University 2019/20 intake: Gearing up to graduation (for some but not all)

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@bigTillyMint my applications to City law firms in the late 80’s comprised a handwritten letter with a badly typed (typewriter!!!) CV stapled to it 😂. One interview day included a lunch at which one was tested in the skill of juggling plate, glass and sparkling conversation with a senior partner. Different universe….

@Benjispruce4 same here. I had covid a few weeks ago. First time. I didn't want Ds2 to catch it he was doing his A levels. I didn't want dh to catch it either. So I stayed in my room for 5 days. Dh slept in ds1's room 10 days. I was still testing positive day 13 though. I didn't test anymore. When ds1 came home to pack for USA also positive, I made him isolate too. I helped him pack though...I'm sure I wouldn't catch it again so soon.

Congrats on those with great grades and other good news.

Graduation day tomorrow. Travelling up after work tonight. Excited! 😊

Ooh enjoy! @Benjispruce4 are you doing the dinner that night?

Enjoy @Benjispruce4 !

Yes graduation at 1.45, dinner at 6.30. Just been to DD’s house and now at hotel having a drink before bed. She’s a bit emotional at it all ending and leaving her friends. Home just won’t be enough for her. Looking forward to the ceremony in Durham Cathedral. I’ll give you the low down @bigTillyMint.

Have a lovely day @Benjispruce4 - thanks!
I think DS will be sad too 😥

Have a lovely day @Benjispruce4 dd's is also at 1.45 but on the 30th so we're going up tomorrow.
Some lucky folk have their graduation at 9am and they have to arrive 2 hours before it starts...

I think dd is suddenly realising how much she's going to miss Durham. She's had a great last year there. We were booking a hotel part way home, as we have a long way to go back after the ceremony, but she wants a last evening in Durham.

@MargaretThursday, is that just the students to pick up their gowns? Or parents as well?
DS hasn’t given us timings!

@MargaretThursday we are one of the “lucky” people with an early ceremony (not Durham). At least 2 hours before a 10am ceremony, an hour and a half drive away….. delightful

@VanCleefArpels we're in the same club!

@bigTillyMint I think that's just the student, but parents still need to be early.

There are advantages being so far away that there is no chance of travelling in the day, and that is you feel absolutely no guilt at booking an overnight stay. The disadvantage is... well I'll tell you tomorrow on the M25.

@VanCleefArpels @LouisCatorze , DDs was at 10.30 which felt early but was fine. 9am, however… We have to be in the cathedral by 8.15am!!!

@bigTillyMint that's seriously painfully early.

Hope you had a great time today @Benjispruce4.

I'm 9am on Friday, @bigTillyMint and I definitely got the short straw.

Good luck to all other graduands. Happy and sad emotions all mixed up...

Oh @jano69, we should wear a carnation or something! Are you doing a grad dinner on Thurs night too?

No grad dinner for us, but History drinks around midday. Perhaps I shall give you a nod and a wink there! DS knows I read MN but I tell him I never post - I don't think he'd forgive me. 😂

Hope all the other Durham-ites have a great time at the graduation. I feel some of you I know even though I've never met!
If you see a mum walking through Durham with a daughter with hair in two very very long plaits stop me and say 'hello'- but probably don't mention MN. DD knows I post but probably wouldn't appreciate being reminded of it.

Durhamites have a fabulous time. How was it @Benjispruce4 ? Very emotional, I bet.

Oh it was wonderful but tiring. DD had a breakfast reception for her subject at 10 where she was presented with her award. So we had to be dressed and ready for that. Then we walked to the Cathedral, picked up tickets, DD got her robe. She then had to leave us to get into her processions and we had to queue . It was a loooong queue. Was great inside as screens at end of each pew so we had a clear view of them processing in which was streamed from outside. DD’s name was read after an hour of names so very long and uncomfortable pews but worth it.
There is a marquee on the green for food and drinks and professional photography and merchandise to buy.
We had a few hrs after ceremony to have a drink and wander. DD went home for a sleep and we went for coffee to stay awake for drinks and dinner at 6.30, which was fab! Much better than expected and fun in the bar after . Left at 10pm and work today so I am absolutely shattered but what a day!!!! Enjoy other Durhamites!

Yes emotionally challenging but in the best way. Just bursting with pride. Enjoy!

That sounds great! @Benjispruce4
Perhaps we should wear a carnation? @jano69 😂

I'm just popping in as the old-fart student who was in this cohort. Well done to the Durham crowd graduating at the moment (my original degree was the last batch to graduate out of the Castle rather than the Cathedral now).

Still waiting on my own results - I know I'm basically teetering between a first and a very high 2:1 - the dissertation got a first, but my placement was across two settings - one of whom had a real problem with me being autistic and marked me down - so I've got this fucked up split between one placement of 58% and one being like 75% that they're going to have to figure out (would be tempted to challenge it but that would delay me graduating which would delay me being able to register with HCPC and I've got a job offer I need that done to be able to start) - expecting it to be a 2:1 and pretty disappointed about that - but I figure I've got that in the middle of a pandemic, having to home school for long periods, my daughter and me being diagnosed with autism - so it's a hell of an achievement to still be vertical at the end of it all!

Got to wait till 5th July for the official results - we don't graduate till end-August.

Oh well done @CoffeeWithCheese you can relax.Interested that they used to use Castle instead.

www.mygraduationfilm.com/durham-live/
Durham live stream link. DD wasn’t aware of this but I found it on uni website . Lots of family around the world and at home watched.