Gerard and I met while on the Bow High School Nordic Team. We were likely doing arm circles at the time, making conversation and singing songs to forget the pain. That team was one of the most special groups I’ve ever been a part of, as it tightly bonded people that may never have met through suffering, cold, and winning. I’ve been fortunate to stay in touch with many of those that were on that were on that team, including best friends, roommates, and NOW a person to visit in a foreign country.
Once James and I put the UK on the list, I immediately sent a note to Gerard and made visiting him in Cambridge a priority. If you’ve been reading our blog, you know that this trip is as much about seeing our friends as it is about exploring the world. There is something special about being with friends in their daily life; cooking meals together, learning about their favorite spots, and simply being present in the space they currently inhabit. I knew visiting Gerard would be filled with laughs, some educational content, and walking the university streets, but I didn’t know how easy it would be to fall into step with the days. James and I had an absolute blast with Gerard in Cambridge because we were able to go to the gym with him, borrow his bikes, walk around without an itinerary, and share plant-based meals that we all enjoyed.
Thank you Gerard for your hospitality and for letting us use your gym as our playground. Let’s learn a bit about him …
What’s your favorite thing about where you live?
I love how close I am to London while still feeling a bit like I’m living in the countryside. To be able to travel to arguably the most global and international city in the world in 45 minutes while still enjoying a slightly quieter pace of life is pretty spectacular.
Teach us some local slang…
All the local slang I’ve picked up here is Australian. So not really local at all, but we’ve got :
- Arvo – means this afternoon, “what are you doing this arvo?”
- Smoko- a quick smoke break taken during the day, during which time I understand you don’t necessarily need to smoke … ie – you can add ‘ie’ to the end of anything in Australia, even if it just makes the word longer. For example, I’ve seen an Australian offer a mate an afternoon ‘beerie’, which just made the word beer longer but I still loved.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to?
Just got back from a trip to Switzerland, Geneva and Zurich. I’d be hard pressed to think of a more impressive backdrop to your travels than the Alps. Would recommend it to anyone.
What makes you laugh?
Stuff that I think is funny.
What is your favorite meal of the day? What would you eat/drink during it?
Breakfast without a doubt. English breakfast. Eggs, sausage, tomatoes, beans, toast, the works. As good as it gets. Granted Sheila and James have got me thinking about switching to a plant-based diet so some of this might be out…
Describe what it’s like to host Sheila & James in three words…
Very. Very. Good.
Where can people follow your cool life?
Can’t be done, small social media footprint. Apologies.
