What are your hobbies?
Discussion
Blib said:
Sim racing.
I've got everything, including a motion rig.
I'm truly, truly rubbish. But, I love it nonetheless. Especially when driving in VR.
Within a few minutes of turning the rig on I can be hurtling round Curve Grande in my Lotus 79 , I look to my right and right there is another car. I can almost reach out and touch it.
I try to outbrake him, but I lock up, lose control and crash spectacularly into the barriers.
All the while grinning like a Cheshire cat.
I dabble with sim racing but not to your level - mainly because i have neither the room or the funds to create a specific rig - but it is fun to be able to hoon about and know that if you do prang something, it won't cost you an arm and a leg.I've got everything, including a motion rig.
I'm truly, truly rubbish. But, I love it nonetheless. Especially when driving in VR.
Within a few minutes of turning the rig on I can be hurtling round Curve Grande in my Lotus 79 , I look to my right and right there is another car. I can almost reach out and touch it.
I try to outbrake him, but I lock up, lose control and crash spectacularly into the barriers.
All the while grinning like a Cheshire cat.
For me, apart from sim racing
Reading
Music - mainly listening but tryign to learn to play the guitar
I'm a recreational drone pilot
it's been a while but i am starting to look into building plastic scale models again
And i quite fancy some of the Lego models as a thing to distract me from things
Skeptisk said:
A few on here have mentioned clay pigeon shooting. Interested I checked prices for an experience at a local range. £90 for half an hour. Punchy. How much would it be if you have your own gun and don’t need someone with you?
If I were shooting clay pigeons I’d like to shoot some real ones too, but not sure how you go about getting invited in shoots.
If you want to get in to clay shooting then what you really need is a few friends, you can meet these while shooting, but if you know anyone who shoots now then ask if they will take you along to the local ground and shoot with you. But before they take you then do a taster session or 2 at the ground with an instructor. Then you won't be a burden on your mate and will likely be invited again.If I were shooting clay pigeons I’d like to shoot some real ones too, but not sure how you go about getting invited in shoots.
Shooting as a group is nicer than solo shooting. Having someone to trap for you saves using the solo shooter function which isn't ideal but serves a purpose. It also spreads the cost out a bit, you will pay the same but it will last longer. You can easily burn through £100 of clays and cartridges in less than an hour on your own, but as a group that same amount of shooting (and you won't be shooting that much at the start I guarantee) would last you a couple of hours or so. It does mean though that you will go and shoot 25/50 each and it will last more than 10-30 mins. Which is painful. Plus there's conversation, guidance and a bit of gentle piss taking all of which make for an enjoyable session. Followed by a cup of tea and sausage roll and walk around the shop looking at what you can't afford.
Shooting isn't a cheap sport. But done right it can be bearable. Done wrong you need deep pockets. Most normal working people who have some disposable income can comfortably go shooting once a week or so with a few mates and spend a nice evening or a sat/sun morn or afternoon enjoying themselves. Buying cartridges in bulk becomes essential, at least a thousand at a time to get the cost down. Most shops have them at competitive prices, some grounds are competitive, others take advantage of the captive audience a bit. But buying a box at a time as you will as a new shooter is the most expensive way to shoot by far. See also renting a gun and doing shooting lessons with a coach.
I think one or 2 lessons max, followed by a bit of time with a friend borrowing their gun and paying for cartridges and clays (pay some towards your mates shooting to say thanks for the gun loan etc. and you will never be short of help) and then once you are in the swing of it a few more lessons to sharpen up is the best way. But there are coaches and coaches. Some will just stand there with a fag in mouth and not offer anything useful. They are fine at the start to get you going, teach safety, get you over the hill to start. But when you need sharpening up they are useless. You need someone who will actually cure your ills and part of that will involve gunfit. YouTube Ed Solomon's, you'll get the idea.
Once your sure you enjoy it you want to get your licence applied for then buy a gun of your own. You don't need to spend a lot. A grand would buy you a nice gun from what I'd loosely call stable browning (browning/miroku/Winchester etc.) which all have a similar fit and are good solid guns. Or a Beretta (my choice). These won't be prime examples, but will be good solid workhorses. If the type of shooting you enjoy is semi auto friendly (useless for trap shooting for instance, but good for sporting) then that's worth considering as costs are lower than over unders. There are some budget guns on the market, Lincoln's/lauronas have always been beginner favourites but now there are some Turkish guns blatantly copying Beretta and Perazzi designs, a grand brand new. But they are disposable guns really, at that price however it doesn't matter. But don't get fixated on hardware at this stage. Concentrate on getting going and practice.
Pigeon shooting is harder to get in to. You might meet someone who does want to share a permission, but there are also a lot more hoops to jump through now, I'd suggest just start on clays and go from there. If you want to go game shooting it's expensive. I mean properly expensive. Clay to game is like track day to full racing cost difference. You can happily shoot on £50 a week clay shooting. But a game day will be 1k upwards. And I do mean upwards. And you will need an outfit and an acceptable gun. It's very experience driven, so you'll have a lovely time, but you will want to fit in and that's not cheap. Game shooting isn't my thing so my advice isn't first hand but I have friends who do. Most local shoots do have beater days though, so you beat in your spare time through the year then get a free day or 2 as reward. Might be worth considering and you might find them a nicer experience too.
Chicken Chaser said:
Had many hobbies but these have stuck with me
Playing music - keys and guitar. Whilst not gigging, I like to record some of my own stuff at home, and I like to deconstruct classic songs to try and play all the parts without reading the music (I can, but actively seem to avoid reading it unless necessary)
Yeah I do that sort of thing. I’m into all sorts of music, including classical. When I hear a particular interesting thing going on in the back ground, say on French horns or cello, I’ll try to figure it out using GarageBand just with my ears. I also play guitar in two bands.Playing music - keys and guitar. Whilst not gigging, I like to record some of my own stuff at home, and I like to deconstruct classic songs to try and play all the parts without reading the music (I can, but actively seem to avoid reading it unless necessary)
Tennis is my other hobby and good exercise. Usually 3 or 4 times a week. I often play more in the summer.
dukeboy749r said:
Gordon Hill said:
Also do enjoy a round of golf, problem is that I'm rubbish, distance isn't an issue more direction.
I believe you may have just defined golf for amateurs.I can hear them sniggering behind me like Mutley the dog as I address the ball.
Edited by Gordon Hill on Sunday 28th April 12:09
wildoliver said:
If you want to get in to clay shooting then what you really need is a few friends, you can meet these while shooting, but if you know anyone who shoots now then ask if they will take you along to the local ground and shoot with you. But before they take you then do a taster session or 2 at the ground with an instructor. Then you won't be a burden on your mate and will likely be invited again.
Shooting as a group is nicer than solo shooting. Having someone to trap for you saves using the solo shooter function which isn't ideal but serves a purpose. It also spreads the cost out a bit, you will pay the same but it will last longer. You can easily burn through £100 of clays and cartridges in less than an hour on your own, but as a group that same amount of shooting (and you won't be shooting that much at the start I guarantee) would last you a couple of hours or so. It does mean though that you will go and shoot 25/50 each and it will last more than 10-30 mins. Which is painful. Plus there's conversation, guidance and a bit of gentle piss taking all of which make for an enjoyable session. Followed by a cup of tea and sausage roll and walk around the shop looking at what you can't afford.
Shooting isn't a cheap sport. But done right it can be bearable. Done wrong you need deep pockets. Most normal working people who have some disposable income can comfortably go shooting once a week or so with a few mates and spend a nice evening or a sat/sun morn or afternoon enjoying themselves. Buying cartridges in bulk becomes essential, at least a thousand at a time to get the cost down. Most shops have them at competitive prices, some grounds are competitive, others take advantage of the captive audience a bit. But buying a box at a time as you will as a new shooter is the most expensive way to shoot by far. See also renting a gun and doing shooting lessons with a coach.
I think one or 2 lessons max, followed by a bit of time with a friend borrowing their gun and paying for cartridges and clays (pay some towards your mates shooting to say thanks for the gun loan etc. and you will never be short of help) and then once you are in the swing of it a few more lessons to sharpen up is the best way. But there are coaches and coaches. Some will just stand there with a fag in mouth and not offer anything useful. They are fine at the start to get you going, teach safety, get you over the hill to start. But when you need sharpening up they are useless. You need someone who will actually cure your ills and part of that will involve gunfit. YouTube Ed Solomon's, you'll get the idea.
