Or 'Graduand' as the university would like to call it. Yesterday was graduation day, and it couldn't have been any hotter. In full suit'n'boot, we had to sit in the sports hall for two hours as the whole of IDT and the business school went to pick up their certificate and officially stop being students. You have to consider that graduation is not full of people wearing shorts and flip-flops either; most of us were wearing black suits, iced with a full length robe and a flash of purple and green satin. I looked like a apple and blackcurrent blackjack. Apparently the heat was so extreme people had actually passed out in the morning ceremony, and the afternoon didn't get any cooler.

Thankfully, it was still enjoyable. The parents came up for an 'Al Fresco' lunch, and gespatcho soup, a steak and summer fruits I was full and ready for stage-marching. I was slightly disappointed to find that the 'scroll' you hold in the official photo is nothing more than a piece of drain pipe with a piece of ribbon tied around it, but there was plenty of opportunity to capitalise on free champagne and strawberries in the department afterwards which made up for it.

After a large photoshoot in front of all the parents and the final thanks/goodbyes, I headed over to JCs for a drink with some of the final stragglers, only to be disappointed to find that they were already heading off. However, just as I was about to leave, I ran into Jason, who was more than willing to share a celebratory pint, and we were later joined by Rich and his girlfriend to soak up the last of the sun before I headed into town where Swan and Zoe were, in Jono's new flat (although Jono doesn't get back until today).

We went for some food in Lloyds, and were then joined by Sean, his parents and Laura and Broomy, who in typical Broomy fashion, splashed out on two coolers of champagne. Most of the night was spent here before Swan, Zoe and myself went for a final drink in Newshouse with Jase, Big Matt, Plev, Becks, Tim, Sophie and few others. A long day, a hot day, but also memorable one. If only I had remembered to bring a towel it would have made showering this morning far more easy than it was.