Sudden wild enthusiasms - what are yours?
Discussion
What are the recent hobbies / purchases / projects that have grabbed your enthusiasm recently?
As far as I can remember, I have always thrown myself into something for a few months and then got bored and in most cases moved on. I'm fascinated by others that keep a hobby for years, but seem to have little interest in trying other things. This is the absolute opposite of me.
Recent SWEs for me have been archery, running, learning Japanese, using fountain pens and collecting ink, chilli peppers, carp fishing, WW2, lathes (wood and metal) and I'm now in the grip of an obsession with watches. This last one has proved handy as I restored a watch I was given to me on my 18th birthday from a battered, not working piece of jumk with bent hands, to a shiny, characterful (ie scratched) item with new glass and a mechanism that keeps perfect time.
The upside is that I learn a lot but it rapidly gets expensive. I then justify this by manmaths-ing it away(ie: getting the glass replaced with a genuine part at a watch specialist would cost c. £50. For £13 I bought an identically sized piece of glass and a glass press meaning I have saved loads and gained a useful tool / nutcracker too.
Am I one of a rare breed of people who suffer from sudden wild enthusiasms or are there loads of you out there.
As far as I can remember, I have always thrown myself into something for a few months and then got bored and in most cases moved on. I'm fascinated by others that keep a hobby for years, but seem to have little interest in trying other things. This is the absolute opposite of me.
Recent SWEs for me have been archery, running, learning Japanese, using fountain pens and collecting ink, chilli peppers, carp fishing, WW2, lathes (wood and metal) and I'm now in the grip of an obsession with watches. This last one has proved handy as I restored a watch I was given to me on my 18th birthday from a battered, not working piece of jumk with bent hands, to a shiny, characterful (ie scratched) item with new glass and a mechanism that keeps perfect time.
The upside is that I learn a lot but it rapidly gets expensive. I then justify this by manmaths-ing it away(ie: getting the glass replaced with a genuine part at a watch specialist would cost c. £50. For £13 I bought an identically sized piece of glass and a glass press meaning I have saved loads and gained a useful tool / nutcracker too.
Am I one of a rare breed of people who suffer from sudden wild enthusiasms or are there loads of you out there.
bloomen said:
I have this to an extent. Less so enthusiasms, more areas of knowledge. I become a world authority on a chosen subject within a couple of weeks and then completely forget it all. It gets a bit embarrassing when someone consults me on something that I no longer have a clue about.
That's me 100%. I get immersed in something, then a month or two later it's completely gone. It's worse when you've been filling people in on your new found knowledge only for them to later remember the details you told them and you've forgotten it all...Cars 0-42
Getting very drunk 17-28
Moving house, doing it up while having babies 28-32
Home cinema 32-38
Crossfit/weight lifting 38-41
Mountain biking 41-now
Not sure what's next, boats, flying, fishing, photography.................most things start with reading a thread on here, you gits have cost me a fortune
It's probably all to make me feel better about the fact 90% of my time is not my own, and the other 10% I'm asleep.
Getting very drunk 17-28
Moving house, doing it up while having babies 28-32
Home cinema 32-38
Crossfit/weight lifting 38-41
Mountain biking 41-now
Not sure what's next, boats, flying, fishing, photography.................most things start with reading a thread on here, you gits have cost me a fortune
It's probably all to make me feel better about the fact 90% of my time is not my own, and the other 10% I'm asleep.
Two years ago, I started to learn Magic. Got the books, brought a load of props, Subscribed to the websites. No reason other than it was something that intrigued me.
Trouble is, I bore easily. It takes no more than 10 minutes to learn how any trick works. It takes about an hour to work out the mechanics. It then takes hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours ....etc.....of practice to perform that trick to with the level of nonchalance needed to make it look convincing.
I now know how pretty much every trick is done but my repertoire is limited to four card tricks - admittedly very cool tricks (can make a single card change by flicking the corner, reform a completely torn and signed card, bring a folded card in the middle of pack to the top on a click of the fingers and upturn a chosen card in a closed deck).
Trouble is, I bore easily. It takes no more than 10 minutes to learn how any trick works. It takes about an hour to work out the mechanics. It then takes hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours ....etc.....of practice to perform that trick to with the level of nonchalance needed to make it look convincing.
I now know how pretty much every trick is done but my repertoire is limited to four card tricks - admittedly very cool tricks (can make a single card change by flicking the corner, reform a completely torn and signed card, bring a folded card in the middle of pack to the top on a click of the fingers and upturn a chosen card in a closed deck).
My long standing and expensive hobby is cars,
Iv tried to divert my attention with many things such as golf, fishing both which iv got bored of/ frustrated with (golf) and sacked off.
I tried to pick up the guitar again but alas the time I could spend practicing I’d rather watch TV!
My current flavour of the month is iv started doing the couch to 5k. I’m tempted to get a mountain bike but I have no idea if there are any trails close by.
Iv tried to divert my attention with many things such as golf, fishing both which iv got bored of/ frustrated with (golf) and sacked off.
I tried to pick up the guitar again but alas the time I could spend practicing I’d rather watch TV!
My current flavour of the month is iv started doing the couch to 5k. I’m tempted to get a mountain bike but I have no idea if there are any trails close by.
Getting older and having a hectic family life now makes it difficult for me to get enthusiastic about much now outside of stopping my kids from killing each other / trying to wear them out and cold beer at the end of the day (sometimes during 
)
Stuff that I've always been into:
Cars - now difficult due to having no spare cash, time, and getting nagged if I drive enthusiastically. Also really need a boring SUV for my caravan...
Camping / Caravanning - Always enjoyed the great outdoors, in years gone by in a tent but we've upgraded and now inflict my family to several trips away each year in the white box.
Walking / hiking - my enthusiasm is still there but getting the kids to walk more than a few miles can dampen that. The wife also broke her ankle a bit over a year a go and it still isn't right apparently
Cycling - As above, me yes, kids / wife in small doses. Used to enjoy a good MTB trail.
Body Boarding - When away to the seaside in the 'van.
Gadgets, video games etc. - not much time now but I do try.
Home brewing - See cold beer above.
New(ish) interest:
Running - did C25K a few years back, hated running before that but need to do some exercise out of necessity due to the ever expanding waistline. Decided running would allow me to burn the most calories in the shortest time so decided to give it another go. Moved up to doing 10k events and did my first half marathon last weekend. Now thinking maybe I could do a whole one?
Forced upon me:
These things I did once have a bit more enthusiasm for but now I struggle..
DIY - Have bought a doer-upper house I've had to learn / do quite a bit of this. Good when it goes to plan and the end result looks ok, not so good when it doesn't. Enthusiasm for this has been wildly lacking of late despite having a number on unfinished jobs about the house to constantly remind me...
Gardening - 'er indoors does all the plant stuff but I've done some landscaping and have a load more to do to finish it. Basically as above...
Gone over the years:
Fishing & in particular carp fishing - Spent a lot my youth on the banks of various lakes but since full time work "wasting" a Sunday sat by the water isn't so easy to justify. My lad has expressed an interest in fishing so we might dust off my gear one day.
Golf - me and a mate thought it would be a good idea to take this up, we had lessons, and I bought a set of bats. Said mate moved away and as above can't really be sending half a Sunday on a golf course these days. Do keep meaning to sling a few clubs in the car to take out some frustration a the local range during a lunch break but not sure if I'll play another round anytime soon.
) Stuff that I've always been into:
Cars - now difficult due to having no spare cash, time, and getting nagged if I drive enthusiastically. Also really need a boring SUV for my caravan...
Camping / Caravanning - Always enjoyed the great outdoors, in years gone by in a tent but we've upgraded and now inflict my family to several trips away each year in the white box.
Walking / hiking - my enthusiasm is still there but getting the kids to walk more than a few miles can dampen that. The wife also broke her ankle a bit over a year a go and it still isn't right apparently
Cycling - As above, me yes, kids / wife in small doses. Used to enjoy a good MTB trail.
Body Boarding - When away to the seaside in the 'van.
Gadgets, video games etc. - not much time now but I do try.
