CURRENT MISSION

Currently back in the UK, but I want to keep on travelling (living places medium-term, that is, not just as a 'tourist' - though that can also be very nice of course) for as long as my legs (and finances) will carry me

ABOUT ME

Left the UK in 1984 and been living abroad pretty much ever since. Have an adopted Indian son (now all grown up, married and living in London).

PHILOSOPHY

Feeling 'at one with the world' on a day-to-day basis far more important to me than big savings in the bank or the 'security' of being in one place. I might regret that when I am 80 years old (not THAT far away!), but probably not... Meeting new, interesting people is a joy (or can be!).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Joined some groups, hosted several times... come online every now and again, that's about it really.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Hosted now and then in Sri Lanka. Met some nice people for drinks, food and chat there, where I lived until recently.

Have been a guest just once, in Poland with the family of a guy I hosted in Sri Lanka. Great success!

Interests

Good food, wine (preferably good, but I'll try anything once!), cooking.
Flying (as a pilot, I mean) - but mostly can't afford to do that so much these days!
Classical music, composing (I studied with John Tavener, who became a good friend of mine, at Trinity College in London).
Travel (of course).

• arts
• culture
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• drinking
• flying
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• classical music
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

Don Quixote (ideally in P. Motteux's amazing 1700 translation). Best book I ever read (or am likely to).
Not a big movie goer. Citizen Kane left me cold! Last went to a cinema in 2005. I like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter though!
Mahler/Wagner/Shostakovich/Berg/Messiaen.. some of my musical heroes

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Trekked to Mt. Everest (to it, not up it, sadly).

Adopted my wonderful Indian son, now married and living in the UK, as I said above.

Taught children with severe learning difficulties in India for a couple of years - perhaps most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Oh, that's three things. Sorry!

Teach, Learn, Share

What am I supposed to write here????? I teach English, Iearn Tamil, I share, er, what, I wonder?

What I Can Share with Hosts

Intelligent conversation (I like to think, but intelligence is relative of course!) about a life spent living around the world; about art, culture, religion and so on and so forth... Good sense of humour :-)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Monaco, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom