OTHER HOBBIES

Matt Potter · Status: Offline

RE: OTHER HOBBIES

Adrian Drummond-Hill · Status: Offline

I've been a home brewer for 38 years, it's a necessity when working in Saudi Arabia.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Dean Macdonald wrote:

and now making homebrew!!

That'll see an end to the other hobbies then

Will if you start mixing it with Cider Like I used to do

Dean Macdonald · Status: Offline

and now making homebrew!!

That'll see an end to the other hobbies then

Matt Potter · Status: Offline

Well, I enjoy mountaineering, walking, climbing, mountain biking, travelling, camping, fishing, running, history, and now making homebrew!!

-- Edited by Matt Potter on Saturday 18th of June 2011 08:34:36 PM

John Doherty · Status: Offline

The good thing is that realistically most outdoor hobbies can be combined with birding. Ok, it's multitasking if you are, say, rowing, for example, but hiking/walking/travelling/cycling etc etc can all be done alongside birdwatching. But that's the beauty and freedom of the Great Outdoors itself, I suppose.

I'm off to Plymouth soon, for a gig and that will be my first Devon jaunt - it should be an awesome birdwatch :)

Unfortunately no funds/plans to extend the run to Santander in the pipeline

richard howells 2 · Status: Offline

Had a quick search, but it seems I may be the only one subscribing to this hobby, certainly on this thread. I've taken up bookbinding. I have a large number of military history books bought for a course some 6-7 years ago. Price was a consideration so I bought a number of books that were not in the best condition. The objective is to bring these books up to scratch and preserve them for the future.
I've taken a couple of courses and now feel confident enough to have a go on my own. Buying equipment at the moment. Anyone know of a lying press (or anything else bookbindy) lying around, I'm your man.

Birding is my main hobby, but I'm also a season ticket holder at Sale Sharks. According to my better half, I need to take up a further hobby - decorating!

-- Edited by richard howells 2 on Friday 17th of June 2011 03:11:52 PM

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Does listening to extreme Japanese metal count as a 'hobby'?

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

a bit of a strange hobby i have that is not too widely used, audiobooks, i love um, i still also read too but while at work doing my job i am lucky that i can listen to books all day, keeps me sane, well almost, Peter James, James Patterson, Douglas Adams, Stephen Fry are some of my favourite authors

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

Rick Hall wrote:

I help coach Horwich FC under 12s, my son is on the team. I also play cricket for Horwich RMI 3rd team. I am hoping to progress up to the seconds eventually, but only really started this season. I keep wicket and constantly find my concentration wandering to the skies watching the swifts and stuff... which may prove to be quite dangerous one day!

Any other footy coaches or cricketers on here?

One of the reasons my birding time dissappeared Rick - my eldest plays for Garswood Juniors, Ashton Town, the school and attends FA skills courses, so it seemed only sensible to sign up as a coach. Done two seasons but giving it up this year.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Joey Eccles wrote:

Nick Isherwood wrote:

Joey Eccles wrote:

Do you have a view on cormorants Phil?
I know a lot of people see them responsible for the 'decimation' of river stocks (particularly roach) and I know that in the angling community there aren't any negative views on birders as such, but I think that many aren't keen on the RSPB partly because of their contradictions with the angling community on the cormorant figures and possible damage caused by them, compared to the angling community where many see the bird as 'the black plague'.

Joey

Like Phil, I too am a keen angler and have been for the last 34 years.

The cormorant issue has always been a sticky one, especially for us who are both birders and anglers. Personally, I feel that in small numbers on a large water the Cormorants don't have much of an effect on fish stocks and maybe even help the quality of fish stocks by taking sick or weak fish.

That said though, there have been situations where waters have been decimated by these birds. I can still remember the images of the River Trent back in the eighties and early nineties when there would be upto 200 birds lined up on the river. I'm sure that no-one would argue that they pretty much wiped out any fish stocks there. There was also evidence that the same happened on the River Ribble too back in the nineties.

Apart from a few cases though, I don't think their presence on our inland waterways has caused as much damage as some of the angling publications would have you believe. The only real problem that they cause now is when they fish on commercial fisheries and take the stock from one of the artificial waters created there. The owners of these fisheries then get very concerned that they are losing money due to the birds wiping out their stock.

At the end of the day, the Cormorant is only doing as nature intended. Its natural fishing grounds in the sea are becoming increasingly devoid of fish so the bird has had to adapt by moving inland.

Definitely a sticky issue. Would you agree with a controlled cull?

To be honest, no I wouldn't. I don't think its necessary.

Joey Eccles · Status: Offline

Nick Isherwood wrote:

Joey Eccles wrote:

Do you have a view on cormorants Phil?
I know a lot of people see them responsible for the 'decimation' of river stocks (particularly roach) and I know that in the angling community there aren't any negative views on birders as such, but I think that many aren't keen on the RSPB partly because of their contradictions with the angling community on the cormorant figures and possible damage caused by them, compared to the angling community where many see the bird as 'the black plague'.

Joey

Like Phil, I too am a keen angler and have been for the last 34 years.

The cormorant issue has always been a sticky one, especially for us who are both birders and anglers. Personally, I feel that in small numbers on a large water the Cormorants don't have much of an effect on fish stocks and maybe even help the quality of fish stocks by taking sick or weak fish.

That said though, there have been situations where waters have been decimated by these birds. I can still remember the images of the River Trent back in the eighties and early nineties when there would be upto 200 birds lined up on the river. I'm sure that no-one would argue that they pretty much wiped out any fish stocks there. There was also evidence that the same happened on the River Ribble too back in the nineties.

Apart from a few cases though, I don't think their presence on our inland waterways has caused as much damage as some of the angling publications would have you believe. The only real problem that they cause now is when they fish on commercial fisheries and take the stock from one of the artificial waters created there. The owners of these fisheries then get very concerned that they are losing money due to the birds wiping out their stock.

At the end of the day, the Cormorant is only doing as nature intended. Its natural fishing grounds in the sea are becoming increasingly devoid of fish so the bird has had to adapt by moving inland.

Definitely a sticky issue. Would you agree with a controlled cull?

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Joey Eccles wrote:

Do you have a view on cormorants Phil?
I know a lot of people see them responsible for the 'decimation' of river stocks (particularly roach) and I know that in the angling community there aren't any negative views on birders as such, but I think that many aren't keen on the RSPB partly because of their contradictions with the angling community on the cormorant figures and possible damage caused by them, compared to the angling community where many see the bird as 'the black plague'.

Joey

Like Phil, I too am a keen angler and have been for the last 34 years.

The cormorant issue has always been a sticky one, especially for us who are both birders and anglers. Personally, I feel that in small numbers on a large water the Cormorants don't have much of an effect on fish stocks and maybe even help the quality of fish stocks by taking sick or weak fish.

That said though, there have been situations where waters have been decimated by these birds. I can still remember the images of the River Trent back in the eighties and early nineties when there would be upto 200 birds lined up on the river. I'm sure that no-one would argue that they pretty much wiped out any fish stocks there. There was also evidence that the same happened on the River Ribble too back in the nineties.

Apart from a few cases though, I don't think their presence on our inland waterways has caused as much damage as some of the angling publications would have you believe. The only real problem that they cause now is when they fish on commercial fisheries and take the stock from one of the artificial waters created there. The owners of these fisheries then get very concerned that they are losing money due to the birds wiping out their stock.

At the end of the day, the Cormorant is only doing as nature intended. Its natural fishing grounds in the sea are becoming increasingly devoid of fish so the bird has had to adapt by moving inland.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Joey Eccles wrote:

Do you have a view on cormorants Phil?
I know a lot of people see them responsible for the 'decimation' of river stocks (particularly roach) and I know that in the angling community there aren't any negative views on birders as such, but I think that many aren't keen on the RSPB partly because of their contradictions with the angling community on the cormorant figures and possible damage caused by them, compared to the angling community where many see the bird as 'the black plague'.

