It’s great to be mixing ... but we must stay careful

IT is that time of year again when Degree Ceremonies are being presented and I am up in Newcastle as Chancellor of Northumbria University, sitting in the sun while I am writing this.

That in itself is lovely rather than being in my office with not much natural day light.

I have parents taking a million photos (OK that is a bit of an exaggeration) but today there have been a lot of people with balloons that I haven’t seen before.

I haven’t seen anyone take them in to the ceremony yet and I am not sure whether there is a rule on taking them in or not. I am watching the amazing security team

at the moment to see what they are going to do, but I might have to go back in to the space to get ready before they get to the front of the queue

Flowers are definitely a thing. There are stalls set up around the ceremony area and it is lovely to see them being bought and handed out

I am wondering how many are going to be sitting with them on their knees during the ceremonies and what they do with them if they are going out afterwards.

That is not for me to worry about but it does make me smile. It always makes me smile too when I see a slight difference of opinion on what the graduates are meant to be wearing.

The queue is now moving, some flip-flops are already in hands and there is a quick change when they get to the front into the shoes that match the dresses that are being worn.

I have just witnessed a lovely scene where a graduate has just met with their family, about eight of them, and seeing the hugs and excitement is wonderful to see. I love people watching and this is one of the moments that I can do it with a good excuse that I am getting a feel for the atmosphere.

And the atmosphere is great. For these ceremonies the graduates are able to walk across the stage.

Last year graduates were able to stand up for the camera. It was better than not being able to do the ceremonies but this feels more like a return to normality.

I am still not shaking hands, more from the point of view of everyone’s safety, but hopefully we can put this back in soon.

I think everyone is just being a bit careful about mixing because no one wants to go back to what it was before. And hopefully we won’t

I am still not shaking hands, more from a point of view of everyone’s safety, but hopefully we can put this

back in soon