Once your sure you enjoy it you want to get your licence applied for then buy a gun of your own. You don't need to spend a lot. A grand would buy you a nice gun from what I'd loosely call stable browning (browning/miroku/Winchester etc.) which all have a similar fit and are good solid guns. Or a Beretta (my choice). These won't be prime examples, but will be good solid workhorses. If the type of shooting you enjoy is semi auto friendly (useless for trap shooting for instance, but good for sporting) then that's worth considering as costs are lower than over unders. There are some budget guns on the market, Lincoln's/lauronas have always been beginner favourites but now there are some Turkish guns blatantly copying Beretta and Perazzi designs, a grand brand new. But they are disposable guns really, at that price however it doesn't matter. But don't get fixated on hardware at this stage. Concentrate on getting going and practice.
Pigeon shooting is harder to get in to. You might meet someone who does want to share a permission, but there are also a lot more hoops to jump through now, I'd suggest just start on clays and go from there. If you want to go game shooting it's expensive. I mean properly expensive. Clay to game is like track day to full racing cost difference. You can happily shoot on £50 a week clay shooting. But a game day will be 1k upwards. And I do mean upwards. And you will need an outfit and an acceptable gun. It's very experience driven, so you'll have a lovely time, but you will want to fit in and that's not cheap. Game shooting isn't my thing so my advice isn't first hand but I have friends who do. Most local shoots do have beater days though, so you beat in your spare time through the year then get a free day or 2 as reward. Might be worth considering and you might find them a nicer experience too.
Thanks for all the information. Shooting as a group is nicer than solo shooting. Having someone to trap for you saves using the solo shooter function which isn't ideal but serves a purpose. It also spreads the cost out a bit, you will pay the same but it will last longer. You can easily burn through £100 of clays and cartridges in less than an hour on your own, but as a group that same amount of shooting (and you won't be shooting that much at the start I guarantee) would last you a couple of hours or so. It does mean though that you will go and shoot 25/50 each and it will last more than 10-30 mins. Which is painful. Plus there's conversation, guidance and a bit of gentle piss taking all of which make for an enjoyable session. Followed by a cup of tea and sausage roll and walk around the shop looking at what you can't afford.
Shooting isn't a cheap sport. But done right it can be bearable. Done wrong you need deep pockets. Most normal working people who have some disposable income can comfortably go shooting once a week or so with a few mates and spend a nice evening or a sat/sun morn or afternoon enjoying themselves. Buying cartridges in bulk becomes essential, at least a thousand at a time to get the cost down. Most shops have them at competitive prices, some grounds are competitive, others take advantage of the captive audience a bit. But buying a box at a time as you will as a new shooter is the most expensive way to shoot by far. See also renting a gun and doing shooting lessons with a coach.
I think one or 2 lessons max, followed by a bit of time with a friend borrowing their gun and paying for cartridges and clays (pay some towards your mates shooting to say thanks for the gun loan etc. and you will never be short of help) and then once you are in the swing of it a few more lessons to sharpen up is the best way. But there are coaches and coaches. Some will just stand there with a fag in mouth and not offer anything useful. They are fine at the start to get you going, teach safety, get you over the hill to start. But when you need sharpening up they are useless. You need someone who will actually cure your ills and part of that will involve gunfit. YouTube Ed Solomon's, you'll get the idea.
Once your sure you enjoy it you want to get your licence applied for then buy a gun of your own. You don't need to spend a lot. A grand would buy you a nice gun from what I'd loosely call stable browning (browning/miroku/Winchester etc.) which all have a similar fit and are good solid guns. Or a Beretta (my choice). These won't be prime examples, but will be good solid workhorses. If the type of shooting you enjoy is semi auto friendly (useless for trap shooting for instance, but good for sporting) then that's worth considering as costs are lower than over unders. There are some budget guns on the market, Lincoln's/lauronas have always been beginner favourites but now there are some Turkish guns blatantly copying Beretta and Perazzi designs, a grand brand new. But they are disposable guns really, at that price however it doesn't matter. But don't get fixated on hardware at this stage. Concentrate on getting going and practice.
