31 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!

The history books are a bit vague on the year, but today is supposed to be the day that Lady Godiva rode naked through the streets of Coventry. The brave woman undertook this action as a protest against her husband’s tax hike on his tenant farmers. I bet she needed a good hot bath when she returned from her adventure because it’s pretty cold in Coventry around this time of the year!

Eating their hearts out on this day in 1884 were the brothers Kellogg. They ran a sanatorium and had left some cooked wheat out and forgot about it. By the time they got to it the wheat had gone stale so instead of throwing it away they invented corn flakes! The poor inmates didn’t stand a chance. So now you know what you’re eating when you go on a “healthy” diet!

Trying to “Give Peace a Chance” were John Lennon and Yoko Ono

who recorded this song today in 1969.

Giving herself a chance for a last fling was Minnie Munro, who on this day in 1991 at the age of 102 married a guy young enough to be her son. The youthful Dudley Reid, aged 83, was the lucky groom. They were married at Point Claire, NSW, for the benefit of our Australian readers.

Birthday tributes today go first of all to Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809). He was one of the most prominent composers of the classic period and is often referred to as the father of the symphony and string quartet. Nomanda has a selected number of classical favourites. You either love ‘em or haydm!

One guy we love, the English cartoonist and illustrator, William Heath Robinson (1872 – 1944) was born on this day. His weird and complicated machines, powered by kettles and candles, working a complex series of pulleys have made his name, “Heath Robinson”, a byword for anything that looks as though it won’t work and even if it does, will soon break down! Great drawings!

We have a much more famous Clint born today in 1930, Clint Eastwood. In an acting and directing career lasting over 50 years he has picked up so many awards that he’s had to move house several times. We still love the “Dollar” trilogy and he’s not bad as “Dirty Harry” either!

Two heavyweights, Terry Waite (1939) the hostage taken by the Lebanese, and John Prescott (1939), the guy with his nose in the trough who can’t stop eating, share their birthdays today. They also share their birthday with Peter Yarrow (1938) of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. Now there’s an interesting trio for dinner! Pass the salt, please, Vicar!

The very funny man, Harry Enfield (1961) will be celebrating his birthday today. It’s best to see a quick video of his work to appreciate just what a great comedian he is.

Our final birthday wishes got to Brooke Shields (1965). Talented and looks great!








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!!

8 April - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Sweet Pea

Gemstone of the Month: Diamond

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’s history of firsts starts with the patenting of the Fire Escape in 1766. However strong hearts were required to use this device which comprised a wicker basket on a chain and pulley. I hope the wicker basket was inflammable! I guess when your backside is on fire anything is better than nothing!




John D Lynde’s patent is still with us today as it was in this day in 1862 that he patented his aerosol dispenser. Where would we be without those? There’s not one part of your body you cannot reach with one of these things, and they’re also good for killing off unwanted flies, undesirable smells and all sorts of other things!




However Nomanda’s first of the firsts goes to the first sale of milk in glass bottles on this day in 1879. Subsequently this invention was to be immortalised by the comedian Benny Hill in his song “Ernie”, also known as “The Fastest Milkman in the West”.



One of our favourite actors and directors, Clint Eastwood, was to choose this day in 1986 to begin his brief career in politics being elected mayor of Carmel, California. I bet it made his day! He became disenchanted with the job and didn’t stand for a second term, I wonder why!



The English golfer, Nick Faldo, celebrated this day in 1990 by winning the Masters and on this day in 1994 smoking was banned in the Pentagon and all US military bases. I guess the ban only applied to cigarettes and cigars and not to the guns!



Birthday greeting today go to Juan Ponce de Leon who was born on this day in 1460. The story has it that he was searching for the fountain of life when he stumbled across Florida. Well, well, nip nip, tuck tuck, he was on the right track after all!





Ian Smith (1919 – 2007), premier of Southern Rhodesia was born on this day and whatever may have been thought of his politics in his time, has Mr Mugabe done any better for the country we now know as Zimbabwe?






