British Expatriate Network

Of course we have discussed this before, but way back when. We have a load of new members and hobbies change with time, so what do you all do for fun? How did you get started? How does it differ from what you did in the UK and if it does differ, why?

I take figure skating lessons. I always wanted to when I was little and my mum promised them to me one time and came home one day with a full set of ski clothes as a surprise, but the lessons never materialised. I started almost as soon as I got here 5 years ago (took a break to have a baby), two years ago I bought my first very own pair of skates (good but "off the shelf"), on Monday I took delivery of my first pair of fitted, molded skates. So excited I get to try them out at my lesson tomorrow! Progress has been very slow, but I've been working for my USFSA Basic badges and need two elements for badge 5 and am most of the way towards badge 6. Quite proud of myself really, although someone who started at the same time is now a kids' instructor and competes as an adult!

Another hobby is ceramics. I always wanted to do that too. And I find I'm not bad at that either. It's expensive, though. I've sold a few pieces and I'm looking to sell a few more to try and make the classes pay for themselves.

In the UK I really got into badminton (the proper stuff, not the "birdies on the lawn" stuff). I miss that. It is played in the local rec center, but all of the clubs are offsprings of Malaysian social clubs. In the UK, I worked in the Psych dept of a uni and we had a ladder. I really enjoyed that, even though I'm not generally a "sporty" type. I started near the bottom and stayed there for quite a while, but had worked up to #3 by the time I left.

I have drawers full of art supplies none of which see the light of day too often these days.
I am still hoping for my own space to be able to fully make use of all this stuff.

The only hobby I have taken up and still make time for is photography, though even that has taken a back seat lately.

In the UK the only hobby I had was walking/jogging which I only do in fits and starts now.
I took up knitting when preggie with my first in Spain. Once I had mastered it I gave it up.
It seems to be a common theme with me to learn a craft and then get bored with it or find I have no purpose for it any more.

Talk about an understatement! :roll: Considering we ate off your works of art, I would say you were more than just good! :lol:

Hobbies. In the UK I played the piano since I was very young. Didn't keep it up as much as an adult but could still play. coming over here I have hardly played at all. the piano stayed in the UK and we only have a keyboard here that we got for my daughter because she wanted to learn. So we would play together sometimes. She gave it up for singing lessons instead and I can't remember the last time I played. The keyboard just isn't the same as an actual piano for me.

Knitted for years in the UK, stopped when I had the children - I was always frighted of the knitting needles hurting someone. Just started knitting again and loving it. I've knitted myself a cardie and am in the middle of doing a sweater. Want to get a bit more adventerous again soon.

Studying is my biggest hobbie. I know that probably sounds daft but those who know it was something I took up because I was just so bored at home and fell in love with it instantly. Now, 3 years later I'm starting my last semester of my BA next week and looking into going onto graduate school. My family and friends are very proud of what I have done but the most important for me is that I am proud of myself. :grin:

I tried lots of different hobbies in the UK - cake decorating, used to love going swimming (can't do that here because it is just too expensive and there are no community pools in the winter), ice-skating etc. Once the children came along, I had to drop a lot of my hobbies because hubby was never around and so I had no one to take care of the children for me to go to my clubs or anything. Tried a creche once and Andrew just screamed the whole time and I could hear him while I was swimming! :shock: A total put off. Hobbies are something I've had to put on hold for a long time so the ones I have now I am thoroughly enjoying. :grin:

Hopefully I may just get some more ;)

Reading is #1

Photography has been a hobby for years. It started when I was travelling for a year, then I did a BTEC in it for a couple of years. Then I sidetracked into digital imaging as a career until I moved to this town. Recently my photography has very much taken a back seat now I can't scan my own images, get processing done free or half price.....even if I pay loads, I have lost the control I've gotten used to. Also I don't even have access to a darkroom anymore.

Genealogy has been a big interest for a long time although that comes and goes depending on how much time I have or how frustrated I get in the research.

Since moving to MN, I have taken up martial arts (Karate) and actually done quite well. I do 11 classes a week, and have lost some blubber )
I have won my fight category in the National competition this fall, and am looking strong for the spring fight tournaments.
It has also led me to be selected to play Ophelia in the theatre production of Kung Fu Hamlet (http://www.kungfuhamlet.com) which was a blast, we just closed last weekend.
Ask me this next year and my new hobby may be acting.

Paintball Been totally hooked since I first played on 1990 (monster wa there, she was already a seasoned veteran). I only got a few chances to play in the UK but upon arriving here found there was a group of players at work and got into it.
I got out of a warm bed at 630 on Saturday morning to drive an hour and play at a new place, with 20 guys I had never met before, Temperatures were about freezing with a 20mph wind providing lots of windchill. I forgot my chair but was probably better standing and moving around in that cold, played until 330 when everone else packed up roll i had an excellent day smile

I don't have time for much else, I really like movies, and like the director commentaries to see how they put a film together to produce the feeling of the final product.

Cooking, a very useful hobby as after hours of work you (hopefully) get something you can eat! I'm perfecting my Brit recipes, Fish and chips, sausage rolls, Cornish Pasties. I love pork pies but am still building up the courage to attempt this one.

I read a lot of comic books, read lots of historical non-fiction, play video games, custom paint and sculpt action figures and listen to lots and lots of music.

/yes I am a comic-book nerd razz

We've got one of those nerds at work too.

Yeah, but I'm not a coke-bottle glasses socially inept kind of nerd. I have a hot wife, don't live in a basement and don't play Warcrack.

Perhaps I'm just slightly geeky instead of nerdy...

/still loves him some comic books

I play guitar. Its great to have a basement where I can crank it up to 11 and not worry about neighbours moaning.

Monster you haven't posted any pics of your ceramics lately. I seem to remember a piece that was firey red, loved it. You still have it?

Hobbies, they blend and run into each other, I have no idea what I'm doing anymore. Confused and unorganised - they ought to be hobbies, cause that's what I am most of the time. wink

Otherwise - Photography has turned into a big hobby. In the past couple of years have returned to my middle eastern dance (belly dance) formed a dancing group of older women. We practice and practice, and perform at haflas in different towns.

Returning to making my shell crafts, and now have a new hobby of candy wrapping, that is about to turn into a business.

So guess I better get organised!

And of course computerholic still - that dabbles in building websites.

So I definitely have no time for housework - and now that hubby is retired, we'll spend the summer out on the bay. 8)

My hobby?

These guys:



I didn't get it for Christmas, I had to paint me own.

Music Music Music - i'm putting together a little studio at the moment that i can break down and travel around with, and if i'm not playing i'm listeniing, such a lot of new music to listen to over here.

You must know him: Coke-bottle, socially inept, live alone, no wife....that's him.

Horology. My thang is clocks and watches, time pieces etc. I find it endlessly fascinating. Not to be confused with urology.

Running. I love it. It's annoying in the winter time here when it freezes over because I can't run, but luckily this year global warming is being incredibly helpful. Thanks America!

Guitar. I'm not as diligent as I used to be but I love to mess about. Like alot of guys I used to be in a band meaning me and some others used to get together and prove none of us could play. Nowadays I like to see how far up the neck I get a capo and play something nice. Bless.

Reading. Simple really but I love reading non-fiction.

Listening To Music. Lots of people probably wouldn't consider this to be a hobby, but not doing anything but really listening is something I like to do. I love music and have a fondness for the really weird stuff - you'll never know if you'll like the sound of two computer printers in sequence until you listen to them.