1 June - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Pearl

Flower of the Month: Rose

First of all Nomanda would like to thank all our new readers! We have been getting more and more of you every day and we really appreciate you! If you are enjoying Nomanda’s blog please pass it on to your friends. And if you would like to make a comment or get your own special mention on your own special day just send us the details through the comments section and we’ll make sure we don’t forget you!

Nomanda’s Happy Special Day blog is a celebration of events and anniversaries that have touched our lives. If today is your special day join us in looking at a few other events that have occurred on your day. Enjoy!

Flying achievements are always of interest to Nomanda and today there is a very special case worthy of mention. It was on this day in 1845 that a homing pigeon completed the fantastic trip of 11,000 kms from Namibia to London. It took this intrepid bird just 55 days to complete the trip. I just hope he got a decent meal when he got home! Pigeons were often used to carry messages in the days before snail mail, telephones and the internet, and apparently these particular special pigeons always return to their nest and life long partner. Nice birds!

Everyone with eyes sensitive to bright light will be happy to celebrate today as it was on this day in 1947 that photosensitive glass was first developed. I love those adverts where people emerge from a dark building into bright sunlight, and before you can say boo to a homing pigeon their eyes go black! Well at least their glasses do! Brilliant, or not, depending on what glasses you’re wearing!

Lovers of all things French and long noses will be pleased to celebrate this day as it was on 1st June 1958 that

Charles de Gaulle was elected as president of France. Nomanda wants to call him “King Konk”!

The Beatles were in great voice over the next few years on this day. In 1967 they released their “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in the US and it went gold. And a few years later in 1973 George Harrison’s “Living in the Material World” also went gold! Great songs!

June 1st seems to have been a very popular birthday for celebrities. The following make the cut for particular tribute today. First up for honours must be the poet laureate

John Masefield (1878 – 1967) who’s opening lines from his poem “Sea Fever” must be known by schoolchildren throughout the world. Don’t know them? Well here they are:

“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,”

Nomanda’s brother has a touch of sea fever and has just returned in his 90 year old boat from a trip to France made more exciting by the two times failure of one of the boats engines! Chug, chug, cough, cough!

Relying on the sky and flying in it at great speeds was our next celebrity, Frank Whittle (1907 – 1966) the inventor of the jet engine. It’s flying, Frank, but not as we know it!

Next up is the famous band leader of the ‘50’s, Nelson Riddle (1921 – 1985), accompanying such talents as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole to name just a few.

Our next celebrity is the beautiful and tragic Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1962). Her performances on screen made her an idol of film fans during the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. Her tragic death shocked the world at the time.

Final birthday honours today go to Gerald Scarfe (1936) the talented cartoonist who served his time at “Punch” and “Private Eye” in the early ‘60’s. He was a regular political cartoonist for the “Sunday Times” for many years. Great stuff!




Happy Special Day to one and all!



If you know someone who is celebrating their birthday, anniversary or a special day today or sometime soon why not send them a nice e-card so they get it as soon as they log on! Even better, why not send this page to your friend!
Don’t know what to get for a present? Think about what your special person enjoys doing and the things they like.


For Girls, I know that flowers and chocolates are a bit cliché but nevertheless they always seem to work! Of course, if your budget stretches that far, jewellery, watches, perfume and fashion items are always appreciated!

For Boys, all boys like toys! It’s just as they get older the toys get more expensive. So gadgets and gimmicky things work. Again, if you have the budget then car accessories, sporting equipment and clothes, and man type jewellery like watches and gold chains will go down very well!

And, if all else fails, you could always send them a gift voucher and they can choose whatever they want!

If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special event today I hope you got lots of cards and presents and that there is someone special in your life who will make this day a very happy and special day for you.



Happy celebrations to you from the Happy Special Day Blog!!