9 - 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!

Today is a memorable day in the history of Australian aviation. Two Australian aviators, Charles Kingford-Smith and Charles Ulm, became the first to fly across the Pacific arriving in Brisbane on this day in 1928. They set off from California, stopped at Hawaii and Fiji (and why not!) and finally arrived in Brisbane. I just hope they didn’t have to go through the severe customs inspection Nomanda experienced when he first arrived in Brisbane!


Taking off into stardom on this day in 1934 was none other than the cartoon character “Donald Duck”. “Donald’s” debut was in the film the “Wise Little Hen” and the poor old duck has had his share of bad luck over the years. His voice is lovely and squeaky and apparently he only wears pants when he’s swimming! Funny thing that for a duck! Ok so he takes them off when he’s not in the water and puts them on when he is! Got it!

Michael Cairney’s team from the UK thought they’d made it on this day in 1979 when they entered the record books with a very respectable toppling of 169,713 dominoes! They’d really upped their act from the pp performance in 1977 when all they could manage was a mere 33,266 dominoes. However time was to prove that domino toppling is the speciality subject of the Dutch who have dominated (like it!) the world stage for the last ten years. “Team Weijers Productions” are the current world champions with a whopping 4,078,381 dominoes toppled in 2006. Nomanda knows a little about the Dutch and my only explanation as to why they should have taken this activity so seriously is that they just don’t get out enough!


On her mission to further topple the culture, standards and economy of the UK it was on this day in 1983 that the UK’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was returned for a second term of office. By this time she had raised VAT by 50%, doubled the numbers of unemployed from 1 million to 2 million and the manufacturing output of the UK had dropped by 30% compared with 1978. Well done, Ma’am! Of course we’ve only got ourselves to blame.


Going full steam ahead was our first birthday celebrity, George Stephenson (1781 – 1848). The pioneer of steam driven locomotives his first train ran from Darlington to Stockton-on-Tees. His legacy is that the original gauge chosen by Stephenson of 4’5.5” (1435mm) is still the world standard gauge.



“Maggie” probably sent the next birthday boy cards and presents because born on this day in 1942 was Charles Saatchi, the advertising magnate. He ran the Conservative Party’s election campaigns with the slogan “Labour Isn’t Working”. Apparently he is a notorious recluse so marrying his third wife; Nigella Lawson in 2003 may be his way of saying sorry!



Final birthday wishes go to the actor Michael J Fox (1961) who is best remembered for his performances in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, and “Family Ties”.





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!!

22 may - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Lily of the Valley

Gemstone of the Month: Emerald

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!




If you have just arrived in a major city, booked into a skyscraper hotel and are cleaning your teeth then it’s only fitting to give thanks to the people who made all that possible on this day!


You probably arrived by plane so a tribute to the Wright Brothers who patented the aeroplane on this day in 1906 is appropriate.




The patent for the skyscraper hotel you are brushing your teeth in was taken out by Dr. Washington Sheffield on this day in 1892. And believe it or not the tube you are squeezing your toothpaste from was patented on this day in 1888 by Leroy Buffington. Don’t swallow the paste, please, as it can be hazardous. Do they put that on the tubes? I’ll have to check it out!



Now you’ve got yourself all refreshed and ready to go out, what about a nice rattlesnake lunch? This delicacy is brought to you courtesy of this day in 1931 when canned rattlesnake meat first went on sale in Florida. As one expert once said, “Rattlesnake meat tastes about the same as chicken.” What he forgot to mention is that they are a lot more difficult to catch!



Having tucked into your delicious rattlesnake meal and are lost for words to describe it what about “Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious” the record that hit #6 on this day in 1965.




The Beatles did better on the same day in 1965 with their hit “Ticket to Ride” going to #1 in the charts. So much better than rattlesnake meat!




It was a sad day today in 1977 for all lovers of luxury and style, and mystery and suspense on trains, when the last “Orient Express” made its final scheduled run from Paris to Istanbul. The service had been running for 94 years. Those readers with pots of money will be pleased to know that various shortened journeys are still available. Prices range from ridiculous to ludicrous!



Birthday tributes today start with Sir Lawrence Olivier (1907 – 1989). The list of his Shakespearean characters played, and the number of films he has made is positively endless. He is generally regarded as being the greatest actor of the 20th century and we are unanimous in this!




Another outstanding performer, this time the Frenchman Charles Aznavour (1924) was born on this day. Making his last tour just two years ago in 2006 he has sold over 100 million records, composed 1,000 songs and appeared in 60 films. “She” is one of our favourites.




