Passions and Hobbies

Most of us have a passion or a hobby. Mine happens to be motorbike road racing. I've always loved motorbikes. I think it comes from when my mum was in labour with me, my uncle (her brother) took her to hospital on the back of his motorbike. My grandad had a bike with a sidecar too and lived in Scarborough-home to the only road racing circuit in England, Oliver's mount.. I could hear the races start from his garden and nag him to take me. He obliged and i used to sit aloft his shoulders watching legends like Barry Sheene, Mick Grant and the Dunlop brothers. Joey Dunlop was and still is my idol-God rest his soul. He was probably my first love. I met him once when i was a kid at oliver's mount, and remember thinking he could probably do with a good wash. I was smitten. Now i take my youngest daughter to the road races and she loves it. It's our thing. She takes some amazing photos and has sold quite a few which is some achievement for a 13 year old. She has her favourites now which are Bruce Anstey and...nope, that's it...Bruce Anstey. She asked him if she could have her photo with him a few years back, he happily obliged then he gave her the biggest hug. She said afterwards that he smelt amazing. She was smitten. The photo of them both takes pride of place in our house.
Although i love the bikes i don't let it take over my life unlike some folk do with their hobbies and passions.
I always say 'each to their own' but what the fuck is bus spotting all about? Why?????? I worked as a bus driver for around three years and i would regularly see these nerds congregate around the bus station with their notepads and cameras taking down the bus number, taking a photo then probably going off for a wank when they spotted a number they didn't have already. I suspect that not one of them has ever touched a boob before. I kind of understand train spotters because trains are fast and getting a number off one of those bad boys travelling at 120mph+ is a skill. Plane spotters are an enigma to me. How do you get a number off something at 30,000 feet? Madness.
There are so many hobbies these days such as crocheting, knitting, painting, gaming and baking. There is literally something for everyone. Even swinging and dogging are classed as hobbies...a kinky one, but a hobby never the less. It's not the sort of thing you would put at the end of your c.v though is it under hobbies and interests?
'I enjoy swimming, cooking, reading and pumping Mrs Jones from number 7 over the bonnet of her husband's renault laguna'
Although this would probably get the attention of the interviewer so the choice is yours.
Is a passion for something the same as a hobby? I have a particular passion for blood orange flavoured gin but if i made drinking it my hobby it'd possibly be frowned upon by social services and i wouldn't get much work done. Negotiating my way around the supermarket three sheets to the blood orange gin wind wearing my old wedding dress. one pop sock and mis-matched flip flops is not a look i'll be taking up any time soon. I'm not saying NEVER, just not soon.
Correct me if i'm wrong but i think the only thing that can be deemed both a passion and a hobby is keeping yourself fit. To dedicate your spare time to gyms, running, swimming, cycling, zumba or whatever floats your boat takes a strong will. I do not have that particular part of my brain anymore. I think i handed it in with the rest of my kit when i left the Army. Good riddance i say. My knees are like bags of gravel and make weird noises and my back is made of glass. These days i prefer sedate walks with my dogs. I've also stopped killing people too.
Hobbies and passions are what keep us sane a lot of the time. They are an escape and help us relax. Especially Mr Jones who i see cleaning his renault laguna every Sunday morning....