Any hobby suggestions for a Third Ager who's never found time for a hobby since he left school? Needs to be simple, cheap, and something that doesn't send me to sleep.

As a boy, I actually learned to knit. Seems strange maybe, but it's a skill that served me well during my career in the forces when we had to sew our names into every piece of kit that we owned.

Are there any other male knitters out there I wonder?

Here's an interesting free site http://www.artgraphica.net/fre…..orials.htm

Doreen, indeed it does. Thank you so much for responding.

So, do you knit everything with a spinning wheel or do you also do hand knitting? My one experience of knitting was, goodness, well over 40 years ago. My mother was determined she wasn't going to raise a useless male, so I had to learn how to cook, knit, sew, etc. As I mentioned before, it stood me in good stead when I joined the forces and had naturally to do all my own repairs, including sewing my name into every item of clothing I was issued with.

Anyway, at the age 12 or so I knitted my own football scarf of which I was terribly proud at the time. Nothing fancy mind you. Just two colours and the basic stitch – the name of which I've forgotten.

So, as someone who himself is looking to occupy the long winter nights here in the UK, can you suggest where I should begin?

Doreen, no I don't keep bees but like you, I am considering it for next year.

What I'm really searching for is a hobby to keep me away from the TV in the evening, or at least something else to do while I watch TV. It would be lovely to do as you suggest and turn something into a business, but I'd just settle for an enjoyable hobby right now. Like so many (I'm guessing) I never found much time for hobbies. Now I'm older, I wish I had!

I'm intrigued by your talents though, and by what we would call your 'get-up-and-go'.

Tom- wake up- if you are still looking for a hobby I have found the perfect hobby for you.

So let me know.

…and I wanted to ask you about your cow…. Do you make cheese

For anyone else who might pick up on this thread, I'm a 58-year-old hobbyless (have I just invented a new word?) Third Ager looking for something to occupy his limited spare time.

I'm an artless, talentless, mechanical idiot who couldn't draw a straight line if he tried and who has only recently learned to walk upright. So I guess that lets out painting, drawing, writing, model making, Meccano and anything that requires an IQ above about 15.

Pottery was one consideration but for the fact I neglected to mention I have absolutely no patience and would be more likely to decorate the walls with clay than cast a pot

Doreen! With your experience you could be the 'head nit'!

Ciderman said:

Doreen! With your experience you could be the 'head nit'!

Cider you have some explaining to do………HEAD NIT……… (die Nisse   - das Ei der Läuse)  said LEO.

I can assure you that I have never had Nits on my Head….

Graham said:

I'm sure Cider was not insinuating that Doreen. It is his wicked sense of humour.

He is wicked isn't he  but we do love him don't we  and he knows that I can't go over and belt him one.

I am a New Zealand fan as I eat every day a  NZ Kiwi and my spinning wheel is NZ made, an Ashford.

Super machine and the best medicine.

When I sit and spin, my fingers and foot working in harmony– all my troubles disappear.

It isn't really a hobby but something I am going to Make.

A Bee Hotel.I have searched this subject in Google and  found some interesting ideas.

I is a place for wild bees to lay their eggs.

Wild bees don't sting nor do they make honey.

I will make it, hang it up outside in my yard but first in  March and then see what happens.