A Formal in a Cathedral

Castle College held an inter- MCR formal [so open only to postgraduates] and I snagged a spot at this feast! This included eating dinner in a hall founded in the 1080s (just after William the Conqueror) where the Prince-Bishops used to feast.

This is St Chads MCR heading into the Castle. Notice the wee door we have to duck into after hours.

Before we were ushered up to a reception, we all gathered in the Castle Bar the "Undie" where people ordered bottles for a nightful of corking. [Corking: a cork in your drink means you must needs down immediately] [Picture by Nicoletta]

Nicoletta ( a fellow English PhD) and I at the champagne (!) reception in the hall before dinner.

This is the great hall with three rows of tables, all of us in our gowns, and the high table at the North End of the hall.

Real candles on the tables.

Poppy and Nicoletta at our table full with a hall decorated for Christmas! [Picture by Nicoletta]

After dinner, we all gathered in the Castle MCR for port and wine. It wasn't as classy as it sounded. By then most people were so binned, they ate cheese by the fistfuls (literally) and kept corking each other's port.