documenting leisure | eportfolio

For me, life's all about learning, exploring and sharing experiences. When not studying or working, I could be found on a mountain, up a wall, talking to new people, visiting new places - or editing videos of the above.

COMPUTING

I've grown up alongside computers, and ever since 'helping' Dad play Batman on his Amstrad PCW (toddlers aren't generally known for being effective gaming wingmen), I've been fascinated by what they can do. Nowadays, I love to explore these possibilities further, and can happily spend hours editing and creating images and videos, and learning new techniques online - even dabbling in a little coding.

Whether it's school resources and university work, travel snaps and holiday videos, or even this website, I can't help but look for extra skills to master that'll make them pop. After all, technology has come a long way since Dad's Amstrad. Then again, in a way things haven't changed much at all - I still love Batman games.

Taking a badly exposed photo...

...then using graphical design software...

...into a more attention-grabbing nature snap.

Taking a badly exposed photo...

1/5

SNOWBOARDING

Several years ago, I was working as a waiter at a French hotel in the Alps. Despite having skied for years, in my free time I taught myself to snowboard, and immediately fell in love with snowsports again: the adrenaline rush when hitting the fall line, the grace and style of linking turns, and that feeling of accomplishment when conquering a steeper slope.

Within a couple of months I had become an expert rider, teaching new colleagues the basics and giving clients tours of the slopes when I wasn't serving their meals. Now, I still enjoy helping others discover the sport, and when I'm on my own, I love making my own new discoveries; heading away from the crowds and carving tracks through the nearby powdered countryside, or practising tricks (badly).

All in all, I just love sharing the fun of the sport and the alpine experience with others, something which I'll usually document in a video using a GoPro and Apple iMovie. With the above example, I tried to capture the frantic and light-hearted nature of 2020's trip through quick-cuts and high-tempo music.

EXPLORING

Initially, foreign languages for me were just extra qualifications at GCSE and A Level. Whilst I had enjoyed studying them, I didn't really appreciate the impact that they could have on my life and future until one holiday abroad. Far from simply facilitating the booking of accommodation, my French soon had my friends and I sharing drinks and food with the locals, and getting advice on where best to visit to avoid the crowds of tourists. Back in Engalnd, my French was soon getting me restaurant jobs, and later the winter season's work in the Alps.

I'm a natural conversationalist, and have discovered that being able to share in other people's societal experiences in their own language is a much richer way of discovering a culture. I'm now a confident French and Spanish speaker, and have so far enjoyed using these languages to deeper explore France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the USA, and Canada. Of course, I don't only limit myself to French and Spanish-speaking countries - and I can't wait to see where I'll go, who I'll meet, and what I'll end up doing next!

Route alors! During a 6-week road trip in France, we relied upon camping and using airbnb for accommodation. Our French hosts were universally brilliant - great conversation, and full of advice on where best to visit.	Sun Diego Just above the border with Mexico, San Diego was great for 2 things: Spanish, and surf!	(B)road trip Being a Brit, I was struck by just how vast everything is in the US. The landscape, the wind farms...even the cars. Our 3-door Camaro was at least the size of an estate over here, and drank even more.	Grandstanding (Obligatory Grand Canyon pose)
Water view! The further north you go up the western states, the more frequent lakes like this one are. A former volcano, this was beautiful, serene...and freezing!	Loched up A half term holiday spent Airbnb-ing across Scotland turned out to be a great way of discovering the country. Loch Voil, in the Trossachs National Park near Loch Lomond, was breathtaking!	Snow business I loved my seasonal work in France. Improving my French every day, with the largest interconnected ski resort in Europe on the doorstep? Paradis!	Wall to wall fun I find climbing one of the most rewarding ways of keeping fit. Literally reaching for your next goal, and surveying what you've achieved when it's all done is immensely satisfying.
Off the beaten track in Indonesia After getting a PADI diving qualification, I took a trip off the beaten track to explore the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. In spite of violent social upheaval in the 80s, it was amazing to see how the island's diverse society have all come together to create a sense of community that leaves so few people behind. In 2 weeks of travel, I only saw one person living on the streets.

For me, life's all about learning, exploring and sharing experiences. When not studying or working, I could be found on a mountain, up a wall, talking to new people, visiting new places - or editing videos of the above.

COMPUTING

SNOWBOARDING

EXPLORING

Route alors!

During a 6-week road trip in France, we relied upon camping and using airbnb for accommodation. Our French hosts were universally brilliant - great conversation, and full of advice on where best to visit.

Sun Diego

Just above the border with Mexico, San Diego was great for 2 things: Spanish, and surf!

(B)road trip

Being a Brit, I was struck by just how *vast* everything is in the US. The landscape, the wind farms...even the cars. Our 3-door Camaro was at least the size of an estate over here, and drank even more.

Grandstanding

(Obligatory Grand Canyon pose)

Water view!

The further north you go up the western states, the more frequent lakes like this one are. A former volcano, this was beautiful, serene...and freezing!

Loched up

A half term holiday spent Airbnb-ing across Scotland turned out to be a great way of discovering the country. Loch Voil, in the Trossachs National Park near Loch Lomond, was breathtaking!

Snow business

I loved my seasonal work in France. Improving my French every day, with the largest interconnected ski resort in Europe on the doorstep? Paradis!

Wall to wall fun

I find climbing one of the most rewarding ways of keeping fit. Literally reaching for your next goal, and surveying what you've achieved when it's all done is immensely satisfying.

Off the beaten track in Indonesia

Being a Brit, I was struck by just how vast everything is in the US. The landscape, the wind farms...even the cars. Our 3-door Camaro was at least the size of an estate over here, and drank even more.