As the academic year draws to a close, Cambridge moves into festive mode. Most of the colleges run black-tie "May Balls", during the third week of June, which traditionally go on until the sun rises.

The first ball I went to was at Emmanuel College. Partly designed by Christopher Wren and dating back to 1584, Emmanuel is one of the wealthier colleges and this showed in the extravagance of the ball: unlimited alcohol, cabaret shows, bouncy castles, fireworks, dance tents and themed actors wandering the crowds.

I also made it to the Wolfson College ball, a slightly smaller event (being a graduate college out of town) but nonetheless equally good. Nearly the whole MBA programme turned up, making this effectively the final MBA party of the year.

On my last night in town I attended a "feast" at Magdalene College, one of Cambridge's smaller, and more quaint, colleges. Dressed in black tie and eating by candlelight in a 200 year old oak dining room, this was a fitting end to an extraordinary year.