Joey

Be warned, such discussion has the patent ability to run waaaaay off topic

Joey Eccles · Status: Offline

Do you have a view on cormorants Phil?
I know a lot of people see them responsible for the 'decimation' of river stocks (particularly roach) and I know that in the angling community there aren't any negative views on birders as such, but I think that many aren't keen on the RSPB partly because of their contradictions with the angling community on the cormorant figures and possible damage caused by them, compared to the angling community where many see the bird as 'the black plague'.

Joey

Phil Owen · Status: Offline

Is there a birders' view on angling or fisherman in particularboo.gifsmile.gif?
Or are most people indifferent?

Thought I'd chip in here a bit as a keen Angler.

Despite Anglers having generally a bad name, most of us have wildlife clearly on our minds when going fishing and are sensible enough to make sure that our "pegs" are cleared of line, hooks and litter. Indeed many Club and Societies I have joined, have bans in place for anyone caught with litter or discarded hooks and line etc in their peg, be it their own or anyone elses for that matter.

A lot of alternative tackle has been introduced too over the years such as the banning of lead weights and the introduction of barbless hooks etc etc.

Unfortunately I do feel the bad name is down to the minority spoiling things for the majority.

It sickens me to see discarded line and litter left and I have spent several sessions as a Committee member of my local club visiting various waters cleaning up, more often than not after "poachers" have been fishing the night before.

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Wednesday 25th of May 2011 11:30:54 PM

Joe Wynn · Status: Offline

Some scottish fish farms are taking it one step further, you can pay a fiver to go to rotrhimurchus outside of aviemore to see ospreys taking fish. I did it and the anglers seem completely at ease with the ospreys, even enjoying them!

Suzanne Tattersall · Status: Offline

My passion is British Military Fitness at Moss Bank park, Bolton. Unfortunately I've had to take a short break from it due to illness but will be returning very soon. I've seen many birds whilst lying in the mud doing sit ups staring up at the sky!

Rick Hall · Status: Offline

I help coach Horwich FC under 12s, my son is on the team. I also play cricket for Horwich RMI 3rd team. I am hoping to progress up to the seconds eventually, but only really started this season. I keep wicket and constantly find my concentration wandering to the skies watching the swifts and stuff... which may prove to be quite dangerous one day!

Any other footy coaches or cricketers on here?

Adrian Drummond-Hill · Status: Offline

Dave Phillips wrote:

Hi Adrian,
thats an impressive time to do 20miles in two hours.What a pity you had to give up running because of injury. My best marathon time has been 3hrs 10 a few years ago now. I'm a vet 65 now so Im running a bit slower now although I do pick up the odd vet prize. My last marathon was London 2010, I finished in 3hrs 44 I'm 67 now so quite pleased with that. I still enjoy running and will keep going as long as the old bones will allow.
Cheers Dave Phillips.

Thanks Dave. It was a bit depressing having to give up running but I took up aerobics and circuit training which kept me fit and helped with my sanity. (Some people might question that.)

I wear orthotics full time but if I do any running my heels are so sore in the morning, I hobble about for a few hours. I'm retiring in a few weeks time and have been thinking of getting a bike but I've led a fairly sedentary life recently so it might kill me.

Keep on running.

Adrian

Dave Phillips · Status: Offline

Hi Adrian,
thats an impressive time to do 20miles in two hours.What a pity you had to give up running because of injury. My best marathon time has been 3hrs 10 a few years ago now. I'm a vet 65 now so Im running a bit slower now although I do pick up the odd vet prize. My last marathon was London 2010, I finished in 3hrs 44 I'm 67 now so quite pleased with that. I still enjoy running and will keep going as long as the old bones will allow.
Cheers Dave Phillips.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Adrian Drummond-Hill wrote:

JOHN TYMON wrote:

frank wood wrote:

Amazing the number of birders who are also keen runners. The list keep growing in this section, but I have met many more who do a lot of their bird watching on the move.
Steve Almond, who reports regularly on the Rumworth Lodge environs in Bolton, was a very good runner with Bolton Harriers when he was younger.
Barrie Kelly , who is a brilliant wildlife photographer and can often be seen round Elton Reservoir, was this country's top sprinter for a number of years and ran for Britain in the Olympics.
It could spawn a whole new hobby - speed twitching.

