20 January - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Carnation

Gemstone of the Month: Garnet

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!


In a world that according to Nomanda yesterday had gone mad this is the day in history that seems to be the day of choice for the inauguration of US presidents. That’s what I call a hangover! Today will see the departure of the George W Bush and will be a sad day for those of us who have enjoyed his incompetence over the last 8 years. Of course Bush took over from Clinton (1993) who took over from Daddy Bush in 1989. Quite a nice little family business they had there for a while!


Today’s new man is Barack Obama and it doesn’t bode well that on his way to the White House he has already announced that he will make mistakes. We all knew that he would make mistakes but I’m not sure that we needed reminding of that from the great man himself even before he takes office! Nomanda wishes him well and the best of luck, I’ve a feeling he’s going to need all the luck he can get what with the economy on its knees and the US making little or no progress in all the wars it has going on in different parts on the world.



So Mr President this one recorded by the Byrds on this day in 1965 is especially for you, “Mr Tambourine Man”.



The weather is cold in Washington at this time of the year so if the new president finds himself skating on thin ice he could do a lot worse than call upon the skills of Michelle Kwan who won the US Female Figure Skating championship on this day in 1996. Take a look at her skating to the song “Fields of Gold”, something else the new president could do with!


The guy who can be relied upon to be “Politically Incorrect”, Bill Maher (1956) may be able to help the new president with a few tips on his new job!



I don’t know the new president’s taste in music but if he likes rapping he will enjoy Snoop Dogg (1971) doing what he does 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!!

8 November - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Chrysanthemum

Gemstone of the Month: Topaz

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!



It was in this day in 1974 that Lord Lucan disappeared and has never been seen since! His timely disappearance was the night that his children’s nanny, Sandra Rivett, was murdered and his wife attacked. He was declared “officially dead” in 1999. Who knows?


The voters of the USA have voted for a “change” and Mrs Obama will already be measuring up for the curtains in the White House. The great man promised a “change” but does anybody know what changes he has in mind and how he is going to fund and implement them? Nomanda is pleased to see the back of Bush, but he had served his time and was going anyway. We wait the unfolding of Obama’s proposals with eager anticipation as the whole world watches.


Our first birthday celebrity today is the astronomer Edmund Halley (1656 – 1742). Apart from having a comet named after him, he didn’t discover it but did predict its return, he was a decent chap paying for the publication of one of Sir Isaac Newton’s works on planetary motion, and attempted to date the age of Stonehenge. He got it wrong, but at least he had a go!


Our next birthday wishes go to the American actress Katherine Hepburn (1909 – 2003). She still holds the record for the most “Best Actress” Oscars and in a career spanning an incredible 73 years will always be remembered for her performance opposite Humphrey Bogart in the “African Queen”.


The lovable stand up comedian and singer Ken Dodd (1929) has amused audiences for over 50 years and is still at it although perhaps these days he’s a sit down performer!


Another guy who has been wooing his fans as well as a few wives over his 50 year career is the French actor Alain Delon (1935). He was terrific in the “Return of Zorro” even if you never saw his face! We need more heroes like Zorro today!



He’s got long hair, wears dark glasses in the dark, but our final celebrity, Roy Wood (1945) is still pretty cool when he sings the “California Man”.



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 November - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Topaz

Flower of the Month: Chrysanthemum

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!



In a classic example of good manners and Victorian etiquette it was on this day in 1871, surrounded by hundreds of black native Africans, that addressing the only white man in sight for many a mile Henry M Stanley made his immortal statement, “Dr Livingstone, I presume.” History reckons he got it right and indeed it was the great man! He wasn’t lost so how could he be found?


When is an American not an American? Good question you may think and the Supreme Court was up to the answer on this day in 1883 when it decided that Native Americans can’t be Americans. OK, so what are they?


One of the best Americans of recent times to Nomanda’s mind is the ex President Bill Clinton. It was on this day in 1992 that he won his first Presidential election and was to go on and win the next one serving the maximum 8 years. Despite the fact that his wife Hillary lost out to Barack Obama in the recent run up to the Democratic nomination he was on the hustings with Obama just the other day supporting him. He’s a nice guy with a good background and a fearsome wife!


The 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718 – 1792) is our first birthday celebrity today. Despite his many career achievements, including being the First Lord of the Admiralty, the poor man is remembered as the inventor of the humble sandwich, which he is supposed to have eaten at the gambling tables to keep himself alert and winning! It’s probably all exaggerated but Nomanda wouldn’t want the facts to get in the way of a good story!


The legendary movie tough guy, Charles Bronson (1920 - 2003) is our next birthday hero! Whether it’s “The Magnificent Seven”, “The Great Escape”, or “The Dirty Dozen” that takes your fancy, they’re all great classic films!



Just because he’s so sensitive and he might think that “We Don’t Love Him” the guy with the girl’s name, “Marilyn” (1962) gets a special birthday mention!



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!!

11 October - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Opal

Flower of the Month: Calendula

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 people get married at a fairly young age and little do they know of how their lives will unfold and what the future has in store for them. One such person was Hilary Rodham who on this day in 1975 married Bill Clinton. I would like to guess that neither of them had any idea that one day they would occupy the White House. Well they did, and Hilary was the First Lady for 8 years. She obviously enjoyed living at the White House as she had a crack at getting there herself, this time as President. Sadly Hilary was beaten to the nomination by Barack Obama. Nomanda has a feeling that we’ve not heard the last from the formidable Hilary!


Nearly 450 years after she was sunk by the French Navy the Tudor purpose built warship, the Mary Rose, was raised from the Solent on this day in 1982. After her upgrade in 1536 she boasted an impressive 91 cannons, displaced 700 tons and needed a sailing crew of 200 aided by 185 soldiers and 31 gunners. It’s amazing when the unsinkable happens!


The unthinkable happened on this day in 1990 when the price of oil hit a record $40.42 per barrel. If only they knew just how lucky they were! With recent oil prices hitting almost $100 more at $138.54 in June 2008 it’s time for those unfortunates of the ‘90’s to start singing their “Happy Days” song!



Our first birthday celebrity today is Henry John Heinz (1844 – 1919). He was one of 8 children born to his father John Henry Heinz. Not a great deal of imagination in choosing their kids’ names in that family! There was no stopping young Henry as from the age of just 9 he was growing, bottling and selling his own brand of horseradish sauce! He went on to bigger and better things eventually running out of ideas at 57 (varieties, that is, not his age!) Everyone knows that “Beanz Meanz Heinz”. What perhaps not everybody knows is that the effect of eating too many baked beans is called “petits chansons” in French, which literally translated means “little songs”. So that’s what they’re calling it these days, is it?


Sir “Bobby” Charlton (1937) will no doubt have a few of his old playing mates around for a drink or two at his birthday bash today. He was a member of the English Football Team that won the World Cup in 1966 and played for Manchester United for most of his career. He is considered to be one of the greatest English players of all time and still holds the goal scoring record for both his club and his country.


The larger than life comedienne and actress Dawn French is happy with the number 57 as she celebrates her birthday (1957) today. A very funny and talented lady, Nomanda still loves watching the “Vicar of Dibley” whenever I get a chance. Here’s one of Nomanda’s favourite clips!


Our final birthday greetings go to two lovely ladies, Kellie Martin (1975) and Jane Krakowski (1968).





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!!