Nicole was always quick to respond when I first made inquiries about her place and was really helpful with answering any queries I had about getting around Manchester, which made me decide to book a 3-night stay with her. But about a few weeks before my check-in date, I wrote her again to notify her of my arrival time, however she did not respond. And I still didn't hear from her right up to my day of arrival. Even after getting a local SIM card to call and text, I wasn't able to get through to her. Needless to say, I was pretty worried but still decided to head to her flat because she had always been responsive. I stood outside her flat for a good 10-15 minutes, ringing her bell and calling her mobile before she finally came to the door - just when I was about to leave.
Apart from this episode, which I'm sure was a one-off, Nicole's place was just as described. I was able to get around conveniently on both the tram and buses. And could come home to a hot shower and get a good rest every night. The kitchen was also free to use, but I was hardly around to cook.
I didn't get a chance to see her much after the first day but thank you Nicole, for making my first stay in Manchester feel so warm and welcoming, despite the initial hiccup (: