+2023 Update+
A few recent changes mean that I'm hosting less than I used to. Please read my profile before making requests.

I will try to prioritise previous guests and touring musicians.

Couchsurfing is a community - not just a free place to crash, not a dating site and not a forum for taking advantage. If you're not here to exchange ideas and to make a positive contribution to the community, look for accommodation elsewhere.

CURRENT MISSION

To laugh until people stare.

ABOUT ME
I work in education all over the country and live quietly in the leafy suburbs of Bristol. When I'm not working, I play. Sports, guitar, reading, writing... you name it. I'd describe myself as a man of broad and eclectic interests. I love an evening of deep conversation, I love to learn.
Currently proud to be singer with The Layers - check us out at www.thelayers.me.uk - we had a great time on the CS Gigswap tour and we'd love to come and play near you - got a venue? Drop me a line.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm most aligned with Marx. That's Groucho, not Karl. 'Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark to read.'
Other aphorisms that sum up my approach to life would be 'Life's too short for cheap wine' and 'F*ck em if they can't take a joke'.
I live because the alternative isn't that appealing. I do my best to live right for myself and the people that I love.
I'm for education and I'm against drugs.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
I've had some great guests and stayed with some lovely folks on my travels. I've been quite involved in Gigswapping.At the moment I'm working pretty hard and so I don't get to travel much; I really enjoy hosting though and it gives me a reason to cook!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
Couchsurfed with Henk and then I took part in the soon-to-be-legendary first CS Gigswapping tour with Henk, Paul, Viktor, Tommy, Ruben, Duke and all of the other fantastic musicians. It was beyond awesome and I hope that it's going to be the template for a lot more events just like it. Stayed in Netherlands, US and London, hosted people from all over and was privileged to have played two fabulous gigs in New York courtesy of the CS crowd out there.
I've surfed in the US and Europe and welcomed guests from all over the world, some of whom have become my beloved friends.

I've been a part of CS since 2007 and I've seen it change a lot. I'd like to see hosts and surfers alike sticking to the original vision of Couchsurfing as a cultural exchange, a place for us to learn more about each other - not just a free place to sleep.

FRIEND REQUESTS
I get friend requests off members who have had greetings messages sometimes and from prospective surfers. In general, I only accept requests from people who I know and who I really think of as friends. Please don't be offended if I don't respond.

Interests

Music - I play in a couple of local bands and have sung at open mics all over the UK and in Europe and the US.
I play football, squash, tennis (badly) volleyball (badly) and I coach rugby - I'm willing to have a go at most sports, though. I love surf trips, walks in the hills and forests and any games that you can play on a beach.
I read a lot, write a little and enjoy art and culture in all sorts of forms.
I like deep conversations over good meals, laughter, jam sessions, books, the sea (although not less than 30 minutes after the aforementioned meal).

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• education
• cooking
• wine
• coach
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• sports
• soccer
• tennis
• rugby
• racquetball
• volleyball
• teaching
• mathematics
• science
• beaches
• squash
• conversation
• philosphy

Music, Movies, and Books

Yes, I like movies, music and books. The house is full of books and instruments and I hope that my guests will feel free to take advantage.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have seen people do good deeds when they thought that nobody was looking.
I was named one of the "fifty people that make Bristol a great place to live" a few years ago. I was really happy to be nominated and named. It's a great city and I'm proud to have been able to give a little back.
I am one of the privileged few to have met cork Nadine.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you and I each have an apple and we exchange them, we each have an apple. If you and I both have an idea and we exchange them, then we both have two ideas.
Also, too many ideas won't give you wind.
I know a fair bit of science and maths from my professional life but I'm really interested in the areas where science and philosophy are indistinguishable. All learning is good learning and in an ideal world we would all be teachers and students alike all of the time. I always want to learn from the people that stay with me - whatever they may be able to teach me, it's all valuable.
I can teach you to pass, catch and kick a rugby ball, if that's something you'd like to be able to do.
I can teach basic guitar, share cooking tips, simple electronic repairs and any of the academic stuff that I do. If you've got expertise in anything, I'm interested to learn.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Ideas, stories, songs. I'll happily cook for you and/or with you. If you've got jobs you need helping out with I'm happy to muck in. I'm relatively competent with household repairs, fixing devices and other bits and pieces and I genuinely enjoy a bit of manual labour.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom

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