Shane is a fantastic host and has become a good friend. There is no-one better to teach you about London - its arts, culture, music, drinking and eating holes and life. I don't think there's a person on earth he doesn't want to meet or talk to. His curiosity about the world is infectious and I learn something new every time we talk. Shane is generous with his time, wit and warmth. Hanging out with him is always an adventure, sharing a bottle of wine with him is one of life's new pleasures for me.

I spent a month in the flat and it was the perfect place to land. The room and bathroom are great, the kitchen is full of amazing things to cook with and the company is second to none. Hackney Wick is a great spot full of artists, theatre, microbreweries and lovely food. Cycling along the canal is a real treat, as are the geese that fly past the balcony and the swans who drift past the Olympic Stadium.