1990 -Jesmond - Djr

The shift from 1989 to 1990 involved a lot of clubbing...and free parties and "illegal raves" in random houses around the city. I first meet Chris Bruce and his mate, John.

I park my car - the "college donkey" in my parents drive in January for the last time, I can not justify the expense of running it anymore. I don't own another car until July 2006.

I'm spending all my time writing, but the situation with my mum gets worse and worse and worse. I'm seeing more and more of Graciela, and around March 1990 I move into the front/bottom room of Osbourne Avenue (Chris Rea Road to Hell)... she's living upstairs... and the fantastic character Paul Romero moves in. I start going to a local gym and cooking proper food. There are epic game sessions at Richy's on the top of Osborne Avenue, with me, Adam A and even Grassy.

I love my first room in Osborne Avenue... I have a desk in the bay window, I wear a red satin smoking jacket with black velet trim and collars, and I'm writing Dark Coyote. Big pots of tea and tuna/mayo sandwhiches.

1990 -Northumberland - Grassy

Not long after I moved in, Grassy and I got serious about each other; I was over the moon. It was literally like a dream coming true. I was the happiest guy in the world.

I wrote a murder mystery, which we all played at Adam A's parents massive house in Brandling Village. Richy borrowed my great 19th Century Cavallier Coat and wore a yellow crevat.

1990 -Jesmond - It's Just About Living

Adam A threw a party in Grosvenor Avenue called "It's Just About Living". I took inspiration from Midnight Cowboy, dressed up in funky clothes and headed into town with a camera... I spotted cool looking people, went up to them, snapped their photo and handed them an invite. I developed the photos into massive prints and put them up on Adam's walls... a gallery of random cool looking strangers, many of whom turned up to the party.

1990 -Jesmond - Chi Chi

This was Grassy' mum, my dad's client, and my landlady.

There was one night when Grassy, Adam A and I were up late watching videos... Adam was drunk went upstairs to use the toilet, trying to be quiet...he failed, and a furious Chi Chi came out from her room spitting blood, flames and Spanish expletives... Adam reeled, mortified, but Chi Chi just advanced on him and literally karate chopped him so hard he was struck to the floor. She could be an angry lady.

1990 -Jesmond - My place

But dreams come to an end. Grassy scored a job working as a rep in Italy...

I remember our last night together. There was a dark vibe that I can recall trying to ignore. It was over between us but I didn't want it to be.

Because Grassy's mum owned the house, she had Grassy move her things out... so I moved from the bottom floor, up into her old room. I continued writing Dark Coyote, and writing a letter every day to Grassy in Italy. Her replies were frequent at first, and loving, but gradually they became less frequent and less loving...

...Richy had left Osborne Avenue, and vanished from the scene for a while; Adam too, was not really around, as he had moved to Middlesborough...so it became a strange and depressing time for me. I met a guy called Mark, who DJ'd at Walkers, and who produced music... I was round his place one day talking about my idea of "perfect" music... I described the kind of music I would love to find one day; Mark smiled and said "you've got to listen to this then". Mark put on Dead Can Dance - Within The Realm of a Dying Sun. I nearly died on the spot. It was the most incredible music I had ever heard. Thus began my hunger for all things Dead Can Dance.

I met and befriended Dennis MacEoion and his wife Beth.

Then Richy returned...he moved into Manor House Road... and there were several weeks were we played a new game for us, Fury of Dracula. Then summer became autumn and the weather and the mood changed...

The day Grassy returned, a few months later, the sky was the colour of lead... a horrible oppressive grey. I went round to see her... but it was over between us.

I was gutted.

1990 -Newcastle - Djr

September...I finished Dark Coyote. I started working in my Dad's company. Chris returned from America & Australia, where he'd been since returning from Norway with me the previous summer... Ciaran and I picked up our clubbing vibe (met Sarah the porno girl)...and I started to heal my "wounds". Some great people moved into Osborne Avenue... namely John Proudfoot and Jason Judge.

1990 -Newcastle - Ciaran

1990 -Jesmond - Adam A

This is from the video, "A Night In the Life" filmed by a girl called Rachel who I met at Studio.

1990 -Jesmond - Chris Tonka

Chris had moved into a small house-share in Sandyford...he stopped clubbing and seemed to be working every hour God sent him.

1990 -Jesmond - Richy

From "A Night in the Life"

1990 -Jesmond - Djr

From "A Night in the Life"

Despite the good company and good vibes, I spent Christmas and New Year more-or-less alone, freezing in Osborne Avenue... everyone had left to be with their families... my "family" was just along the road but things were not good there.

1991 -Jesmond - Jason Judge

So I was glad when Jason and John returned from their breaks and life in the house resumed with much fun and jovality.

1991 -Jesmond - Djr

Feb - I was happy again - meeting new people clubbing and enjoying life in the house. I had a new cook book, "The Super Food Cook Book" and it made a massive difference to my mood. I built up a huge collection of herbs and spices, and taught myself to cook some pretty damn fab meals.

1991 -Jesmond - Dad

Feb - I popped round to see "the family".

1991 -Jesmond - AKR

We were still pretty close although I didn't see her as much as I used to do. She had now moved into my room.

1991 -Jesmond - Dad

I suppose Dad is around 58 or 59 here. I didn't know it, but he was pretty ill.

1991 -Jesmond - Sarah L

Sarah 'the girl next door' had been going through her own transformations. No longer the painted-face goth with a room smelling of white-musk...she was now a Janice Joplin Earth Child.