Happy Special Day!: Winston Churchill

Showing posts with label Winston Churchill. Show all posts

Thursday, 18 June 2009

18 June - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

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!

It was on this day in 1815 that the great French leader, Napoleon, was to meet his Waterloo. In fact he met Wellington and a just in time superior force, with the allies being strengthened by the Prussians who arrived at the last minute. Don’t you just hate it when that happens! The site of the battle, just outside of Brussels, has an interesting museum with light and sound effects of the battle. Also, for battle weary tourists, there is a nice choice of cafes and restaurants all serving great Belgium food as well as an amazing range of Belgium beers! Nomanda’s been there, done that!

Sticking his large French nose out of his luxury accommodation in London was another great leader of the French, General de Gaulle. He’d scarpered from France a few days earlier and on this day in 1940 he broadcast his motivating message on the BBC encouraging his countrymen to defy the Nazi occupiers! Winston Churchill was not a fan of de Gaulle and neither is Nomanda!

It was a happy day for cattle everywhere on this day in 1981 when a vaccine to prevent foot and mouth disease was announced. Nomanda has been known to get his foot stuck in his mouth on occasions and no matter how much of this stuff I take it just doesn’t do it for me!

Something else that doesn’t do it for Nomanda is Gay this that and the Other! However in a poor attempt to be politically correct join me in celebrating the opening of the Gay Games on this day in New York in 1994. Apparently these games are held every 4 years just like the real thing; only more time is spent tying up shoelaces than any proper athletic activity. The organisers advise me that you don’t have to be gay to compete but I suppose you have to be open to giving it a try! Actually the more I think about it the more I might give it a go. There can be few better incentives to breaking records than being at the front of a race knowing there are a bunch of shirt lifters chasing up behind, if you forgive the expression! I’m through the tape, still running and breathless thinking about it! Just send the medal on to my home address, please!

First up for birthday honours today is Delia Smith (1941). From a modest start in life she has become a household word and has sold over 18 million copies of her famous cookbooks. The “Delia Effect” has made her a favourite of hardware stores everywhere when they sold out of stuff they’d had on the shelves for years the day after Delia used them! However she has found a place in Nomanda’s heart for her motivating half time speech to the fans of Norwich City Football Club in 2005.
"A message for the best football supporters in the world: we need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be having you! Come on!" Sadly it didn’t work and they lost to Manchester City! Obviously the Queen is a Norwich City supporter as she awarded the indomitable Delia a CBE in her birthday honours list a couple of days ago.

Sometimes people can be very unkind as I discovered when I was researching the next birthday boy, Paul McCartney, who was born on this day in 1942. The one line tribute described Sir Paul as “writes silly love songs.” Well that is just not true as not all of his songs are love songs! We love you really, Paul! I know he’s past his 64th but it would be nice to hear it!

Another lady musician, Alison Moyet, will be celebrating her birthday today (1961) and we’d love a song from you too, please!

Our final birthday wishes go to Darren “Dizzy” Reed (1963) the keyboardist from Guns 'n' Roses. How about a listen to “Sweet Child o' Mine”.

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!!

Monday, 15 June 2009

15 June - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Pearl

Flower of the Month: Rose

One guy not enjoying this day in 1215 was King John who was persuaded to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede, near Windsor. Having had enough of the King’s powers a number of important barons entered London and got this document signed which effectively formed the basis for constitutional law as we know it today. The King was not entirely happy with the diminution of his powers and it obviously gave him a bit of a fright as he died from dysentery just one year later!

Wanting to ensure that the local boys got a decent education was farmer John Lyon of Preston who obtained a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I and on this day in 1572 founded Harrow School. The local boys were taught free although “outsiders” had to pay tuition fees. The original subjects were Latin and a spot of archery. Today it costs around £22,000 to send the apple of your eye to Harrow and there is a larger range of subjects available for the sons of the rich and famous! Remarkably the school has recently gone international establishing other “Harrow” schools in places as bizarre as Beijing and Bangkok! Their most notable old boy is Winston Churchill.

Returning from the Crimean War with her group of volunteer nurses the “Lady with the lamp”, Florence Nightingale (named after the town of her birth), opened her School for Nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital in London on this day in 1860. We owe her a lot.

The entertainment business gets our attention next with Bob Dylan recording “Like a Rolling Stone” on this day in 1965 and Ohio Express going to #4 spot with “Yummy Yummy Yummy”.

Wanting to ensure he got his fair share of the royalties Warren Beatty produced, directed and starred in the title role of “Dick Tracy” that premiered today in 1990. Warren was cast alongside a couple of other capable performers including Madonna and Al Pacino!

