Aberystwyth Trip

I made a flying trip to Aber last week. I went to get my son Gwïon. I took a gown for him as it was graduation day (two years late). He didn't attend the ceremony but we took some photos and had a nice meal in Medina. He also met up with friends. It was good to to catch up with Rhodri and family. I had intended popping into my sister's en route home but she had covid so that was not possible (I had hoped to see her first grandchild too so a shame).

Dewi Graduates

It was great to be in Swansea earlier this week for Dewi's graduation. The ceremony was well done given the restraints. It was very Welsh. Amazingly it didn't mention God or anything to do with the world to come once. It's quite an achievement in some ways. It is right to celebrate a graduation formally, nevertheless. The ceremony took place in the new main hall on the spanking new bay campus. It was good to meet again with the family of Tom who Dewi was in primary school with and who was also graduating. Dewi's fiancée Esther was also with us.

Last week

Last week seems a long time ago now but it was quite a busy week. We started off at the school for our regular chat about our youngest, with whom they are very pleased. He was off to Go Ape on Wednesday. We were back the next day in the evening for what was billed as An evening with the stars, showcasing the music, dance and drama the school has been putting on this term. Another of our sons was hosting it with a friend of his and a very good job they made of it. Then Wednesday was the graduation in Cardiff (see above). Around 200 were graduating, mostly females. The ceremony was in the St David's Hall, which I don't think I've ever been in (I do know that Focus played there once and the magnificent pipe organ was used for a rendition of La Cathedrale). I slowed down after that but Eleri just carried on with another trip to Wales to drop off two sons (one an officer, one  a camper) and others at camps. She also got to see our new grandson for the first time. Back here I was saying goodbye to Dylan off on holiday and hello to my niece staying with us en route to Norwich. Busy days.

Y Graddio

I should have said more on the graduation. It is the first one I have been to since my own. Mine was in the same place but the Great Hall has changed a lot since then. I remember that the late Cledwyn Hughes was guest of honour.

The thing itself was done well really in that it had about the right amount of pomp without trying our patience too much. To get through 200 graduands so quickly and yet appropriately was well done.

They are awarding several fellowships this week and on this first morning it was the turn of Michael Sheen and Alex Jones, both Welsh and both in the field of drama and TV (though Sheen is not a graduate and one of Aber graduate Jones's greatest achievements, it seems, was being on Strictly come dancing). Neither was present personally but they had seen video clips that were shown.

The sad thing is that in the declining culture that is ours there wasn't much to say that would be both helpful and not divisive. If you look carefully at the picture above you can see an open Bible but that book and its Author were kept almost completely out of things. The days of Thomas Chalmers Edwards are long gone sadly, although I was encouraged to learn that the present principal April McMahon is a professing Christian
I should say that we all had a nice meal after at the Glengower Hotel on the front before heading back to London.

Graddio

As mentioned, it's the end of term and most of my boys have headed off with Eleri to the urdd Centre in Llangrannog, West Wales (Welsh concentration camp I often call it). See here for more. Last week the two youngest "graduated" which was about dressing up and making a speech (they'll be back in the same school next year). Sadly, I missed it but it looked good fun.