I design laser optics and I travel around the world meeting folk that like laser optics. Doesn't that sound just delightful?

I play lots of instruments, I love good food and good booze and I have an exceptional stock of random information locked away in my heed. Its great to meet new people and there are few things that I enjoy more than sitting around, having some pints and sharing stories!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I often travel alone and I'd like to meet people more often when I go to various places. Most common places are San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, Detroit, Frankfurt, Munich, Turin, Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Wuhan, Yokohama...

Interests

Cooking, eating, drinking, playing piano/guitar/drums, watching films, playing computer games, cycling, kayaking, playing with my cats, brewing beer, camping

• animals
• cats
• design
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• drinking
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• homebrewing
• guitar
• piano
• drums
• cycling
• kayaking
• camping
• physics

Music, Movies, and Books

Mostly listening to progressive metal at the moment, e.g. Animals as Leaders, Scale the Summit, Periphery, Human Abstract, Opeth, Protest the Hero, The End (the list goes on). Other less random bands that I enjoy include Coheed and Cambria, The Prodigy, Muse, Daft Punk, and various electronica. I also like (and play) classical music, particularly Mussorgsky and Chopin (Chops to his mates).

I really love watching films and have seen many films both famous and esoteric. For some reason I particularly like time travel films.

I read a lot of science fiction. Iain M. Banks is one of my favourite authors. Recent gems that Ive read include The Forever War, Ancillary Justice and Blindsight. Currently reading Old Man's War (spoiler: its good). I also regard Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels as premium holiday reading, I have read them since I was young and still greatly enjoy re-reading them.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I wrote and recorded a children's song called Candy Zoo a few years ago, and I still occasionally get emails from people (usually primary school teachers) that they play it for the children to teach them about different animals.

Its not very well recorded, I recorded it all myself in the spare bedroom, but I am proud of it nevertheless!

Teach, Learn, Share

If people want to learn I am happy teaching about physics/optics (e.g. how camera lenses actually work)/lasers (e.g. how most of the things in your smartphone/car are made). Usually people find that super boring though, so I wouldnt force it on anyone!

I am a handy cook and love to share my knowledge of ingredients and their various uses. In return I really like it when people teach me to cook new things or introduce me to new ingredients!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cooking skills, good chat, some light musical accompaniment, maybe whisky if I like you enough :P

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Scotland, United States