The awkward photo (Star Log Vol 2 entry 3)

London Film and Comic Con – bring it! Signed up for that three-day goodness that is a comic con. 

Strutting into the Olympia with fabulous stride, they sported me with a wristband which was coloured Sporty Spice blue. Feeling pumped with Spice energy, I was going to take the house down and SLAYAGE.

I bumped into my friend who complimented my Fin Fang Foom t-shirt. Okay, I was very well prepared for this very moment… “Thanks, it’s a Jason Polan design for Uni Qlo…” A stallholder also complimented my t-shirt so I gave him my speech too, “Thanks, it’s a Jason Polan design for Uni Qlo…” I ended up with a Planet Hulk and Age of Ultron trade paperback from him.

Okay, I’m going straight into my photoshoot with Zachary Quinto. Me being a MASSIVE fan of Heroes knew that I had to get a picture with one of my teen-hood hero. In my mind, I imagined the photo was beautifully taken and we then walked hand-in-hand into the sunset… except it didn’t happen that way…

Nerves hit me as I entered into the photoshoot area and it just got worse and worse as I ventured closer to him. It’s only when I got there he said, “hi, how are you?”
I replied, “I’m great thanks. How are you?” Then I kind of blurred out (I didn’t even catch his answer) and looked at the camera. *snap* What just happened?

I thanked him and sheepishly walked away to pick up my photo. The person handed it to me and I looked down at the photo. “Oh god!” I exclaimed and just couldn’t contain myself at the expression I had. The lady heard me and offered to retake the photo. I mean I really wanted to, but the photo was me being present in that moment. I knew what was going on in that photo. I was pretty much was caught off-guard asking how he was, that the photographer snapped me at that moment. I mean these photoshoots aren’t really that personable as it’s an in-and-out operation, but the picture I took made it personable, and yeah, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How did I sign up for this? (Star Log Vol 2 entry 2)

I don’t know how does “do you want to meet up for coffee?” become “are you fit enough to do a 15-mile walk?” How did I sign up for this…?

Meeting my friend at Waterloo, we took the train to Kingston for a 9am walking route with a group on Meetup. We got there and I noticed someone in running gear at the station. Were we the first ones there or were they? We stood around… waiting… waiting… and waiting… until the person came up to us and asked if we were part of the walking group which I valiantly replied we were (with puffed out chest)! We introduced ourselves but were very quickly joined by the rest of the group. 

So the Fellowship of the Ring’s journey has now begun! We all walked off into pairs. I paired up with a gentleman who happens to live in Croydon (my childhood), we both reminisced about memories we had of the Whitgift shopping centre and shed a few tears (well, the last part didn’t happen) but we quickly came to realise we shared a lot in common such as… gaming! The rest was history! 

We walked about 4 miles without even realising it. It was extraordinarily strange for the both of us as we were of course not accustomed to so much walking but we did it. It all went swimmingly until he had to take a pee in the bushes (we were nowhere near any loos). He came back holding his trousers together and said his top button popped off… classic! If only this was a Carry On film – comedy gold in the making. I lent him my Captain America belt that I only wore as an accessory (don’t judge). He even went so far as to compare my Blu-ray collection to the death of fax machines as thanks for my gesture of goodwill, but he did compliment my Marvel bag, which saved him (kinda).
 
For the most part of the journey, we alternated between the others. I also got chatting with a person who worked in marketing and worked super crazy hours. She travelled the world and we shared common grounds on being Chinese. We talked about the language and culture – the vast difference between the two of us. They mentioned that they lived in London for 10 years but didn’t feel like a Londoner. It’s so weird to think I know nothing of these people a few hours ago but now I know their full life story which I absolutely love (I should do it a bit more). We ended it by her giving me advice not to run my 10k in denim jeans (should we not look good running?).
 
I parted ways from the rest of the group as we were not making a pit stop at Holland Park which was part of the original trail – we were out of time! I headed into the Design Museum and Kyoto Garden. Funnily enough, as I entered Kensington Gardens, I saw someone wave at the corner of my eye… it was my workmate! I greeted her and then the sudden realisation hit me… I walked 15 miles!! I hugged her and went on my merry way smiling at my accomplishment.

To dance the discount Carlton (Star Log vol 2 entry 1)

For me, meeting strangers is no easy feat. Even more so when I agree to be an art tour guide to a couple visiting from Spain (or another exotic country that I can’t remember). The nerves got to me when they were visibly in front of me and I just let out a wave enthusiastically (do something to break the mood).

For the purpose of this post, I will just call them A and B. As we went around the gallery, A stated that he doesn’t have an eye for art while B seems very inquisitive in their own world often going ahead of us but then reporting back to us in what she observes. A seems to have a penchant for philosophy, often spouting deep thoughts into death, valiancy and freedom. It’s quite interesting to couple them together as if they both form their own strong case studies.

A does seem to have a way of words and I often find myself having to keep up on what he was saying. In the middle of it all, he turns around and asks me “you don’t like food?”

I was astonished and just replied, “huh?”

He replied that I was very thin to which I replied I do try my best… It reminds me of a time when I would just say anything that came to mind most of which was not even without thinking. I feel like I become wiser since those heydays (*cough cough* barely).

So let’s fast-forward: art, art, memorabilia, more talks about philosophy, art, art, sights of London, art and more art.

We stayed until closing until everyone was booted out into the streets or into the bar. Except B goes shopping in the gift shop and A and I hit the dance floor. I mean I did a few side steps but he went all in… I mean all in! He was doing double fist pumps and a discount Carlton. People were giving him looks and were moving away from us which was handy as we could do with a bit more dance floor. It was interesting because that was how I was like before. Having that thirst for life and seeing him in full throttle makes me want to give life a boot and I LIVE for that!

Fast-forward a bit more, B is stood outside waving at us. “Ummm A…. B is right there! Think she telling you to check your phone”. He looks down and says that she want to leave. He continues to dance… I waved to B to come in but they shake their head. I took A to the door and tried to get him outside to have a word with B except he doesn’t want to. “Then leave then!” A exclaims at me. I was shocked at the lack of compromise. I pleaded to A to go see B because it was unfair. I exited. A followed and they had a heart-to-heart felt conversation and they decided to part ways with me and bid me goodbye.

It was a different experience… Thoughtful in many ways. But since then, I decided that I will live my life to the bestest that I can (ugh clichés!) and dance that discount Carlton into the sunset until sunrise.

Remembrance Art Trail 2018

All the following works are by Mark Humphrey which was all featured as part of the Remembrance Art Trail in 2018 based in Canary Wharf. I listed them all below of artwork names and locations.

1. Lost Armies - Jubilee Park

2. Lost Solders - Montgomery Square

3. Butland Capsule - Canada Place Level -1

4. Life Blossoms Again - Canada Place Level -1

5. Brothers in Arms - Crossrail Place Roof Garden

6. ANA - Adams Plaza

7. Fallen Soldier - Cabot Square

8. Nick Beighton Part 1 - One Canada Square Lobby

9. Nick Beighton Part 2 - One Canada Square Lobby

10. Every One Remembered - Jubilee Plaza

11. Point of Everyman's Land - West Wintergarden

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