CURRENT MISSION

To climb every mountain, cycle all the roads, swim in every river and ENJOY LIFE!!! Since I was 16, I always just packed my bags and headed off into the sunset to see the world through my eyes rather than through the eyes of others.

ABOUT ME

Hi, thanks for having a look at my profile. Brace yourself - it is a long read…

So here are the basics (there is more to me, but you will have to meet me to get the full picture):

31 years ago I was born into this world and ever since I've tried my hardest to make it all worth it. I'm well-travelled; Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Turkey, Tenerife, Germany, Hungary, France, Poland, Cyprus, Spain, Belgium just to name a few. In the summer of 2013, I went on a solo hitchhiking tour all around Europe and just fell in love with the hitchhiker/nomad lifestyle. I was lucky to travel through 11 countries, visiting 55 places, over a total of 147 days mostly by the thumb. I have slept in some funny places along the way; bus stations, a bush in the Kings Garden in Valencia, on the top of a cliff in Lagos (when I sat out of my tent, my feet dangled off the cliff edge!) and I spent a long time just in a hammock.… Over the years, I have travelled mostly for work, but nowadays I choose it to incorporate a challenge: to find a place that I love and find myself along the way. Over the years, I have been extremely privileged to have met some amazing people, who changed my life for the better. It’s been a game changer I must say.

I am really interested in making things eco-friendly but just found the UK's rules too taxing and it all took far too long. In August, I decided to take off again and live the life I had always loved - NOMAD STYLE.... This time it was different. I drove, and also brought my four legged companion “Buddy”. He is a Jack Russel x Beagle and he is my bestest buddy… I adore him… I wanted to drive as my back was starting to get worse, I had Buddy and I wanted to bring loads of tools, plus I wanted to give back to the road by picking up hitchhikers and repaying karma. He is super friendly and LOVES cuddles - he is a total cuddle monster. You will fall in love with him...

In 2015, I drove to Belgium, where I stayed with a wonderful family through workaway, but needed to get on my way again and ended up in Cordoba, South Spain. Things weren't perfect and I headed back up to Poland where I always felt "safe". I found myself a lovely flat, but then the worst thing happened - my back gave up. I have been suffering from back problems for over 16 years and it finally gave up the fight, bless it! It's been a hard road. I slipped 4 discs and found out some terrible news- my spine is totally devoid of blood and oxygen, meaning my discs are now totally dehydrated and basically dead. My neck has twisted and shrunk, meaning it isn't able to support itself any longer. I have 9 slipped discs, most are in my neck and thoracic spine, but the lower ones are week to boot. I've returned to the UK to seek out treatment as it is so severe that I can't even have a massage as the nerve is being pressed against by all of my vertebrae. My brain has been starved of oxygen for years, but now it is so much worse and my sleep, memory functions and balance is really affected. I now use a walking stick and will be using a wheelchair for long journeys. I can walk, can still climb stairs and still conquer mountains - just very slowly and often left out of breath... I just use the stick to stop me from falling over when I have dizzy spells and the wheelchair will be just a long term precautionary aid. I need an operation, but no one will touch it as it is too complicated. I did however start a new career from all of this - a freelance creative writer and I LOVE IT. I was teaching English in Poland too and do love to talk with non-English natives and help them learn. I've been doing it privately for 2 years and then more recently in a language school - it's strange to re-learn your own native language at 31, but they have to learn so much more than we did at school. I now have an island - yes you read that correctly - I HAVE AN ISLAND...! I am developing it to have spaces for mental health therapies. They will be yurts and tipis to begin with, then more substantial buildings as I go on with the project. It is off the south coast of Wales, not far from Cardiff.

I enjoy anything to do with the outdoors and adrenaline sports e.g. climbing, kayaking, fell running, bungee jumping, cliff diving, snowboarding and simply walking up anything that might have a bit of a view - It's my passion and I love being in nature. I can still do it with my back, I just have to be SUPER careful now - no more monkeying around. There are still people that do it all in a wheelchair and are less mobile than me, so NOTHING will stop me. I warn you now, I am not into glamping… I wild camp, with means roughing it to most – I do love the simple things in life; good food, good company, good views and a safe space. I cannot keep living in places that I do not feel emotionally safe. I have all that I need to survive, plus some of the things I have brought/made as I can sell my goods on the road to help fund my trip or support the community I move to. I like to find whatever else I need on the way. I don’t think I rough it, more that nature gives me all I need and I see it as being the best chance to get to the most amazing places. “Any fool can survive one night in the cold, however, the second night is a tough one when you’re wet and cold” – a quote from my tutor. I've learned how to survive with comfort and have not struggled yet.