Talk about Running,I am like lightning over 10 yards with a wind behind me if theres something to photograph.and god help anyone in my wayor if I smell a spare meat and potato pie in Wooseys bag ,im there in a flash

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 18th of May 2011 12:59:18 PM

So you are The Pennington Flash.

phalarope

Adrian Drummond-Hill · Status: Offline

JOHN TYMON wrote:

frank wood wrote:

Amazing the number of birders who are also keen runners. The list keep growing in this section, but I have met many more who do a lot of their bird watching on the move.
Steve Almond, who reports regularly on the Rumworth Lodge environs in Bolton, was a very good runner with Bolton Harriers when he was younger.
Barrie Kelly , who is a brilliant wildlife photographer and can often be seen round Elton Reservoir, was this country's top sprinter for a number of years and ran for Britain in the Olympics.
It could spawn a whole new hobby - speed twitching.

Talk about Running,I am like lightning over 10 yards with a wind behind me if theres something to photograph.and god help anyone in my wayor if I smell a spare meat and potato pie in Wooseys bag ,im there in a flash

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 18th of May 2011 12:59:18 PM

So you are The Pennington Flash.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

frank wood wrote:

Amazing the number of birders who are also keen runners. The list keep growing in this section, but I have met many more who do a lot of their bird watching on the move.
Steve Almond, who reports regularly on the Rumworth Lodge environs in Bolton, was a very good runner with Bolton Harriers when he was younger.
Barrie Kelly , who is a brilliant wildlife photographer and can often be seen round Elton Reservoir, was this country's top sprinter for a number of years and ran for Britain in the Olympics.
It could spawn a whole new hobby - speed twitching.

Talk about Running,I am like lightning over 10 yards with a wind behind me if theres something to photograph.

and god help anyone in my way

or if I smell a spare meat and potato pie in Wooseys bag ,im there in a flash

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 18th of May 2011 12:59:18 PM

frank wood · Status: Offline

Amazing the number of birders who are also keen runners. The list keep growing in this section, but I have met many more who do a lot of their bird watching on the move.
Steve Almond, who reports regularly on the Rumworth Lodge environs in Bolton, was a very good runner with Bolton Harriers when he was younger.
Barrie Kelly , who is a brilliant wildlife photographer and can often be seen round Elton Reservoir, was this country's top sprinter for a number of years and ran for Britain in the Olympics.
It could spawn a whole new hobby - speed twitching.

Adrian Drummond-Hill · Status: Offline

Dave Phillips wrote:

Been a keen runner for 27yrs. I'm President of my local running club Royton Roadrunners. Our membership is growing continually, about 110 members at present.We train on Mondays and Thursdays with either a race or long run at weekends.I like the competitive side of the sport but really enjoy running over my local moors its amazing what you flush out when your running.I race over all distances from 5k up to full marathon.Have done London 7 times and quite a few foreign marathons too. Birdwatching with its peace and tranquility is the perfect antedote after a tough race.

I've done three marathons, all in Saudi Arabia. My best time was 3 h 13 min, after going through 20 miles in 2 hours. Plantar fasciitis put paid to my running about twenty years ago.

Dave Phillips · Status: Offline

Been a keen runner for 27yrs. I'm President of my local running club Royton Roadrunners. Our membership is growing continually, about 110 members at present.We train on Mondays and Thursdays with either a race or long run at weekends.I like the competitive side of the sport but really enjoy running over my local moors its amazing what you flush out when your running.I race over all distances from 5k up to full marathon.Have done London 7 times and quite a few foreign marathons too. Birdwatching with its peace and tranquility is the perfect antedote after a tough race.

Joey Eccles · Status: Offline

I think a few people on here (including myself) enjoy a fishing session or two

And i try to divide my time fairly equally between birding and fishing
Is there a birders' view on angling or fisherman in particular

?
Or are most people indifferent?

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Hi Rob,
From your day long walks over Holcombe and into Lancashire I had you figured for a keen walker.
Talk of An Teallach takes me back some;- to 1969 to be precise. I walked the An Teallach range in June of that year and it still ranks as one of my favourite mountains; that perch in the sky on top of Lord Berkeley's Seat is some place to eat your butties!

As my dad was in the Royal Navy, (his home base was Rosyth) I spent the first year of my life in Scotland and rather symbolically took my first steps there (and according to mum was also conceived there, so I have a natural affinity with the place), although in fact I was born in Radcliffe.

Cheers,
Mike P.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Rick Hall wrote:

My other hobby has become checking this forum for stuff going on near me. I spend more time on here than actual birding! Although, I am actually supposed to be working... which doesn't half get in the way. Can't wait to retire. Only 33 years to go!

me too

rob archer · Status: Offline

Climbing all the Munros can become more adictive than birdwatching.. I went up my first one in 1978 (Ben Chonzie) whilst on a Military Winter Skills Course and I finished them in 2008 with a brilliant day on the An Teallach traverse..I carried on doing the Corbetts and am up to 78 but like Mike says, the driving and petrol is grim..Lost the eye of the tiger for the drive really.. Always had the bins with me and have seen plenty of Dotterel particularly around the Ben Alder plateau area and in the Drumochter Hills. Have climbed in quite a few places throughout the world but always say, and mean it, that on a clear, sunny blue sky day there is nowhere better than a Scottish Peak . Its impossible to name a favourite but for simply the best possible all round views I have to go for Beinn Sgritheall. Not a particularly dramatic peak but the memory of the summit views are as clear as the day itself.

Rob Archer

Rick Hall · Status: Offline

My other hobby has become checking this forum for stuff going on near me. I spend more time on here than actual birding! Although, I am actually supposed to be working... which doesn't half get in the way. Can't wait to retire. Only 33 years to go!

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

There's nothing wrong with either thread Mike. The Chinese user has been deleted as have his posts but it still leaves his name on the last posting of the forum homepage until someone posts something else.

It's just a slow day I'm afraid which I can vouch for typing this in the drizzle (not from one of the cosy hides either) at a very quiet Pennington Flash

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Again this is just a trial input to see if it clears this thread; (it seems to have worked on the sightings thread hopefully).

Mike Crawley · Status: Offline

I first came under the thrall of Rugby Union as a 10 year old starting at Burnage High School in the 60's.
It has pretty much dominated my life since then until now.
I'm still registered as a player at Burnage Rugby Club, still got all the kit but could do with some help from the folk who treated the Bionic Man if I'm to make a come back. Of course the main problem is the searing jealousy I feel for my old mate Paul, who is still playing at 61...
I have a season ticket for Sale Sharks (usually Friday night, fits nicely with wildlife activities !) and birding allowing I watch a team at Burnage every weekend.

How did I get into birding - sharing an office with a keen birder. He introduced me to the current Cheshire recorder and it grew from there.

Craig Higson · Status: Offline

If only I had the time Mike!

Most/all of my walking is confined to the Lakes or North Wales. There's only me interested (eldest is getting there) so persuading the missus that I need to tootle off for weekends at a time would be a bit difficult. I'd love to have a stab at some of them but the way my knees are shaping up, by the time the kids have gone and left me with some spare time the knees will have given up the ghost (they werent happy coming down from the Langdales at weekend!)

