After the eating too many pies at Christmas and drinking too much at New Year’s, many people see January as a new beginning.
It is traditionally a chance to get back on the bandwagon, get down to the gym and start some new activities and hobbies.
Saving more money, reading more books and losing weight are the top things people put on their New Year’s Resolutions list but there are other ways to start afresh in 2014.
Fishing gardening and going to the cinema are some of the UKs top hobbies but there are plenty of other activities you could take up to inject a bit of spice into the new year.
Here are some of the more obscure hobbies you could get involved in.
5. Churchbell ringing
Churchbell ringing or campanology, as it is sometimes called, is apparently a great core workout which improves agility and coordination while providing low-impact cardio.
There are more than 5,000 bell towers in England alone and, when most villages boast a group of ringers, it’s a larger activity than you may expect.
The Lancashire Association of Change Ringers, established in 1876, is the main association in the North West. There is quite a bit of technique involved in ringing church bells but it’s often a very social activity.
Pop along to a practice night by checking the bell towers near you here: http://www.lacr.org.uk/
4. Drawing naked people
French expressionist painter, Henri Matisse, once said: “Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.”
Drawing is often seen as a way to enrich your life, vent your emotions and contemplate the meaning of the objects in front of you – which makes it exactly the sort of meaningful pass-time to take up in the New Year.
All you need is paper and a pencil. Stifle any childish giggles at seeing someone naked and get drawing. Sandbar pub just off Manchester’s Oxford Road boasts some of the city’s cheapest life drawing sessions at £4 every Sunday.
3. Collect teabags
Many people collect stamps as a hobby however, Geert Vinck, 29, who lives in Belgium collects teabags.
He’s been collecting them for 5 years, accruing more than 12000 by exchanging teabags with people from all over the world including France, Switzerland, Italy, Iceland, Canada, Argentina and Israel
So, why not follow in his pioneering footsteps and make the most of the English’s reputation for tea drinking and get collecting tea bags too?
See more on Geert here: https://sites.google.com/site/collectingteabags/
2. Competitive dog grooming
Ever felt like making your border collie look like a zebra or your Labrador like a lion? There’s been a craze in the dog grooming industry for groomers to experiment with clipping, dyeing and trimming their canines so they take on all manner of bizarre appearances.
In the UK the British Dog Grooming Association celebrates the art of dog grooming with the British Dog Grooming Championship, where groomers compete for the prestigious title of ‘Groomer of the Year’.
This year’s event took place in Staffordshire, where Mike Wildman took victory, also winning a trip to the USA to compete for International Groomer of the Year.
1. Underwater hockey
Many people will have heard of either field or ice hockey but less known is the sport of underwater hockey – yet the Northwest boasts several teams as well as the UK’s best players.
Invented by the British Navy in the 1950’s to keep their divers fit and to improve their ability to move and work efficiently under water, it has evolved into a fast dynamic sport played in more than 20 countries.
Two teams of six face off in 6 to 8 feet of water, swimming and diving to try to shoot a weighted puck into the goal. Players wear fins, for speed, as well as masks, snorkels, and protective gloves and headgear.
Xarifa Underwater Hockey Club have a successful Manchester Team, which trains every Thursday at the Manchester Aquatics Centre: http://www.gbuwh.co.uk/club.php?club_id=2
Image courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos, with thanks
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