I’d like to think I'm a geek! I love to watch documentaries and I always want to learn, but don’t worry, I don’t look or act like a geek. I have a huge amount of random facts that I can throw out at random times, so just watch out. I LOVED my degree. I was always trying to be the top in the class and was happily on my way to a high 1st, but my life took a turn I never had expected. I took 20 months to delve into my mind, my heart and my soul and it took a lot of my energy. It was definitely worth it and I got a lot of help from some incredible people... Now I am looking into doing a PhD, but I want to do it somewhere other than the UK, e.g. Sweden or New Zealand if I can! I am very focused on sustainability in the built environment and Environmental Development to make our lives one with nature, but find it very hard to be employed after running my own company for so many years. I just want to go off travelling and living the life I've wanted to have for so many years. It is tiring though and I would love to settle somewhere for a while. I am thinking of starting in France, moving through Germany, back through south of France, down through Spain and maybe end up in Portugal, but this will all have to wait until my back is better.

I live quite a busy life in some people’s eyes, but I love it... I'm a "life-aholic!" – yes, I work hard (VERY HARD!), but I do love to have some fun too! I find it very easy to organise my work and life, so make the most of what free time I have and really want to find a special girl to share it with. Either that or just have a fantastic social life. I have so many amazing friends, but find myself moving on too often, so I can’t develop my social life, as I am not around long enough...

I love to cook, especially bake… The word "maccies" (MacDonald’s) makes me shiver - it's got to be fresh and clean! I love to try new things and sea food fresh from the catch is the best. I love to try new things and do try and follow recipes, but they often fail. My best dishes are often made of whatever is in the cupboard or fridge. It just has to be healthy and tasty of course. I adore vegan and vegetarian foods, because the taste just POPS. I wouldn’t say I’m a type as I change it to fit in with my taste. I am very interested in RAW foods, but find I can’t eat that way unless I have the ability to grow the food myself or find a local market.

Here is a simple way of highlighting some things about me to see if I am suitable for you and if we might get along.
I DON’T:
- watch football = I don’t watch any sport for that matter, but HATE football.
- drink alcohol. I didn’t drink a drop for 7 years, but, I have started to enjoy ONE when the mood is right, but very rarely e.g. The last time I drank was New Years (12 months ago).
- smoke – not even socially. I used to, but stopped 9 years ago and although I can tolerate it, I don’t like it.
- eat fast food = NASTY stuff… so please don’t mention it and definitely don’t eat it in front of me.
- spend all my time in the gym. However, I do go often and it is important for me to keep fit.
- take selfies in the mirror – why do boys think this is a way to attract a girl?
- go clean shaven. I have always had a beard – I just prefer it that way. The last time was 2 years ago and I think I look like I’m 12.
- pamper myself! I don’t shape my eyebrows or use moisturiser - I am a hairy mountain man.
- watch horror movies because I laugh too much and point out all the flaws and get asked to leave
- do package holidays – CAMPING/hitchhiking/hostels all the way

I DO:
- bake and cook from scratch: I love to make it as healthy as possible, but it has to be tasty.
- like to have a mad beard and have a hairy chest. I find I have to keep it short to fit into society and I don’t like it.
- watch a lot of documentaries. I LOVE to learn all the time and know some weird facts.
- like “chickflicks” – they often have better story lines! I’m talking about good films here, not the stupid American drivel movies.
- have lots of fun stories to tell, so sit back, relax and enjoy!
- have a very sarcastic sense of humour, so I apologise in advance.

So if you like the sound of me and what I can offer, please get in touch.

Jack

PHILOSOPHY

- you can't laugh at anyone else until you can laugh at yourself.
- slow down and see the journey ahead, because its worth knowing where you came from when you are there
- learn off each other
- love life

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm having to move back to the UK due to health issues, so me and my best pal "Buddy" are back on the island and seeing what happens. Once I have settled - it's back to hosting again. I will be travelling around the UK as I want to meet new people and see the place for all its beauty.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've used CS for years. I have used it whilst travelling and when I have a space available. I loved being a host, but also love being a guest so I can cook for them and share their stories. I love using it as I get to meet like minded people and actually have decent conversations.

Interests

Mountain climbing, rock climbing, fell running, long distance cycling, weight lifting, cliff diving, travelling to remote areas, socializing with amazing random people at random places, climbing trees like a monkey, cooking, eating said food... anything and everything really.

• writing
• documentaries
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• raw food
• vegetarian
• vegan
• fast food
• running
• walking
• gardening
• clothing
• news
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• kayaking
• camping
• scuba diving
• bungee jumping
• snowboarding
• sports
• rock climbing
• soccer
• swimming
• teaching
• freelancing
• hitchhiking
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I once read 11 books in 6 weeks... This was after 27 years of not reading a single book... I'm made up for the time I lost..! I am a writer though and have written a number of books myself, with 8 novels waiting to be finished - all based on people I have met and places I have been - so perhaps you might be put into one of them...!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sky diving in Aus, where you can see the clear blue see and the tropics all beneath you... helping a woman give birth... Slept on a cliff edge for 5 days... Saved a man from choking to death...

Teach, Learn, Share

Giraffes, mice and humans all have 7 vertibrae in their neck

What I Can Share with Hosts

You MUST let me cook for you... And Buddy will be very happy to cuddle you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom