30.7.16

Graduation day


So on the hottest day of the year, a couple of weeks ago, we rose at 6.30am, caught a taxi and three trains to the pretty town of Ormskirk, finishing off with a bus journey to Edgehill University campus, where Joe's graduation ceremony was taking place. We were already melting by the time we arrived. 



It's a very impressive campus and has a pleasing amount of topiary trees. Around the back of the historic part, the more modern additions are discreetly concealed.

 

The first item on the agenda was for Joe to get togged out in his graduation robes, before an extraordinary amount of photos and selfies were taken with his colleagues. Me, I stayed in the background and had a crash course in ladies shoe fashion for 2016. A loose count showed that ankle straps are 'in' this year and that 'flesh' (or as I believe it is called, 'nude') is this season's colour. I was in cheap baseball boots. Not being in heels, I was one of the few females on campus able to walk in a straight line.


At last we were able to head off for the ceremony.


After a long wait for everything to be organized, and having the most fidgety child on the planet next to me, it all got rolling with the expected pomp and ceremony; the procession of the University staff in suitably impressive robes and hats, and a fanfare of trumpets. Literally. 


After several long speeches, the graduation ceremony itself began. Joe was about third from last, by which time people were a little restless. Having patiently waited for nearly two hours for his moment of glory - the shaking of the chancellor's hand - I had my camera poised, zoomed and in focus. 


Then just at the very second of the hand shake, a big bloke in a white shirt came bustling down the aisle stairs behind me and barged right in front of my camera as I was pressing the button. I may have sworn loudly. (OK, I did). So all I managed to get was this...


Then the lovely chancellor made the most interesting speech of the day, cracked a joke about the University board being 'the entire staff of Hogwarts' and everyone waggled their caps in the air. Apparently throwing them up willy nilly is not the done thing anymore. 


After a quick go at the buffet, we started our homeward journey. Did I mention it was hot? And so we got a bus, three trains and another taxi back to the cottage. The English countryside quietly sweltered in the sun. The train guard handed out free bottles of water on our last late, overcrowded train, where we stood in the corridor all the way back to Shrewsbury.


We eventually arrived home, flopping and half asleep, at about 8pm and went to bed almost at once. A long day, but one which Joe worked hard for and despite my humorous tone, I was actually very, very proud of him.  He is now a fully qualified counsellor.

12 comments:

Mac n' Janet said...

Heat, rude people and all, a day to be proud of. I know he must have put in a lot of hard work, so congratulations!

Shrimpton and Perfect said...

Fantastic, Gretel. It's onward and upwards now :)

Jean

Twiglet said...

What a day! Congrats all round.

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Well done Joe! It was a hot day indeed! Must have been awful on the train.

rossichka said...

Oh, it's been such an exciting day! What a beautiful campus! Congratulations on graduating and lots of success in future!

Deb said...

That's a very lovely setting and thanks for the shoe news, it all reminds me how far from fashion I am and how little I care and how nice that there are others for whom such things don't matter either. Congrats!!

Jess said...

Congratulations to Joe! What a day! One you're sure to remember. :) It always amazes me how the girls who are graduating can walk anywhere at all in their teetering heels let alone climb the steps of the stage without falling over hehehe! I must say that did keep me amused during my son's graduation last year, I was convinced each one was going to stumble!x

Charlotte said...

Congratulations Joe. For all the heat and the people there is something special about wearing the hat and gown for a short while.

But then it is also nice to put our own selves back on again later.

Frances said...

Congratulations to you, Joe! Bravo for completing all that was required to reach that brilliant (if very hot and long) graduation day.

I'm now curious to know what sorts of counseling you have been studying and will be practicing. I'm not always sure what UK usage of familiar words might mean.

Bravo to you, Gretel, for letting us all see those great photographs of a stand out day. Wise shoe choice, too.

xo

Lin said...

well, Congratulations, Joe! That is quite the accomplishment. But then again...sounds like it was an adventure just getting to and from the graduation ceremonies.

Rowan said...

Well done Joe! What a shame that stupid man had to get in the way of your photograph though . It must have been a taxing journey both there and back but worth it in the end.

Granny Sue said...

Congratulations to Joe! And boy do I understand the heat, the speeches, the long ceremony! We had three graduations this year, two from high school and one from college. I must admit, I dislike these ceremonies intensely, but as a good granny I sat through them all.