Showing posts with label Boxing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boxing. Show all posts

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

30 June - Historical Events and Special Celebrations



Flower of the Month: Rose

Rose

Gemstone of the Month: Pearl



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!



A couple of days ago the humorous quote of the day was “I’m not afraid of heights; it’s widths I’m afraid of!” Well one guy afraid of neither heights nor widths, Charles Blondin, demonstrated his nerve and skill on this day in 1859 when he crossed the Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Not content to do the job once apparently he went across numerous times including doing it blindfolded, on stilts, with a man on his back, and once settling down in the middle and cooking himself an omelette! I guess walking 335 metres 50 metres above the water several times gives a chap an appetite! I just hope the wind didn’t get up.



The classic novel “Gone with the Wind”, written by Margaret Mitchell was published on this day in 1936. Set in the Deep South during the American Civil War the novel earned a Pulitzer Prize and has been the subject of great films and musicals. The book took Mitchell 10 years to write and was the only book published during her lifetime. If you haven’t either read it or seen the film, you should!



Nomanda doesn’t know how much Mitchell earned from her book but she would have been delighted with the cheque issued by the US Treasury on this day in 1954 for a whopping $4,176,969,623.57. It was an “internal” cheque and I suppose was to balance the books somehow! Only an accountant would write out such a big cheque down to the last 57 cents!



Nomanda’s birthplace, Leopoldville, was renamed Kinshasa on this day in 1966, and to complete the job the country was renamed from the Belgium Congo to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Situated on the river Congo, Kinshasa is the third largest city in Africa with a population of 9 million, and if the present population growth continues will be larger than Paris by 2010.That's next year!



We all know that “Everything is bigger in America” so it comes as no surprise that on the same day as the US Treasury issued their bouncing cheque that the humble British sixpenny coin was last minted on this day in 1970. The coin had been in use since 1551 but there was no place for it in the changeover to decimalisation in 1971. However the coin was so popular with the public that it was kept in circulation until 1980 at the reduced value of 2.5 “new pence”. Decimalisation, what a rip off that was, all small priced items kept the same price in “new money” but in fact were two and a half times more expensive!



Better known for his ripping yarns our first Birthday boy, James Goldman, (1927 – 1998) was born on this day. Probably his best known book and screen play is “The Lion in Winter”. He is also the elder brother of William Goldman who will be remembered for his screenplay of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”.



Our final birthday tribute goes to “bad boyMike Tyson (1966). He was a great heavyweight boxer and if he had stuck to his professional career, not misbehaved and kept an eye on his money the world would be a better place!



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!!


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Saturday, 27 June 2009

27 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!



Hold up your hand if you like using ATM machines. Hmmm, much as I thought, nobody likes them but like them or not we’ve got them and they are here to stay! Supporters of these machines raise your glasses and toast the inauguration of the very first ATM machine installed on this day in 1967 at Barclay’s bank at Enfield, London. The likeable comedian, Reg Varney, was the first person to use the machine and he seems happy with his experience judging from the photos Nomanda’s seen. I guess Reg was used to promote the use of this horrible piece of technology because of his honest and happy face. He came away with a ten pound note wrapped in a brown envelope. I’m sure there was someone sitting on the other side of the wall providing the service! In fact I’m sure there still is! “Hello, hello, can I have my card back, please?”



Boxers seem to have been in the news at this time of the year as it was on this day in 1979 that the great Muhammad Ali announced his retirement only to have another bash a year later. It was also on this day in 1988 that the monster Mike Tyson KO’d Michael Spinks in the 91st second of the first round. Tyson picked up a very useful $22 million for his brief appearance and I dare say that Spinks got a fistful of dollars too! Nice work if you can get it!


Having little respect for their heritage and legend on this day in 1985 the bureaucrats of the highways department decided that the famous “Route 66” from Chicago to Santa Monica should be decertified as a highway. Shame on you!




First up for birthday honours today is Mary McAleese (1951) the president of Ireland serving her second term of office having been re-elected unopposed in 2004. She’s a bright lady with a strong character and enjoys supporting her country at sporting occasions. They don’t get much better!



Another birthday girl celebrating her birthday today is the lovely French actress Isabelle Adjani (1955). Of her many great performances Nomanda’s favourites are in the films the “Story of Adele H” and “Ishtar”.



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!!

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Monday, 6 April 2009

6 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 in 1868 was a happy day in the life of Brigham Young (1801 – 1877). Renowned for being a founder of Salt Lake City, a leader of the Latter Day Saint movement in the USA, and the president of The Church of Latter Day Saints from 1847 – 1887, today was the day he was celebrating his marriage to Ann Eliza Webb in 1868. Ann was to be his last wife of the 27 wives he had bearing him a total of 57 children. I’ve got lots of questions about this guy so how about these two for starters. Where did they all live? Did he remember all their names? With a family like that I’m surprised his name wasn’t Heinz!



In another feat of endurance of a different kind Andy Bowen and Jack Burke decided to call it quits after their boxing match of 111 rounds lasting 7 hours and 19 minutes still hadn’t produced a winner on this day in 1893!



Not one to mess about after seeing the previous match James J Jeffries KO’d Jack Finnegan in the first round of their heavyweight boxing title fight on this day in 1900.




In a series of firsts on this day it was in 1906 that the first animal cartoon was patented. 1912 saw the first electric starter in cars. And in 1925 British Airways showed the first in flight film; my guess is that it was the “Flight of the Bumblebee”!




After the invention of “Teflon” in 1938 by Roy J Plunkett things moved on a bit and the first TV dinner was put on sale by Swanson and Sons on this day in 1954.




Having spent all his time watching the other golfers do it in front of his TV with his dinner perched on his lap, Arnold Palmer decided to get out of his chair on this day in 1958 and went off to win his first Major, The Masters at Augusta.





Finally on a day of many firsts “Post it” notes were invented on this day in 1980. Cry your eyes out paper clip makers!






Birthday celebrities this day start with René Jules Lalique (1860 - 1945) renowned for his Art Nouveau and Art Deco creations in glass and jewellery. His company is still going today and if you can afford a “Lalique” present for your loved one I’m sure it will be well appreciated!



André Previn, the well loved composer, conductor and pianist will be celebrating his birthday today although there appears to be some doubt as to whether he was born in 1929 or 1930. The winner of 4 Oscars in the Best Original Music or Comedy Score category he will always be remembered by me for his performance with Morecombe and Wise!



Paul Daniels
(1938) will be up to his party tricks entertaining his birthday guests today. A word of warning, don’t ask Paul to perform a magic trick when you are sharing a sauna with him!





Tony Connor (1947) from the group Hot Chocolate may give you a rendition of “You Sexy Thing” if you get an invite to his birthday bash today!




Our final birthday boy is the funny guy Rory Bremner (1961) who may do a very good impression of himself at his 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!!


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Friday, 3 April 2009

3 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 yesterday was a day of “if at first you don’t succeed” then full marks today must go to Miriam Hargrave of England who celebrated this day in 1970 by passing her driving test at the 40th attempt. Well done Miriam!



Another lady not so happy today in 1913 was Emily Pankhurst who on this day was sentenced to 3 year’s imprisonment for her activities in the Women’s Suffragette movement. She was another of history’s great tryers and, paying due respect to the responsibilities that WWI demanded by suspending the Suffragette activities during the conflict, she was rewarded with limited voting rights in 1918 and full voting rights for women in 1928; Well done Emily!




Pugilists of the world will be happy to know that on this day in 1908 Frank Gotch won the world heavyweight wrestling title after 2 hours of grunting. Whereas it only took Al Carr 7 seconds to KO Lew Massey with his first punch on this day in 1936. The count took longer than the fight!





Winston Churchill warned Stalin on this day in 1941 that Germany was going to invade Russia. It may have been stating the obvious considering the vast number of German troops amassed on the eastern front, but better safe than sorry, I guess.



And in an attempt to brighten up their lives it was on this day in 1977 that the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg decided to adopt “summer time”. I’ve lived many years in this part of the world and the only benefit I can see from this move is that you can see the rain for longer!




Birthday greeting today go to Doris Day (1924) probably best known for her performance in “Pillow Talk” which was quite racy for its time.






Tony Orlando
(1944) was also born on this day and his “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” rendition has become a byword for supportive groups ever since.






Also born on this day in 1961 was Eddie Murphy renowned for his performance in “Beverly Hills Cop”.






Worthy of mention, just because I like their names, born on this day was the well known Dutch singer (The Dike) and actor Huub van der Lubbe (1953).





And I just couldn’t omit Véronique de Kock (1977) born on this day in Antwerp, Belgium and representative of Belgium in the 1996 Miss Universe contest.





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!!


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Friday, 6 March 2009

6 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!



There are a couple of household names that celebrate their anniversaries on 6th March. In 1899 the common “Aspirin” was patented by Felix Hoffman and no self respecting bathroom cabinet has been without a packet of them ever since! And bringing relief to millions of housewives “Captain” Clarence Birdseye developed a method for fast freezing food on this day in 1930. We all have it so easy these days! If you’ve got a headache reach for the packet of asprins, and if you can’t be bothered to cook a meal reach for one of the “Captain’s” products from the freezer!



Two celebrities underwent a name change on this day in 1964. Elizabeth Taylor changed her name from Mrs Fisher when she divorced her 4th husband. And Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali when he changed religion! Which one is the floating butterfly and which one is the stinging bee?




Omitting the second “e” the Beatles released their record “Let it Be” on this day in 1970!






One unlucky un-named Italian lost his shirt and $1,920,000 on the roulette tables at Monte Carlo on this day in 1974 and I’m pretty sure that if he’d just had one more go he could have won it all back! When will they ever learn?




Another two celebrities were celebrating different performances on this day in 1985. Yul Brynner was appearing in his 4,500th performance of the “King and I” and here is one of Nomanda’s favourites from the musical!



Whilst Yul was dancing and singing his way around his performance, Mike Tyson was knocking out Hector Mercedes in the first round of his first professional fight! No dancing but lots of stinging! It was the first of many KO’s in his career!



Just as Hector was defeated a few years earlier it was on this day in 1991 that the then President Bush told Congress that “Aggression is defeated. The war is over”. He would not be the only Bush to get things wrong and a few years later his son carried on the good work in Iraq and the troops are still there today!



Our first birthday celebrity today is the painter and sculptor Michelangelo (1475 – 1564). He spent most of his time in what could be called the “Hector position” when painting the Sistine Chapel! One of the greatest artists of all times!




The vicar who had to get special dispensation to play cricket on Sundays, David Sheppard (1929 – 2005) is our next birthday celebrity. He was a prodigious run scorer for Cambridge and also for his country playing in 22 Test Matches.



Sharing the same birthday on this day in 1947 is the English singer Kiki Dee whose duet with Elton JohnDon’t Go Breaking My Heart” is one of her best! The other celebrity is from the athletic field, Dick Fosbury, the first guy to do the high jump backwards and don’t go breaking your back, Dick! Where would today’s high jumpers be if it wasn’t for the “Fosbury Flop”?



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!!

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