Other hobbies

[ToneMonkey]

Martial arts, reading (especially esoterica and related topics) and tabletop roleplaying!

This is very similar to me, but mine are:

Marital Aids, reading (especially erotica and related topics) and bedroom rolepaying!

[Fourth Feline]

Weightlifting ( as in off the floor and over the head, NOT 'Bodybuilding' as such ).   Any / all of the fun you can have with an Olympic bar and plates - along with working on Kettlebell skills and strength endurance / Explosive power training.

Add in carrying stuff for time and/or distance - and just the joy of being active and feeling 'vigorous'.

Like 'Spitfire' said a little earlier in the thread though, these things ( as you tend to train them everyday - at intervals throughout the day ) - tend to push My beloved Jazz Guitar into second place somewhat.

It feels like a great balance between the celebreal and visceral though - and I see that many other people on here like a similar contrast between the two ( apparent ) extremes, including our 'Founding Father' Tim of course.

To me, there is however ,a very strong common thread between Weightlifting ( as my named 'Sport' ) and music / creativity - in that they are both based on the enjoyment of aquiring good technique and skills .  In both arenas, I have also gone right back to re-addressing the basics  I feel to have neglected for many years - in a past effort to appear the part - as opposed to truly being the part.  

I am reminded that even Miyamoto Musashi ( In the 'Book Of Five Rings' )  recommended ( roughly translated into modern terms )

" If you want to learn a Martial Art, first learn the guitar ".   :)

[FELINEGUITARS]

Martial arts, reading (especially esoterica and related topics) and tabletop roleplaying!

This is very similar to me, but mine are:

Marital Aids, reading (especially erotica and related topics) and bedroom rolepaying!

LOL!

[Dmoney]

For a long time I wanted other hobbies. I just find it really hard to find things to interest me for any long period of time.

It's this negative attitude that creeps up on me. However...
I have started having a couple of lessons to improve my lead playing (self taught for so long kind of means I stopped progressing a while back... but after 2 lessons I've noticed a leap forward in how I think about rhythm, lead, general counterpoint)
I'm also into building amplifiers, although I don't know as much as some of the guys here... I keep that ticking over.
If valve electronics counts as something separate.

I work 10 or 10.5 hour shifts. It's surprising how much stuff mounts up when you work long hours that just eats into your leisure time.

Doing hobbies like martial arts and such in london is stuff I've tried but it just costs too much. I don't even know how long I'll keep up the guitar lessons due to expense.

[Philly Q]

Watching films and reading books, that's about it.

I don't play sport - never been any good at anything - but I'm currently trying hard to get fitter and lose some weight because I've recently been diagnosed with diabetes.  :(

(The losing weight bit is easy enough, since I'm now terrified of eating most of the food I've liked all my life)

[Fourth Feline]

I'm currently trying hard to get fitter and lose some weight because I've recently been diagnosed with diabetes.  :(

I'm genuinely sorry to hear about the Diabetes Philly; but at least with a diagnosis in place , I trust the correct management of it will continue to give you a high quality of life.   Now you have an added incentive to also look after your Cardio-Vascular ( and general ) health - I also hope this is the turning point for a much healthier and longer life in general.   

[nfe]

Martial arts, reading (especially esoterica and related topics) and tabletop roleplaying!

This is very similar to me, but mine are:

Marital Aids, reading (especially erotica and related topics) and bedroom rolepaying!

LOL!

Post of the month!

I put on festivals (for no money, so it's a hobby by my reckoning) and learn stuff, which is the finest hobby one can indulge in I reckon, the acquiring of new knowledge, as pretentious as it sounds  :lol:

Bit rubbish getting diagnosed with diabetes, Philly, but I've quite a few pals with either type one or type two and they all get along fine, if perhaps rueing those once enjoyed vodka and red bulls.

[Philly Q]

I'm currently trying hard to get fitter and lose some weight because I've recently been diagnosed with diabetes.  :(

I'm genuinely sorry to hear about the Diabetes diagnosis Philly; but at least with a diagnosis in place , I trust the correct management of it will continue to give you a high quality of life, and plenty of it ! 

Thanks Derek, and I hope so! 

I'm getting over the initial panic that every time my blood sugar goes up a bit it's another nail in my (soon-to-be-required) coffin  :roll: , but still spending all day every day fretting about what I can eat and when.  Hopefully that'll pass too.

I do have a few friends and relatives with diabetes, none of whom have suffered major complications so far (touch wood).  Being a natural pessimist, I still fear the worst.... but I think I was diagnosed pretty early, and I'm already learning a lot, so hopefully the "management" side can become routine and I can just get on with life. 

[Roobubba]

Watching films and reading books, that's about it.

I don't play sport - never been any good at anything - but I'm currently trying hard to get fitter and lose some weight because I've recently been diagnosed with diabetes.  :(

(The losing weight bit is easy enough, since I'm now terrified of eating most of the food I've liked all my life)

I'm really sorry to hear of your diagnosis for diabetes, Philly. I assume it's type 2, and I'm guessing you're on a diet treatment for starters, or are you straight onto insulin?

I spent a while helping my wife with some audio-typing, the client was a professor making an oral history of diabetes. You can find the transcripts and recordings here: http://www.diabetes-stories.com/index.asp My wife and I did all of the transcription on that website. It's a LOT of hours of audio!

Beware - this is not particularly light-hearted stuff. Historically, there were a lot of things wrong with the treatment of diabetes, and a lot of different ways of thinking about it over the years. I hope you find this reading interesting and useful, but don't get down-hearted reading it. Despite some of the horror stories in there, there are some fantastic stories of people living totally normal lives with diabetes for more (in some cases WAY more) than the 'average lifetime' at a time when clinical diabetes management left a lot to be desired.


re: non-guitar-related hobbies (now that the audio typing is over): playing piano, computer gaming (first person shooters mainly), photography, cooking, wine, and LoveFilm.
When I have time.
I have a 4.5-5h commuting day 3 times a week and 3-3.5h the other 2 days, so it doesn't leave a whole lot of spare time.

Roo

[Fourth Feline]

I'm currently trying hard to get fitter and lose some weight because I've recently been diagnosed with diabetes.  :(

I'm genuinely sorry to hear about the Diabetes diagnosis Philly; but at least with a diagnosis in place , I trust the correct management of it will continue to give you a high quality of life, and plenty of it !  

Thanks Derek, and I hope so!  

I'm getting over the initial panic that every time my blood sugar goes up a bit it's another nail in my (soon-to-be-required) coffin  :roll: , but still spending all day every day fretting about what I can eat and when.  Hopefully that'll pass too.

I do have a few friends and relatives with diabetes, none of whom have suffered major complications so far (touch wood).  Being a natural pessimist, I still fear the worst.... but I think I was diagnosed pretty early, and I'm already learning a lot, so hopefully the "management" side can become routine and I can just get on with life.  

If it's of any consolation Philly, A guy I used to gig with had a lifelong Diabetic condition - and once correctly managed, had more energy and health than most other people in our social circle at the time. There have also been some notable athletes and Bodybuilders with Diabetes - for whom the same could be said. The crafty devils even started to 'get the edge' by manipulating insulin spikes !    In the words of a nice moto I once saw :

" Don't fear the future - create it ".   :)

[Telerocker]

Sorry to hear that Philly. I hope with the right medication/eatingschedule, everything gets in it's place again and you're feeling better.

[Afghan Dave]

Sorry to hear about the diabetes mate.  :(

Are you on Metformin or just a controlled diet?

Don't worry dude there are many fine examples of people "rockin'" with diabetes....  Errrr...

[38thBeatle]

Ah, sorry to hear that Philly but as the others here have said, there is a lot than can be done to manage the condition and indeed some people I know manage extremely well.I have had a fear lately of being in a similar position though my issues apparently are due to that  classic all embracing term "its a virus".

[Philly Q]

I'm really sorry to hear of your diagnosis for diabetes, Philly. I assume it's type 2, and I'm guessing you're on a diet treatment for starters, or are you straight onto insulin?

I spent a while helping my wife with some audio-typing, the client was a professor making an oral history of diabetes. You can find the transcripts and recordings here: http://www.diabetes-stories.com/index.asp My wife and I did all of the transcription on that website. It's a LOT of hours of audio!

Beware - this is not particularly light-hearted stuff. Historically, there were a lot of things wrong with the treatment of diabetes, and a lot of different ways of thinking about it over the years. I hope you find this reading interesting and useful, but don't get down-hearted reading it. Despite some of the horror stories in there, there are some fantastic stories of people living totally normal lives with diabetes for more (in some cases WAY more) than the 'average lifetime' at a time when clinical diabetes management left a lot to be desired.

Thanks for the comments guys.

Yes, it's type 2 and no insulin, the doctor has put me on half a tablet of Metformin after each meal to begin with but I'm hoping I can manage it with diet and exercise in due course - we'll see.  I don't particularly like my GP but he seems to encourage patients to do what they can to improve their own conditions, rather than just throwing medication at them.

Perhaps in some ways I can actually improve my health by losing weight, lowering my blood pressure, lowering cholesterol etc (I hope that's not just self-delusion...)

Thanks, Roo, for the link - I've just read a few of the transcripts.  It looks like a massive resource, but I think for now I need to treat it with caution.  I've read a lot in the last few weeks and although much of it's encouraging the "horror stories" are still enough to put me in a bit of a state.  :|

Hmmm, I seem to have hijacked the thread....

[gordiji]

mines Meditation, don't normally use capitals but this word is an exception.it's first function is to help to find peace of mind but it goes way beyond.
sorry to here your story philly, my 'hobby' could benefit you in many ways.

anyone interested in Meditation can do a free course at 'dhamma dipa' in herefordshire. dhamma.org for worldwide
course details.
it's a no-nonsense approach from a no nonsense organisation so no scamming etc.