The one about Hobbies.

I walked in to a vintage shop yesterday. I bet you think you know where this is going but you don’t, although I did end up buying a lovely cardigan. As everyone knows Vintage shops are unique places, not just because everyone in there is striving to be unique but also because it’s a place where people come, and are allowed, to reminisce. Talking about Tapes (preferably Now43), the SNES, your sisters Polly Pocket, and your mums huge shoulder pads. It all adds to the experience.

So what seems like a rather odd conversation now, was a pretty normal one when it happened in the Vintage shop, Brighton lanes. As I completed my purchase it was time to round off the conversation with the shop assistant. As one does, I inquired after his weekend plans. Apparently, said shop assistant takes every Sunday off. I couldn’t leave this hanging- it had the potential to be interesting. ‘To do…’ I added. 

Twenty minutes passed and I realised my mistake- never get someone started on their weekend hobbies. But I must admit, it wasn’t all bad. Apart from other things (like battle re-enactments and comic club, which did not interest me one bit) Jack and Teresa had spent the last 3 years trekking around Brighton and devoting two meals on a Sunday to trying out hundreds (if not thousands- but I have a feeling that was a slight exaggeration on Jacks part) of Pub Sunday Roasts.  ‘Over the last 3 years that's all we've done on a Sunday- think I've done them all'. The 'all' is a limited all, obviously, but I have to be honest and say that I think they have done a smashing job nonetheless. And here’s me, the common man, not even realising that that kind of thing could be classed as a hobby? You can never stop learning in a Vintage store.

I’m more traditional when it comes to hobbies, but it’s the traditional hobbies that just end up being boring. I think I'm developing a new hobby at the moment. I haven't quite pinned down what I will do, nevertheless this week I've developed a running route for the new running club I've got in the pipeline, had a disastrously fun game of squash, had a Moroccan themed first-of-many Come-Dine-With-Me nights and I've just purchased the next book in the list ready for February's book club. I had to turn down a games night last week for the sake of said trip to Brighton - who couldn't say no to a £3.95 return ticket.

Beside the hobbies, there are always the practicalities of real life. My car went in for it's MOT this morning and meant I had a cold brisk run to work instead of a warm drive in. A clever idea to get the bus to pick up the car from it's MOT garage is only clever if the bus is going towards the garage and not in the opposite direction. Apparently Stanton St John is not Stanford on Thames. So a round bus journey of 2 hours has finished off what has been a pretty relaxed Friday afternoon. I know 'bussing' is probably a legit hobby but I can safely say it's not for me. Would be a good topic in a Vintage shop discussion though- I’ll suggest it to Jack and Teresa when I next see them.