SORRY - no spare room at the moment.

CURRENT MISSION

To enjoy life as other people see it and to come home with some new friendships, greater knowledge, great memories and pictures - and maybe a new attitude....

ABOUT ME

My family think I am adventurous! I have been happily unmarried to the same person for 43 years. I have two grown sons, a half reasonable job and many of the 'toys' I want (camera, bike and outdoor gear).

PHILOSOPHY

Treat other people the way you'd like to be treated. Show respect for others. Trust others. Go with the flow. Think before acting (except when having fun).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Feb 2010 I spent a few nights in Paris and Zagreb with some great CSers. I am spreading the CS word to family and friends about the value of meeting locals!
Had some memorable times with CS-ers in Beijing (night club, movie-extra work, local markets) and Xi'an (jazz bar, Korean restaurant, silk road market food). Met more great CS-ers in Europe in mid 2012 (Budapest and Corsica).
Surfed with some lovely people in Madeira in 2013 - unforgettable experiences!
I've had some people stay with me - I enjoy showing them around and helping them get the best out of their travels along the Surf Coast.

Interests

Photography, travel, acting, reading, innovation, invention and design, friendships, table tennis, bushwalking, mountain biking and scooter-riding, writing, making my own outdoor equipment, music (can't live without music).

• writing
• design
• photography
• acting
• dining
• picnic
• clubbing
• reading
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• bungee jumping
• tennis
• table tennis
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Eclectic taste in music from Scottish contemporary Folk music (Capercaillie, Silly Wizard, Wolfstone, Fairport Convention) and electronica (Lemon Jelly, Gus Gus, Sigur Ros) to 70's and 80's British pop rock (Supertramp, Genesis, Bowie, Brian Eno) to Jazz (more the contemporary Jazz than traditional) and Blues (no afficionado but I enjoy it) as well as some classical, some genuine 'Top 40' stuff to dance to, some weirdo stuff that few others have heard of (Gentle Giant, Back Bar Black Sheep) and a range of stuff in between!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I find that I take a lot for granted but others consider it adventurous. I have slept overnight on picnic tables in the Australian Outback and slept at airports by choice; I've bungee jumped; been 'attacked' by a kangaroo who wanted my sleeping bag; paid for a holiday by finding a gambling machine that was stuck on pay-outs!; swam in hot springs which come pouring out of the sand on a New Zealand beach (then dived into the cold sea); slept in an igloo in the Australian Alps; walked to the top of Mt Olympus where the Greek gods live; raised money for a charity and walked the famous Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea; washed my face in the Scottish dew on May 1st (trying, but failing, to keep my youthful appearance!); worked as a prawn fisherman in the Highland seas of west Scotland; come too close to working elephants in Thailand; acted in major parts in plays in front of a hundred people (and as an extra in a movie in Beijing) and so on - some of which certain people would be afraid to do. Here's a video of a ski trip I did with friends in 2018. http://localphotoguide.com.au/LPG/?page_id=3724

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd like to teach people English as a second language. (I completed a TESOL course a few years ago)
I am a thinker. Give me an argument and I will be able to justify either side of it. I like to think I am balanced in my thinking on the basis of a set of sound personal beliefs. Because of this, and my willingness to give others the "benefit of the doubt", I can understand peoples' beliefs and stances, provide an alternative perspective and play 'devil's advocate' in discussions. I love to teach people about Microsoft Word (and other software) and currently teach the '7 Habits of highly effective people'.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A sense of humour, some travel stories and some fun. Sadly I don't know recipes, nor do I cook well nor do I play a musical instrument or have any specific technical skills except computer software (I really enjoy teaching people MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc) :-( Good stories, good jokes.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United Kingdom