Pigeon shooting is harder to get in to. You might meet someone who does want to share a permission, but there are also a lot more hoops to jump through now, I'd suggest just start on clays and go from there. If you want to go game shooting it's expensive. I mean properly expensive. Clay to game is like track day to full racing cost difference. You can happily shoot on £50 a week clay shooting. But a game day will be 1k upwards. And I do mean upwards. And you will need an outfit and an acceptable gun. It's very experience driven, so you'll have a lovely time, but you will want to fit in and that's not cheap. Game shooting isn't my thing so my advice isn't first hand but I have friends who do. Most local shoots do have beater days though, so you beat in your spare time through the year then get a free day or 2 as reward. Might be worth considering and you might find them a nicer experience too.
I didn’t think that game shooting would be so expensive! Having to fit in doesn’t sound like my thing. I had my fill of such types at parents’ evening at my daughter’s schools and also through work.
Cars - driving them, washing and detailing them, mechanical work (although less as mechanical as I get older)
Golf - Spend a lot of time on the course, Been playing 6 years and hooked in it
Cooking - Love to cook, glad BBQ season is coming
RC Cars and Helicopters - Although not flown any in about a year due to other hobbies above
Mowing the lawn - Simple pleasure but really look forward to it
Golf - Spend a lot of time on the course, Been playing 6 years and hooked in it
Cooking - Love to cook, glad BBQ season is coming
RC Cars and Helicopters - Although not flown any in about a year due to other hobbies above
Mowing the lawn - Simple pleasure but really look forward to it
Skeptisk said:
wildoliver said:
some really good advice
Thanks for all the information. I didn’t think that game shooting would be so expensive! Having to fit in doesn’t sound like my thing. I had my fill of such types at parents’ evening at my daughter’s schools and also through work.
Boxing, twice a week
I enjoy snooker but dont really play anymore for mixed reasons.
Shoes, although i mean trainers/sneakers
I have A bit of an interest in bikes, bought a trek roscoe the other year but fallen off more times ive ridden it and have a fixie which im tweaking to my tastes
ETA, been learning german for a good few months now on duolingo aber Ich spreche nur ein bisschen deutsch.
I enjoy snooker but dont really play anymore for mixed reasons.
Shoes, although i mean trainers/sneakers
I have A bit of an interest in bikes, bought a trek roscoe the other year but fallen off more times ive ridden it and have a fixie which im tweaking to my tastes
ETA, been learning german for a good few months now on duolingo aber Ich spreche nur ein bisschen deutsch.
Edited by Ryyy on Sunday 28th April 13:03
Mostly music:
Playing guitar, drums, bass and vocals. We played a gig (guitar and vocals) last night at a busy social club and it was great seeing the crowd dancing and singing along. Never going to be rich and/or famous from it, but it's great fun. I also stand in with a friend's band if they are short of their drummer or guitarist, luckily they rehearse on a different night to my main band.
Connected to the above I assemble guitars, do all the set up and any repairs/modifications, including spraying.
Other hobbies involve cars, though I'm not sure I'd count general servicing and repairs as a hobby as such, though I find restoration work and detailing work satisfying.
Also the technical aspects of home cinema set up, building and calibration, plus of course sitting down afterwards to watch something on it.
I don't include gardening as a hobby as such, more that I enjoy it once done to enjoy on those rare sunny days with a suitable drink in hand.
Playing guitar, drums, bass and vocals. We played a gig (guitar and vocals) last night at a busy social club and it was great seeing the crowd dancing and singing along. Never going to be rich and/or famous from it, but it's great fun. I also stand in with a friend's band if they are short of their drummer or guitarist, luckily they rehearse on a different night to my main band.
Connected to the above I assemble guitars, do all the set up and any repairs/modifications, including spraying.
Other hobbies involve cars, though I'm not sure I'd count general servicing and repairs as a hobby as such, though I find restoration work and detailing work satisfying.
Also the technical aspects of home cinema set up, building and calibration, plus of course sitting down afterwards to watch something on it.
