I was 18 when I left home.
I had applied to art school. But, because the course was already oversubscribed, and I hadn't done art for my last three years at school, I didn't make the cut. The admissions officer suggested that I spend some time compiling a portfolio of work and that I apply again for the following year. And so, when I saw an advertisement for an 'art trainee' at a high-profile ad agency -- albeit one located in a city about 150 miles from where I lived -- I decided to put in an application.
I realised that it was a really long shot. But, on the other hand, nothing ventured nothing gained. And if I did by some chance get the job, it would be the perfect opportunity to get together a portfolio of work.
As I remember, it was just a couple of days later that I got a phone call inviting me to an interview with the agency's creative director. And then, a couple of days after I had been to have 'a cup of coffee and a bit of a chat', I got another call saying that the job was mine.
I remember being thrilled. And more than a little bit surprised. But my parents were more concerned than pleased. 'Where will you live?' my mother wanted to know.
Of course, I had no idea where I would live. I hadn't thought that far ahead. I hadn't even thought that I'd get the job, for goodness sake.
'You don't even know anyone there, do you?' my father said.
Did I know anyone there? I think I was about to concede that my father may have had a good point when I suddenly remembered that Leo had an older sister who lived somewhere in that direction. 'Well, there's Dawn,' I said.
'Who's Dawn?' my mother wanted to know.
'Leo's sister,' I said. 'She's married. Quite a bit older than Leo. I'm sure she can help me find somewhere to live.'
I hadn't actually met Dawn at that stage. But when Leo phoned her and explained that I was moving north and might need some help finding somewhere to live, she said that it wasn't a problem: I could stay with her and her husband for a few days, and they'd help me find somewhere.
And so, a couple of weeks later, I found myself 150 miles from home, knocking on the door of a neat-and-tidy townhouse tucked away down the end of a long driveway.
When Dawn answered the door, I could tell immediately that she was Leo's sister -- although she must have been almost 20 years older than Leo. At the time, Leo was about 20; so I guess Dawn must have been close to 40.
'You'll have the place to yourself for the next couple of days,' she said. 'I hope that's OK. Howard is away on a course and I have an overnighter.' (Leo had already told me that Dawn was a Cabin Services Director for an airline.) 'I'll be back Wednesday afternoon though.'
I remember spending most of the next couple of days exploring the neighbourhood, getting my bearings, trying to work out where I might want to live. Within a 15-minute walk of Dawn's place there was good little shopping centre with a small supermarket and all the usual service stores. The shopping centre was also on a bus route that went right into the centre of the city. Yeah, I thought, if I could find somewhere to live in that area it would be just about perfect.
'So ... worked out where you want to live?' Dawn asked when she got back.
'Well, somewhere around here would be good,' I said.
Dawn looked at me with a sort of a frown -- as though she was trying to remember something or decide something. 'Hmm,' she said, eventually. 'Let me just make a phone call.'
I remember her going off into the kitchen to make the call. I didn't really get to hear what she said, but when she came back she seemed pretty happy about something.
'Are you ready?' she said, grabbing her car keys.
Was I? I wasn't even sure what it was that I was supposed to be ready for. Still, I grabbed my jacket and followed her out to the car. And maybe five minutes later we were pulling up outside number 37 Forrest Place.
On the way over, Dawn had sort of explained that we were going to look at a flat that was attached to the home of her friend Diana. 'It's quite small,' she said. 'But see what you think.'
Diana was waiting for us. 'Come and have a look,' she said, and she led us down a path at the side of the house.
Diana was slightly older than Dawn -- I guess about 50. But she was a very tidy 50.
The flat was also very tidy. Yes, it was small -- a sort of a living room with a kitchen at one end, a bedroom that looked out onto a garden, and a bathroom -- but it looked just fine.
'What do you think?' I remember Diana asking.
I told her that it looked just fine to me.