Seachain an duine a bhíonn ina thost

It's been a long week of graduation ceremonies. I do like getting all dressed up in cap and gown, but the novelty quickly wore off as I listened to the same speeches and the same pieces of music four times in a week.

There were a few welcome diversions though, such as our exciting new Honorary Fellows. The big one this year was Rhys Ifans who was incredibly chuffed at getting an honorary fellowship and has told all the newspapers he's more pleased about it than getting a BAFTA. He did look like he was really enjoying himself all the way through, and he told me and Sam he loved his gowns:



We also had Iolo Williams yesterday, along with lovely stories about how short his shorts used to be. After the ceremony he went out to Treborth to plant some Wollemi pine, where he told everyone how disappointed he was that the University wasn't taking care of the gardens properly.

But the main game we played to entertain ourselves during the ceremonies was count-how-many-people-you-know. Obviously Monday was the big one for me since the entire Music department was there, but I was also pleased to find I knew one in four English graduates.

It's nice having people around for the week; I've been just hanging around my house for ages so being dragged out to the pub last night was a welcome change. I just wish they wouldn't steal all the seats in Yellow. Damn students.

Isn't it pretttty?

Off for a little trip down memory lane today, the rather winding and perilous memory lane that leads to Nant Gwrtheyrn, where us five oldies went for training this time last year.

We're going back for a little holiday this time, no learning in sight. It's a sort of farewell to Emma and Gerallt. Gerallt's already left and started his brand spanking new job, but Emma still has two weeks to go.

We're going to have to stop off in Tesco on the way, though. I spotted some rather spiffy croquet, golf and cricket sets there yesterday for a mere £3 each. We already have a plethora of mini frisbees and balls we picked up at the NUSSL trade fair a few weeks ago.

It's just a shame it's raining. Again.

I'm just back from an extended weekend Chez Redfearn on Anglesey where we did lots of watersporty things.

I got to sail my lovely blue boat which was exhilerating on the first day, impossible on the second (too much wind) and not so exciting on the third (too little wind).

I also made a valiant effort at windsurfing. I did manage to actually move on the first day, thankfully on a very odd two-person learner board thing because when I got a certain distance I found I couldn't turn it to get back to shore, so Frodo sailed us back in. I couldn't do it at all yesterday but I'm assured that the problems I was having (the fact that the board kept pointing upwind as soon as I sheeted in) can be blamed on the lack of wind.

I tried to re-master rolling in one of the kayaks too. I nearly managed but I think I need to learn on a lake or in a swimming pool, not on a choppy sea. Apparently it doesn't make a difference, but I think I'd be more up for turning upside down in a calmer, clearer bit of water. I used to be able to do this rolling thing when we did that kayaking course in transition year but that was six years ago and I haven't tried since so unsurprisingly I can't do it anymore.

I also went on the 'Sideways', a big two-man inflatable thingy that gets towed behind the speedboat. It has a fin on either side so you can steer it by leaning towards one side or the other. I felt like my arms were being wrenched off but it was pretty fun. I'm aching all over this morning and my face is still stinging a bit from all the sunburn and the windburn but I'm feeling quite relaxed. Just got this damn handbook to finish now ...

Oh dear, I only have about four days to do this entire handbook and three of my incoming sabbatical officers are AWOL. Come back, Sam, Xanthe and Bethan!