Gongs aren't used enough!!!

Well tonight I went to my first Formal Dinner at my College. It was a Welcome Dinner with the Dean. Lots of Candles and long tables and people in black robes(gowns)....very Harry Potter-ish. I loved it!!!! Pre-dinner drinks were in a parlor room then some rather distinguished looking man banged his gavel and we all where to go up stairs. As I entered the dinning room I gushed...now mind you my college is on the laid back side so I wonder what the fancier traditional college formal dining halls are like. We stood behind our chairs and waited to get the ok to take our seats. There were 4 courses and then another gavel banging to introduce a welcoming speech.

I have only dined at the dining hall once before but I must excitedly report that for both occasions there is the use of a medium sized gong. The first time I was startled and some more experienced member leaned over and explained that the first Gong mean 5-10minutes are left to finish up. The second Gong means go down stairs for coffee/tea and for formal dinners Port.

I rather enjoyed myself.
I would like to be the Gong Guy for a night .....must look into befriending
the Gong Guy and seeing if he needs a fill-in.