17 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!

Today is a very special day for Nomanda as it is the birthday of our one and only lovely daughter, Michelle! So Michelle lots of love to you on this special day!
We have a special birthday song for you which used to be one of your favourites. So Happy Birthday Michelle, click and enjoy!




Freedom lovers everywhere will celebrate this day in 1885 when the Statue of Liberty, the gift from the people of France to the US, arrived in New York. It is the most recognisable icon of the United States welcoming visitors, immigrants and returning Americans back to the shores of the US. At least it used to before they tightened up on immigration control and visas! The statue itself is 46 metres high and when on its pedestal it stands 93 metres high. Originally it functioned as a lighthouse (1886 – 1902) and its electric lamp (the first lighthouse to use electricity) could be seen from 24 miles out at sea.



In an attempt to get his subjects to see him in a more favourable light it was on this day in 1917 that the British King, George V, changed the name of the British royal house from the German sounding “House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha” to the name we are familiar with today, Windsor. Remember Britain was at war with Germany at the time and George V was the first cousin of Kaiser Willheim II, the Bosch who started it all! Sound thinking, George! Apparently George V was a bit of a bore and H G Wells once referred to the “alien and uninspiring court”. Georges V’s famous reply was “I may be uninspiring, but I’m definitely not alien!” The Windsors have never looked back.


Another German sounding lot, Led Zeppelin, were to begin their last tour of Europe on this day in 1980. Selling 300 million albums worldwide they are regarded as one of the best hard rock groups of all time. If you like hard rock, you’ll love this one!



The first celebrity sharing his birthday with Michelle is the Irishman John Robert Gregg (1867 – 1948), the inventor of shorthand. Obviously a bright boy he introduced his shorthand system at the age of just 21. Nomanda has never been able to do shorthand but during his student days did develop his own version of fast scribbling which even he couldn’t read afterwards. It’s called Nohand!



The founder member of the “Rat Pack”, Dean Martin (1917 – 1995), was born on this day. This singer, actor and comedian also knew how to party! Nomanda’s favourite songs are “That’s Amore”, “Everybody Loves Somebody” and the best of the bunch, “Mambo Italiano”. He was half Italian after all!



Just because Nomanda likes his name the rocker Dickey Do (1939) from “Dickey Doo and the Don’ts” gets a birthday mention today as does Norman Kuhlice (1942) from the “Swinging Blue Jeans” who’s “Hippy Hippy Shake” and “You’re No Good” are Nomanda’s favourites.



Red Ken Livingstone, ex mayor of London and the thorn in the side of the Labour Party (before they got Brown!) was born on this day in 1945. Anyway he’s on his bike now since Mad Boris Johnson took over the job!



Off his bike, but not before he’d clocked up 5 wins in the “Tour de France” also born on this day was another of our famous Belgians, Eddie Merckx (1945). Cue for an old wagon wheel song “Rolling Rolling Rolling!”



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!!