3 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!

It was a memorable day for Londoners today in 1894 when they celebrated the opening of the iconic Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is the big grand one with two towers and is located close to the Tower of London, hence its name. It is often confused with and called London Bridge which is a much more modest job just up the river.



Celebrating the end of his cricketing career at the age of 50 on this day in 1899 was the indomitable W G Grace. His last game was against the old enemy, Australia at Trent Bridge. His career statistics are 54,896 first class runs and a total of 2,876 wickets. Not bad!



Today in 1927 was a happy day for golfing fans as it was on this day that the first Ryder Cup match took place at Worcester Golf Club in Massachusetts. The event was originally played between Great Britain and the US and up to 1983, with a couple of exceptions, the US was dominant. Since 1983 the tide has turned with Europe coming off best. Don’t miss next year’s event from the Celtic Manor Golf Club at Newport, Wales!



No doubt dissatisfied with the quality of the calendars he was receiving from his suppliers it was on this day in 1946 that the motor mechanic, Louis Reard, introduced the modern bikini at a swimwear show in Paris. Shocked by the design the public display of the bikini was originally banned in many countries. Times have moved on and I’m sure Louis wouldn’t recognize some of the current offerings!



Today was a happy day for third class customers on British Rail who on this day in 1956 decided to end third class travel. Nowadays it seems that it’s been reintroduced for all travellers!




Rolling along on their first tour of the US on this day in 1964 were the “Rolling Stones” accompanied by Bobby Goldsboro and Bobby Vee.



Another more recent group, “Queen”, were celebrating this day in 1976 when their record “Bohemian Rhapsody” went gold. Great! They are one of Nomanda's favourites!




First up for birthday honours today is the actor Tony Curtis (1925). He had made over 100 films in his career and is still going strong!





The next person celebrating his birthday today is John Paul Jones (1946) the bassist for Led Zeppelin. And our final birthday wishes go to Kelly Jones (1874), the Welsh musician who gets on so well with the press!





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!!

24 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 is a happy day for lovers of rousing songs, nature lovers and long distance travellers.



It was today in 1792 that Claude-Joseph de Lisle composed what is now the national anthem of France, the “Marseillaise”. Apparently he knocked in off in just the one evening when he obviously had nothing better to do and it was eventually adopted as the French anthem some years later.



Tree lovers everywhere will be happy today as today is “Arbor Day”. So get out there, plant or hug a tree, and generally show them that you love them. “Arbor Day” was started by J Sterling Morton when he moved to Nebraska and the first Arbour Day was celebrated in 1874. Prizes were offered to communities and individual to plant trees on 10th April 1874 and more than a million trees were planted on that first “Arbor Day”. The day is now celebrated on the last Friday of the month of April.




Our long distance tributes today go first of all to another Frenchman, Henri Desgrange, who on this day in 1894 rode 100 kms on his bicycle in a new world record of 2 hours and 39 seconds.




A few years later, wishing they’d had Henri to power their car, Mr and Mrs Jacob Murdock became the first to travel across the US by car. The car they had was a lovely old Packard and having left Los Angeles they arrived in New York just 32 days and 5 hours later on this very day in 1908. Well I guess they had to stop to fill it up from time to time and had at least one stopover in a Great Western!



Today was a happy day for Winston Churchill in 1953 when he was knighted on this day by Queen Elizabeth II. It’s amazing that she has been around so long and is still looking after Great Britain PLC with an iron hand!




David Bowie enjoyed this day in 1992 because it was on this day that he married the beautiful model Iman. Way to go David!





Our first birthday greetings go to Arthur Wellesley, better known as the first Duke of Wellington (1769 – 1852). As well as spanking Napoleon’s bottom at Waterloo, although in his own words “It was a close run thing”, he went on to take up a political career and served two terms as a Tory Prime Minister.




Two well known actresses were born on this day, the first being the award winning actress, Shirley MacLaine (1934) and sharing her birthday with her a few years later (1942) the indomitable Barbra Streisand. “Funny Girl” and “Hello Dolly” are two of our favourites.






Renowned for his 5 successive Ryder Cup appearances the English golfer, Lee Westwood was born on this day in 1973.






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!!

9 February - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Amethyst

Flower of the Month: Violet

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!



No doubt getting fed up with running around with buckets of water putting out his fires it was on this day in 1863 that Alanson Crane patented the first fire extinguisher. So now all you have to do is to leave one in the corner of every room, wait for the fire to start, pick up your extinguisher and put the thing out! Easy Peasy!


The people of San Francisco had to wait a long time before they were able to enjoy the delights of the great vegetable asparagus. It was only on this day in 1886 that the first shipment of asparagus arrived in the city all the way from Sacramento. Asparagus is one of Nomanda’s favourite veggies, and it doesn’t come much better than the Flemish way which is gently boiled, strained, and then topped with hot crushed hard boiled eggs covered in a warm butter sauce. Absolutely delicious!


Every parent is asked the almost impossible to answer questions from their growing children. Sadly the song celebrating this, “Daddy What If”, by Bobby Bare only made it to the #41 spot on this day in 1974.



She doesn’t look like one, she doesn’t act like one but Madonna made a lot of money being “Like a Virgin” when her album of the same name went to the #1 spot on this day in 1985 and stayed for the next 3 weeks!



