What do you like to do?

fits

Hobby wise etc...

It came up over christmas that there were very few sports/pastimes available to people (women) in Ireland unless you're really competitive.

My things are walking, horse riding, hanging out with my dogs. All these things keep me relatively fit. I also love reading, but dont read much atm as I spend too much time at it.

echosound

Ah, I dont think there's very few pastimes available unless you're competitive. I just think there's a lack of pastimes available full stop. I mean, if you want to go out of a night socially, there's the pub, the club, the cinema or perhaps if you're that way inclined, the theatre or art gallery or such. Not a huge choice, even things like bowling alleys are taken over with spotty yobbish teens and cost an arm and a leg, so they're mostly out for a night's entertainment.

Personally, I'm competitively lazy, I prefer staying in of a night and watching films/tv with my hubbie, or visiting friends for a natter and a cuppa or a drink.

Having said that, there's plenty for me to do if I wanted to in the hobby/sport front, that's not really competitive. I did jiu-jitsu and karate for a while there, which I thoroughly enjoyed, no competitive element to it other than trying to train up for your belts, but that was at your own pace. Must start back again soon actually.

I used to play camogie and basketball, and there was something for everyone in the clubs I was in - if you were super competitive, grand, off you go and play on the first team in leagues etc, if you're not, grand, train away anyway, enjoy the atmosphere, and play friendly matches. I don't do either of those anymore due to having a bad back.
A mate of mine goes to salsa dancing with her OH and loves it, and a lot are doing night courses that interest them, be that acupuncture, life coaching, flowerarranging, carpentry, art, etc.

ATM I enjoy a spot of photography and mucking about with PS afterwards, but I have gotten lazy with that and need to get back in the habit of going out regularly to take a few shots. I read, I walk the dogs on the beach, which is something I'd do anyway regardless of doggies as I enjoy getting a bit of fresh air and taking in the scenery.
I watch a loooo-hot of films and tv series, often do marathon weekends where we'd watch an entire two or three series over the course of a few long nights helped along with a few beers or whatnot. Helps that hubby and our mates are all pretty much huge nerdy film fans. I enjoy swimming, purely for fitness as I am not a brilliant swimmer doing record laps (although I am by no means fit at all yet!).

Anyone got any interesting pastimes? Just realised I sound uber-boring there.

rain on

I don't know, I don't really feel like there's a dearth of hobbies available to me. YMMV obviously. I'm into music, spend a lot of time listening to it, and I have band practice or play gigs most weekends. Apart from that I'm into reading, knitting (used to run a knitting circle when I lived in Dublin which made it a pretty sociable activity), watching DVDs, playing my DS and going out dancing with the ladies

Cheeky_gal

hmmmm...I love my music, am buying albums every day of the week (HMV's best customer)

Love going to the gym...it's where I'm happiest...aaaaw! Love playing tennis, sports in general, eeeh going out on the town...gettin trollied! ha! Going to gigs, quiet nites in...lunch in powerscourt with my mommy lol!

I like to do a lot of things.....

RxQueen

doing karate with a few years now, i agree with echo there isnt much pastimes out there that arent competitive based.

also like listening to music the usual stuff!!

Tree

there's lots of crafts, crochet, sewing, origami, small engine maintenance. loads of stuff to do, dont even have time to watch telly between socialising and showing off my new things adn sleeping.

probably depends on what you're into.

PeakOutput

im a guy but i just took up skydiving 3 jumps so far i cant recomend it enough but there are already more women than men at the dz's(kinda)

John Mason

meh! misleading title, i thought we were talking sex things here

but staying on topic, i love F1 and boards

fits

irishbird wrote: »

meh! misleading title, i thought we were talking sex things here

maybe you should start your own:D

but staying on topic, i love F1 and boards

But neither of those really involve getting out and about do they? I hate the gym and if I didnt have dogs and a horse I probably wouldnt get any exercise or local social interaction. Going to the pub has seriously worn off me too.

Stuff I have a vague interest in include photography and perhaps art (thought I'm not that arty) and I wouldnt mind taking classes in those. It just seems all too easy these days to stay at home and watch television night after night.

PeakOutput

if ur within 2 hours of nenagh and are a lady with balls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnJthW4odeo

Nevyn

That looks wonderfull, there certainly is an adrenaline rush I have not tried yet.

320 quid bah humbug.

