Wednesday, July 09, 2014

The Graduates

  1. Granddaughter Alice and her boyfriend Tom
  2.  
We drove up to Leicester to see their chic little flat.  Tom graduated a year ago and is now a policeman - we drove by his station - just walking distance from the flat.
Alice graduated last week and she now does a P.G.C.E to prepare her for teaching.  She already does voluntary teaching and we saw the school in the same street as the flat.
 
I read Alice's dissertation :
 
Presentations of Masculinity in Postwar American Literature and Its Film Adaptations
 
It included 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,'  'East of Eden', and 'Streetcar named Desire.'  so no hardship for me.
 
Leicester has quite a cosmopolitan feel and we had a pleasant  lunch in a sunny square.  Tea at the above was not perfect; I had to send back a rock hard dough nut.
 
'Can I get you anything else?
' Just a fresh doughnut please.'
'Oh that's the only one we've got.'
 
Alice, Jenny (Alice's Mum) and I shopped for Britain  including some incredible shoes for A's graduation day then J and I drove back to Herts.  Exhausted but happy.

23 comments:

Exile on Pain Street said...

There you are! Nice to see you. And the family. I don't *think* I sent this to you yet but apologies if I already have. Here's a smart article on Jane Gardam that ran in the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/28/books/jane-gardam-on-her-books-which-capture-a-greater-britain.html?_r=0

Pat said...

Exile: thank you. Now I have time to read it. I always bless you for introducing me to the blessed Jane:)

Anonymous said...

You could have called in to say hello!!! I'm only 8 miles away! :-(

Anonymous said...

Nice to have you back and to hear you had a nice time.

Pat said...

john: ouch! I wish my geography were better.

Helen; thanks:)

angryparsnip said...

What a lovely photo and visit.
Love the Tea and Doughnut story !

cheers, parsnip

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I love that your granddaughter and hr Beau live so close to their work places----very smart---it saves so much time in traveling to and fro.....

Her dissertation sounds right up my alley---and two Williams films covered....it really sounds Wonderful....!

Welcome back, dear Pat. You were missed.

Pat said...

Naomi: and literally being able to walk to work is a blessing.
Yes I knew you would like the subject matter of the dissertation. Alice spent a year of her university in America which must have been helpful.

Pat said...

Parsnip: I don' t often fall for the temptation of doughnuts so it seemed very hard luck at the time but we got laugh out of it.

Vagabonde said...

I spent some time reading all the posts you wrote while I had stopped my blog. You posted some truly beautiful pictures of flowers and also those on Norway. We took a cruise in Norway in 2009 and I still have not written posts on it … Your grand daughter is very pretty and very smart. I am slowly reading all my friends’ blogs and that will take me a while. I enjoyed reading all your posts.

Pat said...

Vagabonde: lovely to hear from you and I really appreciate your comments.

Ms Scarlet said...

I wonder how many customers sent back the only doughnut?

Sx

Not sure if this comment got through the first time!

Granny Annie said...

A doughnut is never too old or too hard. Don't you know how to dunk a doughnut? Love seeing your beautiful granddaughter and her sweetheart.

Pat said...

Scarlet: the same thought crossed my mind:)

Granny Annie: I have to admit - I'm a virgin dunker but hey it's never too late:)

About Last Weekend said...

What a great looking couple! Alice is so beautiful, she looks very similar to you, I guess everyone says that. That dissertation is right up my alley too, two of them are my fave movies. Though I can't imagine writing a long piece these day, I procrastinate enough with just my short articles.

A rock hard donut would make me mad, I do love my donuts.

Pat said...

ALW: I've always envied Alice's thick straight hair. I have just been staying with them and her mother told me that my mother used to shake with laughter watching Alice as a tiny girl teasing her brother.
"I'm sorry Jenny - she's her grandmother all over again."
Charming!

rashbre said...

It sounds like an excellent visit.

And first-hand experience of the Great Leicestershire Doughnut Shortage.

Pat said...

Rshbre: ha ha! Got it in one:)

Robert Smith said...

I live very near Leicester and I'm in the centre of Leicester shopping most days, it's a pity we didn't meet up for a coffee or something.

Pat said...

Keith: great shame! You and John G both.

LL Cool Joe said...

Shame about the doughnut!

I did a P.G.C.E year too after my degree, and then never became a teacher. Kind of a waste of time really, but a great experience anyway.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I love reading about your outings, cheers me up immensely.

Isn't family wonderful? How I miss mine.

Pat said...

Joey: I think it is a great experience to have under your belt.

GG: that makes it worth while just writing about them:)
Yes there is nothing quite like family.