What other hobbies do you have

[AdrianF]

Following on from "what's your day job" what hobbies other than stargazing do you have?
I'll start ham radio (licenced since 82 vk4kl)
I ride a motorbike for relaxation (XVS1100)

Adrian

[Ric]

Golf (badly but I have fun)
Permaculture (more like a lifestyle than a hobby)

Cheers

[sheeny]

Oh... I have lots! All have been dominant at some point in my life:)...

Astronomy... obviously...

Motorcycling... too old for motorcross and enduros these days so I tour a little on my BMW R80 and I have a Montesa 315R trials bike for play:D:thumbsup:.

Music... I have several guitars (a classical, a steel string, an acoustic bass, and electric and an amp), blues harps, occarinas, conga drums, clap sticks and an egg:P. I'm not playing often ATM, but it comes and goes.:)

Computer programming. I used to write articles about programming Microbees back in the good old days (basic, fortran, pascal, assembler and machine code). I dabble a little with VB these days... hence AlsReticle, etc.

Bushwalking, abseiling, canyoning and caving. Don't do as much as I used to as I now have a....

Hobby farm!:D Well its a place for my observatory out of town;), and it has room for the girls to own and ride horses, and despite all the weeds that keep me busy chipping and spraying, its great!:D

When I was little I used to collect tractor pamphlets... I don't do that any more. I have an old IH 434 and few implements to keep me happy!

I never have a shortage of things to do...

Al.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Golf (handicap 36, the maximum :P)

DIY renovating, bathroom at present.

Cheers

[marki]

Bikes (Duc 851 SP3)
RC planes, choppers, cars.
Metal machining (stirling engines, scope bits etc).
Car racing and mechanics.
Guitars.
Woodworking.
Golf.
Camping and bush walking (been a while though)
Teaching secondary science :P.

Mark

[astronut]

There are other hobbies?? :lol::lol:

[M54]

Painting,:painting:
a little woodworking and carving,
bushwalking and camping :campfire: (not as much as the old days:sadeyes:),
gardening,

and currently learning traditional african rythyms on djembe (so much fun!) :D

[stattonb]

Poker if thats a hobbie lol

[that_guy]

Chess, I love chess!!

[michaellxv]

model trains
camping

[The Mekon]

Motorcycles of both types
Road VFR800
Of road KLX450R

I took up off road a few years back, it has helped ease my frustrations when the weather is cloudy and rainy, you can still have fun riding a dirt bike!

[Wavytone]

Paragliding :)

Just 20 minutes from home I can fly at Long Reef, very convenient for a quick adrenalin fix. On a sunny day it is simply a gorgeous way to spend a morning

http://web.me.com/wx88/Site/Paragliding.html#7

And when i travel to Bright or Manilla I always take a scope as these are good for stargazing too.

[Suzy]

Fish keeping (Aquariums). I used to have 5, but so much work that I slowly cut down to one. I Have a large 5ft (450l) tank. I've had to learn over the years much on biology, plants and landscaping. Way too many fish in there at the moment as the tank is conducive to breeding. Cute to see little babies swimming with the grown ups.

Also do scrapbooking from time to time when I can be bothered. I find it very difficult when I'm studying (on a personal level) cosmology, to then get the creative side of my brain working for scrapbooking. I think those two oppose each other in the brain department!

I also love anything to do with the workings of audio/visual equipment. Circuit boards excite me. What's involved with the making of a speaker , manipulating my Yamaha amp (I have a top of the range monster) to do different things. There is not a piece of complicated equipment out there that I won't figure out. If I had my time over again I would be an Audio Engineer. By the way you wouldn't believe how much difference oxygen free copper cables can do to even an already great sounding system - just buying that excited me no end.

And I love planes, both commercial and war. It's a good day when I go to an airshow. I live near the Archerfield airport and it's thrilling when i'm driving down the road and a plane comes into land just above my car.

One time in my life I was heavily into cricket (I used to enjoy doing the stats as well and would have all the important stuff ready before tv showed it. Read books by the ton, wrote articles (for myself - cricket journo wanna be) wore cricket jewellery, so desperate for it I even attended club matches, and generally became a bit of a groupie. Was a hug part of my life. Was then a buzz when my cousin ended being fast bowler for Sri-Lanka, few perks there! Ended up consuming too much of my life and gave it up.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Used to be motorcycle-mad. Would never get off the thing. Ate on it. Parked it in the living room in case I needed to get to the kitchen quickly. Gave it up after a high-side (my second) in 2004: Broken arm, hip, leg, ribs and scapula. I miss it like hell, but even half an hour of riding leaves me in agony.

Used to be heavily into photography - no time anymore :(

Is reading a hobby? I read loads, but always have so its more like breathing. If I don't have something interesting to read I go nuts.

Recently taken up Archery. This is well-fun with just the right amount of danger involved (to other people :D ) to keep you on your toes!

[DavidU]

Vintage watch collecting and wife listening (requires a major amount of effort):D

[supernova1965]

I have to blame a lot of people here for this one another potentially expensive Hobby ie, Photography

Thanks GUYS:D:P;)

[snowyskiesau]

Photography - non astronomy, still learning.
Motorcyles - no longer an active rider but still have a bike/restoration project in the shed (Rickman Honda 750 (http://cnc.turkeys.net.au/workshop/?page_id=242))
Machining - I have a small lathe and mill and make stuff out of metal, often in support of other hobbies.
Computers - although it's really a job, I spend far too much time in fronot of a computer.
Gardenng - at the moment I'm enjoying vegetables, fresh from the garden.

All this doesn't leave a lot of time for astronomy but I do occasionally get out the binoculars. Haven't used the telscope(s) in the last 12 months.

[that_guy]

Why is there so many Motorcycle Enthusiasts??

[snowyskiesau]

If you'd ever ridden one, you'd know!

[Ric]

I have to agree with with Geoff on that one.

I didn't list my motorbikes as a hobby as it's more of as lifestyle choice for me. :thumbsup:

I'm a BMW enthusiast with a K75c (now being restored for classic rego and ride days) and a R1200c Cruiser same as ridden by James Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies except mine is black and chrome. Hopefully I'll be able to find one of those 007 stickers where the 7 looks like a gun, small and tasteful across the top of the tank. ;)

I could write another couple of pages so I'll stop now and return the thread back to it's normal programming. :lol:

[sheeny]

Why not? :D

Maybe the tinker factor? Motorcycle tend to attract people who enjoy machines/technology... so do scopes I spose...:shrug:

Al.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

You'd like one of these then

http://www.stormbirds.com/project/general/updates.htm

I had an early fantasy about owning and flying a F-86 Sabre. That and the ME-262 are 2 of the most handsome warbirds designed I think. It is a sad contradiction that they are engines of death.

[Omaroo]

Talking about motor cycles, I've just committed to a bike for myself - after a 27 year layoff. I used to run a Yamaha FJ1100 and before that a Suzuki GSX1100. I hung up my helmet and haven't been on a bike - at all - since.

Today I committed to a BMW R1200GS.

Six weeks - can't wait. :thumbsup: the current owner is on a 6 week trip around Australia before he goes back to Scotland, and on his departure I'll take ownership. Oh the freedom!

Other hobbies revolve around my Land Rover and touring/camping.

[ManOnTheMoon]

Well beside's look at the universe I also
play guitar, surf and play golf. I used to do motocross but I gave that away afew years ago.

[issdaol]

It's getting a bit harder to fit all of them in nowdays but main ones are:

Archery :)
Kayaking (fiberglass touring kayak)
4wd Driving & Camping
2D, 3D Strategy Gaming (Board and Computer) including Chess
Nitro Truggies

[Kevnool]

Going fishing at the Menindee lakes and always staying o/nite sleeping in the swag..

Polishing up the landcruiser and taking her away every 2nd weekend.

Listening to my son belting out a tune on the guitar.

And if not them just tinkering around the yard.

Cheers Kev.

[Paul K]

My hobbies are Astronomy, Music, Guitar, Motorcycles, (Goldwing) Amateur Radio (VK2BQW), Caravaning / camping and Photography......Too many interests to devote any serious time to any of them....:P oh well....

Paul

[multiweb]

Cooking, eating & :drink:

[Matt Wastell]

I have a few.
- astronomy (mainly Sun and Moon)
- golf
- beer and pool
- music
- a little gardening
- very busy with my son Flinders too - not a hobby but a good use of my time!

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Cool bow. A double compound with a back flip and half twist???
What's a "Nitro Truggie". Anything preceded with "Nitro" automatically peeks my interest!!!:D

[Nesti]

Astronomy is my other hobby...my real passion is flight; mainly RC gliding. There's nothing like building your own glider and taking the time to fine tune it - sometimes up to a year. Then filming its' behavior; slow motion and on-board.

For me, every aircraft type has a set of unique characteristics and behavior - personality perhaps - but [fully molded] gliders are very different, as they express not only their individual characteristics, but what's happening in the air around them much more than any other aircraft...also, you can re-design them in flight; changing their characteristics from a slow lumbering cow, to jet-like performance, even aerobatics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttxO0sIWU8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2XRDLE9SMQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VF5jc-WJJ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1_U0rqVlh4&feature=related

[Liz]

\\\

Yeah!!

Lots of wful manly answers.

alas. very boring here - love reading, and love music, like gardening, love the sea - not a swimmer, but luv the sound and the look. love a wine, love travelling around Europe :thumbsup: .

[AdrianF]

Cool videos Mark

Adrian

[Liz]

You are very quick Kev!! I hopped in and deleted that little bit, oh well, thats the truth. ;)

[Kevnool]

Looks like i got in before you edited it Liz..... ;) .

They,ll never know.......LOL.

Cheers Kev.

[Liz]

sooo quick!!

[issdaol]

It's the Bowtech Captain (http://www.bowtecharchery.com/bow_captain.php (http://www.bowtecharchery.com/bow_captain.php)) mine is the 2009 one and I have recently upgraded the suppressor to the Octane unit. It's a binary cam unit and is fantastic for Bow hunting. It is the smoothest most silent bow I have ever owned or used.

A Nitro Truggie is a cross between a Nitro Fuel powered truck and a Nitro Fuel powered buggy. Mine is the Losi LST2 version and is probably a little closer to the truck side ( http://www.losi.com/Products/Features.aspx?ProdId=LOSB0015 )

search on youtube and you will find a heap of videos of home and pro racers using Losi and the LST2's

[stattonb]

fishing is good to run a fishing website myself but astronomy first

[supernova1965]

I saw it too Liz:rofl:

[RobF]

Good thread.

I guess in chronological order going all the way back to high school - just don't get time for many of these anymore with work and family....

Reading - SciFi in particular - would hate to count how many books I have stashed around the house, and a fair proportion of them were traded in over the years too

Fish (goldfish mainly - used to breed and keep in a cemented old water tank in back yard - multiple tanks indoors, big one in the living room). Haven't had fish for many years though.

Astronomy - got hooked at a school camp

Cycling - mountain bike and road bike - not sure I could make it down the coast any more though....:P

Sailing - windsurfing for nearly 20 years, part owned a trailer-sailer with friends in which we used to knock about Moreton bay. Friends have a 36 footer now, but didn't want to "sink" that much money into boating.

Diving - not for 10 years, but used to dive in the bay and on Flinders reef regularly

Keyboards (piano, electronic organ, PC music, audiophile interfaces, midi controller keyboards, KRK monitors, VST instruments, other computer applications, etc)

Computers - particularly for music and Flight simulation (and astro)
Would love to be able to afford to fly. Got as far as going solo and getting a student licence many years ago, but just too expensive. Still get a buzz whenever the wheels leave the ground for a work flight though.

Astronomy - Rediscoved 2 years ago, and very promptly became addicted to astrophotography in particular. Now I can finally "see" some of those blasted galaxies I was always looking for. Probably would have had a lot more success if IIS was around 30 years ago....


Wife and I have decided not winning lotto is seriously holding back our hobbies dammit! :lol:

(I think a property a few hundred kms west with a personal airstrip would be nice every month or so so I could extinguish my astro needs - I could probably fit a few friends in if I win enough ;))

[floyd_2]

It looks like I overlap with just about everyone here:


Website design
Photography
Graphics
Computers / operating systems / networking
Surveillance systems
Woodwork
Building / flying RC helis
Home theatre (4 in my house....how sad)
Music (player of flute, sax, clarinet, piano and bass guitar...none of them well enough to earn a living) plus a home studio. Always wanted to be an audio engineer

The list just goes on and on. The worst part is that I don't have enough time to do all of them, so I just flit from one to another. Astronomy is by far one of the mainstays!

Dean

[Glenhuon]

Apart from the obvious, astronomy.
Building and repairing computers.
Motorcycles (rebuilding a Suzuki 750-4). After 30 years its great to be on a bike again :)
Reading (Scifi)
Collecting anything connected with Star Trek.
Woodwork, Metalwork (lets me use all the skills I've learned over 40 years of working, for ME :)

[Jaybee]

Woodworking/Cabinetmaking, Leadlight, although I haven't done any in ages, still have to replace the temporary leadlight I made for the front door when we moved into our house...12 years ago! My wife keeps reminding me on occasion, just incase I forget, bless her.. Also Computers & Electronics.

[Darth Wader]

Gardening, reading, writing. I've got several novels in the pipeline but finding it very difficult to finish them due to work/family commitments.

[astronut]

Chris,
I don't think the G11 will fit on it!!:lol::lol:

[Omaroo]

To tell you the truth, it probably could John. It's the M210 that I'd have trouble with! ;)

The P2-Z and a refractor? No problem. :thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

My only other real passion at the moment is playing soccer while I still can

and reading when I get time

[WarpSpider74]

Oh too too many, and none of them cheap :sadeyes:

At one time or another... I tend to move back and forth between all of them depending on season and inclination

Astronomy (probably the only permanent fixture here...)
Cycling (road & offroad)
Windsurfing
Fencing (foil)
Rockclimbing
SCUBA diving (well, not really a hobby, it was a part of my life for 10 years)
RC Gliders & helicopters
Golf (I try, anyway)
...and my new one. Learning to fly a glider. :D

[Nesti]

Ahhhh, another convert to the Dark Side!

[deanog]

Computers / Gadgets
Movies
Music (Listening to.... I can't play a note)
Geocaching

[WarpSpider74]

:lol: Another convert to "I swear I used to have more money, whatever went wrong?"

[big_dav_2001]

I play guitar and read, llike many others on here...

I also keep various reptiles and spiders, which takes up a fair bit of time, currently have 2 turtles, 1 blue-tongue lizard, 1 water dragon, 1 4ft long carpet snake as well as 2 bird-eating spiders (breeding pair), and a sydney funnel-web...

[Louwai]

Riding..............

[Rokketboy]

Boardgames
Comic Books
Drawing
Photography - don't get the chance alot these days :(