Hi! I'm an escapee engineer who was once on a trip across Europe, but reached the Georgia and settled down for a couple of years!

After living in the countryside of west Georgia, I started a tea business to try to encourage this eco friendly industry to do a lot of social good on many levels. Ask me about it!

I really love to travel slowly enough to make friends and get to know and understand a culture, place and its politics more deeply than the average tourist who whizzes between sightseeing hotspots.

I have a wide range of interests, so we're bound to have something in common!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I joined up Couchsurfing when I set out on a hiking trip across Eastern Europe and was hoping to meet local interesting people along the way. That trip ended up a bit differently to my plans, and rather than stopping in Athens, I ended up going through Turkey and staying in Georgia for about four years, on and off! One thing I really loved on my trip was the way in which Couchsurfing (and a few other platforms) allowed me to understand places and cultures so much more deeply, as well as make some good friends all along the way.

When I can, I love to host and repay some of the kindness and hospitality I've received through Couchsurfing. Check my BeWelcome for hosting feedback :) Thank you to all who make these platforms as magic as they are!

Interests

I have a very wide range of interests. We're bound to have something in common!

See tags above for a few, but briefly I like the arts generally and I paint and draw, play the trumpet and violin and sing a little. I studied Engineering and have an interest in aircraft and machines, particularly vintage cars.

I'm also very interested in the politics of the countries I visit, as it is always tied up with the national culture, often a distilled essence of it.

Film photography is also an interest of mine - a pair of Nikkormats have made good travelling companions recently. I also love to discover the food of other nations and cultures, and enjoy cooking too.

I'm born and bred in the countryside, so a big fan of the outdoors. Equally happy hiking and tree climbing as tractor driving and hedgelaying. I think hedgelaying might be a British specially - ask me if you're interested.

• arts
• folklore
• photography
• cooking
• walking
• painting
• drawing
• music
• folk music
• engineering
• science
• watercolour

Music, Movies, and Books

Favourites:

Music - 2nd movement of Hummel's trumpet concerto

Books - Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy... and how did I forget Le Petit Prince?!

Films - Withnail and I; Kin Dza Dza

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was part of a project at university to build an electric racing car from nothing (Formula Student). Absolute madness!

And a bonus thing: I once cooked a five-course dinner for 32 people with 3 different dietary options.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach... many things a bit: music, drawing, watercolour painting, how to carve a whistle from elder. Learn: about where you are from, food, language, music, current affairs and culture. Share: Sussex folk songs, food, drink and time.

I'm also very happy to show you some of the finer aspects of British food, probably one of the great cuisines of Europe, despite the reputation!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have a sense of humour, wide interests and can share a few Sussex folk songs if that's your sort of thing. I'm always up for a chat, and perhaps I can share some British cooking with you too?

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Georgia, United Kingdom