CURRENT MISSION

To meet people from around the World and introduce them to London

ABOUT ME

Please read my profile, look at my group memberships and take special note to points in bold on this page. Thanks!

I can now host in Gaborone

WHERE I HAVE LIVED:
I grew up on the North Kent coast in Herne Bay, went to school in Canterbury, University in Portsmouth, and have lived in London for about 11 years. As of March 2012 I am based in Gaborone - the Capital of Botswana in Southern Africa on a 1 year business assignment.

GABORONE:
I have visited Gaborone on a number of business trips and am now settled near the town centre. Im just finding my way around at the moment, I have a car and if you are in town it would be great to meet up and perhaps get out of the city and explore a few places! We finish work about 4pm so we can meet up after work and at weekends. I leave around 7.30.

LONDON:
I have visted most of the London tourist destinations in the past so ask away! I am also known at work and with friends as knowing good offers for food and drink (so you can eat and drink a bit more cheaply while here in expensive London) and also for events going on around town!

I am regularly out in Soho or Clapham drinking the night away with mates! I'm not a big dancer - but like a night out! So if you are into that sort of thing come along and if not I have other gay and straight friends that can take you out to the more hardcore clubbing venues or for a quiet night in at home, a good English Pub or bar etc!

Im often busy with work Monday to Friday so I may not get to spend as much time with you as I would like - but I will point you in the right direction and try to meet up after work or at weekends.

PHILOSOPHY

Live and let live!

We all have to occupy this planet together - lets live on it together instead of fighting over it and each other.

Religion is often the root of evil - or is manipulated or exploited to be so for the benefit of a few.

Whats the point in arguing?! (although I do like a good argument and an "I told you so")

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I met up with a lot more people at London Calling and at the meetings and became one of the London Ambassadors in June 2007. I am spreading the word at work and with friends (although there seem to be a lot of sceptics worried about personal safety etc!).

I have become active in expanding and improving the London Wiki's and set up a group for London based Hosts and locals to try and get to know each other a bit more where we aim to have a meet at least once a month.

I applied to become an Ambassador to try and help other CSers understand the point of CS and encourage members to get involved and grow the community in a positive way. I also spend time on welcoming new members in London and co-organising the London Weekly Meet which has grown to about 100 CSers each week!

More recently the site has grown rapidly and with it, CS has evolved - I think as Ambs we need to adapt and change with the site, encouraging new members to also become Ambassadors and listing to all members - new and old.

One thing members should remember is that Ambs are not only members too but we also do not really have anymore say or information than you do about the site - but we can try and steer you in the right direction!

Check the CS London Wiki and the CS London Event Calendar

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Since August 2006 I have hosted 200 people in groups from 1 to 5 in London and have just started hosting again, but this time in Gaborone. As you can see from my references I've hosted members from all around the world and all backgrounds. I have enjoyed thier company and stories, learnt from them and developed my understanding and viewpoints of others and learnt about their cultures and lives.

When I was on holiday in Boston, Vienna, St Petersburg and Tokyo I arranged to meet up with a few CSers for drinks - a great way to go out in a new city and find some more interesting off guide book locations!

I have not actually CouchSurfed that much! So far I have surfed with 5 hosts (3 had surfed with me - and had become more as friends than true CS surfing!) and the other 2 in New York whilst I was visiting on business.

Interests

Travelling! In 2006 I managed Oz, US & Middle East. In 2007 - Paris, Boston, Vienna, Russia & Japan. In 2008 I calmed down a bit and did my bit for carbon emmissions by only going to Spain (Murcia) and Belgium on the train! In 2010 I had a few work trips to Europe and I visited the Canaries for the first time in December and really enjoyed the winter sun!

Eating and Drinking out. Cinema (2-4-1 Orange Wednesdays). Volunteering for various events in London (Borough of Newham, London OpenHouse, Maggies Night Hike and CrusAid Walk for Life and I was accepted to volunteed for the London 2012 Olympics - which I had to turn down due to my relocation).

• books
• dancing
• dining
• breakfast
• drinking
• clubbing
• pub crawls
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• surfing
• olympics
• business
• religion
• tourism
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Enjoy most movie types - mainly new releases - I go every week on Orange Wednesday with friends. London based ones are always good for seeing the places I know well on screen - and can take you (or direct you to).

Music - I like most types but unfortunately (for some) do like a bit of pop! But also chillout type house music. Anything really(except Hard Rock and Heavy Metal - and not a huge fan of Country!)

Books wise Im not a big reader Im afraid - but I am open to suggestions for good books to read when I am travelling.

Now I am Gaborone based - exploring the local area.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Helicopter trip into the Grand Canyon and Champagne Breakfast at the bottom!

A night in the Australian Rainforest (Cape Tribulation) and my Oz trip in general!

Visiting Dubai during ramadan.

Visiting Japan on a whirlwind week tour taking in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & Hiroshima.

Teach, Learn, Share

I often hear people being refused if they are new to the system and dont have vouches or reviews - we all have to start somewhere! BUT - please fill out your profile as fully as possible before you ask for a couch and show some interest in the person you want to surf with - we host to meet new and interesting people not because we like having strangers on our sofa that we never see!

Some of my surfers have said they contacted 3 or 4 hosts in London. London is huge and a huge number of people live within 30 minutes from the centre. Each area of London is different and may show you the "real" London - each has its own community and day/night life. This is where the real Londoners live! The centre is full of tourists and the lucky few who can afford to live in the centre or are lucky enough to have Uni Halls there (and not many are CS hosting). If you post a request to a London board - dont be surprised if you dont get a response - try the Requests for Hosts sub-group.

Despite the moaning us locals do about it - London has a good transport network of tubes, rail & busses providing in all a 24 hour transport network to the majority of Greater London.

When in London for 3 days I suggest the 3 day travel card. For Longer or shorter you may be best off with a Pay-as-you-Go Oyster. This will let you use any bus, tube, tram etc and the price is capped at the daily travelcard rate - also Oyster Fares are cheaper than the cash ones so if you end up not using a days worth or travel its cheaper - even with the £3 deposit. Also check the wiki for tips like the free guided walk, walk up the Monument for a cheap view etc.

Remember the CS philosophy and don't use CS as a free hostel service - there are lots of hostels and budget hotels all over London! If you are not flexible in leaving with your host in the morning and staying out all day until they are home or you are not considerate of other people's space then CS is not for you. CS is about meeting people, chatting, socialising and finding out about the world. Basically - living with your host and spending time with your host as if you a long time friend!

Where People are Surfing From...
Create your own visitor map!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, France, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Namibia, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Botswana, United Kingdom

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