Happy Special 15th July Day!

Flower of the Month

Larkspur

Gemstone of the Month: Ruby

St. Swithin’s Day – Take a careful note of the weather today and keep your fingers crossed that it is nice because it is believed that whatever weather you get on St Swithin’s Day will follow for the next forty days!



Although he had his successes and laid down the basis for the civil code in France one of their best loved sons, Napoleon Bonaparte also made a few mistakes in his time. On this day in 1815 he showed a serious lack of judgement when he surrendered to Captain Maitland aboard the ship “Bellerphoron” anchored at La Rochelle. His preferred escape route to America had proved impossible so believing that he would be treated as a guest of the country he sent a flowery message to the English King and asked for “protection under the laws of England”. Instead of the “protection” he requested he was bundled on the “Northumberland” and sent onto exile to live out the rest of his life on the island of St Helena where he arrived some three months later. St Helena is located in the South Atlantic Ocean about mid-way between Africa and South America and is considered to be one of the remotest places in the world! Bad call, Boney!

The French were in the news again on this day in 1869 when the French Emperor Louis Napoleon III offered a reward to anyone who could make a butter substitute for “the armed forces and lower classes”. OK, so we know where he is coming from! Eager to please his Emperor and claim the prize Hippolyle Mege- Mouries patented the delightful substitute we all know and love as margarine. Nomanda can definitely tell the difference between talk and mutter and as Monica from “Friends” would say “It’s just not butter!”.

An exclusive club open to members who want to give up having too much of a good thing, “Alcoholics Anonymous” was founded in Britain on this day in 1948. It’s not really that anonymous as Nomanda understands that the first thing you do at one of their meetings when you’ve dosed yourself up with enough Dutch courage to speak to the gathered assembly is to announce your name followed by the words “….. and I’m an alcoholic”. It is a good cause and Nomanda wishes them continued success.

Our first birthday honours go to a couple of Painters. Rembrandt (1606 – 1669) was born on this day and if you ever get the chance to visit his museum in Amsterdam it’s well worth it. The master of light and shade his best known work is probably the “Night Watch” but you will be surprised at the delicacy of the “Mill” if you get a chance to see it.

The next birthday boy, also from Northern Europe, is the Belgian painter Jan van den Eeckhoudt (1875 – 1946). The connoisseur may find his work a bit naïve but Nomanda thinks this gives it a certain charm. Check it out for yourself!

Clive Cussler (1931), the author of swashbuckling stories starring his hero Dirk Pitt, will be having his birthday celebrations today. A great story teller who doesn’t hold back either the punches or his imagination!


The birthday girls today start with Brigitte Nielsen (1962) who is just about to beat her husband's record by plastic surgery operations, (5 – 6).


Our final wishes go to the German model and actress Diane Kruger (1976), the 2004 version of “Troy”.




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!!