CURRENT MISSION
Travel as much as possible.

ABOUT ME

I was born and raised in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Have spent nearly a decade living, working and travelling in East Asia. I believe in the possibility of changing one’s leaves but keeping intact the roots. This sums up how I view travelling and life in general. Travelling should allow you to change, embrace new ideas and cultures and have an impact on you. But no one journey should create an impact more important than the journeys to come or those already cherished, each should be given their due and each should be appreciated as they occur. And this is my mantra for Couchsurfing. It is about enriching the journey for both travellers and hosts.
I’m a sucker for languages. I’ve got French down, I know I’m fluent because I can communicate in French perfectly while drunk 🍷 (or at least I think I can 🥴) .. I have been told my French is pretty good anyway. Spanish not as good, but love the language , people and culture of Spain so I’m always willing to give it a go and improve it a bit. I don’t really speak Italian but man would I be open to learn…I mean teach me all the hand gestures first of all then we can get started on the words 👌 🤏 🫸👋🫰🤙
Learning Chinese Mandarin is my current mental mountain which I have been climbing for sometime now. It’s a challenge but a worthwhile one. As a host or guest I will definitely be open to sharing some mandarin knowledge with you…don’t worry, yes I know all the rude words of course :)))
I was a chef many years ago so I’m a decent cook, but I’m even better at eating if you can believe it 😃 The best thing about Asia is the food stalls and local dishes. You can’t really visit a place without trying as many of the local delicacies as possible. So I’m without a doubt not fussy and will try anything.
My most recent adventure has been living in the city of Nanjing, China. A fascinating place with a lot going on at all hours of the day and night, a city which never sleeps. This city is obsessed with all things duck, so it helps if you like it. I can literally use the expression blood, guts and tears because they will waste none of it in Nanjing when it comes to duck. Delighted to discover that Nanjing has a lively metal scene 🤘 I know where to go if head banging is your thing.
I am currently back in Scotland planning a trip through Europe. I can host in Glasgow once I’m back from my travels. Then onwards to Asia after summer at which point I will host hangout and hilarity will ensue !

Update summer 2024: back to Glasgow for summer

Update 2024: living in Nanjing, China. Can host!

Update June 2019: Back home in Glasgow for the summer. Wanting to meet up with surfers , travellers.

Update July 2018: Moved to beautiful Suzhou, China. Touring South East Asia then willing to hang out. Sorry can’t host for a while.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I joined Couchsurfing to experience the spirit of Couchsurfing, that is, to share and learn and make travelling more meaningful and enjoyable for both the traveller and the host. To connect with different people and cultures and make the big world smaller.

I have hosted back home in Glasgow, and hitchhiked through Europe surfing on the way. I have also surfed in China and wish to extend the favour by offering my home to wayward travellers

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Couchsurfed/hitchhiked through Central Europe and in China. Travelled through Spain, Morocco France and Belgium and China

兴趣

Music, languages, travel, hiking, running, sketching, cooking, photography

• arts
• writing
• literature
• documentaries
• beauty
• festivals
• coffee
• running
• working out
• meditation
• drinking
• traveling
• eating out
• music
• jazz
• guitar
• blues
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• history
• languages
• mountains
• heavy metal
• french
• saxophone
• spanish
• italian language
• 中文

音乐、电影和书籍

I am currently learning to play Spanish classical and flamenco guitar. Have been learning the epic and beautiful piece Asturias by Isaac Albeniz which I intend to play and film on the peak of a mountain in….Asturias!
I also play heavy metal in a band in Nanjing…a Chinese city with a decent rock scene.
Big fan of jazz and blues. I do play the saxophone but recently have not been able to practice so much. However my introduction to China became so vivid because I managed to join a group composed of local Shijiazhuang lads looking for a sax player for their jazz band.
I love Indian classical music and still intend to learn a few sitar skills…and also do it India even better !
So many different styles for different moods. I’m a keen runner, it is a form of meditation for me and keeps the cheeky pounds off from too much indulgence and libations haha. Depending on my mood, I can often be found listening to epic Nordic metal such as Amon Amarth while running, or more cerebral and equally epic industrial music such as Nine Inch Nails to really chase those kilometres. Old skool hip hop and modern stuff like Run The Jewels. I will sometimes listen to Tabla beats and other ethnic folk music while out running around as well.
Used to be a bit of a movie fanatic, I wrote my dissertation on the theme of German cinema during the Weimar Era, but these days I hardly, if ever, get the time to watch anything anymore. However, I’m starting to discover Antonioni and I’m becoming acquainted with Italian cinema. It’s fresh and something unfamiliar to resonate with. Also helps me prepare for my trip to Italia!
I enjoy reading self improvement books and books about meditation and consciousness. Fictional books are fantastic for long train journeys or flights.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

I hitchhiked through 4 countries in three weeks couchsurfing all the way
Slept in a tent in the Sahara
I lost my passport on a drunken New Year’s Eve in Seoul and made it back to China on an emergency travel document
Travelled to Tibet from Beijing by train in 48 hours
Made pesto for an Italian and his mother and was COMPLIMENTED on it! Haha

教，学，和分享

TEACH
French, Mandarin, Cooking, Scottish dialect, Scottish traditions (so whisky 😝), Classical guitar, Heavy Metal, Saxophone
LEARN
Location, Languages, Local customs, Lots of other things
SHARE
Life experiences, philosophy, tales from the road, anything

我游览过的国家

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Netherlands, Scotland, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

我居住过的国家

China, France, United Kingdom