says the US is going to ‘run’ Venezuela for the interim: until stable government can be formed.

I’m angry.

The US President has violated US history — a history fighting for its independence from an empire, from Britain, its history of fighting evil regimes — by kidnapping a foreign leader, and attempting to take over that leader’s country.

Behaving as badly as some of the regimes it’s fought, and breaking laws it helped set.

And behaving like the sort of empire it’s always claimed not to be.

Personally?

I believe the 47th president of the USA is several things.

But I’ll let you use your preferred insults, about now: I’ll start with the words ‘evil’ and hypocritical, and work my way up.

~≈🤬≈~

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!

~≈🐫≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 3-11-2025 — Dominica

3rd November, 2025: Dominica.

Yes, you’re right: it’s Monday, again!

And, yes, I’m up early, again: so I can get to my weight management meeting.

Hopefully?

I’ll have lost weight!

~≈⚖️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-10-2025 — Zambia

24th October, 2025: Zambia.

I’ve woken up, this morning: which should be obvious, by now … !

Let’s restart that, shall we?

I’ve woken up, this morning, half convinced it’s Saturday.

But very aware it’s Friday.

Why am I thinking it’s a day it’s not?

I think I have an idea.

I usually get my Universal Credit on the 23rd of the month: yesterday, in other words.

I get my Personal Independence Payment, every fourth Friday.

So … ?

I think my subconscious believes today is Saturday, as it thinks I got my PIP, yesterday, rather than UC.

Heigh ho!

~≈£≈~

I’m very aware that the UK’s government planning to introduce a Digital ID: something I don’t especially like.

Mostly on cost grounds.

Cost, and redundancy: I’ve already got ID.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has now gone on the record to say the scheme will only be mandatory for those seeking work.

And only be needed when you change jobs, after the scheme is introduced.

In addition?

It will not be needed for anything else: will not be needed for those needing healthcare, as an example, or for housing, or to be able to vote.

Do you mind a confession?

That’s not something I find reassuring.

I remain as sceptical as I ever was.

~≈🫆≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-9-2025 — Down In The Park

25th September, 2025: Down in the Park.

There are times when I love myself.

Which is always a suspicious phrase, I think: very ambiguous, I think!

There’s times when I don’t love myself.

Or, at least, hate something I’ve seen.

I caught the last episode of Alien: Earth, last night: an episode called “The Real Monsters”.

It has a deeply ambiguous ending: one I found frustrating, as it offered no clear resolution.

With no second season confirmed?

It’s not a note I was expecting to finish on.

~≈🧌≈~

Sometimes … ?

I hate it when the situation is awkward.

I hate when circumstances force me to get up early.

Like today.

My Job Centre case worker’s decided I should attend a mentoring event, today: one that starts at ten in the morning.

So that means I’m up early to get this post done.

It’s a horrible time to be awake, I know that!

~≈🕓≈~

Oh, JUST in case you like unboxing videos?

I’ve done an unboxing video … !

I can only hope it’s an exciting one … !

~≈📦≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 12-9-2025 — Saint Kitts and Nevis.

12th September, 2025: Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Right … it’s now officially Friday … and?

I’ve been toying with Image Playground, as it’s been tweaked*.

Feeding in photos of myself, and of Bobby the Cat, and appropriately silly prompts … ?

Gets these … 

That second one looks nothing like me … but at leasts the potato looks like a potato, and Bobby looks like Bobby … 

~≈🌅≈~

I’ve got the Today Programme on, again: and keep thinking it would make a good subject for a question set.

Possibly at another time, though!

However?

They’ve floated a news piece that caught my eyes: and probably grabbed the attention of spy-fiction fans across the planet.

Apparently?

MI6, Britain’s intelligence agency, is to launch a recruitment website called ‘Silent Courier’: on the dark web, the section of the World Wide Web hidden from regular browsers.

I really don’t want to be a spy: I doubt I’d be good at it.

But … ?   That wouldn’t stop me trying to find that site, given the chance … !

~≈🕵🏻‍♂️≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 15-8-2025 — The Republic of the Congo

15th August, 2025: the Republic of the Congo.

I’m on drugs.

Or medications, I should say.

Including one called Mounjaro: it’s useful for controlling type two diabetes, and as a way of controlling my weight.

So … ?

I noticed this BBC News piece float past, this morning: telling us Eli Lilly, the drug’s makers, ar planning on putting the price up.

As far as I can tell, that won’t affect its cost to the National Health Service, nor to those of us who get it free on the NHS.

It will go up for those who’ve had the drug prescribed privately.

Will that affect the drug’s availability for NHS patients?

I don’t know.

But having switched medications, before, because of a shortage … ?

I’m not convinced … 

~≈💉≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 6-8-2025 — Bolivia

6th August, 2025: Bolivia.

Yay!   It’s Wednesday!

Which, frankly, means I’ve got washing to put away: after my washing machine was fixed, yesterday.

OK, that’s not a very exciting thing to report … but, hey: having clean, dry, towels is nice!

~≈🧺≈~

It’s 6th August: you’re possibly very aware of the fact.

That means it’s the eightieth anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima: with all that that implies.

It reminds me, as it always does, of an old boss of mine: who once told me that he, personally, put the bombings on a par with the Holocaust.

He was from an old British Jewish family, and had grown up during World War Two.

His comparison, comparing the first use of the world’s deadliest weapon to the world’s most inhuman war crimes,  always stuck in my mind.

Especially as it came from a member of Britain’s Jewish community.

The bombings won us the war, ended a truly horrific conflict.

But … ?

Were the bombings moral?

Ethical?

Somehow, and thanks to my old boss?

I don’t think they were … 

~≈🧺≈~

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 1-8-2025 — Benin.

1st August, 2025: Benin.

Right, I’m up and about.

Obviously!

And … ?

I’m very aware that it’s Friday, so I’ll be having a phone appointment with my surgery’s nurse practitioner.

To talk about how I’m doing with the blood sugar monitor: and the larger lancets I’ve been given.

To be honest with you … ?

I’ve managed to successfully do three tests over the past week: tests that showed results of 6·3, 8·6 and 5·8, for an average of 6·9: just inside the safe range.

That’s more, and better, results than I had with the original lancets: they did diddly squat!

Quote where we go from here, I don’t know!

~≈🪡≈~

Here in the UK … ?

Here in the UK, the government has introduced new regulations: designed to make sure adult websites do age-verification checks on users.

That seems to have worked!

For starters, many iPhone users have installed VPNs, virtual private networks software, that lets them get around the UK restrictions by routing traffic through other countries.

For another?

You can reach these sites on the desktop by using the Tor browser*: which routes things through various layers.

There’s a version on the Google Play store, if you’re on an Android phone.

And finally … ?

It seems Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulators, are investigating thirty-four sites that haven’t introduced the checks.

That makes me conclude a few things.

Restrictions can be avoided.

And regulations can be ignored.

That’s assuming we can work out how.

Working out how is easier than it looks.

~≈🧅≈~