J F Vernon Blog

Monday 12th January 1975

Appleby: Woken at 5:45 am by my kid sister. We were in the bedrooms in the children’s apartment at the top of the Baron’s Tower. I’m guessing my older sister slept in the sitting room, where there was a mattress and bean bags on the floor. There were two bedrooms, each with a couple of single beds: My brother and I in one, my kid sister in the other. 

Nick was already back home, part of the earlier swap. 

He could have made it over to Newcastle under his own steam, keen to be with friends. You could take the train from Appleby to Carlisle, then the Trans Pennine to Newcastle.

My older sister had promised me her Tarot Cards, and I took them. She was staying. Four years older, she was very much the independent student and free spirit – sleeping into lunchtime and hanging around these rooms. Her wardrobe was a confection of Woodstock hippiness. Her music choices are to be heard. 

Dad took us to Scotch Corner via the A66. Mum picked my kid sister and me up to take us home up the A1 and to Gosforth via Gateshead and the centre of Newcastle. 

Gosforth: Mum drops my sister off straight off at school, then goes home to Fencer Hill Park. I cycle to Gosforth Swimming Baths to train, only to find them closed. Instead, I head on round to the grandparents, the Wilsons, this side of the Three Mile Garage, Granny V the other side in Melton Park. I got £1 each for my tuck box.

The Redifusion man came to fix the telly.

Mum was out. My older brother was at Doug’s. 

Watched TV: George Thornby. Diarrhoea.