R2OK!

Soulsister · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 9:33 pm Post subject: Hobbies and interests

Just wondered what people do outside of work and posting on here and listening to the radio and suchlike. Any steam railway enthusiasts or fishermen/women or people who go freefall parachute jumping on the weekends or Civil War battle re-enactors? Any budding gourmet chefs or potholers or surfer dudes or vintage car restorers, or stamp collectors, or amateur historians or genealogists ... or do you just like reading, pottering about in the garden, listening to music and more gentler pursuits. Or is there a subject that fascinates you and you spend a lot of your time reading up on it on the internet and so on?

What's your hobby/interest/passion/pastime?

Sadie Su · Joined: 14 Sep 2010 Posts: 146

Gardening,sewing, knitting,,am just getting to grips with using a knitting loom.
Making personalised greetings cards.

Oh, and now and then a little poetry writing.

Rolling Eyes

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I spend quite a lot of time restoring classic cars and I enjoy going to the car shows in the season
There is a massive show at Tatton Park in Cheshire In June and August
Quite naturally I also love animals and help out the Cats Protection League locally
I also enjoy watching sport my main passion being Rugby League and if you think I've been quiet tonight that's because I've just returned from Knowsley Road St Helens after watching the last ever competitive match at that historic stadium
I also help out at an organic gardening project in a place called Glyn Ceriog near Oswestry and I am a member of the Campaign for Real Ale
and definitely a real ale buff
I also love the countryside and it goes without saying I'm a big music fan

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 3:08 pm Post subject:

Oooooh yes.. I like steam trains! always have, although mainly American steam for me... bigger the better.
I've been across to see and ride on a few although not nearly enough.

As typical boys of the 50s and 60s, my brother and I had toy trains running all over our family hotel in the winter and to this day, never really lost interest in them.

Over the last 20 years, I've built up a heck of a collection of "O" scale locomotives and last year I built myself a wall sized glass cabinet to show some of them off. I also have three 3/4" to the foot models too... very impressive. Maybe next year if I have the time, I'd like to start a large layout as I enjoy model making and really want to get back to that..

I also love old American cars and again, we've had plenty of them over the years.
I'm keen to buy an old 50s Cadillac convertible and thought I'd found the one but I turned it down a few weeks back.
I presently drive a new model Mustang convertible which is nice but, I yearn for an older model again..

Apart from Trains and cars, I don't have many other real interests.. I like music from maybe the 40s to the 80s and thought I was pretty knowledgeable on the 60s and 70s until I started posting on here! Laughing

I don't smoke or drink and don't socialise much either! my business seems to take up most of my time which is probably good for me as it keeps me occupied 24/7.

( Like to hear about some of the Classic Cars you've had Ruddles? )
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13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Hi Santa
Over the years I've owned quite a number of classic cars but mostly from the 60s onwards being the period when I was growing up and which I remember fondly
I have had a 60s Ford Capri a 1963 Vauxhall Victor and a 1966 Victor 101 Estate also a late 60s Hillman Minx and also a Hillman Imp
I have also restored several 70s cars including a Hillman Avenger a Triumph TR7 and a Mark 3 Ford Cortina
I currently have a Volvo 480 which was one of the first models built for the launch of the car back in 1986
I also have a Mark 2 Toyota MR2 which I kind of inherited and I am presently doing work to get it up to MOT standard
I suppose you could say I've been bitten by the bug and I don't expect the current project will be my last
Its really good fun visiting the various shows around the country and I've made a lot of very good friends who I can call on if I need any help obtaining spare parts and the like

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

I am a samaritan which gives me pleasure,love cricket-watching and reading.
In fact i love reading full stop
walking along the beach in the rain
and snooker
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I found out how you can hurt an insect.It's the bees knees

ColinB · Guest

I don't have a hobby. Crying or Very sad

That's because what was a hobby for me as a teenager became the means by which I earn a living - and that's the way it's been for over 35 years.

