Boredom - Ideas please

Evening all.

I'm bored. Not just right now, but generally. Truth is, I've been a bit bored since moving back home to Redcar (a tiny town) from Sheffield (England's (or possibly Britain's)) fourth largest city.

So I need your ideas

I've decided to do two things.

1) In September, I intend to enrol myself onto a part time, evening college course. It doesn't matter what, I'll just see what's on offer when they new pospectuses start to come out.

2) As soon as possible, I want to join some sort of club. Now there's the tricky bit. First, I have no idea how to find them. When I was a kid (before www) it was easy. You walk to the library, and look on the wall at all the gazillions of posters, then pick one. Secondly I'm not sure what I want to do. This is where I need your help

You already know that I have an interest in all things gardening and nature related, but also I like some martial arts (not the smash faces in type, more the self discipline and focus type - kung fu as opposed to mixed martial arts for example). I was thinking also of something like Tai Chi (which I've never tried before).

Suggestions? Ideas?

 

Why not start your own club, based around a hobby of your choosing?

 

Primarily because I'm too shy

 

oh yes, the restrictions brought about by shyness...all too familiar

how about bird keeping? i keep (& breed) Budgies, Zebra Finches, Bengalese Finches & Hecks Grassfinches, Diamond Doves & Chinese Painted Quail there are many species to choose from, it can be as challenging as you wish it to be. plenty of clubs for whatever species you may choose...you could even get into showing.

 

I think you started a thread like this last year Clueless, but that's neither here nor there.

Your first paragraph gives a lot away......moving back to Redcar. Think about what it is you did and/or miss about Sheffield and also should you move back there. You know what 'they' say, you can take the boy out of the city......?

The college course is a good idea, but I would choose something that will provide you with all year round availability eg. something that you can work at or study through the winter months as well, after you finish the course.

Libraries do still supply listings for clubs/associations, you could also try looking in the yellow pages of your phone book. Would you really be happy doing the 'softer' martial arts? They are usually quite slow and I'm wondering whether you would get bored with that quite quickly. Somehow I get the feeling you need to occupy your brain more and I don't think martial arts will give you that.

Not knowing you personally it's hard to suggest anything in particular that you might like, but hopefully what I have said will give you some things to ponder.

 

That's easy. In Sheffield I had the freedom to be as well know or as insignificant as I chose, depending on the mood I was in at the time. At home it was a very close knit neighbourhood. If I went into my garden I would quickly get chatting with the old boy next door (unusual design meant that between my house and my garden was a shared area for access to his house, so there could be no fence). If I went out the front door I would quickly end up in conversation with neighbours out the front. Next door but one was a chap who was a mechanic but his missus was so house proud it was embarrassing to call (because she'd make you wait outside or sometimes inspect you before letting you in), but if I wanted to speak to him it was simple enough, I'd just pop the bonnet on my car and then stand there. It would only take a few minutes before he miraculously noticed and would come out to see why there was an open bonnet. I could go into town and visit bars where I was known and where I knew the staff and some of the punters. or I could get in my car and within 30 minutes be in the peaks, then 30 minutes walk or bike ride from there and its me vs the open high ground, where who I am or what I want makes no difference to anything, because the elements are clearly in charge. Totally puts everything in perspective when you're up in the Pennines, its sub zero (in winter), its getting dark, blowing a gale, and nobody even knows you're there.

Possibly true. Whatever I do I need to occupy my mind, and it needs to be something that will take 100% of my concentration while I'm doing it. Tai Chi sounds good, but I remember for when I did kung fu years ago, there's nothing that concentrates the mind quite like the prospect of failing to block a foot that's heading directly for your lughole

 

I get the opposite feeling with clue. I think his mind is always on the go and needs to find ways to slow down.

Tai Chi is a discipline which requires a certain amount of focus and is meant to be good for the mind. I didn't have quite enough "discipline" or focus and found it a little boring But, its horses for courses and I think if you can take some "taster" classes to see if it suits you then go for it!

Do you read for enjoyment, clue?

 

I did Tai Chi for a long time and would recommend it. Give it a go and if it isn't what you are looking for then try a different martial art.
How about photography? That would get you out and about and meeting people.
Is there a pub that holds quiz nights near you?
These suggestions are just off the top of my head as I am neither a photographer or a pub quizzer but it sounds as if you would like to find some friends in your new neighbourhood. I hope it all works out for you.

 

What about that piece of land of yours Clueless? any chance of some kind of project there?...

 

Have you thought of gardening Dave ?

 

Why not volunteer somewhere? Work for your local wildtrust trust, this is what I currently do and have met so many new people as a result as well as new skills.

Didn't cost me a penny either.

 

I think part of the issue here is, are you really 'bored' or do you just feel a bit lonely perhaps and want to increase your circle of friends and acquaintances?

I can understand the 'shyness' but remember, the people who, when new to anything, bounce into a room full of strangers and 'work the room' making friends as they go are very far and few between. If there is something locally you fancy, just give the Secretary (or whoever) a ring, ask for details of their club/organisation and get an idea of the sort of people they are from that person's attitude. If they invite you along for a 'taster', go .. if you don't like it, you don't have to go again.

Sheal's right, libraries do still have lists of local clubs and societies (often on their notice board), if you have a Parish, or some sort of community, magazine there are often reoports in there of their meetings and details of who to contact to join. Most areas have a Gardening Club of some sort, many have a Local History Group and maybe a camera club. Nature conservation has already been mentioned as has volunteering - what about somewhere like the National Trust/English Heritage (they're often looking for volunteers) as, of course, are the Samaritans or maybe your local hospital needs volunteer drivers (a small allowance is paid to you in the case of the latter).

As a keen gardener, put 'Farmers' Markets' into your search engine, find one close to you and sell some of your homegrown produce (you don't have to be a 'farmer') or have a stall at a boot fair and sell seedlings/plants/produce there - even bunches of cut flowers sell well.

Why not think perhaps, about tracing your family history? There are often local family history groups; can you sing? Church choirs are always looking for recruits; the WRVS are happy to have both men and women deliver meals to the elderly; do you have a 'specialist' knowledge? - the WI (and other organisations) are always looking for someone to give a talk/demonstration or is there a cycling club you might think about joining? What about an OU or other distance learning course, or even another A-level? A language course? My son-in-law did a Rosetta Stone Italian language course and although that's long since finished, he still does 'Skype' calls to Italians he met through their message board, giving him an opportunity to practice his Italian and the other person to practice their English.

Finally, think about just taking up a new hobby altogether, learn to play a musical instrument; take up painting/sketching; learn to ice skate; do woodwork or pottery; learn to knit or decorate cakes; upholstery; find out how to become a DJ; train for a marathon (or half marathon!).

Just get yourself out there ... and enjoy

 

Golf

 

Take the missus dancing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/content/articles/2005/01/20/ceroc_feature.shtml

Trust me, this hobby gives you mental stimulation, (especially for men, who have to lead) a physical workout and lots of social interaction all in one go. It is also completely portable as you can do this dance at a number of venues all over the country (including Sheffield) so you need never again be bored on holiday.

If you don't fancy dancing, why not try bellringing?
http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/dove.php?s...rchToilet=&Submit=Go&sortBy=Place&sortDir=Asc

There's bound to be a tower near you, and Britain needs ringers. You don't have to be religious. Again, it needs a lot of mental effort and practice to master, gives a mild physical workout, it is a social activity where you will meet a lot of new people and can be done all over the country. ANOTHER WARNING- if it grabs you it become an utter obsession!