Home brewing - See cold beer above.
New(ish) interest:
Running - did C25K a few years back, hated running before that but need to do some exercise out of necessity due to the ever expanding waistline. Decided running would allow me to burn the most calories in the shortest time so decided to give it another go. Moved up to doing 10k events and did my first half marathon last weekend. Now thinking maybe I could do a whole one?
Forced upon me:
These things I did once have a bit more enthusiasm for but now I struggle..
DIY - Have bought a doer-upper house I've had to learn / do quite a bit of this. Good when it goes to plan and the end result looks ok, not so good when it doesn't. Enthusiasm for this has been wildly lacking of late despite having a number on unfinished jobs about the house to constantly remind me...
Gardening - 'er indoors does all the plant stuff but I've done some landscaping and have a load more to do to finish it. Basically as above...
Gone over the years:
Fishing & in particular carp fishing - Spent a lot my youth on the banks of various lakes but since full time work "wasting" a Sunday sat by the water isn't so easy to justify. My lad has expressed an interest in fishing so we might dust off my gear one day.
Golf - me and a mate thought it would be a good idea to take this up, we had lessons, and I bought a set of bats. Said mate moved away and as above can't really be sending half a Sunday on a golf course these days. Do keep meaning to sling a few clubs in the car to take out some frustration a the local range during a lunch break but not sure if I'll play another round anytime soon.
bloomen said:
I have this to an extent. Less so enthusiasms, more areas of knowledge. I become a world authority on a chosen subject within a couple of weeks and then completely forget it all. It gets a bit embarrassing when someone consults me on something that I no longer have a clue about.
I'm a combination of the above and the OPer. Fortunately, I don't forget stuff too much which means I can talk about a s
tload of stuff to anyone.Actually, I lie. Gravitational waves has me slightly confused. Not the basic concept but going beyond that to basic calculations. I had a vague grasp as some point but I'm lost again. That and degree level maths. They stopped using numbers and started writing things upside down and back to front (at Warwick Uni at least).
I thought it was just me! Over the years I’ve obsessed for a short while over many, many hobbies and interests, frequently requiring the purchase of expensive gear.
Stashed away in cupboards / lofts / sheds I have:
- ski boots
- golf clubs
- SLR cameras and lenses
- all-grain brewing equipment
- three Weber BBQs and a smoker
- a mountain bike
- wetsuit
- two shotguns & three air rifles
- numerous fishing rods and all the gear
- every power tool known to man
- a tool for pretty much any job around the house
- a TVR in bits
- watch mending equipment
- watches
- tent and sleeping bags
- numerous coffee machines / makers
- a million cookbooks and an appliance for everything
In my mind I think I’m well rounded, interesting and can talk to anyone about anything. In reality I suspect I’m a complete bore with Aspergers or something!
To be fair I do go back to a lot of these hobbies, even if it’s just for a day out with some friends. And the cooking gear, coffee makers, DIY equipment and car stuff always comes in useful even if they’re not flavour of the month any more.
Still, it would be nice if I could stay interested in one thing for more than six months - I guess cars are the only thing that always holds my interest.
Stashed away in cupboards / lofts / sheds I have:
- ski boots
- golf clubs
- SLR cameras and lenses
- all-grain brewing equipment
- three Weber BBQs and a smoker
- a mountain bike
- wetsuit
- two shotguns & three air rifles
- numerous fishing rods and all the gear
- every power tool known to man
- a tool for pretty much any job around the house
- a TVR in bits
- watch mending equipment
- watches
- tent and sleeping bags
- numerous coffee machines / makers
- a million cookbooks and an appliance for everything
In my mind I think I’m well rounded, interesting and can talk to anyone about anything. In reality I suspect I’m a complete bore with Aspergers or something!
To be fair I do go back to a lot of these hobbies, even if it’s just for a day out with some friends. And the cooking gear, coffee makers, DIY equipment and car stuff always comes in useful even if they’re not flavour of the month any more.
Still, it would be nice if I could stay interested in one thing for more than six months - I guess cars are the only thing that always holds my interest.
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