A Graduation Deluge

Dundee is being lashed with rain on what must be surely be one of the wettest days of the year! We are here with Grandma for Jamie's graduation which took place in Caird Hall this afternoon. Jamie was resplendent in his kilt, gown and fur edged hood! It was a really nice occasion and the choir sang "Gaudeamus Igitur" which I always find moving. All the young people were so happy - today's cohort were dentists and doctors and BMSc graduates like Jamie. The ceremony started with a procession of all the academics. The Chancellor, Lord Patel, conferred the degrees by tapping each graduand on the head with a "Dundee Bonnet" as they graduated; this was specially spin, woven and dyed for the University by the Dundee Bonnetmakers Craft. When we came out it was raining quite hard but we set off to the garden party anyway - thinking that the rain would ease off a bit and anyway we had paid £11 per head for six tickets! However the rain got harder and harder and the wind picked up too! Instead of strolling around the grassy area in front of the University Union drinking bubbly and eating cucumber sandwiches and strawberry tarts, everybody was huddled in the marquees around it (still eating and drinking of course!) There was a brave jollity among the crowds reminiscent of Londoners during the Blitz. So now we are getting a heat in the car before we go out for dinner. Grandma said that she was very pleased to see one of her grandchildren graduate, which I thought was a very pleasant thing to say.