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

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

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Home now. Dd1 feeling more comfortable and moving gently.

Our nosy neighbour knew we were away and has used the opportunity to chainsaw his conifer hedge back on our side, right back to the trunk (about 4ft thinner). Not happy that he must have been on our property for hours without our permission. We also now have a long driveway lined with bare earth (for weeds!!) instead of shady conifer branches. Luckily we locked the back gate and the animals were all away.

Lovely to hear all about the graduation stories. There’s one on The Tab about a poor Newcastle graduate where her dad decided to run up to the stage and take a photo. Dd would have disowned either of us if we had done that.

Glad you got home safely @ZandathePanda. The grad photos didn't take long. DD's arrived today, and I'm thrilled with them. The university sent a video link of DD walking on to the stage as well.

I had a look at The Tab and clicked on a story about the graduations at Southampton. It all sounds rather soulless.

What package did everyone go for for the photos? I assume many were Tempest. Dd roped us all in (I hate my photo being taken) but they are all a bit blurry so I can’t see which are the best.

@RampantIvy there should also be a link to another tempest photo of her graduation ceremony with her on stage. Have you seen that too?

We went for the cheapest package for both 😃

We went for the big photo plus two medium ones. I can't believe how lovely DD looks. Her smile just lights up the room.

I didn't know that buying graduates flowers was a thing. We saw loads of grads carrying bouquets of flowers. Since DD had to be out of her flat a couple of days later it would have been pretty pointless buying any.

@bigTillyMint snap!

No flowers from us either @RampantIvy

Oh yes, we noticed that too! But also not terribly practical as someone has to carry the flowers round all day…

We did have one amusing moment when DH suddenly said to me 'should we have got her a graduation present?' Hadn't even crossed our minds tbh, though we did take her out for cocktails and a nice meal at a restaurant of her choice afterwards.

Did you all give your DCs graduation presents? Have we been awful parents?

No graduation present from us, but as it was DD's birthday the day after her graduation I got her a Build a Bear graduation outfit for one of her Build a Bears (yes one of )

@RedHelenB the whole thing took 80 mins. It said 70 mins in the email but was 10 mins longer.

@thing47 all i bought for Ds was a glass beer glass with congratulations on your degree on it. Plus 6 beers. I also got a little personalised graduation Lego man for a bit of fun.

Ds's photos were all via the Ede and Ravenscroft website we hired the gown etc. from. We had to order photos in advance. I only ordered 2.

No present or flowers from us - TBH, I think the flowers are a thing in certain cultures?

I think both had photos done by E&R - not arrived yet!

Didn’t do the official photos, dh takes very nice ones and we’re highly unlikely to put one on the wall. Didn’t do presents or flowers either! I did buy ds’s suit (although that was a while back) and we’ve taken them out for dinner and brunch.

Soulless was exactly the word I just used about the Southampton ceremonies - yes I get that they are trying to catch up, but everyone has been in the same boat and has managed to still make the days special.

Ours not either @bigTillyMint

No gift from me either. But I think he still hasn't got his full results yet, so maybe he hasn't passed yet. 🤔

I got DD1 a spoof present (which she really loved) and we had a nice lunch out, but she isn't expecting gifts. She's coming home for a week in August so I'll spoil her rotten then.

I got DD a vintage travel print of her uni town and framed it. She said she like it but later mentioned her housemates parent’s bought her housemate a Louis Vuitton bag!!! 😳

I got the impression that flowers were only a thing in certain cultures too, looking at the young people with them at DS's university.

We didn't buy DS a specific graduation present, although we got him a new suit, and then took him and his girlfriend out for a lovely family meal.

We didn't buy an official graduation photograph package but have some lovely photos regardless.

Walking around DS' uni campus this week made me think how quickly the last four years have gone by, since we first visited on another barmy summer's day. It will be time to start the whole process again with DD soon. And then I was reminded that I'd visited his uni city (by no means one of our closest) for a 'Christmas shop 'til you drop' day out with one of my close friends when he was 'in utero' so it's almost as if it was destined to be!

Lovely to hear all the positive stories.

DS has now got a decently paid fill-in job with a view to doing a Masters next year.

@LouisCatorze yes I noticed that at UEA the foreign students were the ones with bunches of flowers. I assumed they'd been given them by the university.

Ds has taken on a 2 month temporary job putting tree protectors on baby trees. I can't imagine him sticking that for 2 months. That'll will be hard work. He starts Monday. The just under £12 hour tempted him in. He's always very secretive about what his plans are. He doesn't seem interested in a permanent job. But he told me yesterday he wants to go to New Zealand with a friend in sept. Apparently there's a company that helps youngsters get temporary jobs there. So I hope it's a decent company he uses.

I'm a bit amazed and worried about costs of a masters. I never realized as when I did a masters at UCl it was a "package deal"; worked somewhere 1 day/wk, lived there as well, and MSc was all paid for.

Not sure how DC is going to pay for it.... especially as he is taking some time out abroad to volunteer...

@RampantIvy I think you may want to rethink your last post. Odd thing to say.

I'm not sure where I have gone wrong. Shall I ask for it to be deleted?