sapristi! i woke up to the sound of...bagpipes? could that be? was i dreaming or did i leave the radio on? but it was getting louder, right under my window in fact. why would anyone play the bagpipes this early in the morning? some high-spirited undergraduates playing the fool, i'll bet. bother them. i got up and looked out of the window, ready to be cross - instead - i saw a stream of black robes - and the occasional scarlet - and i remember now - today is commencement! and these were graduating quadlings! von is graduating this morning! i'd forgotten all about it, as yesterday i had said i wouldn't go to commencement, magali needing an extra ticket. can it be thursday already? i got on to the commencement website in a hurry, to see if the live broadcast is streaming yet. not till 8.45. this means i have time to go out for breakfast and then come back and watch it. and here comes another lot of them! probably a different house. i've put bear and ponder in the window to watch them for me so i'll go dress now. to be continued.