Sky Diving, Weightless Bobbing & Helmet Wearing.....Teambuilding EMC3 Stylee!

EMC3 Summer Team Building at:

AIRKIX MILTON KEYNES

Deciding that since this year has been a fantastically busy and hard grafting year so far we needed to get out the office and do something fun, exciting and a wee bit different to the usual outtings... So we did just that which resulted in hiring out the wind tunnel at AIRKIX Milton Keynes for half an hour for our team (not all of us could attend and sadly Anita came but couldn’t join the action due to previous shoulder injury) to fly and experience the pure Adrenaline rush of this extreme sport…indoors!

 

We arrived an hour before our flight time so 5pm where we were introduced to our Instructor Adam who took us to the lesson room where we were shown an introductory video, grasped a few key signals and briefly shown the correct or ideal position we had to embrace while in the tunnel. We were then shown to the kit room where we got suitably kitted out into our jump suits, goggles and helmets (our 2 Directors Alistair & Daniel, sadly minus Baba our MD who was in Africa, wore the red helmuts) and very fiddly ear plugs – who knew that it would be such a mission to put them in! And woop woop we were ready to fly… BRING IT ON!!

 

 

 

On entering we took our seats and waited our turn which was to last about 2 minutes each. Usually when you book a flight you get 2x 2 minute flights but fortunately we were going to get a few more flight times each.

First up was Alistair who had done it before and showed us how it should be done followed by Phil, then Daniel , then Mo followed by Steph. We all got our balance tested as we were thrown, I mean flown around the tunnel side to side, up and down as we tried to master the position while our Instructor guided us through the movements. I will admit when you're trying to keep position while getting thrown around by air jets the signals you learn all kind of mold into one blurred signal!!

                                                                                    Alistair the Wisp!

 

 

 

Daniel & the Magic Belly!

 

                                                                               Phileas the Floater!

 

 

Mo the Low!

 

On our 2^nd go we were taught how to move left and right so in circles basically, this in itself was very very challenging indeed and I think we all had our fair share of wall contact in trying our hand at this which was the cause of great laughter. During our 3^rd flight we were allowed to fly around and try incorporate going left and right up and down in the tunnel while still getting blasted with air and under the watchful eye of our instructor. This was super fun!!!

 

To top off this incredible experience we were given a 4^th go and this time the instructor came and flew with each of us to took us all the way to the top of the tunnel and back down again quite a few exciting times. Wow, what a buzz: it was an absolutely fantastic feeling – mind a few floating dribbles  (Tee Hee) and light headed dizziness as one tried to exit the wind tunnel swooning from side to side trying to regain your balance & sense of direction!

 

Once we had all had a go we were given a fantastic athletic display by our instructor of different moves one could attempt – it was not dissimilar  to a Cirque de Soleil-esque  acrobat/streetdance display in the air! Absolutely insane but totally wicked!!! The feeling of floating so freely yet loosely in control just adds to the unique experience of flying. An addictive sense of freedom that becomes more and more insatiable every time you have another go!

I can now see why people get the skydiving bug and all I can say is this is one activity I will most certainly be taking further. I  do have my sights on jumping out of a plane and experiencing the real McCoy 5,000 meters above land!

 

Thoroughly enjoyed by all and if you’re looking for something exhilarating and hilarious; then look no further ..........Book your teams spot now!!!!

 

Written by Mo the Low!

EA Summer Party

Hot weather, hot party! A few weekends ago, we organized an EA Summer Festival party in Loseley Park for their Employees, their families and friends who came and enjoyed the sizzling sunshine and loads of exciting activities in three joining fields: the Loop, the Meadow and the 4WD course of which guests were pick-up in golf buggies and taken between them. Throughout the day mouthwatering wood fired pizzas, quality made burgers, crepes, a well-stocked bar and Loseley’s famous ice-cream provided guests with energy and refreshments, perfect for a day of festivities.

 

 

In the fields they had both children and adults getting into the swing of things with face painting – ones never too old for this! Other ideas to keep the children busy was they had their own entertainer, bouncy castle, stilt walkers, balloon modelling and kids soft playground! For those that were a bit braver and enjoyed a bit of speed they found themselves on the dodgems whizzing around the ring and for those that wanted to test their aim and steadiness found themselves at the archery section or clay pigeon shooting. For the more adventurous guests were invited to the Laser Battlefield which attracted young and old and gave those who was stuck in an the office people the perfect opportunity to stretch their arms and legs in the woods running and hiding to avoid being lasered. These all boosted great excitement for the guests.  

 

 

The party lasted from 11am to 6pm and throughout the day it was fantastic to see everyone having a lovely time with their families and friends throughout the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A great experience, lots of excercise, laughter and best of all able to get a tan!

 Written by intern Elena Xu

 

 

WPO Canada London Dinner

 

London is known for her History and famous landmarks, but ever thought about having a private dinner or event in one of them like the Tower of London for example? Well some of our VIP clients got the chance to do just that in this beautiful iconic venue.

