CURRENT MISSION

My world seems to have shrunk in the last few years. Want to expand it again.

ABOUT ME

i keep my few talents well hidden. i'm over sensitive, neurotic, crabby and self defeating - and that's on a good day.

PHILOSOPHY

do as I'd be done by: do kindnesses when possible, accept others as they are, dont judge, or make assumptions, stand up for others, specially the most vulnerable in society. fortunately I got through the bleeding heart, guardian reading naive liberal stage.

how i'd like to be:
'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye'. Miss Piggy
(with grateful thanks to Yaks for posting this first)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I hosted a lot in the past, and in London used to get to kitchen surfing events, which were brilliant. Haven't done much for a few years.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

life changing!!!!!!

Interests

Arts. I love to watch indy, sometimes obscure films at my favourite indy cinemas. I love theatre, art, music ...

Making a difference. Social business. Helping people start businesses & take control of their working lives/realise their potential

Current affairs, politics, law, health, medical law & ethics, the state of the world. I enjoy best hanging out with my friends, talking about the state of the world and matters academic...

study and the pursuit of wisdom - two different things, i find - a lifetime pursuit

I love to spend time in Kent, the cliffs, the sea, the views over the channel to France. love to hang out in Whitstable. Oh and did I mention pubs.

anything to do with C/S. meeting people & hearing their stories ...

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies - world cinema & indies mostly - life long preference for French, German, plus middle eastern, iranian, south american movies. Its got to make me think & preferably feel. Favourite movies: Of Gods & Men, The Way, Goodbye Lenin, L'homme du train, Sideways

music wise must admit to being a saddo and would be unreconstructed rock chick - u2, coldplay, grew up with genesis, pink floyd - closet obsession with factory records and all its works - joy division, new order, durutti column, happy mondays, stone roses ..... preference for the obscure - talk talk. depeche mode and some of the less overdramatic 80's stuff. Classical - Vaughn Williams, Verdi, Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, too many to think of ...

books - Kerouac's On the Road - naturally! George Orwell, David Lodge, Jane Austen, EM Forster. books on spirituality/human development.

go figure ...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

most amazing places I've been - small surfie town called Whangemata, New Zealand, Grand Canyon, Big Sur, Venice, San Francisco.

Most amazing thing i've done ... develop strength & resilience in the face of the endless shit life throws.

Teach, Learn, Share

My current role is one I love and has taught me so much - I'm a call handler for an ambulance service, taking calls from across the region I live in, assess people's symptoms or injuries & get them the right help. I speak to people when the worst is happening and their world has just fallen apart. I'm the calm voice at the end of the phone. Sometimes I'm the person who will raise their voice and take control when needed. Sometimes I will make a parent wake up their sleeping child. Sometimes I have to shout at a caller to make them do as I direct, to give a patient the best chance of survival. I listen to it all. Sometimes I have to say no. I give grateful thanks every single day for the job I do. It's taught me so much.

I know a bit about a lot. I know a bit about social enterprise, management, criminal justice in England & Wales, penal policy, english law, i'm good at research. i write well and can do words and numbers.

What I Can Share with Hosts

i'm a decent listener. Not bad at washing up either. One or two interesting stories.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom

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