[Closed] Solitary pursuits

Oh dear, I think you might regret asking that question on here . . .

Whittling

Can you sew? I'm not talking about making party frocks, but useful stuff. Altering garments to fit, mending ripped clothing, making simple things like stuff sacks - that kind of thing. You can save loads of money with "make do and mend". And it saves things going to landfill too.

Esme, I'm sure they won't dissapoint

Jon1973, I was thinking about that. Is there a knife you'd recommend?

Esme I do sew. I'm ok at hand sewing and mend tears and make minor adjustments but I've not made anything with the sewing machine for a while. Making sacks would be a good place to start, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks

I twiddle about on (bass) guitar...... what about some sort of instrument? Initial outlay doesn't have to be much, and it can be very absorbing.

Learning an instrument would be cool, I quite fancy the double bass or the clarsach

the double bass

A short-scale electric bass will do lot more, is much easier to play and can be transport in a gig bag. From about £80 delivered to your door.

Learning a language. Look at duolingo.com

Along the lines of sewing, knitting. Definitely useful, you can also not only make clothes but things like stuffed toys (I made my sisters knitted stuffed toy elephants for christmas last year). You can also spin your own yarn and stuffs too.

I started whittling a few years ago, mostly my winter go to activity. In front of the fire.

A good book is the urban woodsman. I have a couple of Mora knives, which seem to be good and won't break the bank.

Astral projection. It'll get you out and about more.

Rubik's cube. 😉

The short scale electric guitars might be an option, I've got wee hands and struggle with normal size ones. I'm not intending on taking it beyond the sofa though.

I'll have a wee look duolingo, I could do with brushing up on my languages too.

I like the idea of doing something practical like sewing. I'm quite arty but would prefer to make something I can utilise, they're great ideas.

I whittled an owl when I was a kid, I found it quite therapeutic and was curious to see what shape the wood would take. I work in forestry and I'm quite interested in the properties of each species, which do you prefer?

I've tried astral projection, I ran into some druids

This..

And this..

Just a sample of the myriad of instruments and amps out there...

Much better to fiddle with than picking yer nose..

Disciplining a simian?

Have you a confession to make CaptainFlasheart?

What’s not to like about sitting on the sofa getting wasted? It’s a lot more comfortable than sitting at a bus stop getting wasted...

Correct the internet

You could try hacking?

I love sitting on the sofa getting wasted, but it's much more fun with company

Mikewsmith, I've had some practice 😂

@aweeshoe - a Mora knife like this one would be ideal:
https://ukoutdoorstore.co.uk/shop/mora-106-wood-carving-knife-made-in-sweden/?CAWELAID=730004950000005200&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=33865546630&CATCI=pla-194607758470&catargetid=730004950000015778&cadevice=t&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyOWo2PfN4QIVYbvtCh3GwwmmEAQYBCABEgKc5PD_BwE
Get a leather strop and paste to keep the edge keen and you’re golden.

I'm not sure sitting on the sofa is the best use of your time. Get out for a walk.

Countzero, thanks for the that. It's a lot more reasonable than I expected. What wood would you recommend to start with?

Slowoldman, I'd like to but can't for various reasons

Does it have to be conducted whilst sat on your sofa?

How about getting Cameron McNeish's book on the Munro's & Geoff Allan's "the bothy bible" - between the two there is at least 3 years worth of weekends to get out into the hills and up to mischief.

Gaming. I do xbox during the darker months.

Scruff9252, I find that quite appealing for when I get the odd weekend to myself

Myti, I've got a ps4 but I'm finding it boring playing alone

I haven't been around on here as much lately and things have obviously slipped as no one has suggested coke and hookers yet

Hmm, electric bass? Why not a ukelele? Same thing really.

Electric uprights are pretty much the neck and spike portion of a traditional double bass and appear to come in cheaper by a significant amount.

Sewing is a good shout, my wife does it but I'd like to knock some stuff together eventually. If you wanted to start on a budget get yourself an old but solid machine then learn to fix it. I have her mum's old Toyota sitting waiting to get the tensioner fixed when it becomes less of a touchy subject.

Might seem odd, but I gave started riding a bike. You could then stop for whittle.

Wiggles, how much do you reckon I should charge?

Squirrelking, that sounds like something I could have a go at. It would be easier to store too.

I've got my Nan's old singer sewing machine from 1947! It's the one I prefer to use but I've also got one that does all the fancy stuff, I can't even thread the thing

Caher, I'd probably get done for child neglect

About £30 a gram

£1,620,000 that's not bad. That'll get you half an hour

Haha - took me a moment to work that out, aweeshoe 🙂

Modelmaking.
Been doing it since I was a kid, started building plastic kits, then converting & modifying them, then building from scratch.
Keeps me off the streets & passes the cold winter evenings!
Doesn’t have to be military either, plenty of cars, motorbikes, birds & figurines if you don’t fancy tanks or aircraft.

Crochet? Minimal costs to get started and loads of free patterns on the internet. Kept me sane when I was working away from home.

Wood? Limewood or redwood. There are loads of videos on YT on whittling and carving.

Cake decorating - because at the end of it all you've still got cake

Electronics, start with and Arduino or Pi kit, endless tutorials online

Love this thread. I'm in a similar couch based getting wasted rut. Have dabbled with bass and electronic music but need something more consuming. Have spent 8 years letting my wife get out in the evenings while I stay in with the kids. That was to stop her going mental but now I am.

Just read the first page and no talk of the five finger shuffle?

@chvck, that's a grand idea. I love the idea of making something I'll be able to use. I've tried picking it up a few times but I keep forgetting how to cast on and off, and I'm hopeless at following videos.

@Panzerjager, are there particular brushes, paints and kits makes you'd recommend? I've got a steady hand and an eye for detail, I'd be interested in making the bird kits. My friend makes these

@ebygomm, crocheting looks quite a skill! I like how you don't need many tools, especially ones you can injure yourself on. I kinda stopped wool based crafts after impaling myself on a knitting needle but I think crochet may be a good reintroduction.

@BillMC, thanks for the tip.

@thepurist, I love cake! I wish I could bake but they come out like big biscuits

@greentrucky, that's not an avenue I'd thought of. Are there any websites you'd recommend to get me started?

@TheBrick. I'm not really keen on watching videos, but if you want to give me a demonstration... 😉 😂

I find bike maintenance passes a lot of time. It aint fun, but is quite satisfying. Try setting up some tubeless tyres. It’ll either drive you bonkers,or be very useful.., or both 😊
There’s also checking out music blogs on t’internet.. drawing... reading... or try combining some of the previous suggestions, like whittling a guitar out of a stick. Or sewing cake decorations.

Airfix.

@Dezb, my bike maintenance is very satisfying for bike shops 😂 I do try, which reminds me to ask how to fix my wobbly front wheel. The problem with tunes is that they go too well with getting wasted on the sofa

how to fix my wobbly front wheel

Youtube research... like most things bike related 😊

A somewhat different angle maybe but it's still making stuffs. Making computer games, it's probably at the wrong end of the commitment scale but there are some pretty accessible engines now and you can learn all the stuff just by reading. It's quite creative too.

Photography. Plenty of interesting stuff you can try indoors, eg macro, or experimenting with lighting. Plus editing the photos after you taken them.
And combine it with other hobbies, ie take photos of things you've made.

@chvck, that's not something I'd considered. I used to build my own pc's and write basic programming. I'm quite curious.

@CraigW, I used to have an SLR but stopped when photography went digital. It's certainly something I'd give a go if I got a camera and an editing suit, is there anything you'd recommend for a beginners set up?

Bikebouy, is that your Charger HB?

Brick, Flashy beat you to it

get outside and do bird watching. Just need some binoculars.

How about stalking someone on STW who has no clue who you are and trolling them? For no apparent reason? Seems to occupy the time of some ****s on here anyway.

What are you wearing Debz?😉

Have you tried cycling? Apparently its lots of fun, and has massive health benefits to boot.

Look! ^^ There's one of em 😆

@trumpton, that's a possibility but it involves going past the front door and the possibility of real people.

@Dezb, I've got the kit but but not the enthusiasm

@trailwagger I've got a few but they ruin the sofa

Internet trolling is way to go.
(cheaper than coke and hookers as well)

Scrimshaw?

Have you thought about creating a new religion, then radicalising impressionable people online to commit horrendous atrocities in your name?

Or online scrabble?

Have you thought about creating a new religion, then radicalising impressionable people online to commit horrendous atrocities in your name?

A bit like Jeremy Corbyn? 😉

Dez, much though I despise your online persona...

It's where I convey my nicer side

Look! ^^ There’s one of em 😆

Is that trolling? I thought it was humor, cause ya know, no-one on here actually rides a bike.

No, the one above yours trailwagger. I sincerely apologise for any confusion. (See, I'm nice)

I rode one yesterday.

At least I'm claiming I did.

Anyway.

Has anyone mentioned Lego yet?

If not, Lego.

I have My kids have loads of it.

Holds its value, if later resale is important.

No, the one above yours trailwagger.

It was me.

It was definately* trolling, fella.

* that’s how we spell it in the OCG

No, the one above yours trailwagger. I sincerely apologise for any confusion. (See, I’m nice)

Ah, I didn't spot the double uppy.. apologies to you sir. (isn't the internet a lovely place today?)

Despite [i]his[/i] presence.

Learning 3-D design & doing a bit of 3-D printing?

Plenty of free 3-D CAD programs out there ; something like Fusion 360 with tons of Youtube videos to learn how-to from people like Lars Christensen.
Or something like Blendr for more organic design (not really my thing).

You can pick-up a fairly capable 3-D printer for around £150 - something like a Creality Ender-3.

Although, this isn't really a plug-n-play hobby just yet. There are lots of setting things up & experimenting required to get good results. But it can be very satisfying when you make something that solves a direct problem you have.

Get a Dog!

Re-point your gable end

One thing I'd advise against is doing unpaid favours for ungrateful celebrities and/or media types...

On the flipside, you could have a pop at being a citizen journalist and through extensive research and piecing together timelines explore previously uncharted avenues... though you might be a bit shocked by what you find.

Hmmm, on balance, get a dog.

@Nico. I've not heard of Scrimshaw before, I was a bit wary of googling it but it looks quite intriguing. Thanks for the heads up

@Binners I do online scrabble and cards. Bringing enlightenment has been my life's work, but it's a tough gig for an autistic messiah and I lost my last follower on Thursday. Maybe, I could combine it with @dezb and @centralscrutinzer's idea and...

@mrmonkfinger, lego is a sore point (especially if you stand on it)

@stumpy01, they're a lot more affordable than I expected. Thanks for the heads up, I'll have a look to get some ideas.

@harry_the_spider, I just saw your airfix post. It a shame they just do military stuff, I'm a pacifist.

@jivehoneyjive, if only you warned me sooner. I used to work for the Getty's, but I wouldn't kiss and tell 😉 You'd have to get me drunk first, but I'm up for a challenge if you want to try