15 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!

One guy not enjoying this day in 1215 was King John who was persuaded to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede, near Windsor. Having had enough of the King’s powers a number of important barons entered London and got this document signed which effectively formed the basis for constitutional law as we know it today. The King was not entirely happy with the diminution of his powers and it obviously gave him a bit of a fright as he died from dysentery just one year later!


Wanting to ensure that the local boys got a decent education was farmer John Lyon of Preston who obtained a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I and on this day in 1572 founded Harrow School. The local boys were taught free although “outsiders” had to pay tuition fees. The original subjects were Latin and a spot of archery. Today it costs around £22,000 to send the apple of your eye to Harrow and there is a larger range of subjects available for the sons of the rich and famous! Remarkably the school has recently gone international establishing other “Harrow” schools in places as bizarre as Beijing and Bangkok! Their most notable old boy is Winston Churchill.


Returning from the Crimean War with her group of volunteer nurses the “Lady with the lamp”, Florence Nightingale (named after the town of her birth), opened her School for Nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital in London on this day in 1860. We owe her a lot.




The entertainment business gets our attention next with Bob Dylan recording “Like a Rolling Stone” on this day in 1965 and Ohio Express going to #4 spot with “Yummy Yummy Yummy”.




Wanting to ensure he got his fair share of the royalties Warren Beatty produced, directed and starred in the title role of “Dick Tracy” that premiered today in 1990. Warren was cast alongside a couple of other capable performers including Madonna and Al Pacino!



Another comic book hero would also take to the screens today in 1996 when Disney’s “Lion King” enthralled its fans.



Our first birthday wishes go to the famous French rocker Johnny Halliday (1943). In a career lasting 48 years he has been on 400 tours had 18 platinum albums and sold over 100 million records. Nomanda sends her best wishes to him in his retirement announced in 2007. Thanks for the music, Johnny!



Our next celebrity, Clio Goldsmith (1957), the French actress normally wouldn’t have attracted Nomanda’s attention except for the fact that in 1990 she married Mark Shand who is Camilla’s brother! I wonder how she gets on with the in-laws!



Our final birthday wishes go the super clean Courtney Cox (1964) whose performance in her character “Monica” has delighted Nomanda over the years! Cheers!



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!!

27 August - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Agate

Flower of the Month: Gladiolus

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 British protectorate of Zanzibar didn’t follow the wishes of the British government in the appointment of their new sultan. This difference of opinion on who should be the next sultan led to the shortest recorded war in history on this day in 1896. The “war” lasted a full 40 minutes and guess what, the Brits got their way! Those were the good old days of gunboat democracy and it seemed to work at the time!


The first publication of the “Guinness Book of Records” took place on this day in 1955. The background of how the book came into being and who was involved is fascinating. The idea of some sort of authoritive reference book came about following an argument as to which was the fastest game bird in Europe between Sir Hugh Beaver, the owner of the Guinness Brewery, and one of the house guests at a shoot. The conclusion of the argument was that there was not a reference book available to discover these types of facts, so they decided to produce one. Chris Chataway, the runner and an employee of the Brewery, recommended the McWhirter twins as likely candidates to undertake the job. The original intention was to give the book away free but the demand was such that it became an enormous commercial success!


Trying to produce something interesting and entertaining isn’t always easy, as Nomanda knows! However I hope I don’t ever have to sink to the depths of despair the producers of the “What’s My Line” series sank to on this day in 1961 when “Francis the Talking Mule” appeared as the mystery guest! Did the panel guess correctly, I don’t know and I don’t care!


On this day in 1965 that the Beatles were supposed to have spent an evening with Elvis, Bob Dylan was booed off the stage in New York’s Forrest Hills. I like Bob Dylan, what’s the matter with you!



A couple of years later on this day in 1967 Naomi Sims was to make a name for herself by becoming the first black model to appear on the cover page of a US magazine, the “Fashion of the Times”. Many, including her name sake, have followed her down the cat walk!



The devoted nun Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997) was born on this day. She devoted her life to the sick, poor and needy of the world and there can be few more worthy of a Nobel Prize (1979). After her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title “Blessed Teresa of Calcutta”.


The lovely actress Barbara Bach (1949) will be celebrating her birthday today and who knows it may be with the “Spy Who Loved Me”.




The gentleman of the professional golfing circuit, Bernhard Langer (1957) will be celebrating his birthday today with his traditional restraint and modesty. At his peak he dominated the European golf scene and has played in an amazing 10 consecutive Ryder Cup teams.



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!!