Kenny Ball (1931) was born on this day. If you like jazz you will probably know “Midnight in Moscow” performed by “Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen”. Well worth a listen!





The football player George Best (1946 – 2005) was born on this day. His sparking performances for Manchester United and Ireland are legendary.




Pretty, but not too nice, Naomi Campbell (1970) was born on this day. She is the Supermodel with the Super tantrum!






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!!

21 May - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Emerald

Flower of the Month: Lily of the Valley

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!




With all the justifiable public outrage at the current exposure of English MP’s expenses claims from the hard pressed taxpayer perhaps we should remind ourselves that it has been going on for ever!



With his nose firmly in the trough it was on this day in 1840 that Captain William Hobson claimed British sovereignty over the whole of New Zealand. With typical colonial disregard for the Maori occupants of the Islands he just went out and declared it! Then, in an amazing stroke of good fortune, he got himself appointed Governor! He was however to get his just reward as he died a couple of years later. To pay us back the “All Blacks” have been beating England on the rugby field, with one notable exception, ever since!



The solo flying pioneers of Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart figure next in our review of today in history.

It was on this day in 1927 that Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris to become the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic. Having entered the competition to be the first to cross the Atlantic solo he designed his plane, called the “Spirit of St Louis”, and tanked it up so much that it barely got off the ground. Nevertheless 33 hours after he’d cleared the trees of New York he landed in Le Bourget airfield in Paris to claim the $25,000 prize.



Not to be outdone, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to achieve this feat in 1932 when she took off from Newfoundland and landed in Ireland on this day.



Well done to both of them!


Landing on his bottom with a bump on this day in 1966 was the popular English heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper when Cassius Clay knocked him down in the fifth round of their world title fight. Having been saved by the bell at the end of the round the referee stopped the fight in the next round because of the damage and bleeding to Cooper’s eye. After the end of his boxing career the lovable Henry went on to make a good job of promoting men’s aftershave on the box. Bit of a brute, our Henry! “Splash it all over” was his catchphrase.




Despite the Empire Striking Back, that premiered on this day in 1980, David Bowie took it all in his stride and celebrated it with his #1 single “Let’s Dance” on this day in 1983. Cool Dude!




Our first birthday wishes go to one of Nomanda’s friends, David! Don’t worry, David, we’re not going to disclose just how many you’ve had, but we know that this is a “biggie” and it’s the highest number you’ve had so far and the first number is a 6!




Other celebrities sharing this day with David as their birthday start with Elizabeth Fry (1780 – 1845). This Quaker minister and prison reformer dedicated her life to the poor. She was admired in her work by Queen Victoria who granted her several audiences and sponsored her causes.




Next up for birthday honours is Fats Waller (1904 – 1943) the renowned jazz pianist, and song composer. “Ain’t Misbehavin” is one of his best known works.





Our final birthday wishes go to “Mr T”, the actor from the “A – Team”. He is just as well known for his attitude as for his gold jewellery! He wears nearly as much as our David!



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!!

18 May - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Lily of the Valley

Gemstone of the Month: Emerald

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!




Throughout history the English and French seem to be always at each other’s throats and things were no different at the end of the 1700’s. It was on this day in 1756 that England once more declared war on France. This time it was related to squabbling over the colonies. And just after they got over that one, it lasted 7 years; Britain had another go at the French on this day in 1803 and declared war again. Of course the proclamation that Napoleon was going to become the Emperor of France on this day the following year, in 1804, didn’t help matters any!



Thank goodness that Edwin Budding had his thoughts firmly directed towards his latest invention, the lawn mower, and signed on this day in 1830 an agreement to manufacture the beastly things! Mr Budding you have a lot to answer for. Nomanda visited a flea market recently and I’m sure that one of Edwin’s originals was on sale!



There may have been a few grass clippings around at the next event on this day in 1897 when the first Irish Music Festival was held in Dublin. The Irish are great people and they certainly know how to party so I’m sure this one was a belter! They still hold music festivals in Ireland but just as popular are their Beer Festivals held throughout the summer when the whole population of Ireland seems to wobble from one to the other every weekend. Go to one if you get the chance!



Another reported event that happened on this day in 1953 was the aviator Jacqueline Cochran breaking the sound barrier. The research shows that in doing so she was the first woman to achieve this. Now Nomanda cannot fly at that speed but I’m pretty sure that there have been millions of women who have broken the sound barrier before 1953. In fact some of them are my best friends!



We all know that names are very important, and particularly so if you’re involved in the TV / film industry where they really matter. So it comes as no surprise that Gene Rodenberry, sadly now beamed up, had to suggest no less than 16 names before the producers of the “Star Trek” series decided on Captain Kirk. Great opportunity for the “Star Trekkin” song, please!



First up for honours for doing silly feats of physical endurance and doing them on the same day to boot on this day in 1986 is David Goch. Apparently on this day in 1986 he completed swimming 55,682 miles in a 25 yard pool. Now normally Nomanda isn’t sceptical about these things, but I have to ask if the decimal point is in the correct place. If it’s correct, all I can say is very well done and who did you have to count the 3,920,012 lengths you did?



Not to be outdone, and maybe in an attempt to steal David’s limelight, on the same day Chung Kwang Ying did 2,750 atomic hand-stand push-ups! Frankly it just doesn’t cut the mustard compared to David’s swim!



Birthday celebrities today start with Perry Como (1912 – 2001). Perry’s career stretched over 50 years and he is loved both for his easy styled singing voice as well as for the TV shows he presented not least “The Perry Como Christmas Show”.





Our next birthday celebrity is Margot Fonteyn (1919 – 1991). Britain’s best ballerina, she enthralled audiences all over the world, particularly when she danced with her long time dance partner, Rudolf Nureyev.




Nimble on his feet too but on a football field as opposed to a theatre, our next birthday greeting go to one of the heroes of the 1966 World Cup winning team, Nobby Stiles (1942). The hard mid-fiend player is as famous for his toothless smile as for his brilliant defensive play! Cheers, Nobby!



Next up for birthday honours is the Chinese actor, Chow Yun-Fat (1955). Nomanda chose him because I liked his name and it just shows that I don’t get out a lot. Lovers of blood thirsty Chinese films will know him well!




Final birthday greetings go to Toyah Wilcox (1958). She’s calmed down a bit now from her pink punk days and is really quite good! Great promo videos!




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!!

5 May - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Emerald

Flower of the Month: Lily of the Valley

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!



Ghent beats Bruges on this day in 1382. Today that would probably be a football result but on this particular day the local population of Ghent took on the army that had been laying siege to their city and beat them cold. The success of the battle has been attributed to the fact that the soldiers were all drunk following their celebrations of the previous day’s public holiday and were in no condition to do anything other than throw up! If Belgian beer was as strong then as it is now I’m not at all surprised.



A few hundred years later it was on this day in 1930 that the trail blazing aviator, Amy Johnson, took off from Croydon airport in her Gypsy Moth called “Jason” and 20 days later landed in Australia to become the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. Great flying, Amy!




The song that was to become the anthem of the “Flower Power” generation was recorded on this day in 1967 by Scott Mckenzie. The lyrics of “San Francisco” epitomised the gentle loving spirit of the times. It is still a great song.




If humping a large TV camera up mountains is your thing then you should have been part of the Japanese expedition who on this day in 1988 made the first live TV broadcast from the top of Mount Everest. You cannot knock the Japanese for not rising to a challenge!



Taking on a challenge of a different sort was William Hague who was elected leader of the Conservative Party on this day in 1997. He was in the job for 4 years and has the distinction of being the first leader of the Conservative Party not to have been Prime Minister in 80 years. That will look good on his CV! However there’s no need for alarm as he was preceded by John Major (anyone remember him?) and succeeded by a procession of no-hopers including in order of succession; Ian Duncan Smith, Michael Howard, and in the office at present our lovely baby Davy! Where do they find them?!



Birthday celebrities today start with Karl Marx (1818 – 1883). The intellectual leader of the Communist Revolution two of the best known books written by Marx are the “Communist Manifesto” and “Das Kapital”. Great bedtime reading material! Despite his communist ideals he led a life of relative luxury in London. So what’s new?




Coming more up to date today is the birthday of Tammy Wynette (1942 – 1998); the First Lady of country music, whose “Stand by Your Man” is probably her best known song. This very song was later to be used against her husband (the current president of the US at the time) by none other than the lovely Hilary Clinton. Nice one, Hilary!



Our final birthday wishes today go to the great comedian and later traveller, Michael Palin (1943). Bringing his wit and humour to “Monty Python” he starred in some of their best known sketches and there’s another opportunity for the “Lumberjack” song if anyone’s interested!

Happy Birthday, Michael!



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!!