I don't include gardening as a hobby as such, more that I enjoy it once done to enjoy on those rare sunny days with a suitable drink in hand.
A lot of people here doing lots of varied hobbies - and a few sound very accomplished (mostly directed at the chap who learns languages!!!)
My Hobbies? This is where I feel life is too short as I tend to go all in and get very good at what I pick up.
Guitar playing - got quite good and enjoyed learning the music theory.
Photography - almost ended up as another career.
Road cycling - took it further and did some racing.
DIY - I resent paying others to do what I find fairly straightforward.
Physiology and nutrition - a more minor interest but enjoy reading about the human body, especially as I hated biology as a kid.
Design - linked to my day job, it spills over big time into my interests.
Walking - love roaming the hills.
Next on the list will be trail running as where I now live is perfect for it!
My Hobbies? This is where I feel life is too short as I tend to go all in and get very good at what I pick up.
Guitar playing - got quite good and enjoyed learning the music theory.
Photography - almost ended up as another career.
Road cycling - took it further and did some racing.
DIY - I resent paying others to do what I find fairly straightforward.
Physiology and nutrition - a more minor interest but enjoy reading about the human body, especially as I hated biology as a kid.
Design - linked to my day job, it spills over big time into my interests.
Walking - love roaming the hills.
Next on the list will be trail running as where I now live is perfect for it!
Making guitars.
Playing guitar, I used to do gigs, unfortunately my playing partner died 4 years ago, it's a lot more difficult on my own, so I only do a few a year now.
Darts, I play at my local hostelry once a week, I hit four 180's last Thursday, my best ever in public. I practice for an hour a night at home.
Motorbikes, like riding them, fettling them and watching them race. I really enjoy restoring old bikes, particularly if they arrive as boxes of bits.
I do a lot of woodworking, a lot of DIY and lots and lots of general tinkering.
Fishing, mainly coarse fishing with a bit of sea fishing.
Gardening, I look after a neighbours garden as well as our own
I only ever watch Motorcycle racing and Darts on TV, the rest of TV out put is utter b
ks!
Do a lot of puzzles as well.
Playing guitar, I used to do gigs, unfortunately my playing partner died 4 years ago, it's a lot more difficult on my own, so I only do a few a year now.
Darts, I play at my local hostelry once a week, I hit four 180's last Thursday, my best ever in public. I practice for an hour a night at home.
Motorbikes, like riding them, fettling them and watching them race. I really enjoy restoring old bikes, particularly if they arrive as boxes of bits.
I do a lot of woodworking, a lot of DIY and lots and lots of general tinkering.
Fishing, mainly coarse fishing with a bit of sea fishing.
Gardening, I look after a neighbours garden as well as our own
I only ever watch Motorcycle racing and Darts on TV, the rest of TV out put is utter b
ks!Do a lot of puzzles as well.
Skeptisk said:
Thanks for all the information.
I didn’t think that game shooting would be so expensive! Having to fit in doesn’t sound like my thing. I had my fill of such types at parents’ evening at my daughter’s schools and also through work.
Just to offer some balance on this.. Wildoliver's comment is really good and spot-on about the clay shooting part.I didn’t think that game shooting would be so expensive! Having to fit in doesn’t sound like my thing. I had my fill of such types at parents’ evening at my daughter’s schools and also through work.
For game shooting, there's a pretty big range of prices and experiences. Certainly, you can expect to pay £1000+ for a fully catered, high-end day on a prestigious estate, where you'll be wined and dined and have the opportunity to shoot at hundreds of birds. That sort of thing is generally something you do as a treat (although of course there are folks with the means to do it all the time), but I honestly wouldn't say it's the norm.
I've been shooting clays for about 18 months, and recently through a friend who got my into shooting, joined a local shooting syndicate as a paid member. I won't divulge all the details as it is a 'private' group so to speak, but it roughly breaks down as such:
- The syndicate pays rent to a local farm to use their land. They have a dozen or more large fields with small bits of woodland, ponds, hedgerows etc.
- We buy our own birds (pheasant) each year, and set up feeders and shelter etc for them at various locations around the farm land.
- Throughout the year, we tend to the area, restocking feeders, checking on bird movement, putting up little fences, planting small areas of cover crop around the pools etc.
