Hobbies

[Andrew Walker]

Ive recently taken up a new hobbie in pilates along with well being guidance Im finding the pilates very challenging Has anyone else taken up any new hobbies

[ism22]

I've already shared mine but...

- Retro gaming (my man cave is full of restored arcade machines, CRTs and 80's/90's consoles).

- Distance running. Have cut back a little recently due to work/family commitments but I run ~15km a day, mostly around mountain trails (e.g. Red Hill, Aranda Bushland, trails used by ADF out the back of Campbell and the parkland near the lake in Yarralumla). When I travel I love to find new trails and enjoy the local scenery. Most recently did some city runs in Vietnam and Thailand.

- Writing. I've published a few articles in various magazines. Currently experimenting with an intro for a book about my daughter's abduction that's a bit of a dream but I hope that I can find somebody willing to back it. Being extra careful as I don't wanna blow it but I have an intro and a chapter summary laid out. My cousin's a known editor (Oxford grad & established poet/editor) so hopefully they can give me some sobering feedback before I send it off. Right now I'm just tweaking it a little bit every night before I send it to her.

- Software programming and general tinkering. I'm half-way through building a video game (enjoyed by a small community online - think 80's text adventure with black & white graphics). It's really just for fun but I code all sorts of utilities. Some used to be kinda popular (millions of downloads in the early 2000's which got me a very low paying gig at a startup in San Diego... which was loads of fun) but things have changed so much since then and there's 'an app for everything'. Thankfully this means that most of the time when I wake up thinking 'why isn't there a utility to do this?!???' the answer is usually that 'there is' these days.

- Sports coaching (some paid, some not). Used to be a PE teacher so I stick my hand up every time one of my son's sports is short on coaches. Just teaching little kids the basics of sports and playing games...etc. Nothing competitive.

- Blogging. I have a blog that nobody reads... more a reflective diary than anything.

- Jazz piano (plus slow, piano versions of some classic anime). I suck big time and have absolutely no aptitude for it at all but find that learning tunes in this sorta way can teach me more about the music I like, including how there's way more layers / progressions than I'd assumed just by listening. A family friend around the corner is a professional jazz drummer (used to play in $$$ hotels around China).

- Cooking... on weekends I love to do big meals for lunch/dinner so that we can all eat outside as a family and have a big chat. Makes the week easier too as there's usually plenty of leftovers for lunches/snacks. I love something that I can work away at and get my son to help cook whily my wife has a nap.

Lotsa other stuff but that's some starters for ya.

[rented tracksuit]

Ive recently taken up a new hobbie in pilates along with well being guidance Im finding the pilates very challenging Has anyone else taken up any new hobbies

Sounds good mate. Enjoy!

[rented tracksuit]

I've already shared mine but...

- Retro gaming (my man cave is full of restored arcade machines, CRTs and 80's/90's consoles).

- Distance running. Have cut back a little recently due to work/family commitments but I run ~15km a day, mostly around mountain trails (e.g. Red Hill, Aranda Bushland, trails used by ADF out the back of Campbell and the parkland near the lake in Yarralumla). When I travel I love to find new trails and enjoy the local scenery. Most recently did some city runs in Vietnam and Thailand.

- Writing. I've published a few articles in various magazines. Currently experimenting with an intro for a book about my daughter's abduction that's a bit of a dream but I hope that I can find somebody willing to back it. Being extra careful as I don't wanna blow it but I have an intro and a chapter summary laid out. My cousin's a known editor (Oxford grad & established poet/editor) so hopefully they can give me some sobering feedback before I send it off. Right now I'm just tweaking it a little bit every night before I send it to her.

- Software programming and general tinkering. I'm half-way through building a video game (enjoyed by a small community online - think 80's text adventure with black & white graphics). It's really just for fun but I code all sorts of utilities. Some used to be kinda popular (millions of downloads in the early 2000's which got me a very low paying gig at a startup in San Diego... which was loads of fun) but things have changed so much since then and there's 'an app for everything'. Thankfully this means that most of the time when I wake up thinking 'why isn't there a utility to do this?!???' the answer is usually that 'there is' these days.

- Sports coaching (some paid, some not). Used to be a PE teacher so I stick my hand up every time one of my son's sports is short on coaches. Just teaching little kids the basics of sports and playing games...etc. Nothing competitive.

