What do you do

[rary]

Just read a post submitted by lumpy, and it made me wonder what do you do to pass the time, I know a lot of people garden to relax, or read a book, or watch tv, but as a person who has no interest in watching sport, or football, and as I stay in one of the wettest areas in the country, which limits my gardening time, and don't bother much with the telly, more because I can't always hear what's being said, and OH gets a bit frustrated at always having to tell me what was said I read quite a lot, and have read some novels twice, and also very occasionally going through all the forum, though I have never tackled all of VCs posts,( now that could take several days or weeks) so again, how do you pass the time

[veggiechicken]

I write all the posts you don't bother to read, rary.
I garden, I read, I play with dogs, I dream up nutty ways to do things and test them out on you all.
Sometimes, I dabble with my family history.

I never iron.

[self-contained]

I work full-time and have quite a bit of work-related stuff to do in my free time, so that's a big proportion of most of my days taken up. Cleaning, laundry, general maintenance, personal care, admin, etc. take up the bulk of my remaining time. There are lots of things that I am very interested in and would love to do more, but I struggle to find the time. For example, I really like to read, but I just can't focus on a good book at the end of a long day in work. I usually watch a bit of telly/YouTube and browse online, but I'll tend to watch stuff that I don't need to give my full attention to rather than the really, really good stuff that I want to watch. That way I can watch something while I make my tea, do a bit of housework, sort through my emails etc.

A couple of years ago, I realised that my life was literally work, housework etc. and telly/computer, so I decided to try and expand my horizons a bit. I now go to the theatre quite regularly and even go to see things that aren't really my cup of tea, just to get out. Then I started gardening last Spring, and that's definitely been good for me More recently, I've started trying to do more exercise at home. I've always walked a lot (45 minutes home from work every day) but haven't done much other exercise. After some health problems got better with treatment, I decided it was the perfect time to get fitter in general so I'm doing a beginner's exercise app most days. I'd love to get out for more long (several hour) walks, but I just can't spare the time most weekends.

Looking forward to retirement - only 34 years to go!

[JanieB]

I've technically retired. I do do a bit of bookkeeping for friends and family. I used to read for relaxation and got through 3 books a week. My dogs don't allow this anymore and insist on sitting on me when I'm sat down. I do 3 crosswords every morning whilst having my first cuppa. I'm a Town Councillor, which can occasionally be challenging. I walk the dogs, I'm trying to get my garden into some sort of order. I have quite a lot of calls on my time from other people which I'm happy to do. It gets me out of the house and keeps me from getting maudling although I'm also happy in my own space as well.

I wind up scammers. I get at least 1 phone call every day. At the police's request, I also report them. I knit, sew, dollshousing and I do all my own DIY. I have 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. I'm here to help. My body is showing the signs of age but my mind still seems to be pretty alert.

I've done the work/home/play juggling and I'm glad it's over. Life is still not a holiday but I keep busy.

[burnie]

I have more hobbies than hours in the day(or money to fund them apparently), fishing has always been my main hobby, I have travelled over a fair bit of Europe fishing in rivers, lakes and the seas. I usually have a camera close by as I do a fair bit of photography, some of the images I then paint, as I also dabble in oil on canvas when I can motivate myself. Then there's the model railway I'm building, and when I'm not busting muscles, I also do a bit of clambering around on mountains up here.

BM1K7089 by tigerburnie, on Flickr

[Thelma Sanders]

In the summer apart from gardening - I read, and then I read some more Occasionally I do Sudoku and find something worth watching on the box, which I record so I watch it when I want, rather than when it's shown. Obviously I also post on gardening forums LOL
In the winter less gardening, so I add patchwork/sewing and baking to the list plus I usually get 1 room redecorated or some furniture upcycled during the dark months.

All the usual stuff like housework has to be done occasionally, all year round - under protest though!

[Lumpy]

Watching Vikings whilst OH asleep. Pulling the occasional weed. Reading. Playing candy thingy and mainly ‘doing’ stuff.
I’ve decided to win the European lottery very soon and become a short, fat, ugly cougar as a hobby.
Note to self........must buy a ticket at some point.
Oh and learn Welsh.......

[Runtpuppy]

Things I enjoy doing, and I used to do: Listening to music, reading, sketching/painting, cooking, gardening...

Things that I do now: Write 800-word articles on the same topics over and over again all day, house-work, maybe sometimes read, water the green things once in a while, stare mindlessly at the TV... oh and read this forum.

