14 March - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Daffodil

Gemstone of the Month: Bloodstone

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 celebrations start with the premiere in London on this day in 1885 of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic comic opera “The Mikado” or as it is also known “The town of Titipu”. Now that’s a funny name! All Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic operas are full of unforgettable songs and the two that tickle my fancy from the “Mikado” are:


“If you want to know who we are?” This is the opening song sung by Nanki Poo and chorus, and by the way, do you know who they are?


“Three little maids from school are we” sung by Yum Yum, Peep Bo and Pitti Sing.

They’re really great!




Another song from Perry Como, “Catch a Falling Star”, would receive the very first RIAA gold record on this day in 1958. I wouldn’t mind catching one but I wouldn’t put it in my pocket!




In an uncharacteristic act of generosity OPEC cut its oil prices for the first time in 23 years on this day in 1983. My guess is that they did it because they weren’t selling enough of the black stuff, but maybe I’m just cynical!



Our first birthday celebrity today is the physicist Albert Einstein (1879- 1955) winner of the Nobel Prize in 1921. I know we have some budding physicists among our faithful readers and just for you the equation for his mass – energy equivalence is E=mc², in case you forgot it!



Our next birthday boy is Michael Caine (1933). As I’m a great fan it’s difficult to know where to start with Michael as he’s been in hundreds of films in a career stretching over 50 years and has won 2 Oscars. Knighted, and applauded by fans all over the world he is famous for something he never said! “Not a lot of people know that!”


In his own words, “The world famous in Birmingham” English comedian Jasper Carrott (1946) is our next birthday boy. Have a look at his “Hilarious Insurance Claims” clip!




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!!

16 December - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Paper White

Gemstone of the Month: Turquoise

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!



Following the defeat of the Royalists and the execution of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell was sworn in as the English “Lord Protector” on this day in 1653. In this position he received the princely sum of £100,000 a year which isn’t a bad little earner even today! Goodness knows how much that would convert to at today’s values! He was soon very happy to be referred to as His Royal Highness and thankfully only lasted a few years in his position up to his death in 1658. He would eventually be succeeded by Charles II and England would return to a monarchy. In a futile effort to show their dislike of the “Protector” his body was dug up in 1661 and subjected to a posthumous execution! They really didn’t like him!


It was on this day in 1915 the Albert Einstein published his “General Theory of Relativity”. Nomanda has to admit that he has serious brain problems understanding some of the stuff that goes on in Star Trek and Stargate so I’ve got no chance with this one! Just a mention of the time space continuum and I’m lost! For those of you with greater intellectual talents you can always google your way to the theory and further enlightenment!


The legendary Australian cricketer Don Bradman enjoyed this day in the past. He made his 1st class debut playing for NSW vs. South Australia on this day in 1915. He scored 143 runs in a match between the same two sides in 1927, and in the same fixture a year later in 1939 he made 251 not out! Not at all Brad!



Two pop icons of the ‘60’s were slogging it out on this day in 1966 when the Jimi Hendrix Experience released its first single “Hey Joe”, and the Beatles released “It’s Christmas Everywhere”!



Short of friends on this day in 1997 President Clinton chose this day to call his pet Labrador “Buddy”! No matter how pleased Hilary was to see the old man when he got back home after a hard day at the office I bet that “Buddy” was even more pleased to see him! No-one gives you a welcome back better than a dog!



Catherine of Aragon (1485 – 1536) the first wife of Henry VIII is our first birthday celebrity today. She may have lost her husband but at least she died from natural causes, unlike most of Henry’s other wives.



The playwright, actor singer and shirt lifter Noel Coward (1899 – 1973) is our next birthday guest. His final years were spent in Jamaica where he had the “Flemings” as his next door neighbours. Apparently he didn’t get on too well with his illustrious neighbours because when asked to play the part of the villain Dr No in the first “James Bond” film his reply was, “Dr No? No! No! No!"


Benny Andersson (1946) the singer from the group ABBA is our next starring guest! Here’s one of Nomanda’s all time ABBA favourites!




The Barbados bowler “Big” Joel Garner (1953) is our final birthday boy today. Standing an impressive 6’ 8” he was a formidable sight to un-nerve the most valiant of batsman as he ran up to the wicket to unleash the ball. Have a look at these clips.



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!!

12 August - Historical Events and Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Gladiolus

Gemstone of the Month: Agate

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 like a bit of busking whilst you’re quietly going about your own business then join with Nomanda today and celebrate the patenting of the buskers’ favourite instrument, the accordion, that was patented by Anthony Fass on this day in 1865. There is a gypsy/ punk group called the Gogol Bordello who uses this instrument a lot. Have a look at this, they are really quite awful!

On a relatively “slow day” historically speaking the opening of the Central Station at Antwerp by King Leopold II on this day in 1905 gets a mention today. Nomanda used to live in Antwerp and has to say that the station is quite impressive. It is even more so now after the seemingly never ending renovation project that has recently been completed. The TGVs from Paris now whiz underneath the station on their way to all points north!

Equally non newsworthy is the 12th anniversary of Macy’s “Tap-o-Mania” that took place on this day in 1990. I thought it might be a pudding or something but in fact it is a gathering of as many tap dancers that want to turn up and tap their stuff outside the great store. Well over 3,000 dancing tappers have shook 34th street and it must all be quite a spectacle to behold! Nomanda likes a bit of tap dancing and I wonder if the Macy’s job is anything like the Riverdance performances!

The Austrian physicist and cat lover Erwin Schrödinger (1887 – 1961) is our first birthday celebrity today. He received a Nobel Prize in 1935 for his work on quantum mechanics and corresponded regularly with his mate Albert Einstein. Now if this is all getting a bit rich for you don’t worry as Nomanda isn’t exactly up to speed in the quantum world! Anyway following his communications with Albert he came up with his “Schrödinger’s Cat Thought Experiment”. It’s all quite beyond me but it’s something to do with the cat being dead and alive at the same time! Maybe he only thought he had a cat! Mind boggling stuff!

The McWhirter twins Norris and Ross (1925), the co-founders of the Guinness Book of Records get a very special birthday mention today. After all where would Nomanda be without their book to reference!



The guitarist of the group Culture Club, Roy (1961) will be having his birthday bash today. We really don’t want to hurt his feelings so let’s play one of their best songs!


One of the greatest tennis players of all time “Pistol” Pete Sampras (1971) will be serving up the drinks at his birthday bash today. In his 15 year career he won a record breaking 14 Grand Slam singles titles winning the Wimbledon title 7 times in 8 years. He always had a hung dog look about him but it didn’t affect his game!


Our next birthday boy is the actor Casey Affleck (1975) best known for his supporting role in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” as well as his “Oceans” appearances.



Playing the role “Lolita” in the film of the same name brought fame to Dominique Swain (1980) our next birthday celebrity.




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!!