22nd July 2015, Wednesday.

I caught the 9:30am bus to Southampton University for Hoa’s graduation.

I reached the Turner Sims at the start of her ceremony. I had no ticket to enter, nonetheless I spoke to the doorlady kindly, she let me in, as I noticed there was a single empty seat. I was pleased to be sitting beside a table were I could rest my iPad to video the large screen showing the proceedings taking place inside the auditorium. Some of the others were not considerate though, making enough noise to distract others from following those they wanted to watch and hear on the large screen.

There were many, many graduands, each taking a few moments to pause while the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Don Nutbeam, had a quiet word with them before the next one came up to be congratulated by him. It was like a long conveyor belt with all those who’d graduated, filling the left of the crowded auditorium. It seemed like it took ages, but eventually first came Cindy and later Mỹ Hoa, both addressed by their names in the correct order: (Cindy) Wing Yin Li (from Hong Kong) and Tran Thi Mỹ Hoa (my Vietnamese friend). Both my friends graduated with BSc’s in Sociology and Social Policy. Then the Vice-Chancellor addressed everyone. It was a long speech, despite his promise to keep it short! I had to endure it a second time again, late in the afternoon, when I attended a second ceremony for my other Vietnamese friend, Long.

All ended at last! The girls came out with their families and close friends allowing us to take many photos. Later at home I deleted most of the poorer ones, though I still have many left by which to remember the day.

Mỹ Hoa’s graduation photo. Mỹ Hoa ‘s parents on the left, me, then Mỹ Hoa and her mother wearing traditional Vietnamese dress and Mỹ Hoa in her academic gown.

I couldn’t change the format of Cindy’s videos to landscape. They looked so badly distorted in their original format, I couldn’t upload them, sorry Cindy!

Hoa kindly invited me to join her and her family for a champagne lunch in the Students Union Building. I, of course, only drank fruit juice, also enjoying the smoked salmon, as well as  coronation chicken, sandwiches. Often Monica {my late wife Pam} and I, prepared coronation chicken as a favourite lunch dish. At the celebration, I enjoyed speaking to Hoa’s elder sister in English. With Hoa interpreting, I chatted to her parents too. Both were born as the Viet Nam war with America in the 1970s, drew to a close. Hoa was almost overwhelmed with all the talking and organising she had do, I admired the way she coped so well. Unfortunately I must have added to her stress everytime I tried to call her attention. In the end I said my good-byes leaving for home and its peace and quiet.

As I sat at home reading the graduation book I noticed Long was to have his graduation late in the afternoon. He’d been such a good friend to us all that I felt I couldn’t let him down. I rushed to get ready, this time I driving to the Waitrose car park and managed to just hop on a bus in time to reach the Nuffield Theatre as his ceremony began. I wasn’t familiar with the Nuffield. I asked for directions at reception. A young girl couldn’t help but a big guy ran out returning with a smartly dressed, a forty-odd year old woman, Rose, who was wearing a lovely bright red dress and seemed to be in authority. She found me a seat inside the auditorium! This made my day! I watched as Long eventually reached the top of the queue to graduate with a Masters of Science in Operational Research in Actuarial Science. He’d returned from Viet Nam with Hoa’s family for this special day. This time my friend’s name wasn’t in the correct order, but this is how it appeared in the graduation book, Long Hoang Nguyen, written in the Western order of transcribing their names. With his graduation, more pictures, more celebrations but no lunch. The lunch was the cherry on Hoa’s cake! What a joy it was to share in their celebrations.

They returned their hired gowns, while I came home exhausted, as I’m sure they all were too.

I’d done no preparation for my clarinet lesson the next day. However, I slept well, waking early as I’d left the curtains open so I wouldn’t oversleep. I bubbled on a high over the next few days, still thinking of their big day, now past.