PeakOutput

Moonbaby wrote: »

320 quid bah humbug.

if u do the solo course instead of the tandem jump every jump after is only 40quid but most people want to do the tandem straight away. either way iv gt 2 weeks of jumping in the south of france coming up and probably a summer of jumping in the states wooohooo cant effin wait. as u can see i highly recomend it

Kazobel

I love drawing and then converting them into digital images, I run my own Discussion forum, I design web pages and give techy advice on a few forums, I post on loads of TS forums too with advice on what to do and who to see etc, I spend alot of time with my GF's daughters (one has Down syndrome and the attention helps her development alot) and I like to build robot insects out of old walkmans, video recorders and hangers but I haven't had much time to do that lately I need to take it up again but lately I'm just to busy and to wind down I read alot especially Terry Pratchett. Sort of boring really, I'm a bit of a nerd :rolleyes:

G86

Well I go to the gym 5 nights a week and I've singing lessons once a week, plus then I go to the cinema/clubbin at wkends. I travel around to visit different friends different wkends too so I'm not always stuck in dub! I do some freelance Journo work too and that can take up alot of my evenings some weeks. Thats about it though!! I've been meaning to look into getting into a competitive sport here, used to love basketball at school, but I'm still a complete novice so I'd feel like a right plonker joining a club!!

monkeyfudge

Stationary management and jazz.

Kazobel

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Stationary management and jazz.

How does one manage stationary? are paperclips really that disorganised?

monkeyfudge

Kazobel wrote: »

How does one manage stationary? are paperclips really that disorganised?

It's a constant battle to keep it organised. And it's a task that falls upon me as the deputy Sheriff of Stationary Village.

bluedolphin

I'm a member of the Red Cross... There's a lot more involved with such an organisation than meets the eye! I train a teenage first aid class, train teams for first aid competitions (yes, they do exist! We have accident scenarios and teams have to deal with them as they would in real life within a set time frame) as well as undergoing training myself.

I don't attend many training sessions myself any more as I'm pretty much fully qualified (I'm up to EMFR standard) but there's always classes ongoing to jog the memory. Then of course there's going out on duties and providing first aid cover at events. We all moan about the 'boring, long duties' but as it's all voluntary I guess we must be interested. It's a good skill to have as well, it's come in handy a few times.

I joined when I was 14, and still soldiering on over 7 years later :eek: It's good craic training the kids, you can get a great buzz from them and we always organise social events for them too and I can guarantee you the discos are mighty fun :cool:


As I'm in college it's easier to become 'involved' in things I suppose... in the debating society.

I'm thinking of taking up a beginners Russian class as well, and I'd like to start getting into photography too...

fits

I could really see myself doing something like the Red Cross actually. I was a member of the FCA for a while and did 4 summer camps. That was good fun but I couldnt put in the weekly training at the time. I dont think I'd go back into that but would be open to doing something similar.

PeakOutput

thats quite impressive bluedolphin do the red cross run ambulances like theorder of malta do and if not would it not be more interesting being in the order of malta and being in said ambulances?

TheB

Hobbies.. Hmmm... I'm mostly busy with horse/dogs and attached caring duties when not at work so not much time for proper hobbies ..

I like to do horse related things (not just riding but stuff like gossiping at the yard over tea , general horse related maintenance etc.. I'm a saddo.. I like mucking out.. it's my time to reflect! Used to go on "days out" with Horsey friends in the UK to shows/sales etc - not to compete or buy... just to window shop, talk horse and eat cheesy chips mostly! I did compete a lot.. which is a day out.. dogs & OH come sometimes.. must get self organised and get out on the horse more now the Christmas madness is over.. I love that..


And I love walking the Girls.. so I suppose it's a pastime .. I take them to Puppy classes too.. One does Puppy obedience and the other is starting puppy agility classes..

Both OH & I are both outdoor-y sorts.. (even though he is a 'puter softwear wire-obsessive) so we tend to get involved with outdoor-y things mostly.. we walk a lot and go different places with the dogs taking picnics etc (or a map to the nearest chip shop to where we are walking!)

Exploring in the car is also a favourite .. load up car with essentials (i.e dogs, water, ciggies, Bonios & lunch for the Girls, Fruit Pastilles, mini snickers, crisps & Tooty fruities for us, maps & the indespensible SatNav) and set off to somewhere we haven't been before.. been to random places.. Killaloe, Nenagh, Kinsale, Inistoige, Dunmore East (partially to visit SiL), Some cool deserted beach past Tramore I can't remember the name of, Ballinasloe, Galway City & Connemara (that was a weekend trip), Thurles and Piltown so far

We have ants in our pants and can't stay at home! We do spend an inordinate amount of evenings in though, getting gently trollied on wine/drink of choice, in front of the fire and watching DVD's (Heroes Series 1 atm).. We don't go out as much as we used to before - but that could be where we live atm :rolleyes:

We used to entertain a lot in the UK.. have people over for drinkies / dinner etc (nothing too fancy.. Chilli & Pittas / Lasagne etc) and then lots of drinking, laughing and playing of Poker.. That was hoot! Don't know that many people here yet to do that though... .. well yet anyway..

