UPDATE: The below profile makes me smile so will leave most of it in tact, as it was written by my younger self and much is still true, even if it's a bit cringy to read back :D

Due to family and life commitments it's been some time since engaging in the CouchSurfing community, but look forward to getting back into it.

To potential hosts, I'm a more mature, polite, British born and bred (English gentlemen), with Polish and Italian ancestry which give me a great mix of European culture: impeccable manners and respect for people's homes' / spaces', pragmatism, with a large dose of Mediterranean spirit.

If you agree to host me I'll that do all I can to return your kindness, to put you at ease from the off and to ensure I am not a burden - I live life with little expectations from others (see below) - will definitely offer to cook, clean, fix something that's broken (if I can) and even share a song with you if you like :)

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Where to start. Hmmm

Well if there is a gathering going on, I wanna be there :D

I'm a very easy going laid back person, who's really down to earth. The kind of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and always willing and motivated to help those around me. Consider myself to be a good listener and a decent story teller, curious, observant, sensitive to others around me... a person who tries to make your day just that little bit brighter [true but cringe, lol].

I try to enjoy most things that life throws at me and am always up for some fun and a laugh, actually, I tend to laugh at most things ;) - lots of people have commented on my good sense of humour (international) and 'banter' (the rather specific UK, sarcastic comedy - although by no way insensitive).

I take pleasure from the simple things in life... good company, good food, good music, natural world, fun people, laughter, good times, etc...

In the past I've been described by others (social scientists types :) as 'the most open minded bloke they know'. Well that's just me being me, not judging others and seeking the good in all that exists.

PHILOSOPHY [Cringe]

Sharing is caring.

Smile - it's healthy, it is kind and easy to do.

Don't judge.

Work hard, play harder.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love meeting new people and making friends. I'm a giver (especially when it comes to food - a feeder).

I've worked most my life in UK Higher Education so I'm kinda an social academic, although in the past I wouldn't have described myself as academic -- yes a contradiction, ask me about the detail :) ...in essence I love learning and that coupled with my open-mindedness makes me a decent researcher + I have a gift for skill mastery.

I've hosted a few people at my house. Been to lots of meets in my City and other cities, have surfed on the East coast of the US which was an great intro to surfing. Know lots of surfers in other places that I just to frequent. Thoroughly recommended and try to support the community where ever I find myself.

Interests

I find most things interesting but if I had to name a few well I guess it'd be:

Singing, dancing, music generally Diving (instruction), sailing, hi-fi (love great sound, I used to be an audio engineer and play / do the sound in a few bands), photography, dancing, technology, architecture, cooking, cycling, football (soccer that is - watching my home team and occasionally playing), volley ball (actually any group sports), skiing and travelling. oh and partying!

• singing
• architecture
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• partying
• technology
• traveling
• music
• folk music
• guitar
• piano
• cycling
• kite surfing
• camping
• cave diving
• surfing
• scuba diving
• sailing
• skiing
• sports
• rock climbing
• soccer
• geography
• history
• alternative medicine
• bike touring
• fermentation
• herbalism
• bikepacking
• nature lover

Music, Movies, and Books

Love most music, actually a bit of a musician myself so anything that is 'quality', whatever the genre. Especially like funk, soul, reggae, folk, 60's stuff, vocal orientated work, classical... see what I mean, anything goes.

Film - don't really have a memory for stories as much as I do melodies, but I love experiencing a story and attach importance to it. I'm not much of a Hollywood fan, although I was always a bit of a sci-fi boy and brought up with James Bond on the TV, so stuff like that still works. I like fantasy also.

What I also really enjoy though are strong, depictive works that show others lives and cultures, a lot of which you find in world cinema and independent/ smaller film makers (hence my couch surfing interest). Love British comedy and well most comedy esp. live, impromptu, stand up comedy (we have a great club in Nottingham, actually I prefer live performances so should go see more gigs/ plays/ musicals/ theatre, etc...

Not the biggest reader as I don't find it pleasurable to read, and feel good stories The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho) was one of the last books I read start to finish.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

[Cringe question but this is what I wrote in the past]

First off are all probably scuba diving related: dived with seals in Scotland; dived the corals of Fiji for a month while living on a yatch (see pic in profile :) New Zealand, Cape Verde and Thailand.

New Zealand in a camper van for a month and all the adventures (learnt to ski there) would be a close 2nd.

Sailing across the English channel to France and the Channel Islands in a racing yatch.

Trecking through a Thailand rain forest 4th

Climbing Rysy (peak of the Polish Tatry mountain) 5th

All awesome adventures

Cave diving in Cape Verde (Island off the coast of West Africa). Wow loved it so much, up there with my top 5 dives in my lifetime. oh and also my first experiences with Kite Surfing.

Teach, Learn, Share

Working as a Learning Designer I'm a good teacher. I guess I'd classify myself as a 'subject matter expert' in the following:

Cooking skills - semi-pro level , as have worked as a chef with Italian, British, Polish and French cuisine. Passion for organic produce and 'banging' (amazing) flavours.

Musical stuff - singing (British / Irish and Polish songs), piano, accordion and acoustic guitar.

I'm a qualified diving and instructor.

Polish and English language - the British Received Pronunciation, UK idiom's and English Northern Slang :)

Lots of manual skills to share, plumbing, electrics, carpentry and building.

Like to learn more about history, geography, other cultures, what people hold dear to them in their lives.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Well I can guarantee sharing my love for life and that of others, life experiences, knowledge, philosophies.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Fiji, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Poland, United Kingdom

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