Another comic book hero would also take to the screens today in 1996 when Disney’s “Lion King” enthralled its fans.

Our first birthday wishes go to the famous French rocker Johnny Halliday (1943). In a career lasting 48 years he has been on 400 tours had 18 platinum albums and sold over 100 million records. Nomanda sends her best wishes to him in his retirement announced in 2007. Thanks for the music, Johnny!

Our next celebrity, Clio Goldsmith (1957), the French actress normally wouldn’t have attracted Nomanda’s attention except for the fact that in 1990 she married Mark Shand who is Camilla’s brother! I wonder how she gets on with the in-laws!

Our final birthday wishes go the super clean Courtney Cox (1964) whose performance in her character “Monica” has delighted Nomanda over the years! Cheers!

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!!

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

20 May - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Flower of the Month

Lily of the Valley

Gemstone of the Month: Emerald

Today is a very important day for followers of the Christian faith as it was on this day in 325 that the first Ecumenical Council opened at Nicea. Constantine the Great invited all the Christian bishops to the Council, numbering 1,800 in total, but only around 300 actually attended, despite the fact that their travelling and lodging expenses were paid. The two most important decisions to be made at the Council were firstly to decide that Jesus was equal to God the Father, and to decide on the timing of Easter in order to separate it from the celebration of the Jewish Passover. So no more confusion there then.

Sorting out a different confusion would have to wait the best part of another 1,000 years when on this day in 1310 shoes were made for both the left and right feet. It must have made getting dressed in the morning a lot quicker as there would be no more looking at shoes trying to decide which one was left and which one was right!

In a lovely piece of historical understatement I discovered that on this day in 1521 Saint Ignatius of Loyola was “seriously wounded by a cannon ball”. I bet he was! He obviously recovered and went on to found the Jesuit sect of the Christian Church. Now perhaps it’s easier to understand why they were such a zealous and nasty bunch! He also wrote a bit, one of his legacies’s being “Spiritual Exercises”.

Now if he could have held out a bit he would have loved the next invention for his writing as on this day in 1830 D Hyde patented the fountain pen. Geese all over the world breathed a sigh of relief! Sadly Hyde was not to make his fortune from the patent as that was left to Lewis E Waterman who got down to the business of mass producing pens.

Blue was the colour in the mind of Levi Strauss who on this day in 1873 started marketing his jeans with copper rivets. Back then he knocked them out for the price of $13.50 a dozen. Now they’ve become a fashion item! Times change.

Anyone who had tried drying a pair of jeans knows just how long they take to dry so it was good news for all when on this day in 1892 George Sampson patented his clothes dryer. It only takes half an hour to dry them now as opposed to all day!

Flapping in the wind on this day in 1940 was the first untethered flight of the single rotor tail boom helicopter invented by Igor Sikorsky. None the wonder the others didn’t get off the ground if they were tied to it! A simple lesson to be learnt there! His company is still going strong today.

In an untypical act of generosity it was on this day in 1985 that Israel exchanged 1,150 Lebanese and Palestine prisoners for just 3 Israelis. Nevertheless it was a good day for all concerned.

To the dismay of all their fans it was on this day in 1993 that the 274th and final episode of “Cheers” was aired on NBC. No need for concern because it has been the subject of numerous repeats!

Birthday celebrities today start with William George Fargo (1818 – 1881) the founder of American Express and Wells Fargo. Wagons Ho!

Also born on this day was Henri Edmond Cross (1856 – 1910) the French Impressionist painter whose work improved dramatically after meeting with Monet.

Two personalities who share the same day for their birthday (1944) are Joe Cocker the rocker and Keith Fletcher, the English Test batsman and later Team Manager. Their careers may have taken different routes but both still admired by their respective fans.

A couple of years later the celebrated Cher was born on this day in 1946. The woman who never looks old despite her years, I just don’t know how she does it. I do like her duet with Sonny “I got you Babe”. (insert clip, please, x)

Last today, but by no means least, it is a very special day got to a couple who got their “Babe”. Two of our favourite people, Michelle and Michael, will be celebrating their third wedding anniversary today. Lots of love to you both and Happy Anniversary! I wonder what their first little daughter Lily will nip out and get her Mum and Dad for their wedding anniversary. Don’t set your sights too high Lily as you are only just over 6 months old and even if you can creep out without your Mum noticing, some chance of that!, just remember that you can’t walk yet

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!!

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

19 May - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Emerald

Flower of the Month: Lily of the Valley

A strange event took place on this day in 1780 in New England when from around mid-day near total darkness descended on most of the state. Various explanations have been offered including a combination of forest fires, fog and cloud cover but Nomanda thinks the most likely reason is that someone forgot to pay the electricity bill!

