CURRENT MISSION

To fill my life with as many friends and positive experiences as I possibly can. I also want to be able to say that I have seen the world.

ABOUT ME

I was born in Bury, Lancashire, and have always been close to my parents and sister, who is six years younger than me. After doing a series of unsatisfying jobs around the UK, I settled upon a local job that I liked. It allowed me to travel, and to take time doing one of my favourite activities, (board) surfing, up in Hell's Mouth, Wales.

I moved to Tallinn, Estonia in June 2011, following my dream of spending time there, when I was lucky enough to be given a job in the city. I joined in with the CS Tallinn social events, eventually becoming a "proper" couchsurfer. In 2014 I became a freelancer, working on writing projects and also teaching English. I am now working for a new Estonian startup.

PHILOSOPHY

Be open to any person and any experience. Love one another, and give everyone a kindness. Use your gifts, if you are lucky enough to have them.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I take part in CS through mostly hosting, but also the occasional surfing trip, and attendance of events like Riga Good Times.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Vikki, an English friend of mine, introduced me to the Birmingham Couchsurfing community. They turned out to be an inspiring bunch, two of whom gave me the idea of singing locally for their choir!

When I changed jobs, I wanted and needed to make friends, and the vibrant and friendly Tallinn CS group gave me a chance to do that right away. I've never looked back - I love spending time with them. Couchsurfing Summer Camp, in Viljandi, Estonia, proved to me that even a weird "sauna tent" cannot get in the way of good friendships!

My first surfing trip was in Riga in November 2011.

Interests

As mentioned, I love getting my surfboard out when I'm at the British seaside. I also love discovering new and old music, reading an exciting story, blogging, singing and drawing cartoons.

I'm a fan of Formula E and Formula One racing, and I write a blog about Formula E and electric vehicles. I support Liverpool Football Club.

• singing
• sauna
• cartoons
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• drawing
• music
• camping
• surfing
• business

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Sideways, Lost in Translation, Back to the Future, Mulholland Drive, Top Gun, Rocky IV (yes, I know it's bad), Casino Royale, Finisterre.

Music: a-ha, Robyn, Duran Duran, Marillion, Twin Shadow, Maggie Rogers.

Books: Henning Mankell's "Wallander" books, "The Rachel Papers" by Martin Amis, "Amaryllis Night and Day" by Russell Hoban, "My Estonia / Minu Eesti" vols. 1 and 2 by Justin Petrone.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have been a tenor in the Birmingham Town Hall Gospel Choir.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a Cambridge CELTA English teaching certificate, earned in 2014 in Riga, and I have taught children and adults for seven years in Estonia and abroad.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A gift from Estonia - Vana Tallinn if you like, or if you prefer I can bring Kalev chocolate, a local book in English, or I can teach you some words of the Estonian language.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Estonia, United Kingdom

•