Let’s face it – most of us have tried our hand at a new hobby or pastime during lockdown. The keyboard piano gathering dust in the corner, the Learn Japanese book devoid of a single thumb print, and the crocheting kit which couldn’t even produce a baby’s mitten…proof, we think, of a little over-ambition on our part. How about you?
As we get nearer to the anniversary of the UK’s first lockdown starting (is that something we’re actually celebrating?) and the likely ending of our third in June, you might be concerned that you’ll emerge blinking into the sunlight and striding straight into the beer garden without even an expertly baked banana bread to your name.
Rest assured, there’s still time to pick something up. Something esoteric, easy-to-learn and most importantly, exciting, to wow your long lost loved ones when you first meet again. For some inspiration, here are 6 quirky new hobbies to delight your friends after lockdown.
TAKE A COURSE IN MIXOLOGY
Sure, we’ve all been doing our own impromptu courses in mixology every now and then during the last few months, fixing ourselves a G’n’T with an extra flourish or proudly pouring our beer into a chilled glass.
But why not take this already established enthusiasm up several notches over the next few months? This is a great way to impress friends once we’re allowed to visit each other indoors again, and fortunately, there are some great online mixology courses available at the moment, with fun and frivolous events or more professional courses both on offer.
Now, all you need is a cocktail shaker, some drink-appropriate glassware and a decent WiFi connection!
STAND-UP COMEDY
We realise that we said ‘easy to learn’ back there. We also realise that the craft and skill behind a stand-up show takes years to develop, and it’s an art form of the highest order, make no mistake.
That said, on a more amateur level, trying to develop your own routine can be loads of fun! If you’ve always dreamed of doing stand-up comedy but have never had the time to craft that perfect joke, now could be your ideal chance. Not only will this hobby get your creative juices flowing, and perhaps even promote a few belly laughs in the process, but it will also give you and your friends the perfect excuse to go to stand-up shows at the end of lockdown.
Now here’s a joke we’ve been working on to help inspire you…
A nose, a mouth, and two ears walk into a bar and order a round of whisky sodas.
‘’I’m not serving you” the barman replies, ”you’re all off your face!’’.
MAGIC
We could all use a little sprinkle of stardust in our lives, a little mystique and magic after the year we’ve had. And there’s no better time to start learning about the world of magic and magicians than now, ready to entertain and amaze your loved ones when you get together.
Three months should be enough time to get a couple of tricks under your belt and a few comedy sized handkerchiefs up your sleeve. Fortunately, there are plenty of online resources to help you on your way to becoming a master magician.
Right now, the magic shop Ace Magic Studio are offering free online lessons over Zoom on all things magic, hosted by professionals and offering you a chance to enter their Inner Circle of knowledge sharing and the art of the perfect trick.
Perhaps don’t try the ol’ slicing someone in half at home though.
CALLIGRAPHY
Calligraphy has seen a significant rise in prevalence in recent years, perhaps due to its reported impact on wellbeing and popularity in the field of mindfulness, with buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh a particularly famous fan of the elaborate, beautiful handwriting hobby.
It is an excellent and straightforward way to be creative at home – as well as being perfectly Instagram-able if that’s your thing. All you need is a set of calligraphy pens and paper, and you’re ready to go.
If you find you’re a natural at calligraphy, you could even consider using it to start a little side hustle, doing penmanship for wedding and party invites. Or, you could simply scrawl some kind notes to your friends to pass them during that first post-lockdown pint!
NAIL ART
Many of us are missing the feeling of freshly manicured nails. One great way to combat boredom and give your nails some pampering is to give DIY at-home manicures and nail art a try during these latter stages of lockdown.
There are plenty of kits available online, and many reviewers have sworn that they’ll never go back to the salon now they can pamper themselves from home. Trying your hand (quite literally!) at nail art could be the perfect way to bring a little creativity and fun into your life. Once lockdown is over, you can wow the world with your gorgeous designs.
For inspiration, check out our 5 IDEAL tips for a DIY manicure.
TRY CHEESEMAKING
If you’ve got tired of baking bread or you’ve been indulging in too many sweet treats after a day’s cake baking, you could consider switching to something a little more unusual and try your hand at cheesemaking.
Perfect for any cheese lover, this hobby could help you break out of your cooking rut and make some truly inspired cheeses to delight friends and family after lockdown. What’s more, the hobby opens up your options for parties with friends once we’re all allowed to meet up again; you could have a pizza party, a cheese and wine night, a barbecue with the focus on your produce (halloumi on the BBQ works)…the possibilities are endless!
The types of cheese you can make range in skill level, so don’t worry if you think that cheesemaking is beyond your abilities. There are even cheeses that you can make in just 30 minutes!
THE BOTTOM LINE
Hey, with these delightful new tricks, quirks and skills under your belt, we hope we bump into you in the local beer garden…you sound like fun! We’re thinking of the number 7, by the way….