Well, actually, it's not all that bad I also walk the dog twice a day so get a daily dose of nature. I think that may be the only thing keeping me sane.

[SarrissUK]

I garden in my spare time, now restricted just to my own garden, rather than an allotment as well. I work full time, about to swap jobs in a couple of weeks time. This change will actually give me another couple of hours a day spare, compared to the current job - yay!
I like to socialise, so often go out with friends on nights out, or stuff like.... sand castle contests where we try to break the record for the most sandcastles built in an hour lol
I study part time with Open University, Social sciences - incredibly interesting, and keeps me busy reading and writing essays.
I have seven cats and two dogs, all of which require attention, often at the same time as I play games on the computer (geek at heart, what can I say)
I rarely have the energy to do house work, but often it's non-negotiable, as the older dog is as leaky as a sieve.
I often find that I have no idea where my iron is, it's that long ago since I used it lol

[Potstubsdustbins]

Semi retired my weekdays usually start at the table get the lads on their way, cup of tea and the paper. Most of the phone calls come in before 11am so I sit there doing puzzles and drinking tea from then on it is mostly my time so out to the garden or shed.

I love working in miniature, it used to be radio controlled planes till I got fed up of bringing them home in bin bags, not a very good pilot. So went on to radio controlled scale model boats that went well until such times as my knees said 'no' to kneeling on the bankside to retrieve large models.

Now I build n gauge model railways a small gauge 1/2 a mil is equal to about 3inchs in real life.

[Mikey]

I draw and talk all day long so when I get home I'm generally a mute gardener. I've never really enjoyed that down time over winter or when it's wet, I'd rather be outside pottering or planning pottering.

[Jimny14]

I work as a dentist Monday to Friday in general practice so I get reasonable office hours (except late finish 7pm Monday). I will shortly be dropping some time to take every other Wednesday off for childcare as we have a 9 month old and my other half will be going back to work in August. My evenings are usually taken up with the baby and general house things, but I try to squeeze in working on the veg patch and keeping the garden under control. I cycle to work which helps the fitness and when it's fair we go hiking. Little one has already done a couple of wainwright's and hopefully we can get in a few more this year.
These things are also fitted around seeing friends and family to catch up with them etc.

[Small pumpkin]

Obviously gardening as much as possible and bugging you lot with lots of silly questions and ideas!

Everything else depends on my mood and the weather.
Watching tv ( crime dramas so I know how to get away with it , motor sports and cycling, for the crashes, wilderness type programs like mountain men, they're even bigger recluses than me, jealous).
Reading books.
Attempting crafty stuff. Sowing, embroidery, jewellery making, bead work, stick making.
Cooking / baking.
Fishing ( this one takes up a considerable amount of time )

[Mikey]

Attempting crafty stuff. Sowing, embroidery, jewellery making, bead work, stick making.
Cooking / baking.
Fishing ( this one takes up a considerable amount of time )

What a difference a letter makes when your mind is constantly gardening.

Could you not be sewing and doing embroidery while fishing, in this day we all have to multitask you know......

and I love the concept of stick making, today matthew I'll be a tree.

[Nicos]

Sadly, I have very little time for 'hobbies'.
My days are spent doing gardening, running and preparing both gites,and crafting to sell.
I suppose the gardening and crafting are relaxing, but when there is a deadline they both can become a bit stressful!
I do love wood splitting for the fires, but it's hard work.
Preserving garden produce takes up most of my spare time in the summer although I now have 3chest freezers so I can spread the time for preparing...jamming, chutneys, bottling and freezing prepared dishes.
Most of those things are working towards self sufficiency but are a life choice.

I do go swimming for my health but I find it hard to go on my own ( need to natter to someone!!!!)
I used to go to Pilates once a week, but since I did my back in in January, it's not been up to doing it in a group session.

I am a member of a Book Club - meeting up once a month.

I am still very interested in researching my family tree so I suppose that is a bit of a hobby -occasionally doing that during the winter months.

During the summer I try to get to at least one Vide Grenier a fortnight( car boot sale) mainly to try and pick up cheap crafting materials, but am ever watchful for bargain antiques . I do enjoy those!

I also run a local seed and plant swap twice a year. It takes about 100 hrs to prepare each time but I do sometimes get volunteers-but it's not guaranteed! Always rewarding to run something like that.

Oh and of course...modding on here does take up some time!