I'm a father of two grown up kids who have now flown the nest. Still working, but now in a more leisurely fashion and more choosy about the projects I take on. We live in a converted Suffolk Barn, originally built in the Napoleonic Wars, which we have renovated into an eco-home. Our heat comes from a geothermal borehole 450 feet deep (it's warm down there) and powered by solar panels. Feels good to live using renewable energy.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm travelling solo through Western States in USA in May 2016. I'm hoping for a genuine experience, rather than the Holiday Inn version. I'll be on the move so staying only a day or two before moving along. I'll be travelling in California, Nevada, Utah; maybe Colorado and/or Arizona. The plan is: to have no plans!

I'm new to CS so have no feedback yet - I'd be happy to point you to my profile on Airbnb, or fb etc. My username is my real name so you can always google me (no, I'm not the Sri Lankan child actor one...)

Interests

People, first and foremost. that's what has made travelling the most memorable for me. Followed by places. I especially enjoy getting way off the tourist grid. Oh and food and drink - mustn't forget that. Very interested in wine and beers - lived on a vineyard until recently. Amazing that I'm not perfectly circular quite yet.

Our local festival, Latitude Festival is always a highlight of the year.

• fashion
• acting
• festivals
• dining
• wine
• beer
• drinking
• traveling
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

hmmm books - probably The Rabbit Trilogy?
Music - v eclectic. If had to pick one band, I'd prob say The National; but that's likely to change week by week. Current top 25 on my itunes are: Anais Mitchell, Antony and The Johnsons, The Beautiful South, Bruce, The Cure, Holly Cole, JJ Cale, Tom Waits, Joni, The Kinks, Macy Gray, Martha Wainwright, Lou Reed, The National, Rickie Lee Jones, Ry Cooder, Tracy Chapman, Robbie Williams (and his sister, Lucinda), The Smiths. Everything from opera to reggae to indie to chillout to Americana. I can dance like a dad at a wedding if you ask me to.
Movies - impossible to name a single one! (Love movies, especially in the cinema)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Well, two amazing things. I have two wonderful children, now remarkable adults. When each of them was 18 I went on a long road trip with them - with my son from UK to Mali (including a Bedouin guide to get us across a corner of the Sahara Desert for a few days). This was in an old Toyota, bought for £400 and donated to charity in Bamako; we flew home. With my daughter, we drove a tuk-tuk (motorised rickshaw) from Goa, across India to Pokhara in the Nepalese Himalayas. Don't know how we managed to survive the Indian roads but we just about did! Both lifetime-memorable trips and great to share with my kids.

Being a father is the best thing I have done with my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to connect with people. only then can you know what can be taught, learned, shared.

Let's break bread together; eat, drink, talk and share a convivial evening.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Here's a thought: how about if I stay at your place, I buy us dinner - eat in or out; your choice!

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Wales, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe