My favourite is genealogy. It has a never-ending fascination. You start off finding who your ancesters were, what their occupations were, where they came from and then the social history for the period they lived in. The surprises are many.
I'm just getting back into making silver jewellery after a long break from it. I've now got a shed to work in, the basic tools and I've just cobbled together a polishing machine. The picture above my name is of one of the first pieces I made a few years back.
I love the feel of bashing and shaping metal until it resembles what you saw in your mind's eye. It is such a difference from my job which is mostly in front of a computer.
Getting the ideas is the hardest part. I'm not blessed with a great imagination and need something to base my designs on, whether that be another piece of jewellery, or a design from an ilustration or even a tattoo! I do try to change it to the point where it becomes my design and not a rip-off. Maybe eventually I'll develop my own style.
My favourite hobby is photography and with the invention of digital cameras it has never been easier as you no longer need to learn how to develop pictures or have a dark room.
The new cameras that are base models are unenjoyable and I only use a large SLR with detachable lens so that I can remain in control of focus and light exposure etc but its just fantastic to be able to upload the pictures immediately to the computer and then print them or share them or send them to friends or family.
It is also a great way to keep in touch with friends as no longer have to swap photo's through the mail that end up bent or lose in the postal black hole.
Mine is also genealogy, apart from photography & fishing & sport. But at least I can do genealogy from my bed, & no one screams at me if I leave it for ages because I don't feel up to it. Hated history at school but this has given me a passion for history.
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