Friday 14 November 2008

14 November - Historical Events and Special Celebrations



Flower of the Month

Chrysanthemum


Gemstone of the Month: Topaz

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!



America’s oldest golf course, appropriately named “St Andrews”, opened in Yonkers, New York on this day in 1888. From its humble beginnings started by Scotsman John Reid and a few friends knocking golf balls around a cow pasture, it has developed into a Jack Nicklaus signature course. It is 6670 yards long from the white tees and has a standard scratch rating of 73.6. Not a course for the fainthearted!


When you consider that the first airplane flight was only made in 1903 by the aviation pioneers the Wright brothers it is incredible to learn that the first flight from a ship was made just a few years later on this day in 1910. The intrepid pilot was Lt Eugene Ely, USN, who took off the deck of the cruiser Birmingham at Hampton Roads, Virginia and flew to Norfolk. OK you may say but I bet he didn’t fly back and land on the deck. You would be correct, except that he did in fact do just that in January the next year taking off from Camp Selfridge and landing on the deck of the cruiser Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay. Brilliant flying!


The great Rhythm and Blues singer Ray Charles had “Georgia On His Mind” on this day in 1960 when the record hit #1 spot.




HRH Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips on this day in 1973 and the whole affair was watched by a television audience estimated at 100 million. Being untitled, Mark Phillips is described as a “commoner” just like the rest of us I suppose. Well Nomanda doesn’t like that word, it sounds so, so common! Let’s just be called ordinary citizens, please!


The wonderful French Impressionist painter, Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) is our first birthday celebrity today. Of all the great paintings he’s done, “Poppies Blooming” is Nomanda’s favourite!



The Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (1907 – 2002) is our next birthday guest. Her children’s books have been published in 85 languages and have achieved world wide sales of around 145 million spurred on no doubt by her famous character “Pipi Longstocking”!





I’m Telling You Now” that little Freddie Garrity (1940 – 2006) deserves a special birthday mention!



HRH Charles the Prince of Wales (1948) deserves a special birthday wish today. He is a passionate man with perhaps a few eccentric ideas but his heart is in the right place. He does extensive charity work and increasingly takes on royal responsibilities for his Mum and Dad. He’s been in waiting a long time and Nomanda wonders when he will get the Top Job!


Our final birthday “Tribute” is right on to Andrew Banfield (1964) from the group The Pasadenas.





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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