What are your interesting hobbies

[TimeToLose8]

I seem to have a lot of time on my hands now (post retirement). I'm doing some volunteering but I'm looking for an interesting hobby I can pick up and put down where I can use up some of this time. I cook, read, sew etc, but I'm looking for something more. Hopefully that doesn't cost a lot to get going.

I have spent a fair bit of time on free MOOCs (massive open online courses) - there are a lot out there, and of course I could do another one - highly recommended.

It would be interesting to see what some of your more unusual hobbies are. And, hopefully something will take my fancy.

I make soap, my own toiletries & home cleaners etc. it relatively easy, bit like cooking. You need the right ingredients, but can play around with lots of it, make it smell how you want etc.

I noticed you sew op - I used to live near a WI shop where members made stuff to sell. I used to buy gifts, hand sewn baby clothes, jewellery from there and thought it would be a great thing to do.

@Tinylittlecabbages not sure I'm allowed to post it! You can check the Instagram at @thewootiquelondon

translation of texts in other languages

What about an instrument. You can get guitars very cheaply.

These aren’t really my hobbies, so much as ideas:

Trapeze /Ariel hoop. But you’d need to find classes near you.
Beekeeping (find your local club as they’ll probably do a beginners course and have a club apiary).
Art? Crafts? Mosaics, willow weaving, etc.
Cooking a type of cuisine you’ve never mastered? You can just do it when the fancy takes you, or invite people round for dinner to make it more sociable.

I restore antique sewing machines - the really old iron ones from about 1890-1950s. The hobby pays for itself as i don't have room for all of them so i sell them on to be used and every now and again i can buy a really special one to keep. I'm getting a bit of a reputation, i get a few people contacting me having cleared sheds and lofts and wanting to get rid of their elderly relatives sewing machines but not knowing what to do with them.

@Sewingmachinesssss I learnt to machine sew on a singer sewing machine that had to be turned by hand in the 1970’s. they are works of art.

I am translating documents from olde English in to modern English for an archive as a volunteer.

In the past I did a lot of dancing including Belly dancing, it’s great to keep fit. I also did pottery which I really liked.

@Sewingmachinesssss

I restore antique sewing machines - the really old iron ones from about 1890-1950s. The hobby pays for itself as i don't have room for all of them so i sell them on to be used and every now and again i can buy a really special one to keep. I'm getting a bit of a reputation, i get a few people contacting me having cleared sheds and lofts and wanting to get rid of their elderly relatives sewing machines but not knowing what to do with them.

Hurrah for you! They are such wonderful things. It’s so good to hear someone is out there helping them to survive. I made a heavy canvas awning last year with my grandma’s 1944 hand cranked Singer. My very posh electric Juki would have risked burnout but the Singer didn’t even struggle.

I go clay pigeon shooting. I started with individual lessons, moved on to ladies' days under instructions and am now good enough to shoot most places on my own.

I play in a carnival drumming band. It's a really brilliant diverse group of people and fantastic fun.

Whatever you go for, I’d find something with a community as I think it makes all the difference. Almost every hobby has some sort of fb group you can join and connect with others who like the same things.

My main hobby is dog agility, including training days and going to dog shows.

I also like walking and have the all trails app to try different local walks.

I like doing jigsaws and I’m a member of a local ‘free jigsaw’ library where people swap puzzles for free.

I like cross stitching

I swim three times per week

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I have made a list and am going to work through them

So, to
@Houseplantmad
@Chikapu
@ComtesseDeSpair
@APurpleSquirrel
@Tomselleckhaskindeyes
@Sewingmachinesssss

I'll be having a go at strength training, junk journalling, geocaching, making soap, looking for a cheap guitar (that will drive my husband mad) and also looking out for old sewing machines (I wont be competing with you @Sewingmachinesssss as I live in France!)

Wine. You can study with the WSET and learn something really interesting that will also give you a much deeper appreciation of something that is readily available and probably already in your life anyway.

I have a dolls house and love ‘playing’ with it. It’s very relaxing to escape into something that is my own little world. I like buying new bits for it and have joined lots of online groups.

Cooking is mine which is boring, boring, but this year I have plans to go to an Ice Hockey match with a view to getting into it, also trying rollerskating.

@astoundedgoat

Wine. You can study with the WSET and learn something really interesting that will also give you a much deeper appreciation of something that is readily available and probably already in your life anyway.

I've just looked at the WSET site, and I'm definately going to download the tasting App. Thank you