CURRENT MISSION

BIG career transition ahead. Wish me luck!

ABOUT ME

An optimistic cynic with lot a of opinions, I would give anything a try because life is all about new experiences and doing your best to help or at least not to hurt others.
Friends think of me as rather eccentric, so I guess I may come across as a little odd to some people. I'd like to think that I'm a very kind person but do like my own space and respect others' privacy as well.
My previous incarnations included teaching English, attempting to be an academic, succeeding in and later abandoning educational fundraising and spending far too long in the music industry.
For all my sins I still work in the arts but my interests are much more STEM focussed.
Really dislike bad manners, entitlement, lack of self awareness and immaturity. However, I'm not argumentative and would generally try to make everyone welcome.

PHILOSOPHY

Don't let the bastards get you down! My greatest discovery so far has been that life is much easier and more enjoyable if you stop caring what other people think, say or do.

Travelling doesn't necessarily broaden your mind but it is bloody good fun.

I'm an old school leftie who is v suspicious of "progressive" ideas or people who identify as activists.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I was a host in London for over 4 years and before was closely involved with the Leeds CS group.
I've lived all round the country and have good contacts in York, London, Oxford, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and many other places.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Met some great CS members in NYC, Lille and Leeds. I hosted in Leeds and London.
Been hosted in various places, incl. Canada, USA,Poland, Morocco, Hungary, Austria, Bulgaria, Israel and Leeds (UK).

Interests

Back in the mists of time I did a Philosophy degree and it's been my proudest achievement to date. I still read on the subject and have a special interest in Wittgenstein and philosophy of religion.
More recently, I've become more interested in psychology, and the ways in which psychology and philosophy can be used as forms of therapy.
I volunteer for a couple of community gardening projects in Edinburgh.

• philosophy
• psychology
• sustainability
• foraging
• community work
• horticulture
• scientific research

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - I spent over a decade working in the music industry, which has basically robbed me of any enjoyment of music. Saying that, I tend to get interested in what can be broadly described as outsider music, or at best artists who never quite made it despite obvious brilliance (e.g. Sparks, (British) Sea Power, The Auteurs).

Books - mainly philosophy, psychology and books about culture at the turn of the 20th century. Currently reading a book about Otto Weininger.

Films are I've enjoyed recently include Bones and All, Triangle of Sadness and Poor Things. I felt that Barbie was a movie much smarter than most of its audiences. I hated it.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've supported myself since the age of 15, so the fact that I've had very good jobs and have been to uni is pretty amazing. Through work I've met quite a few famous people but I feel that courage and nobility of everyday lives are vastly more interesting and important.
I've travelled around Europe for work. Still do but nowhere near as much. Lived in Russia and China. So far my favourite places in the world are Hong Kong, New Orleans and San Francisco.

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach you a lot of about plants and mushrooms. I'm good at gardening and cooking.

Would love to learn more about AI tech.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Russian Federation, United Kingdom

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