Other interests?

I'm a big technophile - I've recently put together my own computer and tend to fix my own equipment (phone screens and suchlike, small-fry stuff) should anything go wrong. This has lead me to putting together a Raspberry Pi temperature logger for work recently which I found enjoyable. I'll be purchasing my own soon to learn a bit of coding and try out a couple of projects. I listen to technology podcasts often and find new developments fascinating.

I've changed up my car for a 'new' one about 6 months ago - a 2006 Mk3 Mazda MX5, which I'm thoroughly enjoying. It's allowing me to learn a bit of skill with a spanner and suchlike having changed the windscreen wiper stalk (common upgrade), radio, cleaning drain-tubes etc. I've got a long way to go but there's some decent, knowledgable people in the MX5 community. It's the best car I've owned, second to it's predecessor, a 2009 diesel Renault Clio.

I play guitar and have done for about 12 years. Recently haven't been playing as much as a result of purchasing my first home with SWMBO. I WILL be fetching it from my folks soon. Big interest in blues music. I also need to re-solder my amp as some connections have gone a bit dodgy after 8 years of use. Changed the pre-amp tubes a couple of years ago. Haven't really been part of a band or done many gigs (with the exception of my older brother's wedding. The younger brother and I played a medley of Legend of Zelda (Nintendo game) songs, finishing off with the Dr. Who theme). Played flute for a few years before taking up guitar and will be getting back into it once I have it serviced.

Used to play rugby and have always followed it, being a Welshie. Played between the ages of 7 and 17 before taking up coaching earning a level 1 coaching qualification. Took it back up in university, playing for about a year aged 21 and being forced to stop due to injury (lower-orbit fracture; eye socket) which put me out of action for about 6 months, forcing me to retake a year of uni. Still follow it to an extent but taking more of an interest in football these days with the recent promotion of Swansea City to the premier league.

I also love dogs, and have rescued a (now 3yo) Schnoodle (Schnauzer x Poodle) circa 1 year ago. [We] want to get her a friend as me and the OH work Monday - Friday, though I pop in during my lunch break.

That's me in a nutshell! Many more years of many hobbies to go!
You certainly have a lot going for you. Lots of useful skills and interesting hobbies. Good for you!
 
Coffee. Anything to do with drinking and making good coffee. Trying to learn how to fly a radio controlled glider has been a source of fun and some frustration (and money). Watercoloring has been fun. Once was into pen collecting, old watches and sports cars when they were affordable. Pens. The apartment won't allow a dog but a giant Siberian Forrest cat is bigger than most small dogs and is adequate substitute. Did I mention coffee?
 
Played golf for best part of 30 years and hockey for close to 15 before knees finally gave up. Miss the golf, especially after 3 years in the USA, but not the pain. Last time I played, I was playing well, scoring well but after about 12 holes I was struggling to move and it was the easiest decision in the world to stop playing.

As I fast approach 50, with dodgy knees, my hobbies are far less energetic. I am building 2 model railway layouts. One Inglenook shunting puzzle and a larger one that is in its embryonic stages. I spend lots of time studying for my next H&S qualification.

I have 2 grandchildren whom i adore and a significant amount of time is spent spoiling them rotten.

I have been a Forest fan for over 40 years and a season ticket holder for quite a number of them (including all three when I lived in the States, to ensure I kept my great seat).

I want to learn how to improve my handwriting, and that is next on the agenda
 
Coffee. Anything to do with drinking and making good coffee. Trying to learn how to fly a radio controlled glider has been a source of fun and some frustration (and money). Watercoloring has been fun. Once was into pen collecting, old watches and sports cars when they were affordable. Pens. The apartment won't allow a dog but a giant Siberian Forrest cat is bigger than most small dogs and is adequate substitute. Did I mention coffee?
I've recently got into my coffee. Never used to like the stuff but started drinking it white and now go for black, one sugar. Top that off with an espresso machine for Christmas and you have yourself one happy chappy (me). A good coffee makes all the difference!
 
As I fast approach 50, with dodgy knees, my hobbies are far less energetic. I am building 2 model railway layouts. One Inglenook shunting puzzle and a larger one that is in its embryonic stages. I spend lots of time studying for my next H&S qualification.
What H&S Quals have you got? :) I've recently done my IOSH with my sights set on NEBOSH national certificate in Occupational H&S!
 
In the late Fifties a friend of my had a Studebaker that required a lot of brake pumping to bring it to a stop. Once he handed the keys to an unassuming garage parking attendant and watched the poor guy floor it up the ramp and seconds later heard the Stud crash into a wall at the first curve - followed the sounds of much cursing and angry threats. This was my friend Irish Tommy's idea of good humor. Another time the car's steering wheel came off in his hands while he was demonstrating his prowess at parallel parking. While the rest of us were happy tooling around in our 51 Merc's and Fords Tommy seemed to be perfectly content with his uncool Studebaker. As an aside, I learned to drive in a Nash Rambler - another example of fine American automotive ingenuity.
I gather your friend's car wasn't a 53-54 Loewy coupe, that was pretty cool car even in its day and still the most consistent winner in the Carrera Panamericana.

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Golden Hawk was also a great car , though I think they really didn't get the Hawk right until the 62 redesign.

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In the late Fifties a friend of my had a Studebaker that required a lot of brake pumping to bring it to a stop. Once he handed the keys to an unassuming garage parking attendant and watched the poor guy floor it up the ramp and seconds later heard the Stud crash into a wall at the first curve - followed the sounds of much cursing and angry threats. This was my friend Irish Tommy's idea of good humor. Another time the car's steering wheel came off in his hands while he was demonstrating his prowess at parallel parking. While the rest of us were happy tooling around in our 51 Merc's and Fords Tommy seemed to be perfectly content with his uncool Studebaker. As an aside, I learned to drive in a Nash Rambler - another example of fine American automotive ingenuity.


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An interest of mine is collecting ancient coins, I am a lover of history and most of us are lucky enough to live in a country full of such rich history, it really is all around us if we take the time to appreciate it. I have always collected coins since I was a child, used to love emptying my Grandfathers pockets when he came back from abroad.

Over the years I got more and more into reading and history, especially ancient history and it seemed a logical combination. Collect ancient coins. I have about 30 in flipcases from a a 400BC Oblia Dolphin coin, Alexander The Great life issue Tetradrachm to Augustus provincial coins and later Imperial coins like Constantinian Dynasty coins. My favourite part of it is buying encrusted coins, they basically are like lumps of dirt and you have to gently soak, scrub and work at them over many months, painstaking but very joyful, because you're the first person to se the coin and have to attribute it too, if it comes up well enough. My own bit of history I can hold.

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This coin from Carthage is my favourite coin that I have cleaned, quite a rare find. I currently have about 150 soaking in my garage, never seem to get the time to get on with them but the longer soaks don't hurt them at all. Along with ancient coins (and Nazi coins) I have a few dinosuar fossils too like a Spinosaurus tooth, Mosasaurus tooth and Megalodon Shark tooth. I certainly have peculiar collections.

A lot of my time is given to training my Cocker Spaniel Lilly, she is two this summer and certainly a handful. I train her on behalf of my father who wants her for fieldsports, she's getting there slowly but my goodness, people weren't wrong with how energetic the breed is. I enjoy taking her out when I go walking around the Brecon Beacons.

Another hobby of mine is reading, I have always got a book or two or three on the go. I only wish I could read more quickly, currently in the middle of two. The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler and The Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles.
 
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