For several years I was working away from home, staying in B&Bs and small hotels for two or three nights a week. For a period of about 18 months I stayed in the same place, where I did a deal with the manager - for a good fixed daily rate they could put me in any of the rooms, but would upgrade me if possible. I started to make pictures as I became fascinated by the details of the place, which was quite dated and a little run down, to be fair. The evidence of the years and the stream of people who had occupied the rooms interested me. So we agreed that over time I would get to stay in all 21 rooms in the hotel (with no number 13).

Eventually I stopped using the hotel and rented a flat in the town as I was spending more time there. A few months later I was robbed one evening and lost all my valuables, including my car and flat keys, phone, wallet - everything. Late at night I called in at the hotel to see if they would give me a room for the night on credit. Not only did they do that, but the manager offered to lend me her car the next day so that I could get to work and start to get organized to replace my lost things. That kind of friendship is rare. So despite its run down quirky character, it turned out to be my home away from home.