CURRENT MISSION

I'm heading to Tasmania for December/January as part of an expedition to discover and explore some of the cave systems in Mount Field National park. There is a group of us travelling together from Ireland, and we will be camping near Maydena 'til early January, then I have a couple of weeks to myself and I'm hoping to travel around Tasmania a bit. I'd like to do some hiking, camping, maybe a bit of climbing and hopefully meet some interesting people along the way. Also stopping off in Melbourne and Hong Kong for a few days on the way home.

ABOUT ME

I currently live in a small town on the west coast of Ireland and have my own business designing and making jewellery. I also work freelance from time to time as a costume maker for film and TV, and I have a small sideline in alterations which I run from my home. Whatever keeps the bills paid and still allows me to have a fair amount of freedom and flexibility.

I'm really into the outdoors, it doesn't matter what I'm doing - if I'm outside in the elements I'm happy, whether it's rain, hail, wind or shine. I'm fairly easy-going and am up for pretty much most things - within reason...

I travelled a fair amount in my '20's, mostly around Asia and Europe, but I'm a bit more settled these days and I'm generally lucky to get one or two shorter trips away each year, often revolving around caving, walking or climbing.

PHILOSOPHY

Be nice and smile, it makes life run more smoothly I've found. Go with the flow.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I signed up a few years ago, couchsurfed in Spain and did a few meetups, all of which were really positive experiences. I was living in Dublin at the time and wasn't in a position to host, and so I forgot that I even had an account, until someone suggested I try couchsurfing in Tasmania.

I'd really like to meet some locals while I'm in Tasmania, whether that's staying in people's homes, meeting up, or organising some kind of adventure together.

Interests

Mountains and walking in them, camping, carrying everything you need on your back, feeling like you're going to collapse from exhaustion and carrying on anyway, climbing (badly), swimming in the ice cold sea in Ireland, caving, exploration, the unknown, sewing, making clothes, reading good books, theatre and dance performances, DANCING to techno/rock n' roll/soul, or anything with a good beat, traveling, live music, scaring the crap out of myself.

• books
• design
• dancing
• walking
• traveling
• music
• live music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• rock climbing
• mountains
• nature
• wilderness
• climbing
• caving
• speleology
• seaswimming
• potholing
• a few pints

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies - I haven't been watching a lot of movies recently, well none at all actually, but these were the ones I had recently enjoyed when I set up this profile a few years back - A lot of Herzog's documentaries, especially Happy People, A Year in the Taiga, and Cave of Forgotten Dreams, anything by Wong Kar Wai, especially 2046, historical stuff for the costumes, recently enjoyed Blue is the Warmest Colour, La Grand Belezza, The Artist and the Model, Blanche Nieves, always love a bit of Tarantino for some light hearted entertainment.

Music - most of the good stuff and some of the bad stuff. I listen to a lot of fairly introspective electronic music while I work, I find if really good for focussing. Four Tet, Floating Points, Nicolas Jaar to name a few.
For dancing you can't beat a bit of Techno, that or good old school Rock & Roll.
I like a lot of North African and Central Asian music, love a bit of Blues, Jazz, bit of Classical, not so in to Rap, Hip-Hop, Metal or Opera, though I'm open to persuasion.

Books - Currently reading Wanderlust by Rebecca Solnit and On Anarchism by Noam Chomsky. Recently read The Razor's Edge by Somerset Maugham, The Rainbow by DH Lawrence, and The Rock of Tanios by Amin Maalouf. The books I've enjoyed the most in the past year or so are The Fieldguide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit, Between The World And Me by Ta Nahesi Coates and Just Kids by Patti Smith.

I also really enjoy listening to podcasts and audiobooks while I work and am always looking for suggestions on that front. Current favourites include On Being, Invisibilia, Ear Hustle, Serial, Radiolab, The Truth, Love + Radio.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to make clothes if you have a sewing machine handy, I've also trained as a silversmith/jeweller so can share that if anyone is interested.
Caving, climbing, hiking, swimming - I know most of the good spots in my area.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Laos, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Czech Republic, Ireland