my big day!

Well it’s now official!

I’m no longer a graduand but a graduate (did you even know that word existed?! I didn’t and apparently I was one!)

On Wednesday it all happened, and even though it still only feels like yesterday, it isn’t, and as Mike pointed out - even though potatoes are important, my graduation is slightly more exciting!

So how did it go??! What actually happened?! Did you get drunk?! Did you really make out with that guy in S&M’s?! These are all questions people have asked me since, and I shall now impart my knowledge, as a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington :)

The morning stated with a good breakfast and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot with Aaron, and thanks very much for that, it was certainly a good start to the day!!


After that I quickly got myself ready, putting on my cape (which sounds WAY cooler than gown), with a few hints about trencher (hat) placement from the pro, and we headed into town for the parade at 12, which went down Lampton Quay from the Law School to the Michael Fowler Centre. Aaron was my one man paparazzi band, THANK YOU!!

The ceremony was from 1-3 and apart from a few musical interludes it basically comprised of clapping for 3 hours as everyone walked across the stage one by one. Of course there was the occasional woop or wolf whistle as someone I knew was called, but apart from that the clapping did get a bit boring, and sore on my untrained palms! Thanks to Aaron, Mike, EJ and Megan for sitting through it for me!

The best bit of music by far was a girl who played a Marimba extremely well, and for added entertainment had unusually large breasts, and wasn’t afraid to let them take centre stage so to speak! I knew as I was thinking this, that EJ would be perving; as we all know, she does love a good pair! (I found out later on that EJ did enjoy that part of the ceremony very much) Yoshiko, apart from being hot, was also VERY talented, and worked the large instrument as if it were, well, a large instrument that needed to be worked! She had two sticks in each hand, and somehow managed to manipulate them to change the space between them so she could hit all the right notes, and up to 4 at a time!

After about an hour and a half of clapping and listening to ‘hot marimba girl’, my row were called up to get ready for the big moment, and before I knew what was happening I was standing with nothing but the stage in front of me and my name was called – it all seemed to happen rather fast! As I walked across, I heard various screams (EJ) and other noises which are hard to explain from my (many) devotees (LOVE YOU GUYS!!), and I gave them a wee wave back! Unfortunately, in her enthusiasm, EJ (who was videoing) temporarily forgot to point it at me, as you will see from the clip***come back soon to see it***! You can of course still hear some of the noises which people made, it was all very exciting!

Once I was back in my seat, it was back to clapping for another hour and a bit, but I was content!
As the leaving procession of academics began to file past at the end, I did have flashbacks to Eyes Wide Shut, which was slightly disturbing considering the average age of the professors, but I’ll leave that there as I don’t feel like elaborating on that distressing thought.
Mike had to go back to work after, but managed to show up the others with a present, even if it was slightly French! THANKS FOR COMING MIKE!

So began the drinking! We decided the best plan of action, to save money, would be to buy some wine and go to a byo Thai place for dinner! This was a great idea! The food was awesome, and the wine did the job of getting us all off to a good start for the night, and Laura even came to join us at the end and showed us how to fit a water glass in your mouth and STILL look hot! Well to be honest it wasn’t really that hot, but as soon as the glass was back on the table, and the saliva was off her chin, she did look hot again!

Aaron left us to it and we all headed down to the Southern Cross for a few more drinks and to see everyone else who was meeting there.
After yet more drinking, a few of us decided to move on out (I think I was pushing for us to go dancing!) and we headed down Cuba St, stopping in at S&M’s on the way (which I have to say was lacking talent – although the Seven Tiki made up for it!). I wasn’t allowed into Electric Avenue as I was apparently too drunk (all lies I tell you) so we went somewhere else (I can’t actually remember where so maybe it wasn’t lies) and me, Thom, Alma and Megan had a good dance. Thom and I even had an Alma sandwich – HOT!


The girls ended up leaving us to it after a while, Thom and I stuck it out a bit longer, and then I got a cab home and was back by 3. Thanks to my sexy dance partners, I love you guys!!

So there you have it, but in case you missed the key points;
How did it go? – very well acutally.
What actually happened? – I just told you.
Did you get drunk? – why yes.
Did you really make out with that guy in S&M’s? – no, that was just a vicious rumour Mike tried to start today, unsuccessfully, good try though!

Lastly, you can see a few more pics here, and thank you SO much to everyone who shared the day with me, I LOVE YOU!!!!