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All the smiley faces
Apr. 16th, 2024 08:51 pmGraduation is such a joy. So many happy people, all the staff pulling in the same direction, amazing location. And I introduced myself to three new people, today, one of whom I would like to keep in touch with. They seem like the kind of person who is never stuck for something to say and as someone mostly at the other end of that particular spectrum, I think they could make an interesting acquaintance. I shall reach out and invite them for coffee.
I managed to get away with just the info desk today because I needed to get back to the office for a specific time - and nobody needed anything from me! All the graduands had their seating cards, which is the only real purpose of the info desk, these days. I remember when we used to hand out the seating cards there. There would be boxes filled with cards in alphabetical order with the letters stuck on the wall behind us. There would be a huge amount of noise from graduands trying to tell members of staff their names and members of staff asking them to spell it out! And when we actually united a person with their card, we would then direct them where to go to find their seat, with some instructions about being seated by a certain time with their mobile phones switched off.
Then we started giving out the seating cards and certificates with the gowns in a separate building, but they came in through a side entrance of the Cathedral, so we still did the directing bit - always felt like an air hostess. 'Through the arch behind me, then to the left (waving my right arm) for Lord Derby and to the right and across the front of the stage (waving my left arm) for War Memorial.' :D Now they come in through the main entrance and I only speak to the ones who've lost their card (usually they've given it to their mum for safe-keeping...).
I wonder how many ceremonies I've been to, over the years? A hundred, or so?
The sad part is that I have a couple of colleagues who used to live for Graduation but Stuff Happened and now it would be too awkward/painful for them to be there. Graduation is a great occasion, but there's something missing :(
Spent the afternoon doing some bits and pieces of work, more than I expected to, really. And bought Lindt chocolates for step-father and sil's birthdays because I completely failed to find any inspiration from anywhere. Neither of them are going to refuse chocolates, though.
I managed to get away with just the info desk today because I needed to get back to the office for a specific time - and nobody needed anything from me! All the graduands had their seating cards, which is the only real purpose of the info desk, these days. I remember when we used to hand out the seating cards there. There would be boxes filled with cards in alphabetical order with the letters stuck on the wall behind us. There would be a huge amount of noise from graduands trying to tell members of staff their names and members of staff asking them to spell it out! And when we actually united a person with their card, we would then direct them where to go to find their seat, with some instructions about being seated by a certain time with their mobile phones switched off.
Then we started giving out the seating cards and certificates with the gowns in a separate building, but they came in through a side entrance of the Cathedral, so we still did the directing bit - always felt like an air hostess. 'Through the arch behind me, then to the left (waving my right arm) for Lord Derby and to the right and across the front of the stage (waving my left arm) for War Memorial.' :D Now they come in through the main entrance and I only speak to the ones who've lost their card (usually they've given it to their mum for safe-keeping...).
I wonder how many ceremonies I've been to, over the years? A hundred, or so?
The sad part is that I have a couple of colleagues who used to live for Graduation but Stuff Happened and now it would be too awkward/painful for them to be there. Graduation is a great occasion, but there's something missing :(
Spent the afternoon doing some bits and pieces of work, more than I expected to, really. And bought Lindt chocolates for step-father and sil's birthdays because I completely failed to find any inspiration from anywhere. Neither of them are going to refuse chocolates, though.
