CURRENT MISSION

To enjoy the World and help others enjoy it.

ABOUT ME

I have always enjoyed helping people, and like to think that I can expect the same of others. Whether this is in organised ways such as through Rotary or community groups, or just advising someone at work who is floundering, I get a buzz from making a difference to others.

I'm a keen sports participant and follower, playing tennis and being interested in lots of others.

I am passionate about politics and social justice, but accept there are other ways of looking at the World.

I have always been into hobbies, including stamp collecting, autograph collecting, and currently the Victoria Cross. I enjoy reading the newspaper, keeping myself informed and being with people who are similarly involved.

PHILOSOPHY

Happiness is far more important than material goods - happy people never jump off skyscrapers whereas sometimes millionaires do.

A smile, a touch, a friendly word is far more powerful than weapons of any kind.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

So far limited to hosting and being hosted, but I´m an unofficial singer of the praises of couchsurfing to all and sundry.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Have hosted couples and singles from Taiwan, Canada, France, Portugal, Korea, India, Austria, Argentina, Italy, Spain, USA, UK, China, Sweden, Poland, Pakistan, Czech Republic, Colombia, Denmark, Switzerland, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Israel, Catalunya and Germany; all different and all the same. Took another couple on a day trip around Port Philip Bay, Melbourne. In another life, I have hosted foreign students for many years and have found it a very rewarding experience. This has resulted in attending weddings of previous house guests in Japan and Kazakhstan.

Now I have also been hosted around Sth America, in China, and in India and parts of western Europe. It is as much fun hosting as being hosted.

Interests

Politically I'm left of centre as I feel that best reflects a care for the World and its inhabitants.

I'm very interested in sport, both playing and following, and while I major in great sports like rugby, cricket and tennis, I know enough about minor sports like soccer to win a bet off a soccer addict from Portugal.

I'm an avid reader and hobbyist, and an addicted World traveller.

• poetry
• cheese
• beer
• drinking
• politics
• reading
• stamps
• sports
• cricket
• soccer
• hockey
• tennis
• rugby
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

My music tastes are catholic, ranging from classical (Mozart, Vivaldi, Haydn), to rock (Led Zeppelin, Beatles), to folk (Steeleye Span, most Irish music), to ..............

Favourite reads over the years have included: Birdsong (S Faulkes)- a brilliant book; Of Human Bondage (S Maugham); Far From The Madding Crowd (T Hardy)and hundreds of others. Just read "A Week In December", another S Faulke's one and a beauty.

I tend to shie away from the Hollywood machine, and have enjoyed films like Once Were Warriors and Whalerider - both NZ films, a coincidence? The Wind That Shook The Barley was great.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went workaway on a ship with a friend after finishing school and before Uni, where we worked our passage across the Pacific and when we got into ports we would get time off to look around. In Vancouver we went to the Seamen's Mission and the priest there took us to dinner and an ice hockey game. Very, very special, as was our calling on a person in San Francisco who we never knew but whose name we were given, where we sat around drinking beer, eating cheese and thinking how good life was.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a qualified English teacher and have taught in Japan and Turkey, as well as an immigrant here in Australia. This is one area where I know that I can provide real assistance to others. I love language, and have even been able to add something to native speakers in areas like job applications, poetry for special events, etc.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Turkey, United Kingdom

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