other hobbies??

[Guest]

It's mostly active, outdoors stuff for me - running, cycling, hill walking, rock climbing. I also play guitar in a band. On the other hand, I'm rubbish at DIY and hate gardening (my wife does the gardening).

Now that I write it all down and remember I have a full-time job, two children and two grandchildren, I realise I'm far too busy to make models. Perhaps I'd better stop...

[Guest]

My other hobby is breaking into zoos at night and teaching the parrots to swear

Yes Alan I have already mentioned what a nutty bunch here. Very funny Pauline burst out laughing.

Laurie

[Guest]

I collect old board games and am trying to become fluent in Russian

[Ian M]

I used to think it fun teaching the ravens at The Tower to swear, then I found out the ones that swore the most/worse got a .22 Made me feel guilty.

Used to do the motor bike thing., gotten to the age where you break instead of bounce so learned to drive a car...

Ian M

[Guest]

I have an unnatural affection for weapons, Years ago i used to study Tai jutsu and had a cupboard full of bows and arrows throwing stars japanese swords etc, after i stopped training i gave them to my dojo in Edinburgh before i moved here. I then took up airsoft and ended up with a cupboard full of firearms and tactical gear. then found i did not have a lot of time same with golf and my fly fishing equipment hasnt seen the light of day in 4 years. Now Mia my daughter is my life and so is my model building.

scott

[peterairfix]

I use to fly r/c helicopters and belonged to a in door club in kent but now i am back in somerset i have nowhere to fly and have sold my helis so modeling has realy taken over my life i have now got 32 kits in my stash and growing by the week.

Peter T

[Guest]

Kite flying at night!

[Guest]

Kite flying at night!

This isnt as daft as it sounds (if you're being serious then you'll have to show us your kit )

Its a massive sport in Singapore, they have led lights fitted and fly near airports so they get warm air drafts from the aircraft. Apparently its becoming a big hobby in the UK too.

Was on a documentary channel last year.

[Guest]

That'll teach me to try humour. The concept of flying kites in the UK in the pitch black of night is/was a humorous one. What would be the point?

[Guest]

What would be the point?

According to the guys that do it when interviewed ... Its because you can get massive ''air'' apparently ... Not a hobby for me though.

[Guest]

Nor me. I'm sorry I mentioned it really......

[eddiesolo]

I used to be a drummer, nearly had a record deal...went south though. Used to do clubs and pubs playing 50's and 60's stuff. Also used to play golf, enjoyed it. But my disability caught up and witha bad back, arms, hands and shoulders both these had to go. Hence why I started getting back into modelling, it keeps me active and helps my hands.

I have written two books, published via POD. One is a war book, not available any more, and the other is murder mystery. I also used to write poetry with a few pieces published.

Here is an old poem about men getting shot for cowardice in the first war.

As dawn

dispels

the dark-

it lays to

rest the

nightmarish

ghouls

that invaded

my mind.

I’m more

alive now-

this

morning

this

moment.

Stupid as

that may

seem, my

eyes

take in

a world

afresh.

Grass,

so lush.

Dew,

so wet.

Scents of

the earth,

fill me

as if

newborn.

As the

resonance

of six men

surround

me…

…I weep.

Not for

my fate-

but for

the birds

that will

bear witness.

© Picture & Poem Simon Murphy 2007.

This piece may sound like the brave young man going to his death, but in truth, many where given Morphine or alcohol a few hours before. This is still a sore point amongst the British Legion regarding pardons, some young men shot were rogues-repeat offenders, but many were just shell-shocked frightened boys.

Dedicated to all the fallen, and again, I can only hope that mankind will one day sort out his differences and live in peace.

PAINTING THE TARN RED.

A soldiers death.

This piece has been accepted for display at Eden Camp, a WWII POW camp that is now a museum.

It has also been accepted for publication in a Remembrance book published by Poetry Now.

Dishevelled and grimy a tramp of the fields

Cursing gasps as torn, muddy hands grope

Orange glimmer silhouettes abode in ruins

Starlight erupts and drifts lazily in blackness

Tranquil in form awaiting the blanket of night

Now unchained to move, scurrying like a rat

Nearly there…hope in a weary heart

A few more steps to shattered village life

Nearly there…a smile on cracked lips

Eyes catch Sweet Lavender, spikes reaching high

Nearly there...nearly home

He heard no sound as projectile whistled his way

Its merry tune of death finding its mark

Nearly there...so nearly there

Faltering and swooning in Grim reaper’s embrace

A flashback to times sat with friends long gone

Where summer Fairy Moss danced with Dragonfly hunter

As life now spills and flows into inky pool of memories

He is saluted by the Water Soldiers who guard this place

© SIMON MURPHY 2005

Si

[Guest]

I would attend the odd sci-fi convention (when cash allowed). My wife and I hired a tailor to make our 'wrath of khan' style red-coats. All screen accurate. Seen by Leonard Nimoy and Bill Shatner. Nimoy couldn't take his eyes off us and Shatner did a double take almost falling off his chair.

I apply my critical thinking skills to movies and other media, to stay sharp. It actually provides a benefit to modelling I've noticed as well.

I study a lot of war history, lately favoring the Germans. (Nothing personal you Brits, I love you guys and your accents, far sexier than a german accent to be sure!). So when waiting for the paint and/or glue to dry, I play such games as "silent hunter 3" and "B-17". Mostly because at 1:1 time compression, just getting to the operational area can take 2 or 3 real hours. I stick with the flying game more than the submarine game for this purpose (otherwise I love being a simulated u-boat captain), because the sub game is much slower and I get my adrenaline boosts from it in a different way. The fighter game can be bumped to the action to short cut the boredom of flying. Otherwise I still have a copy of "starfleet command: orion pirates", the real-time starship tactical combat simulator. On line, back in the day, I was one of the best players. I would see players learning my tactics and using them against me in later matches, thus making me improve my tactics, and around we went.

Flight simulator is another of my past-times. I bought a 'payware' Me-262 for flight simulator X, and although it's not 100% perfect, it's pretty good and I can almost imagine that I'm cruising around in a WW2 jet, just sightseeing.

[Guest]

I wouldn't know where to begin lol

[Guest]

I seem to be surrounded by equipment for hobbies I am no longer up to - rugby, diving, radio flying, a couple of Ducatis.

Other than making models I still do a bit of photography.