...what do you do to relieve boredom, keep you entertained?
...what do you do to relieve boredom, keep you entertained?
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Lexual

Original Poster:

513 posts

243 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all

...I had originally written a couple of big paragraphs about how I feel a bit fed up with either sitting on the couch watching TV, wasting time on the internet or out drinking as my only 'downtime' from work or at weekends, decided I was getting a bit to deep for a bunch of strangers on the internet.

So, instead I'd just like to ask what hobbies, interests and other 'spare time' activities people indulge in other than being stuck in front of the TV, internet or down the pub?

I currently live in Gothenburg, Sweden, with my girlfriend. We don't have a car and there genuinely isn't a huge amount the city has to offer outside of bars and restaurants.. so I'm looking for inspiration of things to maybe do at home, model building etc, that won't cost a fortune and I wouldn't quickly tire of...

I'm 37 if that helps.

So what's your productive time killer?

V8RX7

28,982 posts

293 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Hmm just you and a girl sitting there bored...

Nope can't think of anything !


Iva Barchetta

44,044 posts

193 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Gaming.

Can fill a whole lot of spare time on these.

PlayStation,Xbox etc.

Lexual

Original Poster:

513 posts

243 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
V8RX7 said:
Hmm just you and a girl sitting there bored...

Nope can't think of anything !
this is for the times she's working, got the painters in or asleep... would only kill a few minutes anyway wink

Flipatron

2,089 posts

228 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
https://www.marshals.co.uk/

Just noticed you're in Sweden though!

Lexual

Original Poster:

513 posts

243 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Iva Barchetta said:
Gaming.

Can fill a whole lot of spare time on these.

PlayStation,Xbox etc.
I'm looking to do things to get me away from the laptop/tv..



Mastodon2

14,338 posts

195 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Have you ever considered you might be a boring person?

Lexual

Original Poster:

513 posts

243 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Have you ever considered you might be a boring person?
maybe just keep that to yourself, ay.

V8RX7

28,982 posts

293 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Problem is you are on a UK Car Forum.

So I spend a lot of my time playing / fixing / improving my cars.

I spent time renovating / extending my house and garages, cutting trees down and chopping them up for firewood.

I spend time with my wife and kids and then when I'm tired I post on forums as it beats watching TV.

If I lived in a City - I'd move out - but I guess I could read up on what's on, learn about the architecture, visit Museums etc

But yeah - I'd move out.

Levin

2,118 posts

154 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
First and foremost, what are your interests? What makes you tick?

You're in Gothenburg; you're absolutely surrounded by history. The city's existence can be traced back to the Thirty Years' War and Sweden's period as a major European player. How much of the history have you went out and explored? I guarantee there are stories to be found and sights to see in Gothenburg if that era appeals to you.

How's your Swedish? If you're fluent you can probably appreciate the country's history more than I can.

As you're already familiar with the pubs and drinking culture in Sweden, have you been to see any local bands? As it's relevant to everything I've mentioned above, look up the Sabaton album 'Carolus Rex'. It's a Swedish power metal band (though there are both English and Swedish versions of every track) and the album is essentially a chronological look at Sweden during this period. It's only 50 or so minutes long and could be a decent point for getting into the history of the country.

Other than that, Peter H. Wilson's 'Europe's Tragedy' is a great read on the Thirty Years' War but it is very, very dense and - I felt at least - it required you to have a base of knowledge on European history during the period.

Robertj21a

18,009 posts

135 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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Photography can be very interesting, and time consuming. Either get interested in photography itself or use it to record an interest in, say, wildlife, the countryside, people, towns, weather etc

Mr_C

2,508 posts

259 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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Cycling?
Running?

It's something you can do together and you get healthier doing it.

Maybe play a sport (badminton, squash, tennis?)

Alternatively, read books?

bobbo89

6,024 posts

175 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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I drunkenly won an old Beetle on eBay and it gives me no end of entertainment working on it out on the driveway. Its really opened my eyes and taught me a hell of a lot about cars and now I really wouldn't be without it, I love it!

A lot of my time now goes into on-line research followed by actually doing the work. I spend a lot more time working on it than driving it but it keeps me entertained and there's no better feeling than the sense of achievement after fixing a problem on your car!

sjabrown

2,091 posts

190 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Photography. Don't need a fancy camera. How about setting yourself a small project like photographing something interesting on every street in the city centre? Or a photo of a different place in the city every single day no matter the weather.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

242 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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Something sporty.
Gym?

Sheets Tabuer

21,487 posts

245 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
I wonder this, I live alone and when I come home at night the house is deadly quite, I go to the gym 5 days a week to relieve the boredom but if I could I'd just sit home and not bother.

I live opposite a pub that texts me every day to reinforce I have no life.

I go to the cinema down the road, go to the pub across the road, sometimes I even go to concerts at the Theatre across the road but fk me it's so boring...

Ok I'm not being any help hehe

Lexual

Original Poster:

513 posts

243 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all

Thanks for the suggestions so far, photography is actually something I do have an interest in and I did used to just go out and do a bit at very amateur level, this is something I could get back into, find a social group here that does it..

I'm quite keen on getting a push bike, have been looking for a second hand one at a decent price, have mentioned this to the girlfriend several times but I think I'm losing the battle of getting her on a bike, I could just combine this with the photography and go out alone, explore around the city.

Gym is a little tricky, I cant join one until I'm registered here which is proving a challenge at the moment.. I do a bit of exercise at home..

Regarding museums and learning the history of Sweden, that's really not my thing and I wouldn't be able to get into it, I guess I could visit a couple of museums one time and that would be it, I wouldn't sit an read books about it.

Would love to have a car to tinker with, I actually have a Saab 9-3 Aero Hot in the UK which is doing nothing and I need to get rid og it. We live in an apartment close to the city, whilst we have a parking space we dont have a garage and as long as I'm not registered I cant buy a car and get insured on it, plus its getting to winter now and there is no point in having one over the next few months.

Lexual

Original Poster:

513 posts

243 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Levin said:
How's your Swedish? If you're fluent you can probably appreciate the country's history more than I can.

.
Swedish is close to non existent, I'm slowly working on this.

JakeT

6,002 posts

150 months

Monday 29th August 2016
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I do bits on the car, read a little and go out with the girl I'm seeing. But cleaning and DIY is a good shout. Keeps one busy, and improves your quality of life.

On the other hand, replace the L at the front of your name with an S is a good way to unwind...

fido

18,921 posts

285 months

Monday 29th August 2016
quotequote all
Gym - maybe not 5 times a week - but it would fill up your boring time, or something physical you can do on your own e.g. karting
Dancing - I know the Swedes love Swing Dancing because I used to meet a few in London.
Language classes - but fair enough if you couldn't be arsed!