17 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 very special day for Nomanda as it is the birthday of our one and only lovely daughter, Michelle! So Michelle lots of love to you on this special day!
We have a special birthday song for you which used to be one of your favourites. So Happy Birthday Michelle, click and enjoy!




Freedom lovers everywhere will celebrate this day in 1885 when the Statue of Liberty, the gift from the people of France to the US, arrived in New York. It is the most recognisable icon of the United States welcoming visitors, immigrants and returning Americans back to the shores of the US. At least it used to before they tightened up on immigration control and visas! The statue itself is 46 metres high and when on its pedestal it stands 93 metres high. Originally it functioned as a lighthouse (1886 – 1902) and its electric lamp (the first lighthouse to use electricity) could be seen from 24 miles out at sea.



In an attempt to get his subjects to see him in a more favourable light it was on this day in 1917 that the British King, George V, changed the name of the British royal house from the German sounding “House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha” to the name we are familiar with today, Windsor. Remember Britain was at war with Germany at the time and George V was the first cousin of Kaiser Willheim II, the Bosch who started it all! Sound thinking, George! Apparently George V was a bit of a bore and H G Wells once referred to the “alien and uninspiring court”. Georges V’s famous reply was “I may be uninspiring, but I’m definitely not alien!” The Windsors have never looked back.


Another German sounding lot, Led Zeppelin, were to begin their last tour of Europe on this day in 1980. Selling 300 million albums worldwide they are regarded as one of the best hard rock groups of all time. If you like hard rock, you’ll love this one!



The first celebrity sharing his birthday with Michelle is the Irishman John Robert Gregg (1867 – 1948), the inventor of shorthand. Obviously a bright boy he introduced his shorthand system at the age of just 21. Nomanda has never been able to do shorthand but during his student days did develop his own version of fast scribbling which even he couldn’t read afterwards. It’s called Nohand!



The founder member of the “Rat Pack”, Dean Martin (1917 – 1995), was born on this day. This singer, actor and comedian also knew how to party! Nomanda’s favourite songs are “That’s Amore”, “Everybody Loves Somebody” and the best of the bunch, “Mambo Italiano”. He was half Italian after all!



Just because Nomanda likes his name the rocker Dickey Do (1939) from “Dickey Doo and the Don’ts” gets a birthday mention today as does Norman Kuhlice (1942) from the “Swinging Blue Jeans” who’s “Hippy Hippy Shake” and “You’re No Good” are Nomanda’s favourites.



Red Ken Livingstone, ex mayor of London and the thorn in the side of the Labour Party (before they got Brown!) was born on this day in 1945. Anyway he’s on his bike now since Mad Boris Johnson took over the job!



Off his bike, but not before he’d clocked up 5 wins in the “Tour de France” also born on this day was another of our famous Belgians, Eddie Merckx (1945). Cue for an old wagon wheel song “Rolling Rolling Rolling!”



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!!

19 January - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Garnet

Flower of the Month: Carnation

When it is your happy special day and whether you are celebrating a birthday or special anniversary, if you would like a mention on Nomanda’s blog just send us the details. We promise you a very special mention on this blog on your special day!

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 world has gone completely mad! The latest news is that the UK banks are about to get another slice of £20 billion to keep them going. Banks as we know them today have been around for hundreds of years doing very nicely borrowing and lending money for nice margins and making billions in profit year after year after year. Carried away by their greed and over confidence they have all made a few stupid investments and the recent realisation of their mistakes has brought them to their knees. Most commercial enterprises live or die by their decisions and prudence, and those who do best carry on and the others go to the wall. Why do banks deserve any better treatment than any other business? OK, I know that there would be many savers who would be hit by their bank’s demise, but savers have a duty to look after their own funds as well.


Nomanda may be persuaded that the latest injection of the British tax payers’ money could do some good in stimulating the economy if he had any confidence that the banks would do what they are supposed to do with the money and lend it out to those who need it. However I’m afraid that all that will happen is that the banks will use it to shore up their balance sheets and be even more careful in lending any of it out.


The British tax payer will be left with debts that will take decades to pay off and little will be achieved! If the government really wanted to stimulate the economy and get cash out to the places it is needed it would have been better to set up its own bank and do the job itself if any capable group of professionals could be found to run the enterprise.



When you put the latest bank bail out alongside the fact that many banks are now stopping many credit card payments in efforts to reduce card fraud the whole thing becomes laughable. The best advice an “expert” could give to anyone who is worried about their credit card being refused was to make sure you carried plenty of cash with you! That’s just what credit cards were supposed to stop in the first place!


On a lighter note it was on this day in 1903 that the new bicycle race the “Tour de France” was first announced and the event has given enjoyment to its fans ever since. It’s amazing how many cyclists jump on their bikes and whiz around Nomanda’s back yard during the “Tour de France” season. And every one of them without exception wears a yellow jersey!


The game you either love or hate, “Scrabble” was first introduced on this day in 1955. Nomanda’s foot is firmly placed in the latter camp!




I am however a fan of Bruce Springsteen so his iconic song “Born in The USA” that peaked at #9 on this day in 1985 will always get a mention!


Our first birthday boy today is Phil Everly (1938). He was the other half of the Everly Brothers with his elder brother Don and I’m delighted to learn that the duo are still going strong at the unlikely combined age of 140 years! They have no problems getting up in the mornings when they “Wake up Little Susie”!


The multi talented Michael Crawford (1942) may startle a few of his guests today especially if he turns up in his “Phantom of the Opera” costume! He is a great comedian and even better singer!




Dolly Parton (1946) would love to go to Michael’s bash as long as it’s not between “9 – 5”, otherwise she’ll be working!



The keyboardist of the group UB40, Michael Virtue (1957), will be enjoying his favourite “Red Red Wine” at his birthday bash!




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 September - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Aster

Gemstone of the Month: Sapphire

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!



Most of us have a fairly cynical attitude towards politicians so it will come as no surprise that on this day way back in 1789 that the US Congress agreed to raise a loan to pay their salaries! As if they don’t take enough from us in taxes, they just go out and organise a loan to keep themselves in the custom which we have allowed them to enjoy. We only have ourselves to blame!


Of course on this day in 1830 it was still early days in the locomotive industry but I would like to bet that the horse that beat the first US produced locomotive had a big smile on his face at the end of the race!


The West was Wild before the trains came along and changed all that so let’s have a special tribute to the series “Wagon Train” that premiered on this day in 1957. The theme tune for “Wagon Train” was rubbish, but the song for another Western TV series of the time, “Rawhide” is just great!


Now Nomanda likes chocolates, especially Belgian chocolates, but the 500 lb Hershey Kiss chocolate that went on display in Times Square on this day in 1990 would take my breath away. I like them but I don’t think I could eat a whole one!



Two of Nomanda’s favourite golfers, Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros, were elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame on this day in 1997. Different characters and styles they were both a delight to watch when at their peak.


The former teen idol, Frankie Avalon (1940) is getting on a bit for his teeny fans now but at his best he was great! Let’s hear “Venus”, one of his best!





Another popular singer, Kim Wilde (1960) will be happy to give us one of her party pieces for her birthday today!



The record breaking American road cyclist, Lance Armstrong (1971) will be sprinting along the road for his birthday bash today. He won the prestigious “Tour de France” an incredible seven consecutive years running from 1999 to 2005. He retired shortly afterwards and we wish him 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!!

Happy Special 24th July Day!

Gemstone of the Month

Ruby

Flower of the Month: Larkspur

As all taxpayers know governments can be imaginative when conjuring up new ways to raise taxes. However in 1696 William III and his tax advisors take first prize for imagination when they introduced the “window tax”. I guess it was designed to fall on the better off tax paying members of the population as it only came in on houses with more than 6 windows. The tax was 2 shillings for houses with 7 – 9 windows and a massive 4 shillings for houses with 10 – 19 windows. Of course as soon as a tax is introduced there are a bunch of accountants and lawyers trying to find a way to avoid paying it! They had the great idea of “blocking in” the excess windows to fall below the levy minimum! There are still houses to be seen today in the UK where these blocked up windows have not been re-opened! However panic not and put your bricks and mortar away as the tax was abolished on this day in 1851 ……… to be replaced by the “House Duty” tax. There’s no escape! Daylight robbery if you ask me!

Nomanda’s blog is a celebration of Happy Special Days and it is with great joy that we announce the anniversary of the first greetings telegram sent on this day in 1935. Of course things have moved on a bit since then and if you want to send your special someone a greetings message what better way than sending them a copy of this blog!