In fact, I've never done a "real job" in my life!!!

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:50 pm Post subject:

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

As you say Santa the 60s was a fantastic era for cars
Yesterday I found a 1964 Vauxhall Victor with only 5000 miles on the clock and apparently it's genuine
It's been run regularly and must rank as one of the lowest mileage cars in Britain ever
The bad news is I'm waiting for a price
It's near Derby and I'm not exactly holding my breath but I'd really love to get my hands on it
Quite apart from the enjoyment I would get it's got to be a good long term investment

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 10:15 pm Post subject:

Hope you get it, sounds great! what a find.. if the bodywork and interior match the mileage I'd guess at about £3k? I don't know... but I suppose it depends on who owns it and who else is interested.
My brother came home with an immaculate Austin Maxi a few years back with just 14 thousand miles on it.. a red one with a tan interior. I was half tempted myself!
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

gutsygub · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 111

Hi Soulsister, I like nothing better than goin' down me allotment!

Soulsister · Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:48 pm Post subject:

More details please Gutsy!! I've always fancied an allotment. I've grown a bit of veg and fruit in pots in my back garden but gave up as they are decimated by grey squirrels! I've got a wood at the back of mine and my garden is like a squirrel assault course. They do tactical manoevres and training out there and my fruit and veg became kind of the squirrel NAAFI. Little !@£$%^&s!

I threw in the towel (or should that be trowel Laughing

) last year when I looked out and saw a squirrel sitting there by one of me tomato plants with a big red juicy tomato in it's mitts biting into it like someone eating an apple.

Keep the hobbies coming folks - it's fascinating to read what people get up to in their spare time. Anyone got any 'fascinations' - like a period in history, or a famous person or a geographical location etc? I've got a few, but it'll have to wait till another time as I'm a bit busy at the mo.

Rachel · Guest

I don’t really have any hobbies- just things that I like doing- shopping, canoeing, swimming, walking, teaching yoga, photography, painting, writing, gardening, software design, playing my piano and guitars- generally just having fun in whatever shape that happens to be that day. I used to like cooking too but I’ve gone off that since not being allowed red meat or anything with sugar in it. No work to get in the way you see.

undiscovered · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 650 Location: Peterborough

I never really had one since leaving school apart from cd's and records until a few years ago and now when the weather is clear I love nothing better than tto take photographs.
I used to love taking pictures of people just doing stuff but you get a funny look these days so I've moved onto natural stuff, trouble is I just can't get myself out of bed early enough to get the best time of the day Sad

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You will hear gospel and rhythm and blues and jazz, all those are just labels, we know that music is music.

gutsygub · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 111

Hiya Soulsister, (by the way is that you in your picture?). In the 2nd year of allotmenting if there is such a word. Unfortunately my current life with all it's ups (few) and downs (lots) means I haven't done as much as I should but my little patch of earth is my escape and there is nothing quite like a bit of digging to release the tension, and nothing quite like that freshly pulled carrot! Don't underestimate the work involved but if you do get a chance to get one go for it. (I have no squirrels just mice. slugs, whitefly, pigeons, moles....)

Soulsister · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject:

Is that me in the picture Gutsy? I wish! Rolling Eyes

I know what you mean about the ups and the downs of life - it's a bit of a rollercoaster for all of us I think.

I love gardening ... but where I live it's not suitable for veggie growing unfortunately because of those !@£$ing squirrels! One day, when the kids are older I'll find meself a little cottage with the perfect cottage garden.

Hobbies I don't really have as such - more interests. I get a bee in my bonnet about something and go at it hammer and tongs for a while, but then I usually move on to something else. I like doing up old furniture from junk shops and my house is kitted out with my projects. I like cooking and reading, I suppose my main passion is history - I'll focus on a particular era/event and read everything I can get my hands on for a while, visit places etc. etc. then another time/event will capture my imagination and I'll move on to that.