So I reckon quite a few things to do without being competitive.. depends what you like to do..

Bx

RAFC

PeakOutput wrote: »

im a guy but i just took up skydiving 3 jumps so far i cant recomend it enough but there are already more women than men at the dz's(kinda)

Have to agree, the one and only jump I ever did has got to be the best experience I ever had. Best of luck with all your jumps - would love to try another - sometime, maybe

ellenmelon

thinking about it, ive let a lot of my hobbies go as life/study has got in the way. i LOVE reading but seeing as ive a fine at the library i havent been reading as much lately....audiobooks are a novelty but not the same! i like reading blogs, walking,anything music related,driving around (i love just driving randomly...taking the long way home etc). i dont know...i wouldn't be involved in 'groups' per se though that would be fun if i had time! (stupid 9-5 m-f uni!!)

SW81

anyone here do any sort of dancing? was thinking of taking up some form of balroom dancing or something?

Lux23

I haven't got many hobbies so I am the middle of looking for a good hiking club, its something I won't have to spend alot of money and a good opportunity to meet people. I suppose my favourite past time is reading so I really need to do something that will get me out of my bed on cold sunday morning.

Pyjamarama

I have been thinking I need more hobbies or at least ones that involve more interaction or that are more social. Go to lots of gigs, reading and the cinema the usual stuff. Volunteer with a charity (not sure if I'd call this a hobby really?!). Go to an exercise class when I can manage it, hasn't been much lately!

Want to take up horse-riding and yoga again and some type of martial arts as I used to do kickboxing. Also want to learn salsa and take a photography course so I would have lotsof hobbies if I bothered to do all these!

ztoical

took up archery last year - highly rec it. Great stress relief just imagine someone you don't like on the target and fire.

SarahSassy

SW81 wrote: »

anyone here do any sort of dancing? was thinking of taking up some form of balroom dancing or something?

Id love to do a dance class but was always too nervous to go on my own... How about salsa or ballroom? Would you be interested in coming along?

monkeyfudge

Is belly dancing still popular?

I've bunch of belly dancing outfits left over from an ex who was an instructor.

Clare Bear

SarahSassy wrote: »

Id love to do a dance class but was always too nervous to go on my own... How about salsa or ballroom? Would you be interested in coming along?

I'd be well up for Ballroom...damn Strictly Come Dancing making it look so glamorous. Karen33 was talking about something like this last week too, maybe a few more might be interested too? Like you, I'd be too shy to go on my own.

This place is turning us all in to a bunch of social butterflies!

SarahSassy

Great. Look at this. Think its €75 for 6 weeks.

http://www.justdance.ie/ballroom2.htm

My nearest is Donnybrook but they also have Aungier St for city centre access.

Crazy Catlady

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Is belly dancing still popular?

I've bunch of belly dancing outfits left over from an ex who was an instructor.

You can't make a statement like that unless your going to raffle them off amongst the laydees

monkeyfudge

Crazy Catlady wrote: »

You can't make a statement like that unless your going to raffle them off amongst the laydees

Ha.. well they're in the shed... and I'm never going to see the girl again.. So suppose I could do something with them... perhaps a charity raffle at the next boards beers.

Although it would be tempting to try and make a Mufasa from the Mighty Boosh costume...

spinandscribble

poi, and hopefully soon fire poi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1CcJuGxiRk&feature=related

art and helping societies in college

Clare Bear

monkeyfudge wrote: »

Ha.. well they're in the shed... and I'm never going to see the girl again.. So suppose I could do something with them... perhaps a charity raffle at the next boards beers.

Although it would be tempting to try and make a Mufasa from the Mighty Boosh costume...

Do it! Do ittttttttt!!!


Sarah that looks cool, we should spread the word

Crumble Froo

her name's mufusa.

and she's an extreme sports calendar model.

monkeyfudge

oh right... I was getting mixed up with the Lion King again...

angelsfire

Love my computer, as obviously we all do..lol I love reading, movies dining out watching movies. All that great stuff. And then when I go to the states (which is where I'm from origanally) I love to hit he beach. Can spend every day all day at the beach. Love it!! Also love to shop, but then whom among us does not like to shop??!!

tallaght01

bluedolphin wrote: »

I'm a member of the Red Cross... There's a lot more involved with such an organisation than meets the eye! I train a teenage first aid class, train teams for first aid competitions (yes, they do exist! We have accident scenarios and teams have to deal with them as they would in real life within a set time frame) as well as undergoing training myself.

I don't attend many training sessions myself any more as I'm pretty much fully qualified (I'm up to EMFR standard) but there's always classes ongoing to jog the memory. Then of course there's going out on duties and providing first aid cover at events. We all moan about the 'boring, long duties' but as it's all voluntary I guess we must be interested. It's a good skill to have as well, it's come in handy a few times.

I joined when I was 14, and still soldiering on over 7 years later :eek: It's good craic training the kids, you can get a great buzz from them and we always organise social events for them too and I can guarantee you the discos are mighty fun :cool:


As I'm in college it's easier to become 'involved' in things I suppose... in the debating society.

This is my female double!!!! Have been in the red cross since 1992. Love teaching it too. It's great that they're giving the first aid guys additional roles now. I started in the irish red cross when I was a teenager. Have spent the last few years abroad, where ive worked with the british red cross. When i were a lad, you were pretty much trained in "100000 things to do with a triangular bandage". But now I get to teach members how to use oxygen, entenox, all the ambulance equipment, blood pressures, and Glasgow Coma Scale, aswell as AED use. There's even talk of letting them use nebilised salbutamol in a few years!!

I'll be back in Ireland permanently in about 18 months.....are the red cross there teaching those kinds of skills? Becuase I'm sure I'll get back involved once i'm home.

I alo used to be very involved in debating, which probably isn't a huge surprise to anyone who knows me, as I'm an argumentative wanker

The red cross used to cover all the gigs at the point theatre, and the st johns ambulance covered all the gigs at croke park and the RDS.

Buta s far as I know, the order of malta covers the point now, so it might be better to join them, to see lots of gigs for free, which was a huge incentive.

bluedolphin

PeakOutput wrote: »

thats quite impressive bluedolphin do the red cross run ambulances like theorder of malta do and if not would it not be more interesting being in the order of malta and being in said ambulances?

Sorry, only saw this today. Yes, we have ambulances as well; of course! We take them out on duty with us - fully equipped ones. The buzz of being in the back of an ambulance loses its appeal eventually. Usually after sitting in one at a Point-to-Point for 12 hours in the lashing rain!

tallaght01 wrote: »

This is my female double!!!! Have been in the red cross since 1992. Love teaching it too. It's great that they're giving the first aid guys additional roles now. I started in the irish red cross when I was a teenager. Have spent the last few years abroad, where ive worked with the british red cross. When i were a lad, you were pretty much trained in "100000 things to do with a triangular bandage". But now I get to teach members how to use oxygen, entenox, all the ambulance equipment, blood pressures, and Glasgow Coma Scale, aswell as AED use. There's even talk of letting them use nebilised salbutamol in a few years!!

I'll be back in Ireland permanently in about 18 months.....are the red cross there teaching those kinds of skills? Becuase I'm sure I'll get back involved once i'm home.

I alo used to be very involved in debating, which probably isn't a huge surprise to anyone who knows me, as I'm an argumentative wanker

The red cross used to cover all the gigs at the point theatre, and the st johns ambulance covered all the gigs at croke park and the RDS.

Buta s far as I know, the order of malta covers the point now, so it might be better to join them, to see lots of gigs for free, which was a huge incentive.

Wow! Don't join the Order/Johns - you so know you want to rejoin the Red Cross: "we're the only internationally recognised humanitarian organisation"

No, things have moved on from 100,000 things to do with a triangular! Where were you based before? I'm in Limerick City branch. We've come along way. When I joined in 2000, there were 16 cadets across two units (led to immense rivalry I can assure you!) but now there are 100+ across 4/5 units (can't think off the top of my head!) so things have certainly changed.

Under the EMFR (Emergency Medical First Responder) you're trained up in oxygen, entenox, ambulance equipment, AED etc. EMFRs are all being upgraded to EMTs in the near future as well, as EMTs are concurrently being moved up to paramedics. Sure, there are even public AED courses now! Sure all it is is pressing a button at the right time

Yeah, St John's in Limerick used to have the rugby matches in Thomond, but we acquired them two years ago. Now, in Limerick, having access to Thomond on match day is like having god-status! Those duties never have a problem being filled up