 

Their night started off sparkling with a tour of the Jewel House where the prized Crown Jewels are kept where they then moved onto the White Tower which houses part of the Royal Armouries and is the oldest medieval building at the Tower of London for a welcoming champagne reception. After the guests settled down to an exclusive three course dinner and were treated to the spectacular views of Tower Bridge from the windows.

View of Tower Bridge from the Tower of London

 

 

 

Private dinner at The Tower of London

 

After dinner the guests had the opportunity to watch famous key ceremony that only a select few people ever get to witness. This is the traditional locking up of the Tower of London and has taken place on each and every night, without fail, for at least 700 years. The importance of securing this fortress for the night is still very relevant because, although the Monarch no longer resides at this royal palace, the Crown Jewels and many other valuables still do J

 

It was a wonderful night full of fantastic food, wine and history.

 

 

 

 EMC3 team behind the scenes

 

Written by intern Sara Lieber

London, Lagos, Abuja, Lagos, Abuja,Lagos, London drift.....

 Abuja by air 

 Abuja thanks to a dear friend.....Mr K 

The power base of our great nation 

Being back in Nigeria for the 3rd time this year setting up our EMC3 office here in Lagos is more of an affair of the heart than a chore. Like advise given on one's wedding day; I am savoring every moment of this action. It has been quite a surreal week being here in Africa. Whilst African Art is burgeoning in Europe with Bonham's record auction sales last week Wednesday proving our art is truly on the global map; 2 psychopathic idiots go and kill a poor father & soldier for doing his job of even protecting them.....RIP! 

Another sad point to raise is that now thousands of God fearing, hardworking and humble Nigerians of all the Abrahamic faiths will now be on the receiving end of hate and disdain in UK. As if its not hard enough.

Naija Art - No shame! 

Naija humour - Pedestrian Crossing 

Lagos coooool by Bello 

On the flip side coming back to Nigeria I am a witness to the ever increasing industrialism of our great country. We all know of the constant power-cuts, corruption, boko haram, kidnapping, sweltering heat and constant angst at the brazen chopping of the rotten politicians but alas in the sea of negativity I see an oil slick (most pertinent) developing and expanding. I use this analogy most directly because I feel that out of the laziness of our nation relying on Oil & Gas if we can re-direct funding to long term national investments into our sleeping magnificent resources like People, Agriculture & other Minerals we will at last see the much awaited growth of the middle class and some national development. This paired with naming and shaming corrupt politicians instead of lauding them in papers would be real progression.

Boko Haram Hunters in the North 

Jumping jack flashers in the South 

Radisson Blu by the Lagoon 

Lagos Motor Boat Club tranquil 

Our bludgeoned masterpiece in Abuja 

Protected at all costs 

Those of us that are here to repay our Mothers & Mothers Mothers for the education attained in Europe have daily constant reminders of how tough it is to be honest in a jungle of corruption. Where honesty & business ethics are seen as weaknesses how can a nation thrive? Where 2 men (President Goodluck & Governor Amaechi) pretty much from the same tribe are imploding not just their party but ultimately the nation can there be any progress? Where Fathers disown their own sons out of idiocy, pride or vanity can there be productivity? I still believe there can be. We should remember the United Kingdom through the Industrial Revolution almost 2 centuries ago where hardship, poverty, corruption, barbarism and power by might ruled the land, was there not progression. Yes it took 150 years, 2 World Wars and time true the Spanish Flu to reach this point and still no one is perfect. 

But also it took heroes like Jethro Tull, James Watt, The Chartists, Emmeline & Richard Pankhurst, Earl Grey, Gladstone, David Ricardo, Adam Smith, Jeremy Bentham & of course William Wilberforce to name but a few to drive the world forward. And were they not ridiculed at some time in their lives as useless dreamers? 

Lately in Nigeria I see few heroes that could even tie the boots of Achebe (Buried this week RIP): 

Achebe Awolowo Azikwe Buhari Enahoro Fela Gowon IBB & Abdusalami Jakande Margaret Ekpo Murtala Nzeogwu OBJ Ojukwu Onyekaonwenu Soyinka Sunny Ade

Obasanjo .

Onyekaonwenu Is it not time for more heroes to emerge? Is it not time for us not to idolise worldly goods and strive for the betterment of Nigerians as a whole. Let us not ridicule those who talk of doing good and put that into action whilst we hail greedy usurpers who are the nations enemies of progression! Flying through Lagos to Abuja and back I have met and seen young hopefuls in Life and Fashion doing great things as Nigerians. Okun Beachwear Fashion by Designer Bola Marquis (& MiMo's Jason Mycroft) Cocktails by Bola Beachwear by Bola (Okun)  Fashion & style lives in Lagos..... Temple Muse by Kabir Wadhwani   Ladies in waiting  We have to allow smart women in our society to play more of a part in managing our country as not only are we under utilising over workforce but also they have managed to bring us all up pretty well so really its a no brainer..... Whether white,brown or black we need to start working together like the Canaanites of old to produce that which we import and look in the mirror  to say "I am a Nigerian; what can I do to better myself & my community". Yes you may say I am dreaming but remember without dreams we would have not inventions, social reforms or democracies!