***Can't have any guests for the next few months*** Hopefully be back soon!

CURRENT MISSION

To quest brazenly on, in search of a good time. Now back in my hometown of Edinburgh.

ABOUT ME

I've bookended the last 14 years of my life in education. I started with the universe and it's constiuent parts, but have downsized my subject area to the workings of our earth, atmosphere and oceans. In the intermediate period I was lucky enough to work in some special parts of the world - most beautiful and a few nightmarish - all part of a learning curve and always out in the elements.

I like to learn and share practical skills, explore new places and meet people from different walks of life.

I'm always eager to hear and try to understand others' philosophies and share in doing the things that make them happy (especially if it's playing games).

In my own time I play music and when the conditions are just right (ample free time and sunshine) I might even attempt some writing. I also love walking, exploring, swimming/diving, fishing and generally enjoying life outside.

My partner and I now have a monstrous and beautiful baby daughter, and much of life at the moment revolves around her so my hosting opportunities are limited. I have kept the status as "maybe" hosting because "no" seemed too definitive, and there are already some post-covid requests coming through from interesting sounding people. Our situation is that we may have space/time for up to two people for up to a few nights. We don't have much flexibility to show people around during the day, but we are freer in the evenings and have become rather adept at hosting dinner parties since one of us always has to be at home for the wee one. She's up around 7am and our house isn't very large, but if you're travellers you won't mind that right?! Anyway, we still like meeting new people and aren't resigned to being an insular family so drop me a message if you'd like to stay and I'll do my best to get back to you in decent order.

PHILOSOPHY

I like to think that what goes around comes around. I also think it's important not to believe everything you read and to give everyone you meet a chance. A friend once told me that when you meet someone in the afternoon, you've no idea what they've been doing in the morning.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My first encounter with couchsurfing was living in a large flat in Edinburgh whilst at university and hosting a pretty steady stream of resident couchsurfers. My flatmate at the time fielded all the requests but we had a lot of fun as a group playing host to all sorts of lovely people and showing them the sights and sounds of the city and sometimes just making merry in the house with pot-luck dinners and music. I think it's healthy and important not to lose the old attitudes of offering shelter to wandering strangers.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been lucky enough to be hosted by some awesome people in France, New Zealand and Canada, lots of good stories and happy memories. Couchsurfing is such a great means of bringing people together. In Kingston, Ontario I liked my couchsurfing hosts so much I moved in to their flat and started paying rent. I also managed to do some hosting when I lived down in Wales to redress some the balance.

Interests

People: their quirks, grievances, thoughts and funny-bones.

Music: playing, listening, dancing.

Sports: Rugby, chess, backgammon, kite, boardgames

Sci-fi: books, films, far fetched ideas and the careering growth of modern technology, A.I.

Games; playing all sorts with friends and strangers, what's better than a little bit of friendly competition?

I love the spoken word and the aesthetic pleasure one derives from a particular prose, with palatable texture and tumbling patterns. I like to read books from all kinds of authors and love to talk about the nuances people find in their own reading, even though it's difficult to articulate that sort of thing. I am quite new to the performance poetry game, but I enjoy hearing the things other people come up with and I respect the courage and willingness it takes to share anything you've created. I also like creative rap music and have my ears bent for suggestions. I have quite a vivid imagination, anything that stimulates that gets my time in spades.

• fish
• books
• poetry
• dancing
• walking
• technology
• movies
• chess
• socializing
• juggling
• kite flying
• music
• guitar
• outdoor activities
• fishing
• canoeing
• sports
• cricket
• rock climbing
• rugby
• geology
• mathematics
• physics
• poetry slam
• the human condition

Music, Movies, and Books

I like to read sci-fi, contemporary and classical literature, plays, pretty much anything that comes by way, I read The Incal by Jodo/Moebius, it was really next level, exactly what I'd been looking for.

I decided long ago that Sunshine (Danny Boyle, 2007) was my favourite movie, and forever shall it be.

Paprika. The Lobster. Chinatown. Blade Runner(s).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbed Mt. Kenya in 2011, 5040 metres, 4 days up 1 day down.

/ seen The Book of Mormon

Teach, Learn, Share

Songs, Poems, Stories, Piecemeal history, Juggling, guitar / harmonica, rugby, cartwheels, abstract theories about the physical universe, knots and rope tricks, French, early human evolution, the climate system.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, hopes, laughs and everything I carry with me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales