What other hobbies do you have?

[Scouseget]

I'm curious to see what other hobbies the members out there have. Given the incessant rain in the U.K, and the incessant winters in Alberta, it's a safe bet to assume that, besides drinking beer, other things have to stimulate your minds besides only watch repairing (oops, I almost said watchmaking). For example, winters really are long and cold in Alberta so you really need hobbies, lots of hobbies, so as to not get cabin fever, especially once you're retired as I am. And I wonder if those other hobbies you may have are in any way connected, or completely unconnected, to watch repairing?

To start it off, I make furniture also, in a whopping 70 square foot workshop, which is actually a walk in closet off the master bedroom. I also belong to a society that restores and runs vintage streetcars (trams to you in the U.K), and in the summer, I try to go trout fishing in the Rockies at least once every couple of weeks. No real connection between these hobbies that I can see. I was very involved in Toastmasters, a public speaking organization, for many years, but once I learned how to master a few polysyllabic words, I figured I'd cracked it so gave that up.

Any others strange hobbies out there?

Wet and dreary in Edmonton at the moment, but I'll take it because there's heavy snow up north of us. 

[anilv]

Scouseget,

Good topic!

For me I'm into cars and bikes..I've got an old Honda CB200, a Vespa VBA (in pieces), a 1978 Yamaha DT125 Enduro. My daily ride is a Kawa Zr7-s. I had a 2012 Kawasaki ER-6F but traded it in for the older (2002) Kawasaki Zr7-s.

I don't usually use a car unless I'm with my family (we use my wife's Nissan) but I've got a 1969 VW bug which was my mom's and a Mercedes-Benz 200 (W115 body). Both running but not suitable for city traffic!

I also read a lot... mostly thrillers.

What I've always wanted to do is woodworking but haven't got round to it yet.

Anil

[szbalogh]

I was always fascinated by mechanical things. Repaired some oldtimer motorcycles. Still have one 250cc two-stroke Pannonia with sidecar You may also fing interesting my Triumph Legend TT 900 '99 which is just parking in my parents garage now for ~10 years, i dont have time for that since i have two small kids.

[oldhippy]

Genealogy is one of mine. I have traced one side of the family back to 1624. I also collect old postcards of the village I was born in and old postcards of Lighthouses in the UK as my grandfather was a  priceable lighthouse keeper (in charge), one of which he served on the famous Eddystone lighthouse. I also collect stamps but I don't bother to much these days. Other main interest my two cats called cookie and crumble.

[bobm12]

I think that with the sun and warm weather all year round, we Miamians stay indoors all the time too. Too sunny and clear to be outdoors! So, we fix watches among other indoorsy things. Nah! no time for bykes or cars or anything else. We just fix our speedos...their tie thing tend to either break or hide. It is a full time job...not even a hobby! Well, that and dodging the waves at the beach when we do venture outside in skimpy clothes (remember it is sunny and clear...too much, nasty!).

We do help all those poor ladies to dodge the waves too and help them with their...what is it they use, not speedos...errr, bikinis?

Sometimes beer helps throughout the exhausting and monotonous day!

Cheers,

Bob

 

[ro63rto]

Just taken up RC flying.

Brother bought me this last week and I'm hooked, all be it in 5 minute bursts as the battery is only 500mah [emoji35]

Already ordered 6 x 1200mah batteries with a balanced charger so I can have at least an hours flight time on a rolling basis.

Soon as I've got the hang of it I can do a survey of our roof and chimney. Few tiles came loose during the high winds.

[Cad101]

Im into marine fish and i was  very much into playing lead guitar in a band but that sort of got put to obe side after i had a stroke just after xmas and lost alot of function in my right hand and you cant pick with a dodgy hand so i went back to watch repair which i did years ago with my gramps the guitar will come but till then I'm happy with my watches and fish. Is drinking vodka classed as a hobby because I do that too 

[oldhippy]

41 minutes ago, Cad101 said:

Im into marine fish and i was  very much into playing lead guitar in a band but that sort of got put to obe side after i had a stroke just after xmas and lost alot of function in my right hand and you cant pick with a dodgy hand so i went back to watch repair which i did years ago with my gramps the guitar will come but till then I'm happy with my watches and fish. Is drinking vodka classed as a hobby because I do that too 

I to had a small stroke right on New Year's Day. Lucky for me it only affected my speech for about a week, but I was wobble on my feet for weeks. All right now apart from I have to take 9 lots of meds in the morning and 3 at night partly due to being on insulin as I 'm also a diabetic. Glad to know your coming along nicely. 

[Cad101]

Yep I'm on the mend still walk a bit funny say the wrong thing but at least I'm not sat in a corner dribbling.

[Scouseget]

Like ro63rto with his RC flying, I used to do that also, except it was helicopters. I tried for about 3 years and never actually made a flight without a crash so was always repairing them. Then I accepted that although I liked the thought of flying helicopters, liked building the kits, liked the specialized tools, liked the technology, liked the principles of helicopter flight, I didn't really have what it took to fly the darn things. And it was really expensive, with replacement parts costing a fortune.

And now I see the connection to watch repairing as it too has great technology and tools, but there's no crashing involved. And there's no real need for lightning fast reactions. And it's really finely detailed work, just like setting up and calibrating the swash plate on a helicopter. 

So now I've managed to group horology with helicopters - that's quite a leap don't you think? Next hobby might compare horology with nuclear fusion.

[bobm12]

5 hours ago, Scouseget said:

it was really expensive

Horology to a T!!

[Gary]

I can only afford horology and tinkering with these movements. I have found the more I try the more I have to buy!

 

LOL

[Gary]

I do love motorcycles and I am a scratch sourdough baker (all about the method and measures)!

[bobm12]

Hey Gary, how is it done, I mean, what is a scratch sourdough baker? I mean, I know people use sourdough but what does the scratch actually fit in? I'll be seriously interested since I bake my own...bread not kids!

Cheers,

Bob

[Gary]

Hey Bob,

it is just a term I use. I don't bake anything from a can or use commercial leaveners unless it is specific to a bread I'm baking. My sourdough culture I created about 12 years ago with only 

Flour and water, no commercial yeast or fruits or sugars. It has always been fed water and King Arthur flour (the local mill closed a couple of years ago and I don't have access to a home milled flour now). It lives in my fridge! If I go out of town I have someone sit with the dogs and feed. Sammy tie sourdough culture! You will have to share some recipes with me and I will gladly do the same! 

[bobm12]

You are on Gary provided you tell me how to start one culture myself! I've tried and failed many times!

Cheers,

Bob

 

[Gary]

Bob,

i followed these instructions. It took about a week and I had to peel off th oderous grey matter but after a week it smelled like a good wine. 

https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/bread/recipe-sourdough.html

 

also, if you have difficulties I will gladly share some. I keep a mother dough in the refrigerator the consistency of play-doh and a liquid on the counter.  I also dry some and put it in the freezer in case something catastrophic! Lol! Long story but I didn't want to start it again.

if you try and/or like some of mine let me know. It was easier than I thought but the age I think makes a difference in the finished product.

[bobm12]

Thanks for the link Gary. That's excellent! I'll experiment first and if I get it this time, I'll be delighted to have some of yours. Yes, age is a factor for good bread. Lately I'm getting a bit lazy so I use a machine when I'm in a hurry...on week ends I usually do everything by hand but then I have 2 days, right?! I also follow different recipes from here and there, I'll send you tomorrow my honey twist bread recipe I bake only on Christmas or whereabouts (sometimes several times as an encore from my kids).

Cheers,

Bob

[Gary]

While I am here! If anyone is in or visiting the Atlanta area and would like to give me a tutorial on introducing a balance cock to a movement I would gladly buy you a pint. I seem to have an issue with proper placement and sadly, I'm not sure where I'm going awry. And I have had several of you provide demonstratives  here which I have tried with great success. However,  I Have one now after four hours I have had to store it away for its own safety! LOL 

btw, am I the only one that has issues with this portion of an assembly? It is the worst part of what should be enjoyable as I don't know if it is going to be a four second or four hour ordeal.

G

[bobm12]

My take on it Gary, check out where the impulse jewel is. Position the pallet fork to either side and insert the balance so as the impulse jewel fall in place. You will need to "help" the balance a little with the tweezers as you have seen in our -- and others -- videos. Last thing you do, gently rotate the balance a little and let go...it should oscillate. If not, then the impulse jewel is outside the fork...try again! Remember to wind about 1 and 1/2 turns before you start.

Cheers,

Bob 

[Gary]

I would love to try your recipe. I also frequent a forum for bread bakers www.thefreshloaf.com I use the name Eli there as a username. Like here great people and great recipes. Watch porn and bread porn with all the photos! Should be illegal I tell you!

[Ray]

My main hobby is rock climbing and has been for nearly 8 years, I like to climb 2-3 times per week. Outdoors if the UK weather allows, if it's raining or too cold (six months of the year!) then the indoor walls. My wife and I spend most of our holidays climbing in Europe, off to the Dolomites in six weeks, wahoo! 

I also enjoy motorbikes and I'm eagerly awaiting my new Ducati monster being delivered. The dealer reckons it should be here in three weeks, it's an early 40th birthday present from the wife. Ten months early but better off getting it in the summer!

I was also learning to fly but it was pretty expensive and suitable flying weather rarely coincided with time off from work, so I've put it on hold for a year or two.

As you can see I like to do everything outdoors so I had to find a hobby to get me through the depressing winters, very pleased to have found watch repairing and I will be adding a lathe this winter as well to keep me busy. 

[ramrod]

this is an enjoyable thread.

my main hobbie outside of watch collecting (and an attempt at repairing them,) is leatherworking, photography and motorcycles.

i have been leatherworking for about 18 years and i really enjoy it. i do most of my work during the winter months when i am snowbound, but since moving to durham, NC, i'm not so snowbound. but i still keep at it. i have made motorcycle chaps, holsters, business card holders, watch straps and assorted other stuff.

photography is something that i've done for about four years and i've got a long way to go to be even the slightest bit happy with my progress. thank god for digital cameras because it is way cheaper than film.

i've been riding motorcycles for about 20 years. i graduated from a HD sportster custom to an aprilia falco. i bought the falco new in '03 and still love it. you can't beat V-twin torque. i haven't put it on the road yet this year, but i'm getting closer to riding it.

[vinn3]

i  guess my above  post  was put on the   wrong   thread ?  please  delete it  thank you  vinn

[Geo]

17 hours ago, vinn3 said:

i  guess my above  post  was put on the   wrong   thread ?  please  delete it  thank you  vinn

Deleted as requested.