I set up an account a couple of years ago but never got round to doing any couchsurfing as I was busy working. I'm living back in my hometown, Bradford, at the moment after having worked abroad as an English teacher for a few years, in Russia and Spain.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Like lots of people, because I enjoy travelling and meeting new people and finding out things about the places I'm staying. After it lying dormant for a while, I've decided to start using my account as, for the first time in a while, I'm going to have the chance to travel for a few months over this summer and it'd be great to find some people to stay with whilst I do that. In the meantime - and when I return - I'm happy to host couchsurfers and help them get to know my hometown and the local area.

Interests

I'm a spoken word performer and poet, and trying to turn my hand to writing short stories at the moment. When I'm not working I spend a lot of time getting around poetry and literature nights in my local area. It's a really good region for poetry and spoken word at the moment, with a fantastic mixtures of ages and styles across some brilliant evenings. If you're also a poet or writer I highly recommend West Yorkshire. Always interested in meeting other writers and sharing work.

Although I've never really kept travel diaries, I enjoy documenting my travels with poems, as well as taking photographs - although I guess that goes for most people nowadays!

Beyond writing I like playing guitar and messing about with electronic music production. I've never taken either too seriously, just a bit of fun in quiet moments.

• writing
• poetry
• dining
• cooking
• indian food
• spanish food
• politics
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• blues
• spoken word
• teaching
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

My favourite films include pretty much anything by Ken Loach or Shane Meadows - but in particular Land and Freedom (Ken Loach) and A Room for Romeo Brass (Shane Meadows)Four Lions by Chris Morris (also, anything Chris Morris has has ever produced for TV!)

If I had to choose the six bands or artists I had to listen to for the rest of eternity, they'd be - Howlin' Wolf, Desmond Dekker, The Dead Kennedys, The Happy Mondays, Phil Ochs and Ian Dury and The Blockheads. But as with films, I could go on and on
Top books are The Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison, The Throwback - Tom Sharpe, The Rotters Club - Jonathan Coe, Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class - Owen Jones, The Iron Heel - Jack London, Down and Out in Paris and London - George Orwell ...to name a few

Always open to suggestions!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I'm proud to have participated in the 2 million strong march against the war in Iraq in London in 2003, and to have done by bit to build the campaign in my home town, as well having played an active part in lots of social movements, mainly against racism and welfare cuts over the last ten or so years.

Last year I spent several months working in the now evicted 'jungle' refugee camp in Calais. Its the hardest few months work I've done in my life, and I met some of the most amazing people I've come across, residents and volunteers alike.

Teach, Learn, Share

As I've already mentioned, I'm an English teacher so I'm always happy to help people with their language skills. As a hobby I write poetry and short stories, and I love reading other people's work and am up for giving people a hand starting out with writing if they want. I also enjoy cooking, I really like making a good curry - but I'm not picky when it comes to food and enjoy cooking new things for other people!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I really like to cook, and I think I'm pretty good at it - so I'm always happy to make hosts a good meal in return for somewhere to stay. Beyond that I'd consider myself good company and really like finding out about other people's interests, their local area and having a good chat about anything.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, India

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom