Star Log Entry 13 - Misadventures in Stafford with yours truly

Last week I attended the Microsoft Digital Live Show in Stafford. I rocked up to the venue in style and SLAYED for the rest of the day… the end!

I was hoping that was the case but in actual reality, I rocked up to the venue and found that all the entrances were literally all locked up. I did firm shoves to make sure, until I came across the poster plastered outside the main entrance. The event was on the 24th May it said and the thought that shot instantly into mind was “hang on, is today not the 23rd?” Taking out my phone, the instant rush of “hell to the no” happened as I arrived one day early to the event. Absolutely typical! 

Absolutely mortified, I called someone at Firebrand who I was to meet with the next day who was very empathetic to the whole situation and arranged helped arranged accommodation for myself. I was not even remotely prepared (emotionally) for this so I had to think quick before the end of the day came. I rushed to get lunch and did a run dash of emergency shopping of supplies to prepare myself for the evening. Surprisingly, I slept well overnight.

I was pumped the next day following the previous day’s fiasco and enjoyed the event. Despite being quiet where I was with Firebrand Training, it was a first of its kind run by Microsoft in the UK so there was room for trial and error this time around. 

We met with a gentleman who saw the signs from above after being branded with Firebrand everywhere he went. It was so insightful of the work he did in providing young people with a platform to rise up in the ranks in confidence and then passed them into the world of work that they feel that their paths will be. 

It strongly reminded me of how I first started and just building the first rungs of my career into where I am still going now. I do want that for all young people to experience regardless of the background that they come from as it’s always nice for someone to believe in you despite the many challenges that along the way. When I first started, it was really difficult just to get myself out there as there were so many doubters that I couldn’t see where my potential laid as my judgement was clouded by so many insecurities. There were a few numbers out there that really pushed me in big ways so that I could take small steps to get there. 

I hope others realised this as well with my interview with Firebrand which can be found here.

The BFG Dream Jar Trail

The BFG Dream Jar Trail is a trail of dream jar sculptures created by artists and celebrities. The jar were bought together by visitlondon and Unilever as well as the sponsors. There are in total 50 sculptures with 46 placed in London and 4 outside London. The trail was created in celebration of Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday and the release of The BFG film. Auction sales of the Dream Jar sculptures all goes towards charity Save the Children. The trail ran from 9 July – 31 August 2016.

The BFG Dream Jars were created using technology specialists 3D Eye. The models were first created 3D and then miniature versions were created. Then they were assembled fully to create the full sized jars.

Here are a selection of Dream Jars in the trail:

Jamaican Roots – Levi Roots

Sisterhood – Chloe, Poppy and Cara Develevigne

Monkey Business – Graham Norton

Dreamy Dreaming Dreams Dog – Robert Bradford

Never-Ending Christmas – Tom Fletcher

We All Dream of Ice Cream  - Erin O’Connor

Enchanted Forest – Naomi Campbell

A Dreamy Dancer’s Dream – Karen Elson

Dream of England – Dame Helen Mirren MBE

Innocence – HRH The Countess of Wessex

Mayor of Dreamland – Cllr, Robert Davis MBE DL

The Merry Go Round – Mark Rylance

Read – HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Believe in Extraordinary – Team GB

Sweet Dreams – Steven Spielberg

Once Upon a Dream – Angelababy

Theatre of Dreams – Tim Minchin

Dream Big – Romero Britto

The Eternal Dreamer – Hayden Kays

I Dreamt I Could Fly – Quentin Blake

Penny for your Thoughts – Jane Morgan

The Diamond Garden – Hatton Garden

Home Is Where the Heart Is – Dominic West

I Dream of the Universe – Professor Stephen Hawking

A Whale’s Tale – Maisie Williams

Creativity Takes Flight – Geraldine van Heemstra

Golden Phizzgunner Dreams – Arsenal Football Club

Totem Pole – Nadiya Hussain

The Heart Takes Over – David Weir CBE

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine – Jenny Packham

Ship of Dreams – Sir Ben Ainslie

For the Love Animals – Simon Cowell

City of Dreams – Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

For the Love of the Hedgehog – Zoella

The Open Dream – Justin Rose

Healthy Start, Happier Lives – RB

Up, Up and Away – Niall Horan

Safe – Ryan McElhinney

Tree of Dreams – Jill Berelowitz

Happy Jumble of Life – Sophie Dahl

Remembrance Art Trail

Remembrance Art Trail is a trail at Canary Wharf from Tuesday 1 – Sunday 13 November 2016 and is the first UK Remembrance art trail. It was created by Mark Humphrey, in association with the Royal British Legion. The construction was assisted with help from the Corps of Royal Engineers. On Armistice Day, a 2 minute silence at 5 locations of the artworks. There are 7 sculptures in total in the trail:

1. Lost Armies – Jubilee Park

2. Boots on the Ground – Westferry Circus

3. ANA (Army, Navy & Airforce) Triptych – Jubilee Plaza

4. Fallen Soldier – Reuters Plaza

5. Point of Everyman’s Land in Jubilee Place Lower Mall Level -2

6. Lost Soldiers in Adams Plaza

7. Brothers in Arms in Cabot Place