I could go on Mastermind answering questions about the early Fleetwood Mac, love my music generally although even that tends to be historic - discovering people I missed first time around, or rediscovering music from the past that I didn't miss, but have kind of forgotten about. Most modern stuff leaves me absolutely cold.

I've also got a bit of a thing about islands - the remoter the better. Recently I have become obsessed with St Kilda and my ambition is to visit one day.

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:15 pm Post subject:

Cherskiy · Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:38 am Post subject:

Low level aviation photography, writing for a local aviation magazine, walking and hiking, travelling, reading - don't have a lot of time for anything else after that lot!
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ColinB · Guest

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject:

No doubt there's no end of good music being turned out by countless bands today and admittedly, every now and then, something will be played on Radio 2 which I like the sound of, but.. will I or anybody else, remember it in 2 years time? or 22 years time? I doubt it.

I do feel that I've reached a comfortable place in my life when I'm really not that bothered by new music, even potentially "missing out" on new music.

I'm more than happy to revel in my music tastes and as Soulie mentioned, look to enjoy past music from favorite artists which I may not have heard as yet.
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

ColinB · Guest

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:28 pm Post subject:

Yes, I can see where you're coming from.. but in a way, that's my point, young people don't care about today's music in the same way as my generation did.. it's not important to them.
It's throw away music, a noise in the background. They have so much more going on than we did.

I was saying earlier today that when I was young, we would cart a few LPs round to friends houses and sit around playing them.. quite a sociable affair wasn't it? I don't think it would happen in that way today.

The charts and rare appearances by our favourite bands were relished weren't they.. the Pirate Stations were loved with a passion, Top of the Pops was not to be missed and I hate to admit it, it was enjoyable to watch!

In fact, I kinda liked the recognisable record labels too.. they were familiar.. friendly almost. Today, I couldn't name more a couple!
Plus of course, in my opinion, the music was sooo much better! Laughing

I'm developing more and more an opinion that more is not necessarily better.
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

ColinB · Guest

Soulsister · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:37 pm Post subject:

Occasionally, very occasionally my 17 year old son will be playing something and I'll think 'this ain't bad' and have discovered a few 'new' things that way.

But to be honest it's the other way round. My kids are always asking me to borrow CDs, or just go out and buy retro stuff themselves. Son likes all the old rock bands, 15 year old daughter is currently going through a Beatles phase - she can't get enough of 'em and that's not down to me either - I don't even know how she got into them, where she first heard them, but that's all I hear coming out of her room these days.

The musical times I have lived through, there was just so much great music around, it would have been impossible to have heard it all, let alone explored it all. As my screen name would suggest - my first love was Motown, Soul, Funk, Reggae .. then on to Blues and blues based rock, and so on. Now I'm going back and discovering stuff I missed out on first time round, and even getting into classical music.

I'd love nothing better than a great new musical talent to come along who really excites me, but to be honest, almost everything I hear has been done before, and usually better, at least to my ears.

Sorry if I sound like an old fart, but I'm quite happy in me own way - as Jethro Tull would say:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCyC1dZiN8

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Yes Santa I feel the same way about Television
I vividly remember coming up with every far fetched excuse under the sun not to have to go out on a Thursday night so I could watch TOTP and The Man From Uncle (and even better The Girl From Uncle!)
Surprised no lady has used that as a screen name here
Now I have access to hundreds of channels and I usually can't find anything I want to watch which perhaps explains why I spend so much time here boring you all to death
Life seems so instant now whereas when I was young having something to look forward to was what kept people going

Soulsister · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:41 pm Post subject:

I agree Ruddles - I sit there with the remote flicking through and there's nothing. I always end up on the history channel or yesterday. Just watched a great programme about the breaking of the enigma code in world war 2 - Bletchley Park and the Colossus and all that.

Actually I'm starting to get worried now Confused

ColinB · Guest