Andrew Manister's Photo

Verified Profile

  • Payment verified
  • Phone verified
  • Government ID verified
  • Address Verified

Wants to Meet Up

  • 100% response rate
  • Last login 3 days ago

Join Couchsurfing to see Andrew’s full profile.

Overview

  • 87 references 69 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning Hebrew (modern)
  • 56, Male
  • Member since 2011
  • Trainee Barista-Maestro; Amateur expert Theologian
  • Royal Naval College
  • From London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

My little flat really is, well, little. It is a bedsit, which in UK means it's all one room. What this means to you is that my bed and the couch are in the same room. *** Please read the bit "About My Home" as I get worried guests will feel uncomfortable or awkward. It's a small flat. You have privacy, but it's cosy here... ***

ABOUT ME

Every day - a new adventure...

Heart-wrenchingly open. I find myself fascinated much of the time. Touched by almost everything. Prone to long silence and deep stillness. I hear the voice of God. In my heart; in the desert; and sometimes in the air around me.

I enjoy finding the depth of a person beneath the presentation.

PHILOSOPHY:

If you look at a mountain long enough, hard enough, deep enough - it becomes Holy. I know because it did. Same for a blackberry bush.

I make the Best Hot Chocolate in the world (over 128,000 views on YouTube)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To Burn.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE:

(When I get around to it - I love having guests. It gives me a (rare) reason to tidy my flat!!! ;)

** I don't like CS becoming a dating tool. While you are here, the most important thing for me is that you feel safe, respected, relaxed and open. It is vital to me that you feel completely comfortable here. Respected. I'll go out of my way to NOT make you feel uncomfortable. The downside to that is if you do try to flirt with me, I'll completely miss or ignore the cues. 🤣 I think this is healthy. I'll probably respect and avoid your personal space as much as possible (bar a welcoming hug of course) which can make me seem cold, distant, unresponsive or reserved. I am sorry if this comes across as if I don't like you. I do like you! It's probably the opposite in fact 🤣. Don't be offended and don't be afraid to ask. (I am really hard to offend.) If you need a hug, ask. I'll ignore all other 'hints' and cues. Deliberately. **

Interests

So many things fascinate me. Mostly everything. But not all of it.

And: the moon; stillness; watersports (I coach canoeing) and teaching; (how to make fire - like the stone-age men did); dancing; being silly; getting lost; getting found; doing something new; being somewhere new; being someone new; being everywhere anew.

Dolphin, ozone and 420 friendly.

I am a Certified Drone Pilot and can teach you to fly a drone. I do lessons.

oo - I write poetry and make films about it. To see some, Click here (this one is called 'Stealing Moments') https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynvmkbRNghk

I also lark about at being a survival Instructor and I recently did the Level One Instructors course at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy. My forte is Astral Navigation; lighting fires by rubbing sticks together; and "how to think to survive" :)

Music, Movies, and Books

A song: Vienna by Ultravox.
A Film: Roman Holiday - Audrey Hepburn
A book: The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

another more recent film: Burn Burn Burn Directed by Chanya Button. It blew me away...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

err....
I used to be a Search & Rescue helicopter pilot: https://www.naval-technology.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/09/seaking8.jpg

I worked with the United Nations in Bosnia in 93.

I lived in a Zen monastery just outside Hiroshima, Japan.
(Hiroshima - GO! Its astonishing.)

I taught a one-legged man to waterski, and a paralysed lady to swim. (not at the same time)

I get 'road to Damascus'-type experiences and I make world-class hot chocolate (not connected I think)

Clearly - I cannot count to one.

Teach, Learn, Share

Walks on the river; kayak or canoe; swim in the weirs; a trip to Solsbury Hill (famous Peter Gabriel song); teach you survival skills: fire-lighting with only sticks; navigation by the stars; how to tickle a trout ;). Or we can do a drone selfie.

Just outside Bath is Lacock where many scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot. It's a drive so only worth it if I can borrow a car and you are staying for a few days. And I know my trees and nature so I can help you identify a replica Elder Wand if you like?

I make my own Beeswax candles.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Adventures. Peaceful pass-times. River swims. Serene walks. A new view of nature. Star-gazing. Big ideas in little things. History. Stories. Rum. Dancing. Philosophy. Sunshine. My famous Hot Chocolate - world famous. Terrible music and dancing.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, France, Gambia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Japan, United Kingdom

Old School Badges

  • 7 Vouches
  • Pioneer Badge

Join Couchsurfing to see Andrew’s full profile.

My Groups