25 April - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Diamond

Flower of the Month: Sweet Pea

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!

If “great oaks from little acorns grow” then today’s patent must qualify as one of the smallest ever. It was on this day in 1684 that the patent for the humble thimble was granted. Sock darners and needle workers are all grateful!

Not having any socks to darn, or anything else either, “Man Friday” made his first appearance on this day in 1719 when Daniel Defoe published his classic novel “Robinson Crusoe”.






Despite the fact that Napoleon had previously turned down the idea of building the Suez Canal as it was projected to cost too much, the first ground for the canal was broken on this day in 1859 by a French company. It was completed 10 years later and opened in 1869. The very first “canal” linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean is thought to go back to sometime around 1800BC. So not such a new idea after all!



It was on this day in 1960 that celebrated the first submerged circumnavigation of the world by the submarine “Triton”. I cannot get Bob Newhart’s speech made by the captain of the USS Codfish out of my mind;



Whilst the well known drunk Boris Yeltsin was getting himself elected leader of Russia on this day in 1993, weather more typically Russian was to fall in Southern California on this day one year later in 1994 when they recorded 14” of snow . “I told you not to put out the geraniums out yet!”



Birthday celebrations today go to Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) the great Russian composer with his “1812” overture and the “Nutcracker” being amongst his more popular works. Always makes me smile, that one!




The great jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald (1918 – 1996) was born on this day and the legacy of her work with some of the best big bands of the time including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Duke Ellington will always be remembered.

The well known actor of the Coronation Street character Ken Barlow, William Roache was born on this day in 1932. Have a beer on Nomanda, Ken!

Finally, born on this day in 1957 “The Crafty Cockney”, Eric Bristow, the celebrated 5 times world darts champion will be having a beer or two today as well! Cheers, Eric!.




Happy Birthday 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!!

26 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!



Maybe, it’s just me, but I have to say that today back over the years has celebrated a few bizarre events.


Not in that category in 1780 was the launch of the first British Sunday newspaper, “The British Gazette and Sunday Monitor”. I wonder if loads of bits of paper dropped out when you picked it up.




The first bizarre event was that on this day in 1886, according to the history books, the first cremation in England took place. The Brits had been burning people at the stake for hundreds of years and if that’s not cremation I don’t know what is!




In a bizarre cricket match between England and South Africa on this day in 1889 the South Africans scored 47 runs in their first innings and just 43 in the second innings. The man of the match for England was the bowler Johnny Briggs whose figures for the match were 15 for 26, and the outstanding South African batsman was Bernard Tancred who carried his bat in the first innings and scored a respectable 26 runs out of their 47 total.



The funniest event to be celebrated today must go to the first lip reading tournament held on this day in America in 1926. As they say, “Only in America!” I’ve been trying to think just how this all works and haven’t yet come up with a satisfactory explanation.



In second place of bizarre events to be celebrated this day was the erection of a statue of Popeye by the spinach growers of Crystal City, Texas in 1937. Now I like spinach, but a statue to Popeye ……. As I said “Only in America”.





Not renowned for his spinach eating habits, but more for his falling down drunken performances, one Boris Yeltsin was elected to president of USSR in the first free elections to be held there. I love those clips of Boris’ aides firmly grabbing hold of his arm just before he slumps over. He was quite a party man and womaniser in his time as well! I wonder how many of the 190 million voters that voted that day had had one too many.



The last event of note that took place on this day in 2006 was that smoking was banned in pubs and restaurants in Scotland. A very sad day for all nicotine addicts and an even sadder one for the eating and drinking establishments whose customers drifted away in a cloud of smoke!



Our first birthday girl today is Diana Ross (1944) of the Supremes and here is one of Nomanda’s favourites!





Our next birthday girl is the lovely English actress Keira Knightly (1985).





And in a Happy Special Day first we can announce that today in 2228 will be born James T Kirk, Captain to be of the Star Ship Enterprise (William Shatner). In fact on the official web site for good old JTK it gives his birth date as 22 03 2233, but then who cares?




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 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!



Rachael from “Friends” favourite store, Bloomingdale’s, opened in New York on this day in 1872. Rachael loved it so much that she even got a job there so she could benefit from staff discounts! Well the store has come on a bit since those early days and now has a nationwide chain of 36 stores with an annual turnover of $1.9 billion. That’s an awful lot of stuff even allowing for the staff discounts!


Why do people keep some good ideas so secret? It was on this day in 1922 that the first facsimile was transmitted over the ‘phone lines. I know that it was best part of 50 years later before these wonderful machines were available commercially! They operated with continuous rolls of slippy paper and the image would disappear in a very short time! Great machines!


Panic broke out in Moscow on this day in 1993 when Boris Yeltsin discovered he was down to his last dozen bottles of vodka and declared a state of emergency!



The fastest train in the world, the Japanese maglev, broke the world speed record on this day in 1997 zooming through the countryside at an amazing 280.3 mph. That’s quick in anybody’s language!


Ernest Evans, better known as “Chubby Checker” (1941) will be “Twisting Again” at his birthday bash today. I wonder if he’d have been so successful if he’d kept his original name. Still going strong although a little chubbier and checkier today!



Lindsey Buckingham (1947), the member of the group Fleetwood Mac, will be celebrating his special day today. Let’s hear one of their best!


Pamela Hensley (1950), aka “Princess Ardala” will be having a right royal knees up with all her friends from the 25th century today.




No doubt Gwen Stefani (1969) will be singing and strutting her own stuff at her birthday bash today!




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 12th July Day!

Gemstone of the Month

Ruby

Flower of the Month: Larkspur

Upcoming Special Days


14 July - Emmeline Pankhurst Day

15 July - St. Swithin’s Day


Coming towards the end of his relatively short but eventful life Henry VIII married his 6th and last wife, Catherine Parr, on this day in 1543. Not only did she survive Henry, something not to be sniffed at as far as his wives were concerned, she did manage to bring some order and reconciliation into the Royal household before Henry died.


Bringing order into the normal domestic household a machine for manufacturing the humble paper bag was patented on this day in 1859 by William Goodale of Massachusetts. It was the standard container for transporting domestic purchases from the shop to home right up to the invention of the much cheaper plastic bag that became the preferred option in the ‘70’s onwards. Nowadays the plastic bag has become a conservation pariah and the good old paper bag has got a second life. Of course if you are a believer of all the greenie nonsense surrounding what sort of bag is best/least worst for the environment then this will be a subject close to your heart. Frankly Nomanda thinks the best solution is to remove all “free” grocery bags from the shops and to take your own reusable job! It’s not rocket science!

Rocketing up the leader board at Royal Lytham on this day in 1969, Tony Jacklin was to become the first Briton to win the Open Championship for 18 years. He shot 280 and came out on top. Well done, Tony! Celebrate today and have a drink on Nomanda!


Drinking his way to top dog in Russia, Nomanda’s favourite drunk, Boris Yeltsin, chose this day to decide to quit the Soviet Communist Party. No doubt he downed a bottle or two to celebrate! He did have his moments and could be quite a funny man. Have a look at this!


First up for birthday honours today is the famous potter, designer and manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood (1730 – 1795). As well as making pottery for the royals, rich and famous throughout Europe he also had a famous grandson, Charles Darwin!


Sharing her birthday with Wedgwood is Christine McVie (1943) the vocalist of Fleetwood Mack. Has she got a hold on you?


Another great female vocalist from the group Boney M, Liz Mitchell (1952) was born on this day. If you like a bit of calypso, steel bands and Jamaican beach fun you’ll love this one!


It seems to be all girls’ birthdays today as born on this day in 1976 was the lovely English actress, Anna Friel. Nomanda will send her a bunch of daisies for her birthday!


And sharing her birthday with Anna is the hard hitting American actress Michelle Rodriguez born in 1978. Nomanda will send her a pair of boxing gloves!




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!!