- When the season starts (ours is September to January), we have a calendar of about 12 shoot days (Saturdays and Wednesdays I believe) where we'll meet up and shoot a few drives at different locations each time as determined by the shoot captain
- We'll typically take it in turns, between shooting (from a roughly determined position depending on the drive location) and beating / flushing the birds out with dogs - some of the older gents on the shoot only beat nowadays anyway.
- There's a 'full gun' and 'half gun' option, the former shoots all 12 days, for £600, the latter shoots 6 days, £350. We might shoot as little as 4 birds on a day, or as many as a dozen, but it's £50 a day, for a day out in the fields, with friends, dogs, guns, drinks and snacks, and if you have a few shots or kill a bird, it's a good result and you can take one home to cook.
- Full gun also gets the option of year-round pigeon shooting, which the farmer is happy for us to do and something I'll be doing soon hopefully, and we even have a little DIY clay shoot a few evenings a year with a couple of traps on the back of a trailer.
- Lastly, there's not really much of a prescribed etiquette to these less formal shoots. Even the 'posh' ones, it might sound a bit much, but it's just part of the tradition to put on some tweeds and enjoy the gentlemanly experience.. Ours a lot more relaxed and typically you just wear practical / comfortable clothes, in theory you could wear any outdoor clothing, it's just that you end up buying the khaki / olive green jacket and trousers more aimed at shooting, than say brightly coloured hiking gear, horses for courses etc. and all part of enjoying the experience.
So it can definitely be affordable especially via the DIY route, it's all about who you know, and inevitably if you start shooting, you'll meet loads of people and get talking.
I'd absolutely recommend doing a couple of 'have a go' days at a local ground if it interests you, they're not the most cost effective way of shooting obviously but it gives you a good taster course and something to think about before taking the plunge.
If you decide to give it a shot, check out the PH shooting thread if you have any questions etc
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...Edited by smithyithy on Sunday 28th April 14:49
No mass single hobby. Lots of interests 
Socialising - comedy nights, quizzes, pub crawls. In fact, I suspect enjoy beer is my number one hobby, if I'm honest
Cycling
Skiing - not very good, but enjoy a few weeks in the mountains.
Walking - also help run County DofE, so out next weekend with a team on their Gold practice
Volleyball....although all my friends have now 'retired' from playing, leaving the club full of kids - maybe only 1 more year!
Pickleball
Snooker (rarely play, but do like it on in the background, esp this time of the year....hoping to see Ronnie live on Tuesday if he beats Ryan Day)
Washing cars (actually do enjoy a spot of minor amateur detailing), gardening, amateur DIY - basically regular living!
Family stuff - enjoy helping our offspring on their journey into working life.
Technology - nothing deep, not into home coding, but like gadgets that simplify life - robotic mower, home plugs, etc.
Travel (we managed a 2 month interrail adventure a year ago - loving the reminders on FB!)
Personal finance (not just ours, but helping make sure our offspring have the right approach). Perhaps more important since stepping away from work 3 years ago)
Films,TV (esp in winter months!).
Socialising - comedy nights, quizzes, pub crawls. In fact, I suspect enjoy beer is my number one hobby, if I'm honest
Cycling
Skiing - not very good, but enjoy a few weeks in the mountains.
Walking - also help run County DofE, so out next weekend with a team on their Gold practice
Volleyball....although all my friends have now 'retired' from playing, leaving the club full of kids - maybe only 1 more year!
Pickleball
Snooker (rarely play, but do like it on in the background, esp this time of the year....hoping to see Ronnie live on Tuesday if he beats Ryan Day)
Washing cars (actually do enjoy a spot of minor amateur detailing), gardening, amateur DIY - basically regular living!
Family stuff - enjoy helping our offspring on their journey into working life.
Technology - nothing deep, not into home coding, but like gadgets that simplify life - robotic mower, home plugs, etc.
Travel (we managed a 2 month interrail adventure a year ago - loving the reminders on FB!)
Personal finance (not just ours, but helping make sure our offspring have the right approach). Perhaps more important since stepping away from work 3 years ago)
Films,TV (esp in winter months!).
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