Together with a score of others who are now retiring from the university, I was invited to the Summer Dinner of the Senior Common Room. Ten of us attended the dinner yesterday evening. About forty others were there as members of the Senior Common Room, some of whom had retired a while ago. It was a formal affair, and all the guests were in their evening gowns and tuxedoes. Except me, that is. I explained that all my stuff was on its way to Croatia. No-one paid any attention to my standard climbing gear, though. After dinner there were obligatory toasts. The first one was to the queen. “To the Queen,” intoned the Senior Steward. Everyone got up and sat down. The second was to the university. “To the University,” intoned the Junior Steward. Nearly everyone got up and sat down. And the third was to all those departing. Some people got up and sat down. I was among them. It took me until this morning to realize I was not supposed to get up because I was among those departing. Silly old git.