I have been a Photographer, Artist, Designer, Writer, and for my entire life I have had horses and been a Horse Breeder, Trainer, Riding Instructor/Adviser as well.

Sadlly, Ive found myself getting worse and worse health wise - and on doctors orders am not allowed to get smacked in the head by a horse or yanked/knocked again or Ill be in greater trouble than I am now - as it is I am using a walking frame every day (yeh at 45 that SUCKS) and a walking stick on a really really good day or in the house on occasions on a semi good day when I have a wall to get hold of.... and at times when I go out I use my scooter.... You have NO idea unless you have gone from being running around fencing and living on property and chasing horses, sheep, cows etc for your entire adult life and most of your childhood, how frustrating it is at this age to be told NOPE cant do that anymore. But I still do plenty of stuff I shouldnt lol.....

Due to the physical limitations (other things other than just the pain stuff too) the photography, artwork and design work has gone down the toilet a bit as well and its hard to get out and DO the stuff I want to.
BUT I can still have a laugh (mostly at myself), give you awesome spots to go see.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

When I was living on land til recently I was loving having backpackers come through and spending anywhere from a few days to a few months with me (one stayed 16 months til the day before she had to leave the country, another stayed for months, then came back with her parents to introduce them to me when they popped out to travel for a month with her, and another came back to say hi as well and recommended a lot of her hostel mates to come and stay with me.....).

I can kind of pick up enough French, Italian and German words now to play charades reallly well and get the gist of a conversation if your English is still not great. Otherwise we have Google Translate.

So I figured I would give Couchsurfing a go and see if there are folk travelling through this way who are looking for somewhere for just one or two nights or a week maybe and it gives me my traveller fix and some lovely company.

I just LOVE having folk around who are able to tell me about the world out there as I know with my health issues I am unable to travel - and when I was running photographic labs back in the day of film and developing/printing - I saw a huge part of it and used to LOVE talking to my clients about where they had been.... but talking to and spending time with folk who actually LIVE there and have time to sit down and discuss it is just even better!

Interests

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• horses
• design
• photography
• documentaries
• movies
• music
• art

Music, Movies, and Books

Monty Python movies highly amuse me, comedies, romantic comedies, scifi, end of world type movies, documentaries on the planet and what we are doing to it, documentaries on different cultures, how we are destroying other peoples cultures by pushing western technology and ideas onto them, how we are destroying the planet at a huge rate and consumerism is taking over.

I love Anne Rice books, any horse books, I collect antique books - like old old books, and sadly I havent been able to concentrate on reading any of them lately - hence watching all the documentaries.....

Music - anything from classical to modern pop, country music, just really NOT into heavy metal etc (I mean - I saw and loved bands like Def Lepard in the late 80s/early 90s, but they are hardly metal are they in all seriousness - more 80s hair! lol), and like rock - just with noise sensitivities these days try to avoid things too loud and flashing lights.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Didnt kill my ex husband :D Anyone who knows him, knows that is bloomin amazing. :P hahahahaha

Um..... I dont see it as 'amazing' but others have - we had a mare die 3 weeks before her due date due to a snake bite (dont worry - was in Victoria - no snakes in my yard as far as I know) - well - she didnt die - but she was dying - and we made the decision to sedate her, do a C section on her to get the foal out and give him a chance - then put her to sleep as soon as the foal was out - we put the massive massive colt in the back seat of my car to take him home for the night - had the right gear to get him through - and myself and my backpacker who stayed 16 months hand raised him - he is now a super 4 yr old which a huge future ahead of him. He is probably one of my proudest achievements.

That and a 4500km trip with a horse float(trailer) from the middle of the Eyre Peninsula to Adelaide, around the bottom of Victoria, through Sydney, up to Newcastle, Maitland and across through Broken Hill to home again - that was pretty epic.

Most stuff is animal related and probably most of it is stupid stuff and risky - but meh - you get that - if it helps critters out - then thats the best thing you can ask for.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have no idea what I can put here - I can talk a lot and tell people awesome spots to see in the areas I have been and know well.... and put them in touch with folk in other areas who will know what is best to see and where to stay there too....

I can teach you how to make a Pavlova if you like - an Australian desert - perhaps one of the most famous - and scones.... though I think the Aussies stole the Pav from the New Zealanders originally - but we have claimed it as our own now - and DO NOT buy one from Woolies or Coles - they are NOT real Pavs...... one of those horrible bought things shall never cross the threshold of the front door! lol

I can also teach you how to make an awesome Tuna Mornay as well.

I want to learn languages, and would love to pick up a few extra bits.

Sharing wise - I can share with you some awesome spots to visit - hopefully the dolphins are around the place here - there are usually some (sometimes a mum and calf) at the boat ramp here in town which is pretty special.

What I Can Share with Hosts

What I can share with folk who come to stay and are travelling are:

I grew up on the Eyre Peninsula so know most of the awesome spots to see and then know some great spots through the Flinders Ranges, down towards Adelaide as well, and through some areas of Victoria that are easy(ish) access and NOT in the tourist brochures but soooooooooooo worth seeing. So your armchair tourguide!

I can show you around town - but sadly cant do much more than that as I am not driving much at present - though if you are used to hiking around - its only about 6km from my house to the beach - maybe less, and theres a big shopping centre within about 1 1/2km from home too.

You dont have to sleep on the couch - you would have your own room, with a king single bed (so a couple could easily sleep on it together - its wider than the average bed), plus I have two single mattresses under that bed as well in case there are a couple of friends travelling together. The shower has awesome heat and pressure, and there are loads of fresh towels :D

Super friendly dog, shes my sweetheart, and two cats who are total smoochers - so if allergic to either - this probably isnt the best spot for you.

I have a mandarin tree in the back yard and if you eat those - you are welcome to as many as you like if its the time of year that they are in fruit.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia