A long boring post

I graduated yesterday. It was great. I looked like some sort of hideous wizard in my ill-fitting gown and mortar. There was a procession of a load of important old people from the university all garbed in wonderfully colourful intricate robes being led slowly up the aisle and onto the stage by a man with A HUGE SWORD. However, despite weilding the impressive sword he didn't look very pleased, he seemed to just mope and grimace and then lay it down on a table before skulking away to sit down. They all sat at the back of the stage staring out over the audience silently, looking all very important and such. I think I was supposed to have known who they were.

I'd guess there was about 500 or so students graduating during that particular ceremony, it just so happened that my course had to be the very last one to go up and shake that important looking mans' hand. Every now and then the man would have a chat with the odd graduate and hold the handshake, during these conversations he would tap the graduate on the back of their hand with the index finger of his free hand several times. I hoped when my turn came he wouldn't do it to me. He did.

Before you moved out onto the stage you had to hand the announcer a barcoded name card from which he read your name and if you'd won any academic awards to the audience. Because I'd won the best animated film award I got a round of applause as I moved towards the old robed man, arm reaching out ready to greet me. I smiled as I approached and met his greeting, the applause thundering loud behind me. I thanked him quickly in hopes I'd get away quickly but then I felt the first tap on the back of my hand. He had me. And now he was talking to me. Don't get me wrong he was really genuinely nice and courteous and I would have really liked to have talked to him more but the fact was there were well over a thousand people staring at my back and by now their clapping had died down and all was silent. He asked me a few questions and I answered them, I think I even made him laugh at one point but I wasn't aware of anything other than all those eyes on my back and those countless taps on the back of my hand. Afterwards my Dad said I was talking to him for a good half minute. I believe the only reason it happened is because I actively didn't want it to happen.

So anyway, afterwards there was a speech or two and then that grimacing old man returned to pick up his sword and lead them all out again into the driving rain. I like to think that afterwards he'd be off to go slay an orc or two down Big Market. Or some chavs at the very least.

So there we go. My life in Uni and educashun has come to an end. With an unhappy man with a sword slowly wandering off into the rain.

Brill!

All the graduates that evening were no doubt out celebrating with friends and family long into the night. I, on the otherhand, went home, then left again to buy a sandwhich (in my suit) then went home again and worked on the the current animation.

Tuesday is the big day. We're off to Digital City to pitch/presentation out little hearts out and show this completed animation to a panel of investors, Dragon's Den stylee.

This'll be good.