Friends,
Sorry to have missed the conference in Gattieres. I hope it was as
exciting as the last one. Thanks for the nice notes I've been getting
from those of you who heard the reason I could not be there. On the
weekend, I had to go to Loughborough, where Loughborough University
awarded me an honorary D.Sc. -- doctor of science -- degree for
outstanding contributions to design research.
The graduation ceremony was a first for me ... as a young man, I was
always traveling somewhere to do field work when my various
graduations were held. I finally got to wear academic regalia and a
university bonnet. The ceremony was splendid -- the other honorary
graduate is Digby Jones, the former director general of the British
Confederation of Industry. He's just become Lord Jones of Birmingham
and minister of state for trade and industry in the new government.
The whole thing took on a sense of reality for me when we entered a
huge hall for the ceremony. I was marching in the processional behind
a special marshal who is appointed to shepherd the honorary
graduates, showing us where to stand at different times, and such.
Suddenly, I looked up to see the processional on the giant screen.
There we were, smack in the middle of the procession with an
honorific space before us, then our marshal, then us -- Lord Jones in
his red University College London gown, me in my borrowed red and
blue Loughborough doctoral gown and hood -- followed by another
space. The procession included the Lord Mayor, Lord High Sheriff, the
Lord Lieutenant -- wearing breeches, stockings, and a sword -- and a
marvelous array of dignitaries. I felt quite grand marching in a
procession of that caliber.
Best yet, they dedicated a building to Sebastian Coe on the same day,
before the lunch for honorary doctors. We were invited to attend the
naming ceremony and meet Lord Coe. My father was happy to hear about
my honorary doctorate. Then he heard about lunch with Lord Coe. Now
THAT was really something. The Seb Coe building is the high
performance training center for field and track events. The building
is so big that people can train indoors for all events -- it's so big
that they can even throw the javelin inside.
The Vice Chancellor hosted a dinner for me that night. For those who
do not know the British system, the VC is the British equivalent of a
university president or rector. The Chancellor is the head of the
university in the same sense that the Queen heads the nation, while
the VC is like a prime minister and runs things. I had so much good
food in Loughborough that my wife Ditte noticed my revised waistline
when I got home. I've been making salad and pasta to get trim enough
for the weekend when Ditte's mother and sister come to visit -- Ditte
expects me to maintain my reputation as a chef for the occasion, so
it's back to salmon with cream sauce, roasted chickens, fresh soups,
tomato and mozzarella salads.
The one close call of my adventure came on my return to Norway. The
university gave me a lovely lead crystal bowl engraved with the
university seal. It now sits in the kitchen window filled with
ripening tomatoes. Almost didn't get it through airport security,
though. The lead defeats X-rays, just like in Superman comics. The
vigilant security guards made me unpack it and wanted to know what it
was and why I was toting it around. Then they wanted to know just why
the chancellor of Loughborough University gave me a large glass bowl
with the power to defeat X-rays. When I told them, of course, they
congratulated me with genuine British courtesy and told me that I
would be welcome to return any time.
The splendor of the day and the quality of the cuisine is a fond
memory. I am still feeling quite cheerful. Nevertheless, Ditte tells
me that I may NOT wear my Loughborough tie to bed.
Well, that's the story of my adventure. I got a copy of the new Harry
Potter book in the airport bookstore on the first day it was out. I
almost didn't, though. When I went into the bookshop there was a new
stack of books just being piled up on the stand. When I came out
twenty minutes later, all the copies were gone, and they said this
had been their last book until the next shipment in a day or two.
Fortunately, I was able to buy one of the last two copies at the
bookstore on the next pier.
What with the ceremonies and all the people at Loughborough wearing
robes and gowns and interesting hats, I almost felt like I was at
Hogwarts.
Despite missing Gattieres, I hope to see you all in Banff.
Thanks again for the lovely notes I have been getting.
Yours,
Ken
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