Friendly, adventurous and fun.
Full of contradictions such as:
Gregarious yet introverted or Love being outside in nature but equally crave being inside beside a fire reading a book
Kind, considerate, thoughtful, helpful
Scared of heights and sharps but working on my phobias (see zip lining reference)
Sports (netball, basketball, volleyball, hockey & rowing).
Passionate about Eduction, Biology, Science, David Attenborough documentaries
Divorced twice and currently in a happy domestic partnership
Dutch and English ancestry
Mother of 4 wonderful children ( 3 girls and 1 boy) and a proud grandmother(of 2)
Loyal friend and good travel companion.
Like playing games -board games, card games and ball games
Industrious and willing to work hard
Academic-Postgraduate Research in Beer for Coopers Brewery
Kilsyth basketball club supporter and assistant basketball coach
Frustrated but persistent apple macbook user
Recycler at heart. I love creating and making things/objects from used materials
Enjoy cooking healthy, doing short courses and learning new skills which include sewing, spanish, photography, making memes and photo/video editing
Enjoy keeping fit and healthy by walking, bike riding, kayaking and gym

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Life over the last 5 years (since my last big holiday to Canada) has tested my strength and endurance. Stresses have stolen my zest for life and my health has also suffered so I have given myself the gift of time, travel and renewal in 2016. This year I am traveling to Spain to walk the Camino Frances from Roncesvalles to Santiago in April. The best part of this trip will be having time to enjoy the moments without distraction, meet people, practise my Spanish, see things differently and create pleasurable memories. I am opening myself up to new possibilities and ideas which includes couch surfing. Couch surfing is appealing for many reasons which include cost but more importantly to meet interesting people and have conversations with locals while travelling. Hidden treasures that only locals know about would make the difference between a good and amazing experience. Being able to stay in homes overseas would be fun way to travel. I love the idea of meeting stranger who becomes a friend through their hospitality and generosity.

Interests

Science and Technology, Environmental Sustainability, Recycling (food, furniture clothes etc)
Visiting Art Galleries, Museums, Cultural sites and events
Film and Media- member of ACME
History and Nature (through personal experiences, documentaries, reading, conversations and travelling)
Learning Spanish
Food, Photos and Journalling.

• arts
• culture
• books
• photography
• documentaries
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• baking
• exercise
• coach
• walking
• clubbing
• gardening
• clothing
• technology
• board games
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• cycling
• kayaking
• camping
• surfing
• zip-line
• sports
• basketball
• hockey
• volleyball
• rowing
• netball
• biology
• chemistry
• communications
• genealogy
• history
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I am eclectic in my tastes so there are too many to list!! I am going through a nostalgic phase so here are the top 15 I am listening to at the moment The Beetles, Cosby Stills Nash and Young, Cat Stevens, Mariah Carey, Adele, Steely Dan, REM, Santana, Robbie Williams, Natalie Cole-Unforgetable Album, Simon and Garfunkel, Sting, Pink Floyd, Vaughn Williams -The Four Seasons (the lark ascending I adore) and finally The Verve -Bittersweet Symphony my most favourite tune
Movies: Lord of the Rings, The Last Mohicans, Gladiator, Fiddler on the Roof, Outbreak, The Core, Evolution, The Martian, The Way, Game of Thrones series
Books: The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, The Alchemist Paul Coelho, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Cookery the Australian Way

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

White water rafting Nimboida river in NSW 1983
Travelling around Europe 2001 in a Camper van.
Working and living in Sussex England in 2001.
Seeing glaciers on a Cruise to Alaska in 2011
Walking in Lake Louise, Canada in 2011
Whale watching inTorfino in 2011
Zip lining in Launceston Tasmania 2015

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Biology, Chemistry, Sciences, Sewing, Sour dough bread baking, Fermenting food and beverages
Learn: Spanish (and open to any other interesting or useful skill)
Share: Exercise, culture and interests cited above

What I Can Share with Hosts

Jobs to be done around the house
Helpful with items to be fixed
Gardening
Cooking

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, New Zealand