- Blogging. I have a blog that nobody reads... more a reflective diary than anything.

- Jazz piano (plus slow, piano versions of some classic anime). I suck big time and have absolutely no aptitude for it at all but find that learning tunes in this sorta way can teach me more about the music I like, including how there's way more layers / progressions than I'd assumed just by listening. A family friend around the corner is a professional jazz drummer (used to play in $$$ hotels around China).

- Cooking... on weekends I love to do big meals for lunch/dinner so that we can all eat outside as a family and have a big chat. Makes the week easier too as there's usually plenty of leftovers for lunches/snacks. I love something that I can work away at and get my son to help cook whily my wife has a nap.

Lotsa other stuff but that's some starters for ya.

Sounds like full time work bud.

[horrie hastings]

Weather dependent tomorrow i may take a lines over and have a dangle at Kirribilli, will depend of the condition of the gear i have, hooks and sinkers are fine just depends on the condition of the lines which haven't been touched in years. Tides look alright for an afternoon fish, so it will depend on weather and where is my head is at tomorrow, a good way to test the water again and get back into it.

[rented tracksuit]

Weather dependent tomorrow i may take a lines over and have a dangle at Kirribilli, will depend of the condition of the gear i have, hooks and sinkers are fine just depends on the condition of the lines which haven't been touched in years. Tides look alright for an afternoon fish, so it will depend on weather and where is my head is at tomorrow, a good way to test the water again and get back into it.

Sounds great mate! Wish I was doing it as well.

[Andrew Walker]

I've already shared mine but...

- Retro gaming (my man cave is full of restored arcade machines, CRTs and 80's/90's consoles).

- Distance running. Have cut back a little recently due to work/family commitments but I run ~15km a day, mostly around mountain trails (e.g. Red Hill, Aranda Bushland, trails used by ADF out the back of Campbell and the parkland near the lake in Yarralumla). When I travel I love to find new trails and enjoy the local scenery. Most recently did some city runs in Vietnam and Thailand.

- Writing. I've published a few articles in various magazines. Currently experimenting with an intro for a book about my daughter's abduction that's a bit of a dream but I hope that I can find somebody willing to back it. Being extra careful as I don't wanna blow it but I have an intro and a chapter summary laid out. My cousin's a known editor (Oxford grad & established poet/editor) so hopefully they can give me some sobering feedback before I send it off. Right now I'm just tweaking it a little bit every night before I send it to her.

- Software programming and general tinkering. I'm half-way through building a video game (enjoyed by a small community online - think 80's text adventure with black & white graphics). It's really just for fun but I code all sorts of utilities. Some used to be kinda popular (millions of downloads in the early 2000's which got me a very low paying gig at a startup in San Diego... which was loads of fun) but things have changed so much since then and there's 'an app for everything'. Thankfully this means that most of the time when I wake up thinking 'why isn't there a utility to do this?!???' the answer is usually that 'there is' these days.

- Sports coaching (some paid, some not). Used to be a PE teacher so I stick my hand up every time one of my son's sports is short on coaches. Just teaching little kids the basics of sports and playing games...etc. Nothing competitive.

- Blogging. I have a blog that nobody reads... more a reflective diary than anything.

- Jazz piano (plus slow, piano versions of some classic anime). I suck big time and have absolutely no aptitude for it at all but find that learning tunes in this sorta way can teach me more about the music I like, including how there's way more layers / progressions than I'd assumed just by listening. A family friend around the corner is a professional jazz drummer (used to play in $$$ hotels around China).

- Cooking... on weekends I love to do big meals for lunch/dinner so that we can all eat outside as a family and have a big chat. Makes the week easier too as there's usually plenty of leftovers for lunches/snacks. I love something that I can work away at and get my son to help cook whily my wife has a nap.

Lotsa other stuff but that's some starters for ya.

I don’t know where you find the time for all of this

[horrie hastings]

Taken the first step even though i'm not going fishing today. Pulled out most of my fishing gear which is in a storage cupboard in the kitchen. Hooks, sinkers, swivels, plenty of, plenty of line that hasn't been touched and still on the original spools, 6lb, 9lb and 12lb, even though its been in the cupboard for years still in its original condition so should be fine, handlines still with line on them so should be perfect for the wharves i want to fish in the harbour, just have to sort out some of the reels now for the rods but that can come later, at the moment i would just be content with a handline off the wharves for leatherjackets.
Now the other thing is seeing i have been out of the loop for so long where do i get bait as the bait and tackle shops especially in the inner city and inner west have all but disappeared, still know of a few but would have to travel so just thinking i will go to one of the local fish shops and get some green prawns, have some mussels in the freezer which i can use. The next step now is to actually go and have a fish, have decided against it today but glad i have taken the first step to know i can just go to the cupboard and have enough stuff to head off when i decide.

[horrie hastings]

Add to above, glad i had the peace and serenity while i pulled out my fishing gear to go through as the better half was out doing an exercise course. As soon as the better half got home, nag nag nag, what have you been doing, what do you want to do today, just let me know in a few minutes , i was having just a nice peaceful relaxing time caught up in my own world and now the peace has been shattered, should have just left the bucket and handlines out and jumped on a train to Milsons Point for a fish. That time will come, just wasn't quite ready to go today even though the conditions look perfect for it.

[Andrew Walker]

Add to above, glad i had the peace and serenity while i pulled out my fishing gear to go through as the better half was out doing an exercise course. As soon as the better half got home, nag nag nag, what have you been doing, what do you want to do today, just let me know in a few minutes , i was having just a nice peaceful relaxing time caught up in my own world and now the peace has been shattered, should have just left the bucket and handlines out and jumped on a train to Milsons Point for a fish. That time will come, just wasn't quite ready to go today even though the conditions look perfect for it.

Oh Horrie I feel your pain There are times here when Mrs Walker nags the shit out of me when I am just having a relaxing day and caught up in my own little wo however when I find myself getting really agitated by it I think to myself just how much I would actually miss this type of nagging if it was never there.

[rented tracksuit]

Add to above, glad i had the peace and serenity while i pulled out my fishing gear to go through as the better half was out doing an exercise course. As soon as the better half got home, nag nag nag, what have you been doing, what do you want to do today, just let me know in a few minutes , i was having just a nice peaceful relaxing time caught up in my own world and now the peace has been shattered, should have just left the bucket and handlines out and jumped on a train to Milsons Point for a fish. That time will come, just wasn't quite ready to go today even though the conditions look perfect for it.

Love Milsons Point mate.

[Andrew Walker]

Love Milsons Point mate.

Beautiful spot I recall sitting there with an ex gf sinking tinnies of VB It would also be remiss of me not to add the fond memories of the many trips to Luna Park with my Daughter over a three year period when we had season passes So much fun

[ism22]

Beautiful spot I recall sitting there with an ex gf sinking tinnies of VB It would also be remiss of me not to add the fond memories of the many trips to Luna Park with my Daughter over a three year period when we had season passes So much fun

Daaamn... season passes to Luna Park would be awesome!!!

[horrie hastings]

Oh Horrie I feel your pain There are times here when Mrs Walker nags the shit out of me when I am just having a relaxing day and caught up in my own little wo however when I find myself getting really agitated by it I think to myself just how much I would actually miss this type of nagging if it was never there.

Yes AW, i know exactly what you mean, i would miss it but today i was just in a nice zone and of course with all the endorphins after exercise meant i just got blah blah blah from the better half when they got home and i was just so chilled out, Did have a good day out in the end, ended buying new light fittings for the lounge room and kitchen., still though i thought it was going to be rocky as felt like a Chinese lunch and seeing we were going to the Supa Centre so was going to have Ho Wan at Kensington and when we got there it was closed, you could see the better half's mind ticking over and eyes rolling then i pointed at the hours on the door and said look it should be opened, luckily everything went smoothly after that and had a nice lunch at East Village.

[horrie hastings]

Beautiful spot I recall sitting there with an ex gf sinking tinnies of VB It would also be remiss of me not to add the fond memories of the many trips to Luna Park with my Daughter over a three year period when we had season passes So much fun

Love sitting there with a half a dozen or a dozen oysters and a glass of bubbles watching the boats go past and taking in the view from the Eastern side of the bridge at Milsons Point, just a beautiful spot. Love the boardwalk around past Luna Park to Lavender Bay also.