CURRENT MISSION

To make the world's biggest donut!

ABOUT ME

I used to work for a bank. But it stole my soul, and numbed my senses almost beyond being saved. So I left, and moved home to Ireland for a little bit to enjoy some good Guinness and the clean country air that you get from having a house on top of a mountain. Now I run the family frozen food empire - well, my mother does - but I do my bit. It's not very exciting, but the money's good, and more money, means more travel - so there is always a benefit.

So, at 5pm, when I leave work, I try to give a little something back, and I try to go, frankly, nuts. It takes different forms: I'm a musician, singer-songwriter, I'm Irish - so I can hold a few beers, I like to spend time with my wonderfully eclectic bunch of friends - all of whom would make me look like a picture of sanity in comparison.

Sometimes, when I'm not feeling quite as rock n roll, I like to make soup, and cook up some very odd creations; more than likely involving a jar or two of pesto sauce (I just can't get enough of that stuff - Hail to the Basil!). I've also perfected the ancient art of the fish finger sandwich - thank you Captain Birdseye! But where was I?

Ah yes - the musician thing. Well, in my experience, musicians are all a bit mad and I'm no exception to this rule. However, I've found them also to be an entertaining, curious and ultimately very kind group of souls who stick together long after respective egos have been drowned by one too many whiskeys.

I also like to travel (another reason why I'm here - I presume) - I used to do it a lot more when I was younger - but then I got a job, bought a house, and did all the "sensible" things. But it's never too late to get one's mojo back, so maybe I'll grab my guitar and a rucksack and head for the airport someday.

If there's anything else you'd like to know - just ask. I like being asked.

PHILOSOPHY

"If you can meet with triumph and disaster - and treat these imposters just the same". Please see "If" by Rudyard Kipling for the finest advice ever given.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I plan to surf with many, many people during my trip to OZ and NZ during 2010.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far, so good!!!

Interests

Live music, cooking, eating, drinking (well d'uh!), writing, songwriting, socialising, going on adventures, talking gibberish, travelling, politics, economics, philosophy, more music, and doing things just because people said I couldn't. I also like people - that's quite a good one.

• fish
• arts
• writing
• books
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• running
• drinking
• politics
• traveling
• music
• live music
• guitar
• fishing
• economics

Music, Movies, and Books

Everything from movies that make you think: like American Beauty, Boondock Saints, Requiem for a Dream - to mindless, cliche-laden action movies like Die Hard. They all have their place.

Music: blues - proper blues - none of this r 'n' b shite, folk, Dylan, Beatles, Stones, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Nirvana, RADIOHEAD (they are my surrogate big brothers), Muse and lots of local unsigned acts like Verity Burton, Simma and the Unstable Tables.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I saw the Northern Lights in Canada - that was pretty special. I stood on top of the World Trade Centre - long before it came tumbling down. I've seen Radiohead (7 times), REM, Pixies, Chilli Peppers and whole host of odd bands. I've been to Texas School Book Despository - the 6th floor naturally (there's just no way he did that), and I've played gigs in several unlikely places.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm not a bad guitarist - so I could teach that. I'm quite good at cooking some basic dishes - so I could pass on that small amount of knowledge. I know how to formulate solutions to some of the most unlikely problems one is likely to encounter, and whole variety of other skills that I think I should have, but can't quite quantify.

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