I need a hobby. If for no other reason than to help me when completing the ‘Other information to support your application’ section of job application forms.
As a child I had more hobbies than could be reasonably rammed into the social schedule of a 10 year old. There was the choir, the marching band, the clarinet practice, horse riding, dance (ballroom, jazz, tap and ballet), Girls Brigade, Brownies (my religious allegiances were very fickle – Baptist on a Friday and C of E on a Tuesday), I even went through a phase of dabbling in needlepoint. I was a member of all sorts of societies and groups including The YOC (Young Ornithologists Club – look it up) and The Press Pack.
Looking back, I wasn’t particularly brilliant at any of my chosen past times. I got thrown out of Brownies for insulting Brown Owl (bitch), my clarinet playing was so bad that the teacher had to politely tell my parents they were wasting their money and dance lessons invariably ended with me in tears after some jumped up, mini prima-donna mocked my port de bras. It wasn’t really about being the best at something, it was about simply doing something.
Fast forward 12 years, and a glimpse at my Facebook profile will show that my activities roster is some what reduced:
“Writing, art, design, fashion (aka shopping!), media”
Perhaps I’m being a tad harsh on myself but, man, I’m really boring. Art? Where did I even get that from? Yes, I like looking at pretty pictures every now and then. No, I haven’t picked up a sketch pad since university.
Writing is the only pass-time that I can genuinely claim. That and watching UKTV Food whilst reading Vogue (that’s fashion covered).
Now I don’t believe in New Years resolutions and I really can’t stand people who bang on about setting themselves ‘life goals and objectives’ (seriously, why not just try getting a life?!), but things are looking pretty bleak. My whole family currently out-hobby me, Mom’s got dressmaking and leather work, Dad has his jigsaw puzzles and Airfix kits, Sister has her crochet and knitting, even Mr Brunette has a unique talent for cookery and completing X-Box games.
Thankfully, good old Saint Nic seemed to sense my difficulties and delivered me a rather marvellous Christmas gift – a learn to ride package at my local stables.
Yes, Bookish Brunette is hopping back into the saddle. At 12noon on Saturday 10th January I will riding a horse for the first time in 10 years and I can barely wait.
My plan is to spend the first half of 2009 discovering my ultimate hobby and I’ll keep you updated on my progress with weekly posts. Horse riding is my first port of call and I’m going to attempt to re-discover other childhood hobbies along the way (though I refuse to revisit ornithology – I only joined the YOC because you got a free cuddly toy). Feel free to leave me some suggestions of different activities I could try.
In the meantime – Hobby New Year (gettit?) and thanks for reading!
BB x x x