Graduation Ball

OK, this is the 3rd official full fledged ball (and the last) as a medical student. The first being the intro week ball, second would be the Winter ball in 2006 and this the graduation ball.

The venue is Sketchley Grange Hotel, Hinckley, a lovely cosy countryside Hotel next to a farm. Was not planning to go initially, since my dearest clinical partner Z would not be in the country during that time and the few closer friends in med school have decided not to go and the ticket was too dear at £65! However everyone seems to change their mind at very last minute, so I booked my ticket online few minutes before the deadline.

Since booking the ticket I've been looking forward to it a lot... after all it is a significant event - one that marks the end of my student life, one that verifies my success in the past 24 years, a finale to a great 5 years in university, a milestone that represent the beginning of a life as a doctor! It is indeed a grand event on the calender to be celebrated with friends and future colleagues.

I didn't spend too much time on deciding what to wear. I have a suit tailor made a year ago for graduation. I have been waiting for the right occasion to show off the immaculate cutting and workmanship, and I despise the fact that a hire in Moss Bros is always ill-fitting - sleeve is 2x longer than my arm length, smallest dinner jacket is big enough for 1.5x me...after all it's cutting is meant for more manly Caucasian figure. I still had to sort out the shirt and ties though. Got it all done in one trip - picked up a pink vintage looking cotton shirt from DKNY and a tie from Next. In view that I was still a poor student at that time, I abandon the plan to get the Ted Baker I love so much but cost 5x the price I paid for the substitute. All ready to go.

Bus picked us up from a local bar Drydock. My goodness I have never seen my coursemate in such glamour before. All completely glammed up to kill. The girls especially, summer ball gown with matching accessories and make up. These docs are not any lesser than A-list!



30mins drive brought us to Sketchley Grange Hotel. A very nice and posh place, but could be bigger to accommodate our big crowd. Cocktails reception was not too bad, it's always good to poison the liver and brain before a function to decrease the defence and cool-factor to ensure everyone starts talking (something I learn over years - alcohol does serve a purpose in gluing up people and breaking the barrier). Not long later we are seated in the planned tables. Life band performaces, fanstastic table set up, freeflow wine, and vouchers for drinks at the bar! Chit chats continue until starter comes. I'll skip the details of the food as I can hardly remember now. But in summary, all are nice and fresh and up to standard.











Dance floor started to get crowded after the speech and awards session. Memory started to blur out at this point when I've had too many glasses and pint. I did remember having a good time dancing with all the very important people in the past 5 years in Leicester. Patches of red wine stain on my shirt suggested accidental spill or falls lol. The last thing I remembered was being sent home by Chris and James. One crazy night as a student, a mad an fun way to draw a full stop :) Let's show you some happy faces of the night!