25 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!



The number 7 is considered by many to be a lucky number. Maybe it was indeed a lucky number for Roy C Sullivan (1912 – 1983) who on this day in 1977 was struck by lightning for the seventh time! Amazingly he wasn’t struck out once in all seven events and lived to tell the tale. He was a park ranger at the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, and I guess was exposed to more electric storms than the average guy. In the end he got quite obsessed by his misfortunes and one story goes that he thought a cloud was following him and ran away from it. It was, and he was hit by lighting again!


Moving like lightning around the courts of Wimbledon, on this day in 1991 Martina Navratilova was on her way to wining her record 100th singles match at the home of lawn tennis. One of the best tennis players of all time she has won 18 Grand Slam Singles titles, 31 Grand Slam Doubles titles and 10 Grand Slam Mixed Doubles titles. Great player and a great lady.


Other great sporting athletes were counting up their medal tally on this day in 1991 at the closing of the Gay Games in New York. Leading the medal winners was the talented male athlete Ben Dover who picked up the most medals as well of a couple of other things that will be confirmed when the lab sends back the results! Traditionally the last event was the men’s’ 100 metres relay where, unlike the non gay games where the runners hand over the baton, in the Gay Games they hold hands with the next runner and run around together until all four are runners are linked together! It really is a spectacle to behold! There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when the Lesbos Team minced over the line! Well done Girls and Boys!


If you’ve got pots of money then it’s nice to give some of it away to a worthy cause. It was on this day in 2006 that multi billionaire Warren Buffett donated $30 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and, in the United States, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. A very worthwhile cause and very generous gesture, Warren.


First up for birthday honours today is Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pseudonym, George Orwell (1903 – 1950). Nomanda read all of his books as a student and loved them! His most renowned works are Animal Farm and 1984. Well worth a read if you haven’t already!



Our next celebrity is the Belgian cartoonist and creator of the “Smurfs”, Pierre “Peyo” Culliford (1926 – 1992). Everyone loves the little blue men who are masters of getting into and out of sticky situations and saving the world!



Clint Warwick (1940 – 2004) the original bassist for the Moody Blues is our next celebrity. Have a look and listen to “Go Now” and see if you recognise another later group!




Our next birthday boy is George Michael (1963). He is the most played artist on British radio and we wouldn’t mind a listen to both a Wham song and one of his singles!



One of our favourite TV series is “Friends” (OK I know it’s sad!) and so we are very pleased to celebrate the Birthday today in 1967 of Matt LeBlanc, better known to his friends as “Joey”. He got the part of “Joey Tribbiani” in 1994 and went on to play him for the next 12 years, 10 in “Friends” and 2 in “Joey”. Sadly he was lost without his friends and has since changed his career from acting to producing made for TV movies.

Our final birthday wishes go to the model with the influential family, Lauren Bush (1984). With her looks and connections, yes it is the same lot, she should do well!



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!!