Tell me about your hobby

[MissPeachyKeen]

...and why you love it.

Saw taxidermy mentioned on another thread and I cannot understand the appeal or ongoing interest AT ALL but it clearly ticks the box for some people!

I love crochet & photography.

(I've had other hobbies I've been passionate about but they've been very active & old injury means I can't do them anymore.)

I like the tactile nature of crochet - like the feel of the wool under my fingers & how patterns feel when they've been crocheted. I'm attracted to the wide range of colours & beautiful things people create & post online - they feel like achievable aspirations. I also love that I could make something for a child or baby & it might be treasured for years, maybe even handed down. It's like leaving a little piece of me behind, crochet is very intentional because with every stitch you have to re-commit to what you're doing so there's a lot of thought & care in every piece.

I find it's very calming which is also why I like photography. Not very good at this! But having to focus on your subject through the lens is very mindful & really forces you to connect with what's around you

But I am very visual and when something catches my eye trying to find the best way to capture it in the camera is a lot of fun, interesting and really creative. Plus when I take a picture I do love I get to enjoy it for as long as I like.

Knitting and cross stitch. Someone complemented my cross stitch pictures this week. Knitting is easier at the moment because the arthritis in my hand has flared.

@Bluevelvetsofa That's lovely, why do you enjoy them?

My mum taught me to knit and I’ve done that on and off forever. I picked up a small counted cross stitch many years ago and got hooked.

I find both relaxing and having to take account of rows, patterns, colours, takes my mind away from fretting about anything and everything. Knitting is promoted as having a positive effect on mental health.

I wish with all my heart I could do my childhood hobby of riding horses. I have never been so happy. But I had a bad accident and am too scared now.

Nowadays though I guess travel is my main love. Last year I took on a second job for 6 weeks and put the money aside and that meant that we could take an extra holiday other than our annual summer holiday. We are going to Germany next week.

I've also just taken on another 5 week evening job starting after Easter which I hope will get us to Italy at some point.

Other than that I am mad for cooking and watching youtube cooking programmes.

I'm learning Arabic.

I like it because it's different. I can watch programmes in Arabic with English subtitles and pick up the odd word. (Not been learning long).

I'm doing it in Duolingo as well.

It's interesting learning about another culture as well. European cultures are in many ways quite similar and this is completely different.

(Please note this does not mean I agree with any aspects of the culture).

I'm also super proud when I can actually read some Arabic.

Learning to play an instrument

I love music and the idea that I can make it myself makes me happy ( or very annoyed when I can't !)

I love the focus , how my mind stills to focus on just that one thing

it's a mental puzzle and a physical one and a feeling one all at the same time

Netball! I've recently started playing again after not having played since school and I absolutely love it! I've made so many new friends and my fitness has improved dramatically. I come home buzzing after every match and sleep like a log.

Photography all the way! I love how it lets me capture the fleeting moments and I also really enjoy all thing editing. I'm by no means a professional and I use a simple and free photo editor (Photodiva, in case anyone's interested!) yet I genuinely admire how it lets me remove skin blemishes or eye circles. Would love to have something like that to apply irl 😂

I'm autistic and love photography, I'm trying to encourage more women to pick up the camera. How many unknown Doraphea Langes are out there?