Ideas 4 Hobbies

Cycling

My close friend suggested cycling as a way to reduce my weight. Little did I know I would enjoy this new hobby so much, both as a sport and entertainment. Not only have I lost weight, my legs have become much more toned. Plus I have never slept so well. I try to go out cycling when I get home from work and it’s just the tonic to relieve the stresses of the day. When I’m back in the office I’ve found I have more confidence and a spring in my step. Given the ever increasing cost of petrol I think I’ll start cycling to work when I can and hopefully a few of my work colleagues might do too!

Plane Spotting

Plane spotting can be a very captivating hobby for many people. But watching planes has not always been a hobby. Between 1925 and 1995 the Royal Observer Corps operated in Britain. This army of plane spotters was in charge of watching the air traffic for military and public security purposes and played a key role during the Second World War and the Cold War. However, radar technology has since replaced them. Not all the plane spotters are the same and there are many sub-groups. For many people, plane spotting is only about watching the planes taking off and landing during an afternoon walk around an airport or an airfield. They just have a fascination for planes and enjoy watching them fly. Go to the viewing park on the northern side of Manchester Airport to see just how many people where are at weekends. It can be perfect for a family day out and the endless stream of aircraft can keep the kids captivated for hours. Other plane spotters derive enjoyment from recording the registration codes of the airplanes. A special category of plane spotters are the photographers. They enjoy taking pictures of as many aircraft types as possible.

Making Crystals

Making crystals is a simple process and can be done using ingredients from your local hardware shop. It doesn’t require a lot of equipment or use of factory machines. Plus it can help introduce young people to the wonders of chemistry and stimulate their scientific minds! Crystals are solid materials with molecules, ions and atoms that are arranged in certain patterns. The patterns repeat themselves throughout the molecular structure of crystal. Each and every crystal therefore has a definite lattice pattern and they can grow, even though they are not a living thing. The process of growth is called as ‘crystallization’ and growth can occur in just a few days.

Building Sand Castles

Building sand castles is not just an airy pastime. Building sand castles can be quite fun and can involve proper techniques and tools. It can be the first stepping stone towards creating more complex creations. Sand sculpting as an art form has gained in popularity and so if you go about creating art on the beach there is less likely of you being frowned upon. Instead, your art will receive some admirable stares! Start by mixing the water and sand together and build the tower by casting the sand in a bucket. Then build a base, tower, walls and even mini towers. The possibilities are endless. Decorate the castle with seaweeds and seashells for extra effect.

Noodling

Noodling, also known as Hand Fishing, can be traced back to the American Indians who used this method to catch fish for survival. It’s the art of using your bare hands to catch catfish. It’s cheap and doesn’t require any equipment such as rods or nets. Just wade into the water and put your hand down a catfish hole. Wiggle your fingers as bait and the catfish will swim out for you to grab. Some catfish can weigh up to 100 pounds. However don’t go noodling alone as there can be numerous dangers associated with the hobby including severe cuts, bruises and loss of fingers, not to mention other attacks from aquatic life. The hobby is only practiced in the USA where it’s legal in 13 states and done mostly in the Midwest and Southern states.

Bingo – The Hobby That Pays

Bingo was always something I associated with my grandparents and it never really appealed to me. However, after going to the local bingo centre with a few mates last Wednesday I have now changed my mind. It was a great way to spend a midweek evening and I even came away with more money than I’d arrived with. It wasn’t a big win but it felt good all the same.

I can now understand why soo many people enjoy online Bingo sites. Especially as it means you can keep your slippers on and get a cup of tea in the comfort of your own home. I have had many hobbies over the years, from playing musical instruments to joining sports teams. With all of these I have always found that I’ve had to pay out money in order to enjoy them, whether it be for new trainers or a new string for my guitar. However for those who enjoy Bingo, they must find that their hobby pays them.

Bingo will never overtake my other hobbies but it is definitely something that I will try again, especially if I’m as lucky as I was last week!  Who knows I may even buy my own dauber!

Kids Activities

With the summer holidays fast approaching I thought I would write about some ideas for the kids to get them activity.. 6 weeks can seem like a long time!
For rainy days creative activities are a good step. Junk modelling is always a good choice and can be fun for all ages of children or even basic painting, drawing and starting a scrapbooking.
What I mean by Junk modeling is getting all those bits and bobs that lay cluttering around the house – cotton bobbins, toilet rolls tin foil and getting tons of PVA glue. I know it’s all sound abit Blue Peter creation but the main thing is to top get the kids involved and letting their imagination go crazy.

Advantage…

I just have to mention Tennis, its that time of the year again, the sun is shining..well most of the time, strawberries are in season and its Wimbledon week.

Tennis did get boring for a while, no British success, Henman predictably always making to the last few rounds before getting knocked out and the same individuals winning.

Well this year has been different thanks to Andy Murray, there is actually a chance that he could go all the way and for the first time in years I have been watching Wimbledon. He is about to play in the semi today, so fingers crossed we may have a English player in the finals for the first time in decades.

Tim Henman..who’s he ?

I love running

Well since doing the Bupa run last month I never thought that Jogging would be come my latest hobby but I have to say I am now hooked
I don’t know if it’s the weather or the light evenings but I can think if nothing better after a hectic day at work than to run it off in the evening. I can’t believe that I am even writing this and 3 months ago I would have thought you are crazy
But I have to say the challenge of finding more testing routes and taking my pace up a notch every time a go out is really addictive.
Since doing the last race and enjoying it so much a looked around to see what organized runs where in the area over the following months and found another 10k which is now on Sunday
I thought I was getting ahead of myself at the time booking a run nearly straight away however having a target has really given me motivation. So this time around I want to run slightly more that last time and at least get 10 minutes of my next time
Look I’m a million miles away from the London Marathon bet it’s a start

Pooktree !

I have been thinking for different hobbies recently to get you out an about and enjoying all this lovely Weather we have been having.

On my hunt I found some weird and wonderful Hobbies that i found rather interesting the first one being Pooktre tree shaping.
Pooktre tree shaping was developed and perfected by Peter Cook and Becky Northey in South East Queensland, Australia. The idea a love of nature, persistence and understanding trees and how they grow. I imgaine it a little like the persistence of nurture as with growing Bonzi trees.

The art involves encouraging trees to grow into a certain shape and styles