Hi I'm Richard, a positive, laid back bloke in his 40's.

I'm a single dad with 3 grown-up children who've all left home now at last. I work from home, so I can usually make myself available to fit around your plans if you want to be shown around York or go out for a drink in the evening.

My general policies are minimum age late 20's and no mixed groups. 2+ blokes is fine, 2+ women is fine.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When I was a student (late 80's-early 90's) I hitch-hiked many tens of thousands of miles all over Europe (iron curtain permitting), and I was sometimes given a bed for the night. We didn't have the internet (or Ryanair) then, but I would definitely have been a couchsurfer, so I am repaying society now for what people did for me 30 years ago.

I work alone at home and I travel alone a lot, going to conferences etc. I hate sitting in a hotel room, much better to have a potential friend to visit... I enjoy the company

Please note due to my location within walking distance of York city centre (I assume) I am very popular - I have couchsurfers asking to stay almost every day. PLEASE don't be offended if I turn you down for spurious reasons like 'I'm busy', it's simply that I don't always want people to stay all the time :( sorry.

YOU WILL HAVE MORE LUCK ASKING AT THE LAST MINUTE rather than weeks in advance - I don't want to build my life around couchsurfers! I have one spare double room of hotel standard, and another with a single bed you can share with boxes of stuff.

Thanks xx

Interests

I like travel and real ale, obviously anything language-related. Into yoga, tantra and other exotic spiritual stuff. If you're up for it we can do some tantra exercises, as practice is always fun. I find it easier if you are female for this.

I set up the French language meetup group in York http://www.meetup.com/yorkfrench/

I help run the York Beer Festival (mid-September) http://www.yorkbeerfestival.org.uk/ Tell me, people from Munich, how many different beers do you have? We have 400, plus 200 ciders, and all the other drinks.

• cats
• cooking
• beer
• yoga
• running
• traveling
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Whilst your guitar will be a pleasant diversion I'd rather chat.

Politics: I am a member of the Conservative Party and I voted Brexit. I'm happy not to talk about politics if this isn't your cup of tea :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I learned 2000 words of Hungarian in 2 months before a holiday there about 5 years ago. I could read all the menus, street signs, the lot. All I remember now is csütörtök = Thursday and hintőpor = talcum powder.

I've been through Checkpoint Charlie. I bet you haven't.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you want to learn about English ale (beer) or being a translator, ask me.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Two spare rooms - one with double bed, one with single bed.

I know York well, so if I'm not busy I'd be happy to give you a guided tour and take you out for a beer.

The list of 'countries I've visited' should include some that no longer exist: German Democratic Republic, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Soviet Union

No dogs. Please be accepting of pork, alcohol, cats.

To prove you have read my profile, please include the word 'shibboleth' in your request. If you don't I'll tell you you haven't read my profile!

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Vatican City State, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, France, United Kingdom, United States, Wales