Bob Dylan, one of the leading lights of the ‘60’s released his song “Like a Rolling Stone” on this day in 1965 and it still sounds just as good today! I wonder if it was this song that influenced Mick Jagger and his mates in the choice of their group’s name.



Rolling along on his way to his record breaking 7th consecutive win of the Tour de France on this day in 2005 was the incredible Lance Armstrong. It was to be his last race and he ended his career on top! Well done, Lance!


First up for birthday honours is the celebrated French author Alexandre Dumas (1802 – 1870). The popularity of his historical novels such as “The Three Musketeers” and “The Count of Monte Cristo” have made him one of the most widely read French authors outside of France. Great books for boys of all ages!


Living a life of ripping yarns the aviator Amelia Earhart (1898 – 1937) was born on this day. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and her plane went missing over the Pacific on 2nd July 1937 during her attempt to fly around the world. The mystery surrounding her disappearance is still unsolved.


Sir Trevor Chinn (1935) will be celebrating his birthday today. He was appointed MD of Lex Plc at the tender age of just 33 having worked his way through all the departments and positions of his father’s business. That relationship may have helped his rapid rise through the ranks! A remarkable motivator of his troops, Nomanda who once worked for this great man, wishes him the greatest of choices for his birthday bash so he can make the best decision on how he wants to spend it!

I wonder if Jim McCarty (1943) will be asked to play at Sir Trevor’s bash. If so, he may give a rendition of “Hoochie Coochie Man”!



Two fine looking women share their birthday today. Lynda Carter (1951) the indomitable “Wonder Woman” and Jennifer Lopez (1970) the current version! Let’s have a song from Jennifer!



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!!

Happy Special 21st July!

Flower of the Month

Larkspur

Gemstone of the Month: Ruby

Happy Birthday, Susan! Susan is Nomanda’s best friend and it is her birthday today so we wish you a lovely time on this your very own special day! We know that your life long partner (well it must seem that way sometimes!) has been up to his usual imaginative and generous tricks and if we’re not mistaken there’s a non stick pan, a toaster, and a greenhouse all on their way to you to make your day complete! It doesn’t get much more romantic than that! Susan loves cats, but will she admit to remembering this guy! Enjoy!


Remarkably, as Nomanda comes from Belgium, it is a double celebration today as it was on this day in 1831 that Belgium gained its independence from the Netherlands and hasn’t looked back since! The Dutch have always liked Belgium and particularly at this time of the year the city of Antwerp is covered with wall to wall Dutch enjoying the great food and beers on offer! They think it’s just “Lekker”!

The UK’s national museum of British and modern art opened on this day in 1897. Later and now known as the Tate Gallery after one of its Victorian benefactors the modern Tate is in fact a network of 4 different galleries and are all well worth a visit.



John Scopes, the teacher who taught the theory of evolution to his students was to discover as so many before and after him have learned that the law is sometimes just not at all “fair”. His defence evidence was disallowed by the judge so the jury having no evidence presented to them other than that of the prosecution found him “guilty” after a deliberation of just 7 minutes! Without being given the chance to protest or to admit any mitigating circumstances he was summarily fined $100. The so called “Monkey Trial” had closed on this day in 1925! It would run on and on and is today celebrated each year with a full circus event!

In an attempt to steal some of Neil Armstrong’s thunder the Russian Luna 15 crashed onto the moon surface the same day as he made his historic walk and speech. “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind”. The “What the **** was that?” as Luna 15 whistled over his head has been erased from the official transcript!



Flashing past all his rivals Eddie Merckx won his 5th Tour de France on this day in 1974. Going well and getting better!



The world’s strongest dog, a St Bernard weighing 80 kilos (that’s nearly as much as Nomanda weighs!) pulled a load of 2,909 kilos a distance of 27 metres on this day in 1978. Now I don’t think I could pull the load the full 27 metres, but I bet “Magnus” could!


Sharing his birthday with Susan today is the French priest and astronomer Jean Picard (1620 – 1682). No doubt the captain of the Star Ship Enterprise was named after him!


One of the classic American writers of the 20th Century, Ernest Hemingway (1899 – 1961) was born on this day. His bell tolled too soon.




Our final birthday wishes go to the actor Leigh Lawson (1945) who will be enjoying a glass or two of bubbly today with his lovely wife, Twiggy!



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!!