Myguide is a reimagining† of the tourist/guide relationship. We'd like you to have the freedom to share what it is you love about your place on the planet with visitors who share your interests and will 'get it' in the same way that you do.
If you've visited Prague you have probably seen Charles Bridge, but have you unexpectedly arrived at an underground black-tie, beatless jazz lounge? Or partied in a disused train station, the only entrance a boarded window, through which a crowd dance insouciantly to the sounds of an old stereo? Well we have, and what made it extraordinary were those unanticipated moments and the exceptional people who led us there.
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to see the world as we see it, which is to say, nothing at all like we see it; but personal, unique and unforgettable.
We are a small group in England who share the excitement of discovering something new and unexpected. We travel, meet people and love both equally.
You can. Also your mum, uncle, Steve from the local, Barack Obama and Fred Flintstone* to name a few. If you have anything interesting to share about your local area then it's as simple as joining us, writing it down and waiting for your first visitor to get in touch.
That's perfect, we encourage our guides to list the things and places that they love and leave the adventure open to improvisation. After meeting your visitor you never know what you might realise you could show them.
There should be an 'experience' for everyone, not just suitable but perfect. That said, some experiences may require you to meet certain criteria, such as being over the local drinking age for wine tasting or having your own equipment if there is a specialist activity involved. Others will supply the equipment for you, have wheelchair access or offer transport if travel is required. These conditions should all be mentioned in the experience description.
We notify your guide immediately after your booking is made who, after checking availability for your chosen date, will be in touch with you as soon as they can. The next step is to go on holiday, have fun with your new friend and tell us all about it when you get back.
We ask our guides to respond as soon as they can, which in most cases should only be a matter of a few hours. If your guide hasn't responded within 24 hours we cancel the booking and don't take payment. In the event of a cancellation we will be very sad and probably send you something fun in the post to make up for it. Oh, you get an email too.
You will need:
30g/1oz butter
100g/3½oz button mushrooms, finely chopped
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Tabasco sauce
1 tbsp dried thyme
450g/1lb sausage meat (you can easily push the meat out from the skins of readymade sausages)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
450g/1lb ready-rolled puff pastry
1 free-range egg, beaten
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
Melt the butter in a large frying pan and fry the mushrooms until soft. Transfer to a large bowl.
Add the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, thyme and sausage meat and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Roll the puff pastry out into a large rectangle, then cut into two long rectangles.
Place a layer of sausage meat mixture down the middle of each pastry rectangle, then brush each with beaten egg on one edge.
Fold the other side of the pastry over onto the egg-washed edge. Press down to seal and trim any excess. Cut each pastry roll into 8-10 small sausage rolls.
Place the sausage rolls onto a baking tray and transfer to the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes, or until crisp and golden and the sausage meat is completely cooked through.
† It's a word, honest.
* Well Fred can't** as he's a cartoon.
** Unless your name is Fred Flintstone.