Graduation Day

At last - the big day arrived - Louise's Graduation.
Tickets and cameras in the handbag, make sure we had all the bits of paper to pick up the robes and get the photos done and off we went.

Our 1st port of call was to pick up the gowns. This year, the had new gowns and hood for the University. The BN nurses had gold hoods trimmed with blue - very nifty!!!
So off we headed to the Concert Hall - Louise had to register and we wanted to try and get a ticket for Paul. It was weird walking through town and seeing all these other proud families. Mind you, biggest cheesiest grin prob came from us - we could have lit up the Christmas lights on the grins alone!!!!

Got some photos taken, got the extra ticket and Louise got me to pin her badge on her robes. It's got a C on it and Glasgow Caledonian University Nursing written on it.

We had good seats in the hall - Matthew saw Louise in the crowd.
The ceremony itself is really nice - all the academic staff process in and on to the stage. The University Chancellor is there - he "caps" the students when their name is called. (as Louise said -all that work to get hit  o'er the heid wi a hat by a guy in funny robes!!! What joy!!) But i'm not too sure that Lord McDonald would have seen it that way!! Poor man - all those folk he had to say COngratulations to!!

Ceremony over, we went to the drinls reception. Met Louise's Personal Tutor, who was nice. Photos, photos, photos - but for once i didn't get moaned at!! Louise was enjoying herself too much!!!! Then we went off to get the official photos done. A woman a bit further along the queue looked @ Louise and i - i just assumed it was another parent - well, she was, but Louise suddenly realised that it was her Home Economics teacher from 2nd year @ school - all of 8 years ago!!! These St Ambrose folk fair get about!!

Photos done, we could start to relax a bit. We decided to head to Kimble's for tea and cake. Well, we were starving and the table for dinner wasn't booked till later!! And it was a tea and cake kinda day!! Peter decided that he wanted to take Lou to the Disney shop to let the staff see her. Theythought this was great and put a congratulations Louise banner up on the screen. Yes, her face did go red as they announced it, and yes - i did get a photo!!
Louise was a bit worried about walking down Buchanan Street with said robes on. She thought folk would just stare!! (mmmm - we live in a city where some folk think it's ok to go to the shops in jammies!!!! So academic robes are NOT going to get a 2nd glance!!!!)
Saying that, most folk didn't bat an eyelid. Kids looked @ Lou just wondering WHAT she was wearing! I wanted to tell them that if they worked hard @ school, they too would earn the right to wander about looking like a hobbit!
One older man nudged his wife and i heard him say " oh look - there that young girl has just graduated!!" - he had a grin almost as big as mine!! That was nice.

Eventually we went for dinner. Louise said it wasgetting cold and she needed food. There were mutterings from Paul about looking like a hobbit and how the precious one needed fed. Just wait till it's his turn and he has the outfit on!!!!

It was a lovely day and i am very, very proud of Louise. She's worked hard and deserved all the praise she got.
Tomorrow - the party. Friends coming to help us celebrate, some nice food (Iceland and ASDA have been raided for goodies) and maybe a drink or 2!!
And next week brings a job interview and the Graduation Ball.
Watch this space for the goings on................................