Friday 17 October 2008

17 October - Historical Events and Special Celebrations



Gemstone of the Month

Opal


Flower of the Month: Calendula




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!



It was on this day in 1860 that the first British Open Golf tournament was held at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. This inaugural event was played in just one day and the 8 professional competitors went round the 12 hole course three times. Willie Park won the competition with a score of 174 beating the favourite, Old Tom Morris, by just 2 strokes. There was no prize money and the winner was presented with a red leather belt with a silver buckle. Prize money was introduced for the 4th and subsequent championships but with a purse of £10 to be shared between the 2nd – 4th players (the winner still just got to keep the belt for a year) Nomanda doesn’t think that today’s pros would bother to get out of bed! The trophy of the familiar Claret Jug was introduced in 1870 as Young Tom Morris was awarded the lovely belt for winning the tournament three times consecutively. I bet he was chuffed to death!


Moving on 100 years it was on this day in 1961 that the New York Museum of Modern Art hung Henri Matisse’s painting of “Le Bateau” upside down. It stayed like that until some smart arsed stockbroker pointed out the error on December 3rd the same year. Now I know that some paintings can be difficult to visualise, but a painting of a boat hanging upside down is difficult to imagine. That is until you have a look at the thing! Well! If that’s art, I’ll eat my hat! It’s a triangular blue blob supposed to represent a sail with a few squiggles in the air supposed to represent clouds. The clever bit is that it is all more or less totally reflected in the water and voila, the thing is either upside down or the right way up. Frankly it is such a rubbish painting I don’t think it matters which way up it is! Nomanda’s sympathies are with the luckless employee who was given the job of putting it up. Nomanda actually likes most of Matisse’s work but I have no idea what he was thinking about when he did this one. Was it all getting a bit too easy, I wonder?


Well if the cash registers were ringing for Matisse they were certainly belting out “My Ding-a-ling” for Chuck Berry whose song went to #1 on this day in 1972!




Sting’s advisor and accountant, Keith Moore was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for ribbing his boss of £6 million on this day in 1995. This is not the sort of subject that would normally interest Nomanda but it caught my attention for a number of reasons. Firstly, 6 years for £6 million is nice work if you can get it! Also, even if the theft took place over a number of years most ordinary mortals would notice that sort of money disappearing! OK most ordinary mortals will never have that sort of money, but surely you watch the till from time to time! And the best bit is that the bank, Coutts, had to repay £4.8 million plus interest back to Sting because the accountant didn’t have the authority to make transfers of that magnitude! Whoops!


The WWII forces’ pin up girl, Rita Hayworth (1919 – 1987) is our first birthday celebrity.



The dare devil motor cyclist, Evel Knievel (1938 – 2007) is our next celebrity. His core values of always keeping his word and his anti-drugs position earned him as many admirers as his stunts.


Not necessarily one of Nomanda’s favourites but the rapper Eminem (1972) will probably be making a lot of noise and upsetting some of his guests at his bash today! What do you think of this rendition?




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!!


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