As a kid I used to collect stamps. Such a geeky thing to do, but for my childmind these stamps were stories from other countries. A little piece of paper that came from a place I knew nothing about… Places that held so much promise of the unknown. Wanderlust meanders through my entire life! I have been privileged to visit a few places, but life is so short, and there are still so many places I would love to experience. A place becomes so much better when you connect with the people. Then it changes from being just a place to a haven with a friend. Human connection is what drives us and we each have a part to play in someone’s life – whether you have met, or not yet.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

A friend from France came to visit me. He stayed on my couch & introduced me to this platform. When he left, my house was empty and I realised that I loved hosting him. I loved adding value to his whole experience. I love my country and I think South Africa has so much to offer in terms of culture, music, food, wildlife, nature… the list is very long... :-)

Have a look here - http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-adventures-in-pretoria

Interests

I love working with my hands – whether I’m doing makeup, cooking, gardening, photography, decorating or writing stories. I find pleasure in small things and believe talents are gifts that should be used to the utmost of your abilities (and there is always that little bit of extra you didn't realise you could do until you try). I live a fairly healthy life (there is always room for improvement) – exercise everyday & eat real, good food. I sing in a choir & we perform internationally – always an enriching experience. I used to do ballroom & Spanish dancing, but I think it’s about time I get those skills on par again ;-)

• cats
• wildlife
• culture
• writing
• singing
• performing arts
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• exercise
• gardening
• stamps
• music

Music, Movies, and Books

Sting, Dave Matthews, Yann Tiersen, Cardamar, Bonobo, Vivaldi, The XX, Angus & Julia Stone, Katie Melua, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Hang Massive, Karl Jenkins, Ry Cooder.
A Good Year, The Reader, Out of Africa, Hachiko.
Tortuga, Seat of the Soul, The four agreements, Woman who run with wolves.

Too many to have favourites!!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Define amazing... :-) It's pretty amazing to be healthy and happy and I don't do the ego thing. Or at least - I try not ;-)

Teach, Learn, Share

As a makeup artist I am always teaching woman about the powers of powders... myself, I love to learn from people - learn from their stories and their experiences. We are all one and teaching, learning & sharing brings us together.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Kick ass home cooked meals - if you bring the food I'll cook it :-)
A couch.
A friendly, snobbish cat.
A beautiful view.
But - it depends on when you catch me - sometimes life gets the better of me and then I have to prioritise.
Also - please bear in mind that public transport is not your friend in Pretoria - you are going to need a car & gps.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, France, Germany, Italy, Mozambique, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, South Africa