Sunday 4 January 2009

4 January - Historical Events and Special Celebrations



Flower of the Month

Carnation


Gemstone of the Month: Garnet



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 New Year is upon us and you can bet your bottom dollar that this year will fly by even quicker than the last one. If you are in hurry and want to make up a bit of time what better way to do it than don on a pair of the patent by James Plimpton on this day in 1863; the 4 wheeled roller skate. There had been other designs before but good old James got the job right by introducing the rubber cushion and pivot so the skater could turn just by putting his weight on one side. Sounds easy, but as Nomanda’s sore bottom will testify, it isn’t!


Time did not fly by for the striking assistant barbers of Denmark who ended their 33 year strike on this day in 1961. It is the longest strike recorded and I can only hope that they got whatever it was they were striking for at the end of it, if any of them could remember! The staunch fully qualified barbers of the country must have been ecstatic when the strike ended and they all got their assistants back! Can you imagine the conversation when the now 33 year older assistant turned up for work the day after the strike ended.

“Good morning Sir, what can I do for you?”

“What do you mean? I work here.”

“Sorry Sir, you must be mistaken; I work here alone on my own.”

“No, I’m Hans, your assistant.”

“Hans, you say. Let me see. Yes I remember I had an assistant called Hans, but he was 16 years old and went on strike 33 years ago and I’ve not seen him since.”

“But that’s me. I used to work for you.”

“Well if it is really you, Hans, you can sod off as I’ve managed quite nicely on my own for the last 33 years and I don’t think I need an assistant any more!”

“Please take me back, it’s cold outside.”

“SOD OFF!”


If Hans thought it was cold outside in Denmark he would have frozen to death in Antarctica when on this day in 1975 the ice thickness was measured at 4,776 metres thick. Those of us who grumble at having to scrape a bit of ice off the car on these cold and frosty mornings, take note! Best part of 5 kilometres thick, that’s an awful lot of scraping!


The first guy to ask why the apple fell, Isaac Newton (1643 – 1727) is our first birthday celebrity today. A bright lad who studied at Cambridge, he is considered to be one of the most influential men in human history and a gentleman and scholar to boot!




Fortunate to have been born when he was is our next birthday boy, Isaac Pitman (1813 – 1897), the inventor of the Pitman method of shorthand. Had he been alive today he would have been horrified to see Nomanda tapping out the keys on his keyboard with ne’er a secretary or shorthand book in sight!


The girl who made her name because she wondered why she shaved her legs, Deana Carter (1966) is our final birthday guest. She’s got a bit of a preference for “Strawberry Wine” so don’t be surprised if you get a glass of the stuff at her bash! A bit on the sweet side for Nomanda’s taste!



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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