Taking hardly any time at all to sing his way into the record books, the fastest yodeller in the Alps, Thomas School from Germany, managed to cover 22 tones, 15 of them in falsetto in one second on this day in 1992. I wonder if he had Frank Ifield’s lovely Swiss teacher to help him! “I Remember You” too-oo, Frank!



The legendary cricket off spinner, Jim Laker (1922 – 1986) is our first birthday celebrity today. His talents were no better demonstrated than in “Laker’s Match” in 1956 at Old Trafford when he took 19 of the Australian wickets!


The American actress Mia Farrow (1945) is our next birthday celebrity. Following her very successful acting career she is now a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.



The Scottish professional golfer Bernard Gallagher (1949) is our last birthday boy. He was at the time at the age of 20 the youngest player to represent Great Britain in the Ryder Cup and captained the Ryder Cup Team in 1991, 1993 and 1995.



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!!

22 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!



It seems as yesterday’s theme of generosity is continuing today. Maybe it’s a good time to give someone something! Generally regarded as Britain’s first Prime Minister, Robert Walpole was given the London residence of 10 Downing Street by King George II on this day in 1735. Walpole obviously didn’t keep the house for himself and it has been the official residence of British Prime Ministers ever since. The whole world is familiar with TV statements by both Prime Ministers and others outside the famous front door.


One of the plagues of television, the commercial channel, began broadcasting in England for the very first time on this day in 1955. Of course Nomanda watches the commercial channels like everybody else, how else would we be able to watch the Ryder Cup, for instance, but I have to say that I hate all those adverts. I guess it’s too late to suggest a commercial channel without advertising!


One of the 20th century’s most influential politicians, Henry Kissinger was sworn in as Secretary of State of this day in 1973. He served in this position under two presidents, Nixon and Ford, and was influential in establishing a period of “détente” with the two super powers Russia and China. He has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and at the age of 85 is still going strong.


On a lighter note the Everly Brothers got together again after a 10 year split and performed at the Royal Albert Hall on this day in 1983. Here is one of Nomanda’s favourites!



The “People’s Princess”, Diana, Princess of Wales, was the subject of Elton’s John’s song “Candle in the Wind” that was released on this day in 1997.



Our first birthday celebrity is the English scientist Michael Faraday (1791 – 1867). Amongst his many achievements he discovered the principles of the electric motor and I guess he is the guy we should thank for virtually everything electrical. Electrical household appliances are all well and good as long as you don’t get a power cut as happened to Nomanda last night! No point in having all these great electrical powered items if you haven’t got current. I missed a good hour of the Ryder Cup and nearly my dinner as a result of this inconvenience! You’ve just got to think these things through, Michael!


Not blessed with too much thinking, the lovable bumbling local bank manager and Captain of the reserves, Arthur Lowe (1915 – 1982), who played the character Captain Mannering in the TV series “Dad’s Army” is our next birthday boy. Too good an opportunity to miss an excerpt!



Shari Belafonte (1954) daughter of the famous Harry is our next birthday celebrity. She keeps herself in shape by eating “Slim Fast” and I don’t think the product was ever sold at her “Hotel”!



A distant relative of Princess Diana, Catherine Oxenberg (1961) will be celebrating in “Dynastic” style at her birthday party. Will Amanda Carrington show up too?




Our final birthday wishes go to the girl who “Loves Rock N Roll” Joan Jett (1958). Strong stuff, she frightens me!



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!!

17 September - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Sapphire

Flower of the Month: Aster

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 all know that lawyers will do almost anything as long as the fee is sufficiently attractive! However a couple of male lawyers “standing in” for another couple to get married is as about as bizarre as it gets! The couple were Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti, and the “wedding”, if you can call it that, took place in Juarez, Mexico on this day in 1957. Nevertheless it all seemed to work out OK for them in the end!


I wonder if the Supremes had this wedding in mind when they released their record “Baby Love” on this day in 1964!




We’ve all been on a few of these in our time so let’s celebrate the series that gave us the name “Mission Impossible” that premiered on CBS-TV on this day in 1967. Next time you’re presented with a “Mission Impossible” just remember the instructions at the beginning of each episode that “You do not have to accept this mission.” Try telling that to your boss!


The captain of the 2008 European Ryder Cup Team, Nick Faldo, announced himself on the Ryder Cup golfing scene at the competition held at the Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club on this day in 1977. It was the first of his 11 Ryder Cup appearances and he still holds the record for the most Ryder Cup points won. Not a bad chap to have as this year’s captain. Best of luck to you and your team, Nick!


The renowned yachtsman, Sir Francis Chichester (1901 – 1972) was born on this day. He was the first person to sail single handed around the world by the “Clipper Route” and the fastest circumnavigator of the world completing the job in just nine months and one day. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him for his achievements.


The veteran racing driver Sterling Moss (1929) was born on this day. He has become a legend in his own lifetime with the rhetorical question asked by traffic policemen when stopping speeding motorists “Who do you think you are, Sterling Moss”? There is a story that the great man himself in such circumstances was actually asked this question, and of course had great difficulty being believed when he answered the question honestly!



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!!