ABOUT ME

I'd like to think I'm a friendly, happy person who smiles a lot and loves an opportunity for silliness. I tend to live in a state of perpetual muddle, though I appear to be improving with age, just like a fine wine! :D I love to try new activities, and have dabbled at many, many things; Though I retain an abiding love of the great outdoors, meeting new people, and having new experiences.

CURRENT MISSION (Nov 2019-Oct 2021(and beyond?))

Become a mountaineer? I’m off to live on the road again with my bike in New Zealand, but am also hoping to get as much caving, climbing and hiking in as possible. Generally wanting to become more skilled for outdoors adventures, and to live in the woods. Because outdoor life makes me happy.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm one of life's optimists (despite spending a lot of time thinking about class based oppression, the hierarchical nature human society, and environmental destruction), and tend to think that if you are honest with yourself and make decisions that suit you, things generally pan out.... As they say, everything always happens for a reason. (It would appear I also think in clichés and mixed metaphors...)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Initially because I met some wonderful people while travelling in France, and the best of them seemed to be on here; now with the hope of meeting even more wonderful people and seeing/doing things I wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to through meeting like minded people.

Update: Couchsurfing has proved a gold mine of amazing people; occasionally I forget that this is how I met some of my wonderful friends :)

Why I'm not on Couchsurfing

For online dating.... Sort of disappointed this needs saying. If you are after a date, message someone else on an appropriate platform. Cheers.

Interests

My life revolves around the outdoors, and Conservation volunteering.... to my great pleasure, I have found that conservation volunteers seem to be made from a similar mould the world over, and there is nowhere I feel more at home than with a bunch of environmental type folks, busy outdoors whilst making the world around us a more pleasant place. Though more recently I have often been found touching rocks, both above and below ground, as climbing and caving have slowly crept into my life.

• arts
• flowers
• crochet
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• rock climbing
• volunteering
• mountains
• bushcraft
• games
• skating

Music, Movies, and Books

Whimsical stories that make me dream of life in far away climes or living on a lighthouse/canal boat etc. are the sort of book for me. I like a book where I'm not really sure where it's going, and if it turns out it never really goes anywhere, I can live with that :) I'd far rather that than something formulaic :) I also read a fair amount of politics/sociology, though I will confess I often read what people thought about a text, then look at the text, then read some more about what other people thought. I find the thoughts of others often seem to be far easier to digest, and often help me decide whether I am in agreement or opposition by reading a surrounding discussion.

I would be fairly lost at sea without my music. This is not to say my taste is broad, or eclectic, or especially good :) But much like being outdoors, music just makes me feel better about life.

As for movies, I'm way too easily distracted. Sorry..... I've probably pottered off when I was meant to be watching that one. And no, I don't know who played that character, or anything else that they were in.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbing Nevis... I realise there are bigger mountains, and more extreme landscapes, but we were just blown away by how other worldly the summit is. Just like something from an old sci-fi movie; rocks, dust, and cairns built by people on their way to and fro. Brillliant! I have a macro shot of a small moss flowering at the peak, the only plant up there as far as I could tell... macro shots of plants are enjoyable :D

Teach, Learn, Share

There must be something I can teach or share, but somehow my mind is blank when put on the spot!

Basic crochet?
Some knowledge on rocks?
Armchair philosophy?
Skating! Now that, that I can definitely teach you.

As for learning, I am game to learn pretty much anything! Though I am currently particularly interested in plant identification.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Food, stories and experiences are what spring to mind. But if it is possible to share it, I'm fairly happy to share anything; Except germs, you can keep any germs to yourself, and I'll try to do likewise :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Iceland, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom