Showing posts with label Joan of Arc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joan of Arc. Show all posts

Saturday, 16 May 2009

16 May - Historical Events and Special Celebrations



Flower of the Month

Lily of the Valley



Gemstone of the Month: Emerald



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!



We are always happy when food is on the agenda and today we have two food and drink celebrations! The first goes to Charles Elmer Hires, a pharmacist, who on this day in 1866 invented root beer. In fact he copied the idea from the landlady of the place where he spent his honeymoon, but who cares! He was going to call it root tea, but correctly calculated that the word beer would make it more marketable. Sadly it doesn’t make it more drinkable!



The next food invention on this day in 1891 by George A Hormel & Co was none other than our favourite dish of the day, the one and only SPAM! This pink coloured luncheon meat blob is just the thing for the working lunchbox and has been hungrily devoured by millions of poor sods who couldn’t be bothered to make a proper sandwich! Nevertheless it still appears every day on billions of computer screens! Thanks, George!




In a typical Vatican gesture of too little too late it was on this day in 1920 that they decided to canonize Joan of Arc and make her a Saint. Well done!






Despite the fact that aeroplanes had been flying around for some time by now remarkably it was on this day in 1936 that the first air hostess appeared on the scene. Her name was Daphne Kearley and she worked on the Air Dispatch’s “Dawn Express” from Croydon, London to Le Bourget, France. During the two and a half hour flight she had to mix drinks and cook and serve the food. As if that was not enough she also had to be able to speak French, be able to take dictation and be able to use a typewriter. The businessmen on board expected their letters all nicely typed up at the end of the journey. None the wonder the flight took so long. I bet that half of the time of the flight was spent in a “holding” position so that Daphne could finish her typing! Thank God it wasn’t a jumbo jet; they’d be up there all day!



There was no holding back Jim Laker on this day in 1956 when playing for Surrey he took all 10 of the Australians wickets for just 88 runs. His final match figures were 19 for 90. Not at all bad, Jim! Well bowled!



The Beach Boys released their album “Pets Sounds” on this day in 1966 and “Wouldn’t it be Nice” to hear one of their songs! Brilliant!





Now here’s a one for the Vatican to consider because it was on this day in 1986 that “Bobby Ewing” came back from the dead. Will he be up for a canonization in a few hundred years time, I think not!






In a remarkable double act on this day in 1988 the US Supreme Court ruled that trash could be searched without a warrant, but with rubber gloves, I suppose! And on the same day in a report from the Surgeon General, C Everett Koop, he revealed that nicotine was as addictive as heroin. All I can say is that he obviously had never tried the stuff himself as if he had he would have known already!



Having recovered from the baseball game and her host George Bush, it was on this day in 1991 that HRH Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address the US Congress. I bet she didn’t tell them how much she’d enjoyed the previous day’s game!



Birthday celebrities today start with an Italian lady, Maria G Agnesi (1718 – 1799) who was a mathematician and who is renowned for her formula for the curve. To all our mathematicians we believe it is: xy=a,a-y.





Next up for birthday wishes is Henry Fonda (1906 – 1982). Amongst his many films Nomanda likes his westerns best.





Another great performer, this time on the piano, Liberace (1919 – 1987) was born on this day. As time went on his performances got more and more extravagant and Nomanda likes his “candelabra era” best! (you choose a clip, please, x)




Another celebrated actor, Pierce Brosnan (1952) was born on this day and has played several “James Bond” roles including “Golden Eye”.




Our final birthday wishes go to Janet Jackson (1966) and Michael’s sister who seems to go from hot to blob at the gulp of a MacDonald. Eat more spam, ma’am!



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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Wednesday, 29 April 2009

29 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!



Today was a happy day for one young French woman, Joan of Arc, who on this day in 1429 led the French to victory over the English at Orleans. This was her first victory and happened just 9 days after she arrived on the scene. Why didn’t she get there earlier? The French were in desperate need of success as not much had gone right for them since their crushing defeat at Agincourt in 1415. Enthusiasts check out Shakespeare’s Henry V and his famous speech motivating his troops!




Paying tribute to our Belgian influences it was on this day in 1553 that an unnamed Flemish woman introduced into England the practice of starching linen. I suppose that explains all the floppy fops hitherto!






Stiffening things up a bit more occurred on this day in 1813 when rubber was patented. Now I always thought that rubber came from trees, but what do I know. Great opportunity to hum “High Hopes” ‘cos anyone knows an ant can’t move a rubber tree plant!





Stiffening things up a bit in high finance on this day in 1909 was the then English Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd, who in an audacious move introduced a new “super tax” of 6 pence in the pound on any luckless British citizens earning over £5,000 pa. In real terms this amounted to 2.5p in the pound as there were a lot more pennies to the pound back then! Happy Days!




In one of those strange co-incidences it was on this day in 1988 that newscaster Diane Sawyer (renowned for her 60 minutes performances) married the lucky Mike Nichols. And on the very same day Burt Reynolds married Loni Anderson. Sadly Burt’s and Loni’s marriage was not to last beyond 1993 and she became “Oni the Loni”!



A great day for democracy and East Germans was celebrated on this day in 1990 when bulldozers, wrecking cranes and bare hands started pulling down the Berlin Wall.




Enjoying a victory of a different kind on this day in 1990 was Stephen Hendry who beat Jimmy White 18 – 12 in the World Snooker Championship to become the youngest player ever to win the title. Well done, Stephen!




Birthday celebrations today go to King Hu (1932 – 1997) the previously totally unknown to Nomanda Chinese film director. He gets a mention because I like his name!






Sharing today as their birthday are Jerry Seinfeld and Kate Mulgrew, both born in 1955. Jerry needs no introduction and Trekkie fans will know Kate as Captain Janeway.





Michelle Pfeiffer was born on this day in 1958 and Phil Tufnell in 1966. Michelle will need no introductions either and for those who don’t know “The Cat” as he was nicknamed by the rest of the English Cricket Team, on account of his sleeping habits in the dressing room, he was a slow left arm bowler and an even slower fielder.




Our final birthday wishes go to Andre Agassi born on this day in 1970. Apart from picking up 8 Grand Slam singles tennis titles (and Steffi Graf along the way) he is less well known for his charitable work which has raised $60 million for children at risk. Good on you Andre!



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, 18 April 2009

18 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!



Numbers seem to be the common denominator in today’s place in history.



It was on this day in 1909 that the Catholic Church eventually decided that Joan of Arc had been a good woman after all and declared her a Saint. If they had spoken to the English on the receiving end of her motivational leadership several centuries earlier they could have testified to her saintly talents much sooner! No-one wanted to know. Anyway, better late than never, I suppose.



Something else that no-one pays any attention to was installed on this day in 1955 when the first set of “Walk” / “Don’t Walk” lighted street signals were switched on. Another fine waste of time!




Celebrating her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco on this day in 1956 was Grace Kelly, and she’s never looked back since!






In a case of be careful what you ask for “London Bridge” was sold on this day to a US oil company to be re-erected in Arizona. The story around at the time is that the purchasers thought they were buying the “Tower Bridge”, the much more imposing structure with the, well, with the towers. No, it can’t be true ……. Can it?
I understand all the bricks were numbered to facilitate re-construction. “Have we got all the boxes? Where are the two big ones with the towers in?



Not able to do their counting to the standards required of them on this day in 1991 was the US Census Bureau who apparently owned up to the fact that they’d failed to count up to 63 million returns in the 1990 census. Now I know we can all make mistakes, but 63 million, that’s the whole of the UK they missed!



Brian Lara didn’t care as he went on to score 375 runs for the West Indies against England on this day in 1994. Great day for Brian, but my heart goes out to the English bowlers. I bet the English captain couldn’t find anyone who wanted to bowl that day!



Birthday celebrities are a bit short today which is probably why Lucrezia Borgia, (1480 – 1519), makes the list. This notorious murderess, poisoner and devious lady was the daughter of Pope Alexander VI. Not only did the popes have wives back then but they obviously had no control over their kids!



A much better person, Mike Vickers, the rock guitarist and saxophone player in the group “Manfred Mann” was born on this day in 1940. The groups hits include favourites such as “Do Wah Diddy Diddy”, Pretty Flamengo” and of course,”The Mighty Quinn”.




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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Tuesday, 6 January 2009

6 January - Historical Events and Special Celebrations



Flower of the Month

Carnation


Gemstone of the Month: Garnet




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 special day for Nomanda’s brother as it’s his birthday today! He is known in the family either as “Frère Jacques”, because he doesn’t like getting out of bed or the “monkey” because Nomanda’s daughter couldn’t pronounce uncle in her early years! Anyway all the family wishes you a very Happy Birthday and a great day!



Frère Jacques” may be interested to know that he shares his birthday with the same day in 1066 when King Harald was crowned. Sadly he would not wear his crown for long as William the Conqueror came along a few months later and grabbed the crown and country!




The first recorded boxing match took place on this day in 1681. The contestants were the Duke of Albemarle’s butler and the Duke’s butcher. It’s not difficult to imagine how that one started! Something to do with the quality of the meat or short weight would be Nomanda’s guess!




The Beatles
Magical Mystery Tour” album went to the #1spot on this day in 1968 and stayed there for a further 8 weeks. Here’s one of Nomanda’s favourites from the album!




Frere Jacques may be surprised to learn that he shares his birthday with some illustrious personages from the past starting with Joan of Arc 1412 – 1431), the martyred “Maid of Orleans”.





He may be less impressed to discover that he also shares his birthday with the King of the “Moonies”, Sun Myung Moon (1920).






Sadly Frère Jacques does not share Nomanda’s passion for sport so he will be unimpressed to learn that his birthday is shared with Terry Venables (1943) probably one of the worst football coaches of the English team.



I hope he is more impressed that he also shares his birthday with possibly one of rugby’s best fly halfs, Barry John (1945). Check out this try against England and just see if you agree!




One person my brother does like is Rowan Atkinson (1956) and will be delighted to see this Mr Bean clip once again!





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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