Joe Wynn · Status: Offline

I like a good munro walk, but usually do this along with birding- have spent many happy hours lugging an innordinate amount of gear to the top of remote Scottish peaks, where i've had dotterel chicks, ptarmigans and black throated divers (on the lower slopes)! I only got into birding on the mountainside with my dad. Other than that and serious birding, I just play the guitar and take photos, mainly of birds, but also dabble in macro photography and have tried landscapes, but its too much messing about for me!

frank wood · Status: Offline

I'm not into Munro bagging as such, but, barring one or two outlying peaks on the eastern side of the Lake District, have been to the top of all the Lakeland summits. Some many, many times.
For the past 34 years, we have had a caravan in Bridge End farmyard at Thirlmere, near Keswick, so the northern and central fells are on the doorstep.
I run with Horwich RMI Harriers and have been fell running since I was in my 20s. I am now 67 and still fell running at a far more sedate pace.
I have run all the classic lakeland fell races, ranging from a couple of miles to 48, so I have ticked off the summits of the high fells many times without taking much time to admire the view.
Our caravan is at the foot of Sticks Pass, so the Helvellyn range has been my training ground. Six years ago, it dawned on me that I had never kept count of times I had reached the summit of Helvellyn. So I started keeping a record, and since then have clocked up 58.
Incidentally,I always carry a pair of pocket Swarovskis, just in case.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Are there any other Munro enthusiasts out there?

I first started walking the Lakeland Fells as a 14 year old school boy, then in my early 20's started on all the Welsh tops and mountains over 2900 ft, (having walked all the Lakes peaks over 2600 ft).

Out of about 284, I still have 20 Munros left ( none of them difficult) which I'll probably not get round to doing now, as I'd rather spend my petrol money on birding.

I used to include all the tops over 3,000 as well as the main summits, (as some of these have been promoted to "main summit status" from time to time; - a bit like birds being split into full species) and did some big marathon slogs like 37 kms over the main Cairngorms on one of my big days a while ago, when I bumped into breeding Purple Sandpipers.
Of about 603 3,000ft summits in Britain and Ireland, at the last count I'd done 528 of them). These days I'm quite happy to drive into Cumbria and do little mountains like Nine Standards Rigg and explore new hills much nearer to home.
I used to regularly see Mountain Hares and Ptarmigan on the tops (and knew them quite well) before I was a birder; -looking back, I think walking the mountains first got me into logging the birds I was seeing.
- Happy Days!

Ian Boote · Status: Offline

Good thread

I've never really got into listing birds as a goal for a site, a year or a day, but I admire those that do and read with interest their work.

But I caught the bug, quite literally.

Wildlife site all round good egg and Guru Dave Winward came up with the idea of a tetrad challenge. Choose a map tetrad and list as many species as you can as a passing amble, or inmore details, no competition just see whats in that tetrad as abit of fun. Birds at Elton have been and continue to be done well by others much better than me. Plants I sussed out last year but bugs and underwater live was the goal around elton this year for myself. It became, and is, compelling and opened up a whole new understanding of the Elton area.

Not only thast as I am have been intrested in the Local history of elton. The dip is the site of Hinds Pit which affects the landscape there. The site over the canal where the little owl is often seen is the site of Hams Farm a 16th Century farm that produced a Puritan preacher. West of Crow tree farm is a ancient scheduled ancient monument Henge. Withins lane probably follows the line of a roman road. Many of the fields show ridge and furrow crop marks. And finally not to forget the court case of the right of way accross the dam. It went to the house of lords and the walkers won and the winners were presented with a pair of bins.. Birdwatchers were obviously there in Victorian times.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Wednesday 11th of May 2011 01:04:42 AM

Adrian Drummond-Hill · Status: Offline

My hobbies are as follows:

1. Photography of all kinds, although mainly nature. I'm an active member of Bolton Camera Club.
2. Motorbikes, although I sold my last bike when I turned 60. It was a Kwacker ZX6R and I've toured France, Belgium and Holland on it.
3. Computers, I run an Internet forum.
4. Watches and clocks, I'm a bit of a watch nut.
5. Travelling, which I hope to do more of in a few months when I retire.
6. Reading, although I haven't done too much lately.
7. Watching sport, I was an avid runner for many years but had to give it up due to injuries.
8. Music of all kinds, except Rap and Country and Western. My brother plays in the Atlanta Soul Band.

fred fouracre · Status: Offline

the one and only fall are appearing at the moho in tib street on friday 3rd of june.and to top that they are appearing for the liverpool guild of students at the mountford hall stanley street on thursday 30th june and friday 1st of july.to make this a monumental gig john cooper clarke is support.it doesnt get better than that."THE NORTH WILL RISE AGAIN"

John Doherty · Status: Offline

I used to dig old bottle dumps for about five years until that petered out. Any other bottlers on here?
There's always been the hiking/walking element with me which can now be combined with birding.
I do a bit of writing and have a little bit published, and am sometimes working on/sending off projects.

As for The MIGHTY Fall, they're a great band. I've seen them only once, and I met Mark E Smith in Heaton Park last summer - he was sound but the thing is this: I have spoken to several people since whose experiences differed with that! My theory is that he had to be polite because he was working with 'outsiders' (he was filming a world cup song -Shuttleworth, it's called) and so he would have wanted to impress them

Neil Baxter · Status: Offline

Here's what I'm also 'into'.

Ventriloquism... I've got four animal characters and am pretty okay with the 'bottle of beer' sort of stuff... it's not easy, but with practice I got it sussed.

Laughter & Humour Therapy - BIG interest in this - set up a website also to promote and practice it.

Going to the gym/jogging.

Collecting DVDs - got loads, love horror and sci-fi particularly.

Collecting joke books - I've absolutely LOADS.

Photography... however, most of my photos ARE of birds!

Playing guitar, bass, mandolin.

Music - particularly into the likes of Oasis, The Damned, Iron Maiden, Slipknot

N.

-- Edited by Neil Baxter at 14:14, 2008-11-29

Mike Chorley · Status: Offline

Rob Smallwood wrote:

In order to make this post bird related there are often Tawny Owls in the area.....

Well, it is under other 'hobbies'

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Anyone kicking their heels in South Manchester on Saturday 6th December might want to invest £2.50 in a ticket to see "my" band, XL5 live at Kersal Rugby Club, Stelfox Avenue, Timperley.

Late bar, DJ and we'll be covering some New Wave classics, Jam, Clash, Buzzcocks, etc plus the odd surprise. You'll be glad to hear that I'll not be singing!

In order to make this post bird related there are often Tawny Owls in the area.....

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

Well Steve I send you to these nice book fairs and you fail to take advantage, shame on you!

Yes Hilda Quick wrote two book on the Scillies , and was invoved in a number of other books, and works of art as well, cannot give you a full account as my research is not yet completed.( and you will not buy the book then )

However feel free to Pm me on the subject or call round for a cup of VAT 69. and I will bore the socks off you discussing the merits of books.

have fun but,

Keep Birding

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Did Hilda Quick write a book about birds in Cornwall with some really good wood engravings in it? I looked at such a book at the Buxton Book Fair recently and am regretting not buying it.

Steve

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

Thought I would take advantage of this thread while it is quite,

I am currently compiling research on Hilda Quick, a birdwatcher from the Scilly Isles there is some material housed in the Beinecke rare book and manuscript library in Yale University Connecticut USA.

I have permission to photo-copy the articles I need, however the white van is unable to make it across the pond.

If anyone has any relatives or a family member at the university, then I could really do with your help.

keep birding

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Paul Wilson wrote:

Rob Smallwood wrote:

The drummer is Paul Hanley, once of The Fall.

That's a bit of a come down then. And it's The MIGHTY Fall.

He's still gigging with Tom Hingley & The Lovers - XL5 is just a casual bit of fun - we do one off gigs for charity - the Bowdon event raised £900 for a local special needs school.

I'll be expecting a large Manchester Birding contingent at the next gig - likely to be at Christmas!