MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
My circumstances mean that I need something to do over the winter. Some sort of project to keep me occupied.
I have enough bikes and they are all well sorted. I live in an attic flat so no garden. I am going to do a bunch of redecorating but need something else. something that will occupy my time and maybe even be a bit creative
Build a copy of the taj Mahal out of matchsticks? a 1/3 scale model of the titanic? counting the number of angels dancing on the head of a pin?
Lets have your bright ideas 😉
I plan to try and learn the bass guitar again (countless failed stop/start attempts over the past 30+ years), even though I have no musical aptitude. Get a guitar. start learning and we could be famous!
Wood carving. Get a collapsible bench eg Worx, a few decent chisels and some blocks of limewood. Print off images and carbon paper them onto the wood and away you go. Shavings easily hoovered up. No tuition needed and a very absorbing pastime.
Not a member myself, but I know there is a Leith Men's Shed - full workshop for tinkering so you're not having to find something to fit inside the flat...?
Alternatively tryout some home brewing?
I plan to try and learn the bass guitar again (countless failed stop/start attempts over the past 30+ years), even though I have no musical aptitude. Get a guitar. start learning and we could be famous!
Exactly what I am doing. Gone right back to basics with an on line tutorial. Enjoying the structure of the lessons and as they are only 10 minutes long, I can fit them in any time and then just practice when I want.
Instruments are relatively cheap now and can be resold easily. Already thinking about a 6-string. Should help keep you occupied during the darker months.
Get yourself an Arduino project kit & a book to teach you programming?
Tons of projects out there online?
Airfix models?
Any local groups you could volunteer at? Scouts or something? Helping at a foodbank or charity shop?
Learn to read music (if you can't) and learn an instrument.
Help molgrips with the engine mounts on his Merc? Should keep you occupied for most of the winter 🙂 .
Some kind of woodcraft?
Photography? Documenting your local area in some kind of creative way?
TikTok influencer?
Knife-making/carving handles etc. V addictive!
I had forgotten the mens shed - thats actually not a bad idea
tik tok influencer sounds good - do I need a trout pout and painted on eyebrows?
Do a Photo a Day.Take lots of shots and choose one to post on Flickr. It gets you out and about and looking at things in a completely different way.You are in Edinburgh so spoiled for choice when it comes to subjects.It's harder in the dark months but does make you try lots of new styles.
If you want something indoor and nerdy, you could teach yourself how to use Blender. You'll need a moderately decent PC but the software is free and there are tons of great tutorials out there.
The OU has lots of free courses on its OpenLearn platform if you fancy a bit of an academic challenge:
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
I'm currently doing a coding course and it seems well put together so far.
I have a nice flat redecorating project at the top of Leith Walk if you want a paid project TJ 👷🏼
tjagain
tik tok influencer sounds good – do I need a trout pout and painted on eyebrows?
Depends who you want to influence I would have thought. 🙂
Photo a day is a good idea. Plenty of Flickr groups out there, or just do it for your own enjoyment.
You start off thinking "this is a piece of piss" and then as the time goes on, it gets more & more tricky to find interesting pics.
Learn how to make moonshine
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alcohol-Moonshine-Stainless-Spirits-Distiller/dp/B0163BCN7M
Photo a day is a good idea. Plenty of Flickr groups out there, or just do it for your own enjoyment.
You start off thinking “this is a piece of piss” and then as the time goes on, it gets more & more tricky to find interesting pics.
I did it for 3 years from 2013.
I miss it/Don't miss it.
What about flatland bmx/freestyle skateboarding or covering as much of your body as you can in diy prison-style tattoos?
How about a tandem in a bottle.
Prison style tattoos does sound fun though.
Reckon you'd get a 14foot canoe down the stairs?
Exotic/pole dancing
Build an RC plane and then learn to fly as your spring project...
@beagleboy get yerself on https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bassists-of-singletrackworld and join the groooove
Model kits.
Recently got back into it after a few months off and happily "lost" a couple of days.
Lego.
R/C cars / planes.
Basically, build some shit. (-:
Also,
Do you have any friends? Do what I did and start an Escape Room habit.
To take two of the above suggestions:
Woodcarving:
I have started this again after a long time away from it. Absolutely absorbing and extremely therapeutic but I do find I have to do it in 1-2 hr max sessions because of the concentration required. Don’t be too ambitious to start with.
Model making:
I had always wanted to make a large scale wooden/ metal model of an early aeroplane, Could have gone for a Hasegawa 1/8 scale Sopwith Camel or Fokker DR1 but they are extremely spendy (£800ish) and BIG when completed, so went for a 1/16 Sopwith Camel. I estimate it took 1O0 hours+ in total over about 6 weeks. Absolutely loved doing it.
If your peepers are still up to it, watch and clock tinkering can be quite fun and interesting, and I'm told silversmithing/jewellery making can be done with a small toolbox and not much space.
Become my Scottish art agent - NicksArtStuff.com
Or perhaps more profitable to try a bit of painting yourself. Stuff like Pour-Painting is an easy and remarkably satisfying way to start.
I know someone who has just started helping out with VIE velo, who: ‘ bring the joy of cycling to blind and partially sighted people through tandem riding with sighted riders’. By riding as a pilot. She has enjoyed herself. That may fit in with your passions.
However, not very creative.
I have tried whittling, which I enjoy. I’m good at turning pieces of wood into lots of much smaller pieces and a huge mess.
Inktober is fun.
My wife and daughters sew and knit, and I wish I could produce what they do.
How about volunteering somewhere?
There will be a dozen organisations near you that will be desperate for help.
Do a Photo a Day.Take lots of shots and choose one to post on Flickr. It gets you out and about and looking at things in a completely different way.You are in Edinburgh so spoiled for choice when it comes to subjects.It’s harder in the dark months but does make you try lots of new styles.
I bought a book by Tom ang when I was learning to use a non point and shoot camera. It has a chapter with how to, then an assignment for you to try, then a complete set of photos by someone with a critique.
I can competently use a DSLR now and it was fun!
This one.
Do what I did and take up Arguing On The Internet.
Oh, wait.
What about a raspberry Pi
Looks like there are loads of projects around what could be done with them.
Do what I did and take up Arguing On The Internet.
You'd have to be an idiot to suggest that.
No I wouldn't.
Aye yi wood,ya bam.
Learn to play the bagpipes.You don't need a full set, I believe you learn by first mastering the Chanter.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392911345258?hash=item5b7b57566a:g:-DcAAOSwg2RfOlrR
Before you set about annoying the hell out the neighbours 😀
Learn to play the bagpipes.You don’t need a full set, I believe you learn by first mastering the Chanter.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392911345258?hash=item5b7b57566a:g:-DcAAOSwg2RfOlrRBefore you set about annoying the hell out the neighbours 😀
You can get electronic chanters/bagpipes these days so you play through headphones. Quite tempted myself if I wasn't abjectly awful at holding a tune and had any sense of rhythm
Get rock hard abs with Peter Andre
Quite tempted myself if I wasn’t abjectly awful at holding a tune and had any sense of rhythm.
I think thats how they're supposed to sound 😆
Build a train set
Bagpipes or bass guitar? Top floor flat? Sounds like a perfect combination. Presume you have understanding downstairs neighbours.
Maybe a drum kit? Or set of decks and learn to mix?
No downstairs neighbours - well only office staff 9-5
What about flatland bmx/freestyle skateboarding or covering as much of your body as you can in diy prison-style tattoos?
Errmmm - i am 60 you know - I suspect I would look rather silly on a bmx and end up in A&E
I think they be quite impressed if you ended up in a and e on your BMX. How close is the jump?
My dad (a college lecturer) was persuaded to try skateboarding after the end of year piss up by his students. Ended up in A&E aged 50 with a broken arm. I believe he was the oldest recorded skating injury they’d ever seen, so there’s time for you yet.
Learn Gaelic or Welsh.
I plan on learning Gaelic and Norwegian when I get my arse round to it
I do need one of these
Write a novel.
Leatherwork? it's fairly cheap and easy to get started, there's a lot of additional skills to learn depending on which direction you want to go if you like it and want to take it further, tooling, dyeing patternmaking etc, I made a load of bags and stuff and only slowed down once I had more bags than I knew what to do with. If you sell them or give them as gifts than thats less if a problem. There's a guy called on DieselpunkRo on youtube who makes really excellent patterns to follow and does some excellent tutorials too, loads of people make stuff from his patterns and sell it for decent money - https://www.youtube.com/c/DieselpunkRo
Some actual good ideas - ta folks
I have been in contact with Via Velo before but injured myself and could not ride th etandem for a year.
