Red Bull Soapbox Race

In three weeks, 70 teams will be competing in the Red Bull Soapbox Race in London. 

For those of you who don't know, the race involves teams creating 'soapboxes,' which are cars created and designed entirely by the teams themselves, and then racing them down Alexandra Palace hill on the 14th of July. The designs can be as outrageous and wacky as they want, with some of this years designs including a soapbox size load of bread, a yellow submarine, a typical London taxi and a Royal baby carriage. 

The human-powered soapboxes will reach speeds up to 40mph as they tackle the jumps and curves that the course throws at them. Each team will be scored on their creativity, speed and showmanship, with judges including Danny MacAskill, Rob Marshall and Gee Atherton. 

Tickets are £5 and can be bought on the Red Bull soapbox website. There will also be live music, face painting and lots of Red Bull(!) to keep you entertained throughout the day so go and book your tickets to ensure a really fun day out!

Also, have a look at this video which shows other soapbox races from around the world taking place, and maybe this will convince you to go!

Let me know what soapbox you'd create if you entered and if you're going to the event :) 

Gemma x

Life as a Londoner

For the last two weeks I've been doing some work experience in West London at a PR company, and I've been experiencing life as a London worker. 

Getting up at 6am every morning from Monday to Friday is a killer, but not allowing myself to snooze my alarm seems to be doing the trick and making me wake up! Walking around like a zombie and sneaking round my house trying not to wake anyone up (and failing... I'm known as the fairy elephant), I slowly get myself ready for the London day. 

The station

My train leaves at 7:24 precisely, and after two weeks I'm starting to recognise the same people every morning. There's the typical business man with his sharp suit and polished shoes, carrying his shiny briefcase and looking ready for the day. Then there are the numerous people who display the 'work clothes with trainers' look... one that never ceases to make me laugh. There is also the same man who is on his Ipad every morning, and every Thursday, he (and me over his shoulder) watches The Apprentice; obviously catching up from the previous night. 

Luckily the station I pick up the train from is half way to London therefore there are always some seats available. I've turned in to one of those people who, as soon as the train starts coming in to the platform, walks ALL the way down to the very end of the platform because this is seemingly where the most seats will be. I've now realised that more and more people do that every day, so it sort of defeats the object...

The train

On a standard London Midland train, amongst the lovely green carpety seats there are the two people seats, the four people ones and the six people ones. Through the two weeks I've trialled pretty much all of these to see where the best place to sit is during rush hour... but all I've found is that you're at a disadvantage wherever you sit if a big man comes and sits down next to you.

I thought i had it sussed, sitting on the aisle of a four person group of seats seemed the best option. However one day a hugely large man came and sat next to me and I ended up having a to share my seat with him and having one bum cheek hanging off in to the aisle. This also then resulted in every person that walked past knocking me either with their arm or bag...

Now I've learnt that RUSH HOUR IS BUSY and you will be crowded no matter where you sit. I'm just thankful I get a seat as I'm always that person who falls over on trains when they're moving. 

London

As the train pulls in to London Euston, everyone starts to pack their stuff up and straighten themselves out after the boring, squashed journey. A few people always stand up as the train is pulling in; something I have never understood... they never get any further than me still sitting down so why waste your energy?

As the doors open that is it. Hundreds of Londeners zoom off the train towards the alarmed looking security men at the barriers, and as the lucky few at the front of the crowd escape through quickly, the rest of us end up getting jammed in the small space, resulting in us waddling like penguins until its our turn to zap our Oyster card.

I then make my way to the underground doing the standard London walk... walking way faster than people are meant to in every day life and bumping in to everyone walking the opposite way. My legs are a lot shorter than the majority of other London workers so I find my legs moving 100 mph just to keep up with the race to the Tube. 

Coming home

After work is the same situation. Finishing at 5:30 means I am in the midst of rush hour once again and the underground is even more crowded that the morning. Everyone looks tired and present glum faces that know they have to travel back home on the sweaty, packed train. 

Getting back to Euston is always the funny bit for me. Waiting in the concourse with the crowd of people under the big screens, we're all waiting for one thing... the platform to be announced. You can see people glancing around and then looking up at the screen hoping a) their train has arrived, and b) that everyone else isn't waiting for the same train. 

Suddenly it is announced and if you are unfortunate not to have seen yet, you will definitely be swept up and taken with the crowd regardless. Once again people walk a million mph towards the train, many people also running as if they're racing Usain Bolt, while the overhead tannoy hopelessly reminds people, "please do not run when making your way to the platform..."

So far my experience as a Londener is going well. I've got two weeks left of my work experience and I'm really enjoying it so far :) I'll let you know of any more updates to my London worker life!

Gemma x

Sorrys

Apologies for not posting in over a month!

Sorry face

I'v been super super busy with work experience in London but will post later today so watch this space! :) 

Gemma x

Street fashion VT

As part of our television module at university, myself and two other girls created a VT about street fashion. 

We spoke to people around Birmingham about what they choose to wear and why, as well as asking them where they get their inspiration from. 

The VT was really fun to make, as luckily the weather was quite nice and we found a good range of people to ask about their fashion sense.

I loved presenting the VT and talking to people around Birmingham, especially as a lot of them were students therefore we could relate with them when they mentioned affordable fashion and where they get their inspiration from.

A lot of the people we asked said they got their inspiration from magazines, celebrities, or from looking at other people around Birmingham; something I think we can all relate to as there are so many different trends around at the moment.

Have a watch and let me know what you think!

Gemma x

Filming/Editing - Monica Pruselaityte

Director - Becky Windmill

Presenter - Gemma Brown

My first football game experience - Aston Villa vs. Sunderland (6-1)

On the 29th April 2013 I experienced going to my first football game!

Ever since I moved to Birmingham last year, me and my friends have said that we HAVE to go and watch Villa play as we walk or drive past the stadium every day. 

I'm not a huge football fan... I'll watch it if it's on and join in with whatever team the majority are supporting, but I have no clue about Premier Leagues and other leagues and who is in what. Plus, I think everyone should go to a football game at least once in their life, even if their not a fan, because the experience so good!

Waiting for the game to start

We were seated in the Upper Holte end, therefore we had a good overall view of the pitch. We sat down about 40 minutes before the game started so we were able to have a look around, take some photos, learn the rules... (!) and start to get excited! Both teams were warming up so that was also fun to watch. 

The game started at 20:00, and the stadium went wild as Aston Villa ran out of the tunnel and took their places on the pitch. I was already over excited and started to pick up the chants and songs that the Villa supporters were singing... often laughing my head off at what they were saying before joining in....

Not long in to the game, Villa scored! Now... I expected everyone to cheer loudly, a few hands in the air, maybe a high five to a friend. But no. Every Villa supporter was on their feet, jumping in the air, screaming, shouting, cheering, hugging anybody around them. So obviously we joined in...

After the excitement died down, the Villa suporters were hyped up at the fact we were ahead so early in the game, and it became clear that we were in the rowdy end of the stadium. Sunderland was next to score making it 1-1, and everyone in the stadium booed them... which I felt a bit mean for at first but then I remembered how much they get paid for kicking a ball around so joined in ;)

Aston Villa stadium

Before half time, Villa scored twice more bringing the score to 3-1! Every time they scored, the whole stadium (minus the Sunderland supporters) erupted with cheers and jumped up and down!

The second half began and so did the songs. Vile names were sung at the Sunderland manager, fingers pointed, and other random chants, that we slowly began to (unfortunately) pick up. However, we all found it hilarious and it got us even more excitable for when Villa scored again twice!

With the score at 5-1 to Aston Villa, our rowdy lot were chanting "we want six" and after about 10 minutes, we got six! 6-1 to Villa and everybody was screaming, shouting, cheering, jumping, and we even had a group hug with the guys in front who looked like they were almost in tears of joy!

My first experience at a football match was definitely one I'll never forget. The actual game was great, and there were loads of goals which made it a lot more interesting, especially as "our team" won. Looking back, the whole thing was so funny. I always comment on how 'in to the game' guys get when they watch football, but actually, I'll have to admit that being there amongst that many people who have so much passion for the team really makes you get involved and join in with the enthusiasm

Let me know if you were at the game if you've been to any similar!

Gemma x