Izzy Stradlin (1962), the lead songwriter and rhythm guitarist of “Guns and Roses” celebrates his birthday today. Rock On, Izzy! Here is one of Nomanda’s favourites!





Celebrating his birthday today is one of England’s best loved modern cricketers, Alec Stewart (1963). Alec is the most capped English cricketer of all time having played in 133 test matches and 170 ODI’s. In his short period of captaining the English team he had the distinction of opening the batting, keeping wicket and captaining the team. It’s just a pity he couldn’t bowl and he could have opened the bowling as well!


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!!

9 January - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Garnet

Flower of the Month: Carnation

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!



William Pitt the Younger had a lot to answer for as it was under his government that income tax was first introduced to the great British public on this day in 1799. It was introduced to help finance the Napoleonic wars and even in those days they got the sums wrong by a serious margin. Pitt thought it would raise £10 million and in the event it raised just £6 million! I tell you what; we would settle for the rates back then, just 0.02 pence in the pound on incomes over £60 and soaring up to 2/- shillings in the pound on incomes over £200. And this of course was in “old money” before decimalisation!


Don’t you just love those adverts from the Inland Revenue that tell you “Tax doesn’t have to be taxing!” OK then what is it? They’d take the skin off your back!




The all black and white TV series “Rawhide” premiered on this day in 1959 and if you’d so far had the good fortune to miss all the episodes Nomanda is about to put that matter right with this clip!
You’ll love it, and as Clint Eastwood was in it, it wasn’t all bad!



Don’t you just hate it when you’re left out of things? Well you’re in good company because that’s exactly what John Lennon thought and even made a song about it released on this day in 1984 “Nobody Told Me”.



Now I guess that all our readers expect that Nomanda is bang up to date with all the modern hi-tech stuff like the Apple iPhone that was introduced to the expectant world on this day in 2007. Nothing could be further from the truth! I only bought a computer because my abacus broke down just after I discovered that I couldn’t get any more ribbons for my typewriter!


The lovely Lancashire lass Gracie Fields (1898 – 1979) is our first birthday celebrity today. Born over a fish and chip shop she never forgot her roots although she did have to dye them from time to time! “Wish her Luck as You Wave her Goodbye”.



Sharing the same day for their birthday is the lovely English actress Susannah York (1941) and Joan Baez (1941). Let’s hear Joan’s “Diamonds and Rust”. Great stuff!





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!!

3 January - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Garnet

Flower of the Month: Carnation

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!



“Sorry guys, it’s getting too dark, we’ll have to end the match”

That’s what the boxing referee said to the two pugilists Con Owen and Hugh O’Neil on this day in 1865. I don’t think they would be too impressed with the ref’s decision as they’d been at each other for 193 rounds before he decided to call it a day! You have to be joking!


The Catholic Church indulged itself in another futile gesture on this day in 1962 when the Pope John XXIII excommunicated Fidel Castro of all people. I’m sure he was quaking in his shoes comforted by the fact that the Church hadn’t yet forgiven the Jews for the death of Christ!


Diamonds are supposed to be a girl’s best friend according to Marilyn Monroe. But maybe the investors of the world should be thinking about gold. On this day in 1974 gold hit a record “high” of $121.25, on this day in 1980 it hit $634 and according to Nomanda’s research it was at $865 on 31st December 2008! Better than your pound sterling, Gordon!


Our first birthday celebrity is the very funny and talented pianist Victor Borge (1909 – 2002). Just like Morecombe and Wise he had little respect for the famous guests who appeared on his show. Have a look at the way he treats his soprano diva in “Hands Off”.



Our next birthday guest is the great film director John Sturges (1911 – 1992). With classic films like “The Magnificent Seven”, “The Great Escape” and “Ice Station Zebra” to his credit I guess he would make most people’s birthday list.



The spaghetti western film director Sergio Leone (1929 – 1989) is our next great birthday guest. He discovered Clint Eastwood and helped him on his way to a “Fistful of Dollars”!



Our final birthday boy today is the actor and director Mel Gibson (1956). Of all the stuff he’s done “Braveheart” must be one of his best!




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!!