I think tho that will be back on the list of stuff to do.
Cooking.
Learn to do it properly; make butter, bread, cure ham, learn to make a decent soufflé that sort of thing. It's very satisfyingly, you genuinely learn a skill, plus then of course, it's a great excuse to invite folk around and have a party with the results. Cooking from ingredients is (or can be ) relatively cheap, and there's always something new to try.
What about sewing?
If you can face looking out your partner's old machine you could give it a go. Start with something simple like pajama bottoms or boxer shorts and if you take to it continue the ultimate cycle short project that there was a long thread on a while ago.
Plenty of sewing groups to go along for advice, chat, and company or you can work in your flat with you tube if you prefer the solo approach.
Plenty of sewing groups to go along for advice, chat, and company
Aye, and about the same age, all grey haired auld grannies.
Who knows, you might even get a lumber 😉
Sewing, or the more manly version of knot tying/splicing etc is actually a useful skill.
I recently got a metal detector, but that's not very winter-friendly.
learn to weld and build a bike
Its coming up to tree planting season.
You could join a woodland/nature group. Many volunteers are needed as there is mass tree (sapling) planting going on at the moment.
My bathroom needs a refit.....
I quite enjoy bird watching. Gets me outside and gives me something to focus on.
I mean who doesn't enjoy watching Tits....😮
Keeping warm, fed and illuminated.
Lolz @ dynati!
I live in an attic flat so no garden
That would be a project for me in your situation, sell attic flat (IIRC you have other properties too, flog them) while the markets mental, and buy a wee doer upper bungalow in the stix. You have an obvious love of the outdoors, which is an odd juxtaposition with living in a city flat.
Start a podcast/ blog.
Learn to juggle.
Buy a pair of baseball mitts with softball, and practice your pitch with a partner.
Build a novelty barbecue. Something simple, no pressurised gas!
I wouldn't recommend anything tech related, tbh. It's going to have to be something traditional 50s style dad type hobby like steam engines or something, isn't it? What about RC planes?
What about joining clubs like photography, art, literature etc? Bridge?
That would be a project for me in your situation, sell attic flat (IIRC you have other properties too, flog them) while the markets mental, and buy a wee doer upper bungalow in the stix.
That's not bad but it reduces your opportunities for social contact with clubs and that.
Not if you combine it with dogging it doesn't.
What about joining the SNP and doing a bit of canvassing? Get round the doors, you love an argumemt! 🙂
Archery or shooting? My dad in his 70s took up shooting after retirement and loves it.
OP, I invested in a (electonic) drum kit come first lockdown (also no downstairs neighbours)
Cautiously bought a cheap used (Alesis mesh) kit and a practice pad just in case it turned out I’d made a bad choice in drumming. Promised to upgrade if kept at it for a year. Set it up next to the freezer in utility room and got lost in youtube tutorials, 20 minutes every morn and night. Rudiments. Practice, practice, practice, learn from drummers. Watch drum videos. Learn from watching Buddy Rich footage, Joe Morello, Bozzio, Bonzo, Neil Peart, JoJo Mayer, Keith Moon, Christian Vander, Jaki Liebezeit, Tony Allen (insert your favourites) Spend a week on the Moeller method. Spend a month on paradiddles. Mini-projects: learning/reading drum music. 5/4, jazz, fusion, funk, hip hop, punk, speed- metal
I look forward to those scheduled 2 x 20 minutes every day. The evening sessions can stretch out to an hour sometimes. I’ll choose an album of music and challenge self to play the whole thing.
Much less than a year later I was literally gagging to upgrade and do more, so bagged a very decent Yamaha kit from Ebay for the same price I sold the original one.
Advice. Get the best minty/used Yamaha (or Roland) kit you can afford. Have loads of fun learning and playing and besting yourself forever.
Subscribe to Drumeo and Rob Beatdown Brown to get going. Start easy. Clean/dust your kit regularly. Get a little LED orange/dimmable bendy-light to clamp on there. Invest in some studio reference headphones. I get totally lost. Sorry not sorry for enthusing, but I xxxxxxxx love eeeeeet