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Jacob was in college at Harlech, and Roland and Bron visited there for a few days. They collected pieces of slate from the roadside and brought them home, having plans to paint designs on them.
Roland and Bron decided to sell food at Glastonbury. The idea was to make lots of chicken sandwiches and take them with them; as usual they hitched, absurdly carrying armfuls of boxes in steady rain. At the festival their tent and possessions were stolen but kind people lent them a spare tent and necessities. They stayed on after the festival with those people, who forage for food and travel from one festival to another. Bron found a wallet containing money and a French passport, and Roland was pleased with himself for finding the owner and returning it. Roland’s toes, painful and septic from ill-fitting boots, caused them leave their new friends earlier than intended, as he had to come home for medical treatment.
Roland was interviewed for an Access course at Ruskin College, Oxford, in history and politics. He wanted to change, make something of his life, even though he didn’t want to leave Bron behind. It would help that Jonathan would be doing a year at Jesus College, Oxford, at the same time. He felt that the interview went reasonably well - he was articulate and good at discussing books, films etc. Then came disappointment - Ruskin had been impressed but felt Roland was rather young (their students are usually older); they wanted him to get more GCSEs then reapply later. Roland started evening classes but the rejection had taken away his enthusiasm and he didn’t last much more than a term although his writing was good.
Some time this year his collarbone was broken in horseplay with his friend Andrew. As was typical, he wouldn’t keep his arm rested and in its sling as instructed by the hospital. It never seemed to heal properly.
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