Over lapping hobbies and past times, how they help each other!

[ericmark]

I have over time had many hobbies, my photography helped with cycling and walking to get to places not really assessable with the car, and use of two way radios as a radio ham has made them both safer, I enjoy Steam trains and this weekend was able to combine it with my love of music and beer, as Welshpool Llanfair Light railway had their beer and music festival. Will return once I have written this.

But I can't think of a single hobby I have taken up which has not lead to other hobbies or past-times, although not so sure with some of the tasks done on the Railway are really that pleasurable, blocked drains still need clearing, but getting photos of trains and engines is so much easier when you have that extra access.

Even had my wife doing a spinning demonstration at a railway event, seen steam organs, and plastic building bricks all at the railway, seems odd Lego connected to steam, and to have a breakfast named after the two main steam engines, the Countess is small version and Earl the larger one, is eating a hobby?

So before moving here the Camera club collected the hobbies together, and now the Railway gathers them together, we have even had theatre on the train, seems to be no limits, but I suppose the whole idea of a heritage railway is to entertain?

 

[Messyart]

Sculpting, painting, drawing, writing, tinkering and working out were all godsends in so many ways throughout my life.

Sculpting taught me patience, but it also gave me great experience in dealing with customers, making my own molds, casting my own models and even just in manipulating physical mediums.
Painting, drawing and writing mostly taught me to value the steps required to really consider something finished. Tinkering gave me so many crossed experiences that DIY seemed like second nature when I started and hell, having decent muscles helps with everything in life.

 

[evdamadiynot]

Beekeeping and joinery
Had no interest whatsoever in either until the better half bought me a wooden hive as an unexpected present.
Got hooked on the bees and soon expanded the project so had to learn timber skills.
Because everything is on a tight budget and also for ecological reasons I make maximum use of "scrap" material and offcuts so resourcefulness has also improved.
The size and spacing of the hive components is fairly critical to avoid problems down the line so it keeps the brain muscle flexing now Im approaching the final furlong.
The bees wont always share their agenda so they keep the keeper on his toes.
Kept my old van to transport equipment,produce and livestock instead of trading it in, so unfortunately car repair skills are on the up too....

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I've always been very practical, always willing to have a go at anything practical, though completely lacking in any artistry. Over the years it began with photography, then in the 70's it was building computers and programming (exiting times), which drew me into electronics. The electronics drew me into amateur radio, mostly digital interests.

Having motorbikes and cars, with not much money, I learned to do it all myself, and continue to do so. DIY at home, and problem-solving at work, taught me plumbing and heating.

 

[ericmark]

Oh, a blast from the past, still volunteer on local railway, but less riding bikes, now e-bike, and photography. This weekend only used my phone.

Carried the DSLR around all day, but never took a photo with it.

Started with electronics at school, building the Sinclair radios

and selling them, until teachers realised so many students all didn't need hearing aides. But gave up for a long time. Falklands rekindled my playing with electronics, and got my first ham licence. Then a UK one, and then Hong Kong.

But one finds the skills are reused, the latest was improving central heating. @Harry Bloomfield you make a good point, about problem-solving. And thinking out of the box. But pictures often luck, sitting in mate's sitting room, and this fella just looked in on us. And my photography resulted in meeting this fella, that was some swing. But in the main, just do as I am told, this is my wife. When your wife can handle a chopper like that, you do as you are told.

 

[Odds]

Oh, a blast from the past, still volunteer on local railway, but less riding bikes, now e-bike, and photography. This weekend only used my phone. View attachment 377863 Carried the DSLR around all day, but never took a photo with it.

Started with electronics at school, building the Sinclair radios View attachment 377864 and selling them, until teachers realised so many students all didn't need hearing aides. But gave up for a long time. Falklands rekindled my playing with electronics, and got my first ham licence. Then a UK one, and then Hong Kong.

But one finds the skills are reused, the latest was improving central heating. @Harry Bloomfield you make a good point, about problem-solving. And thinking out of the box. But pictures often luck, View attachment 377866 sitting in mate's sitting room, and this fella just looked in on us. View attachment 377867 And my photography resulted in meeting this fella, that was some swing. But in the main, just do as I am told, this is my wife. View attachment 377868 When your wife can handle a chopper like that, you do as you are told.

That looks a lot like the bridge across the bay at Barmouth.

 

[Mottie]

That fella on the swing looks a bit….creepy?

 

[ericmark]

That looks a lot like the bridge across the bay at Barmouth.

Yes correct

That fella on the swing looks a bit….creepy?

He said he was not 7 foot tall, he was 6 foot 12 inches. He was into

Natural Forest Practice​

but since his death the website no longer exists.