Hobbies for the middle aged man

BLUEYESTU said:
Had my birthday recently and the girlfriend bought me a Lego Technical set for a Vespa in City sky blue. I’d mentioned to her that I’d loved Lego as a kid and had some of the first Technical sets (a tractor and a fork lift) so she got me a set.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed putting it all together and I’m looking forward to buying another one.
If you have the patience then it’s great way to pass the time.
Click to expand...

Cost a bloody fortune those! I nearly bought myself one of the Land Rover ones until I realised it was about 300 quid!!
 
PistonBlue said:
I've always fancied a bit of fly fishing but wouldn't know where to start.
Click to expand...
Start by introducing yourself on the angling thread on this mighty forum. Lots of helpful worm drowners and a few fluff chuckers on there that can give you local advice.
By far the easiest way to get started is have someone you know take you out and show you the ropes. Alternatively find a beginners class that can teach the rudiments. The cheapest way to do that might be through one of the larger waters like Rutland who do regular coaching sessions. You can also go out with guides who usually charge by the day or half day. Whatever you do try it first before investing in gear. After all you might not like it.

More likely you fall in love with it though mate.
 
On a serious note, cycling.

Low impact so you’re miles less likely to get injured than running, the best cardio exercise you can possibly do and it’s part of the culture to stop for a pint halfway through a ride.

And there’s an endless supply of kit and gadgets to get sucked into, which lets be honest chaps is half the fun of any hobby.
 
I haven’t scrolled through 27 pages of posts but mine is model railway.
I have built a 60 ‘s era one in a bedroom during lock down and a modern one over the garages that I will be working on for several years.
A bit of an expensive hobby if you buy everything from new but there is plenty of second hand out there now many of the older train set enthusiasts are dying off.
 
halfmist said:
I haven’t scrolled through 27 pages of posts but mine is model railway.
I have built a 60 ‘s era one in a bedroom during lock down and a modern one over the garages that I will be working on for several years.
A bit of an expensive hobby if you buy everything from new but there is plenty of second hand out there now many of the older train set enthusiasts are dying off.
Click to expand...

Have you seen the documentary James May made about Hornby a few years ago? It’s so good.

I was into model railways as a kid - though mainly my dad who was into it tbh!
 
Learn to cook.

Home made English dishes are so easy and so much better if you know a few principles.
Cooking techniques: the best way to fry, bake, roast, braise etc etc.
Produce: learn the characteristics of produce and the best way to treat them. If you see something with which you are unfamiliar, buy it and try it, you may be surprised. You can always look up a recipe or two on that interweb thing.
Sauces are a must to master, they enhance so many dishes and are easy to learn. Home made brown stock will improve almost any meat sauce and is imperative for gravy. No granules allowed. Use the Italian ‘Holy trinity’, that is onion, celery and carrot chopped very small as the basis for many sauces. Shepard’s pie is twice as good with it. If you can’t be bothered to chop, get a food processor or manual chopping system.
I find cooking both satisfying and maddening in equal measure, but I love it and cook every day.
The internet is awash with recipes, techniques, a mine of information. Utube is good, so is BBC. You’ll soon be expanding your repertoire to Asian, Italian and others.
I wouldn’t claim to be cordon bleu, more a cross between Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver. (The mind boggles) So, LET’s BE HAVING YOU.
PS. Oh, get to know a decent butcher.
PPS Grow some herbs in the garden or in pots on a window sill.I find mint and Basil most useful but Mrs KS grows a wide range. Today I’ll be using mint, chives, and rosemary fresh from our patch.
 
Last edited:
idahoblues said:
There are different seasons for each, with a bow you have to call in the bulls really close ( elk) it can get pretty scary
Click to expand...
not something you have to worry about over here :) Bowhunting of anything is illegal, they've even repealed the "shoot a scotsman in york during the hours of darkness" law, which I find very disappointing
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
Have you seen the documentary James May made about Hornby a few years ago? It’s so good.

I was into model railways as a kid - though mainly my dad who was into it tbh!
Click to expand...
Hornby is still a bit train settish but their model quality have improved markedly in the last 10 years and most of it is now produced in China.
The top quality high end of the market digital stuff, with lights, sound and realism,are now made by specialists like Bachmann, Accurascale, etc.
Aimed at the middle aged man with lots of spare money as some models cost £300+
 
KS55 said:
Learn to cook.

Home made English dishes are so easy and so much better if you know a few principles.
Cooking techniques: the best way to fry, bake, roast, braise etc etc.
Produce: learn the characteristics of produce and the best way to treat them. If you see something with which you are unfamiliar, buy it and try it, you may be surprised. You can always look up a recipe or two on that interweb thing.
Sauces are a must to master, they enhance so many dishes and are easy to learn. Home made brown stock will improve almost any meat sauce and is imperative for gravy. No granules allowed. Use the Italian ‘Holy trinity’, that is onion, celery and carrot chopped very small as the basis for many sauces. Shepard’s pie is twice as good with it. If you can’t be bothered to chop, get a food processor or manual chopping system.
I find cooking both satisfying and maddening in equal measure, but I love it and cook every day.
The internet is awash with recipes, techniques, a mine of information. Utube is good, so is BBC. You’ll soon be expanding your repertoire to Asian, Italian and others.
I wouldn’t claim to be cordon bleu, more a cross between Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver. (The mind boggles) So, LET’s BE HAVING YOU.
PS. Oh, get to know a decent butcher.
PPS Grow some herbs in the garden or in pots on a window sill.I find mint and Basil most useful but Mrs KS grows a wide range.
Click to expand...

Also a great shout. I enjoy cooking and find it relaxing.

Also helps that the mrs idea of cooking is cheese on toast and she’d also probably fuck that up.
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
On a serious note, cycling.

Low impact so you’re miles less likely to get injured than running, the best cardio exercise you can possibly do and it’s part of the culture to stop for a pint halfway through a ride.

And there’s an endless supply of kit and gadgets to get sucked into, which lets be honest chaps is half the fun of any hobby.
Click to expand...
And no-one looks better in lycra than a middle-aged man.
 
halfmist said:
Hornby is still a bit train settish but their model quality have improved markedly in the last 10 years and most of it is now produced in China.
The top quality high end of the market digital stuff, with lights, sound and realism,are now made by specialists like Bachmann, Accurascale, etc.
Aimed at the middle aged man with lots of spare money as some models cost £300+
Click to expand...

I’ll take your word for it mate, unfortunately I don’t know much about it these days! Though watching that James May programme did tempt me to start looking, but I’ve got enough expensive hobbies as it is haha
 
I'm With Stupid said:
This is a dangerous conversation, because I've just moved house and there's a really expensive specialist bike shop just round the corner.
Click to expand...

It’s easy to spend tens of thousands on bikes and gear.

A few years ago someone called it the new golf, which is a very good comparison.

You don’t have to of course. You can get into it for not a lot of cash. It just quickly sucks you in once you get the bug.
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
On a serious note, cycling.

Low impact so you’re miles less likely to get injured than running, the best cardio exercise you can possibly do and it’s part of the culture to stop for a pint halfway through a ride.

And there’s an endless supply of kit and gadgets to get sucked into, which lets be honest chaps is half the fun of any hobby.
Click to expand...
Couldn't you have the drink on the move? One of those fancy coffee cups with a lid on. No spillages, job's a good 'un
 
jimharri said:
Couldn't you have the drink on the move? One of those fancy coffee cups with a lid on. No spillages, job's a good 'un
Click to expand...

There’s an old Tour de France video from the 80s of one of the pro riders being handed a pint at the bottom of a mountain climb. Can’t do that these days sadly.
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
Also a great shout. I enjoy cooking and find it relaxing.

Also helps that the mrs idea of cooking is cheese on toast and she’d also probably fuck that up.
Click to expand...
Same here. Mrs KS hates cooking and is a disaster in the kitchen! Sometimes I think she only married me for decent food instead of the pork pie she would live on otherwise.
Not so long ago, she asked me how to turn the oven on. We’ve only had it five years.
 
Trail/Ultra running. Brilliant way to get out into nature, visit new and beautiful parts of the country you have not seen before but with the added bonus it will keep you fit and it will positively impact on other parts of your life such as stress levels, overall wellbeing and provoke you to consider your diet more carefully.

Absolute game changer in life and something I wish I had done years ago.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top