Shoes were the passion of Jan Matzeliger and on this day in 1885 he began the first mass production of shoes following his invention of the shoe lasting machine. Up until this invention all shoes were hand made and one person could knock them out at the rate of around 50 per day. Jan’s invention brought this output up to 700 per person per day and resulted in halving the cost of shoes. So, ladies, now you know who to thank, good old Jan!

Not wearing shoes, but jumping for joy nevertheless were the frogs of Angel’s Camp, California, who all got together for the first “Frog Jumping Jubilee” on this day in 1928. Apparently only 51 frogs turned up for this first event but it has since grown in popularity in the froggie world and these days around 2,000 athletic frogs do their stuff each year. The world record is an impressive 21 feet 5.75 inches set by Rosie the Ribeter in 1986. If you’ve got a good jumper at home take it along because there’s a prize of $5,000 for beating the world record!

Rosie’s leap puts the next Herculean task to shame because it was in this day that the Englishman Dave Gauder managed to pull a jumbo jet a mere 3 inches. Maybe he would have been able to pull it further if they’d taken the brakes off!

Birthday celebrities today start with Nancy Astor (18979 – 1964), the American who became the first woman MP. Renowned as much for her disarming manner as for her charm she often had biting exchanges with Winston Churchill. One of the most celebrated is when she said to Churchill,”If you were my husband I would put arsenic in your coffee”. To which Churchill replied, “If I was your husband, I’d drink it!”

Next up is James Fox (1939) the archetypical English actor. In a career of over 40 yeas he has given many memorable performances. His characters in “A Question of Attribution” (TV) and “Colditz” (2005) are among my favourites.

One of the funniest women on television, Victoria Wood (1953) also celebrates her birthday 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!!

Thursday, 7 May 2009

7 May - Historical Events and Special Celebrations

Gemstone of the Month

Emerald

Flower of the Month: Lily of the Valley

Patents, politicians and pop stars dominate this day in history over the years.

It was on this day in 1660 that Isaac B Fubine of Savoy patented macaroni. At last something to do with cheese! Apart from the “I always though it grew on trees” popular idea I am amazed that way back in 1660 they had an instrument that could hollow out spaghetti. Fantastic!

Admiral Nelson’s flagship boat, the HMS Victory, was launched on this day in 1765. It was built for a cost of just £63,176 which seems quite a good deal until I’m told that would be around £50 million today. Despite its numerous voyages and battles the ship can still be seen today at Portsmouth where it is a museum ship.

A couple of hundred years later on this day in 1888 George Eastman patented his box camera and called it “Kodak”. The name was apparently chosen as a name that could be easily remembered. It is, and has been ever since. I love the advertising slogan that launched the “Kodak” which was “You press the button and we’ll do the rest!” Well cameras have come full circle since that modest little camera and today even the most sophisticated digital jobs could use that same slogan. Click on!

In an exercise of chauvinistic nonsense the House of Commons rejected women’s right to vote on this day in 1913 only to grant women of 21 the right to vote on this same day in 1928. So nothing much new on the political scene, then!

The British hero of WWII, Winston Churchill, became Prime Minister on this day in 1940 succeeding the witless Neville Chamberlain whose “Peace in our times” speech after retuning from a visit with Adolf must go down as one of the biggest cases of political misjudgement ever. Come to think of it perhaps good old Gordon may be up for this prize soon!

Pop star celebrities the Mamas and the Papas released their hit single “Monday, Monday” on this day in 1966. It’s the song everybody cheerfully hums on their way to work each Monday! Other popular songs from this group include “My Girl” and “Dancing in the Street”. However if you want the best version of “Dancing in the Street” you’ll have to go and watch David Bowie and Mick Jaggar shake their stuff.

In another feat of physical endurance it was on this day in 1983 that I guess the hitherto unknown August Hoffman performed a record 29,051 consecutive sit ups. Now Nomanda can do around 20 on a good day, so we’re quite impressed, but still don’t know why people do these things!

Birthday celebrities’ start with the English poet, Robert Browning (1812 – 1889) who’s “Pied Piper of Hamelin” is probably his best known work. Nomanda also likes “How they brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix”. Anybody know?

The much loved First Lady of Argentina, Eva Peron (1919 – 1952), was born on this day. Her short but important life has been immortalised by Madonna in the musical “Evita”.

The soul singer, Jimmy Ruffin, was born on this day in 1939 and nearly everybody will remember “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted”. Another question without an obvious answer.

Our final birthday boy is Derek Taylor (1952 – 1997) the famous press agent for the Beatles.

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!!