This week’s topic is one I’m not entirely sure I have ten answers for! Mostly when I’m not reading I’m hanging out with my kid, because that’s pretty much the only thing in the world I love more than reading. There are, of course, lots of other things I do. Just not many that rival reading. Here are the top contenders:
Knitting
I haven’t done this one for a while, but I used to do it while watching TV in the evenings. Not that I’m particularly good, but I liked having something to do with my hands while sitting otherwise idle that produced something. I also found it calming when I was pregnant – I made a ridiculously too large baby blanket because I was rather stressed! I need to try and get back to it, now that I’m thinking about it.
Gardening
My world has shrunk so much in the last year, but we’ve put some work into trying to make our outside space more pleasant. This isn’t the best pic, but these are a few of the plants we have out there currently. The tall beans in the middle were actually planted by my kid, who has discovered a love of gardening too!
Slow walks
I used to love walking and listening to audiobooks or, much longer ago when I could still run, listening to music while jogging. My breathing issues have kept me from spending much time outside this summer, but I’m hoping we might still have a few nice days so we can get out and explore a bit!
Movies and TV
Well, of course. Who doesn’t love TV and movies, particularly right now? I’ve actually been watching more than reading lately because it’s just so much easier. I particularly love crime dramas, and of those my faves tend to be British. But there are also some cosy favourites I return to on particularly rough days (the new All Creatures Great and Small, The Durrells, As Time Goes By, The Gilmore Girls). Right now I’m deep into a rabbit hole of recommended stuff on Netflix.
Music and concerts
It’s been so long since I’ve been to a live show that I can barely remember it. I think the last one I went to was Foo Fighters (pic above) when I was pregnant, and that was a loooooong time ago! I don’t know if I’ll be going to many in the future, but I have a lot of great memories! My favourite live shows are Foo Fighters and Atmosphere, both of whom I’ve seen more than once. I also had a blast at The Beastie Boys, Grieves, Incubus, Gorillaz, Pearl Jam, Matthew Good, Latryx, Jungle Brothers and Blackalicious. Most of which date me tremendously, I’m aware! But great times were had.
Eating out anywhere that has good vegetarian food
That’s harder to find than you’d think. Most restaurants seem to think vegetarian food consists of removing all flavour with the meat and throwing in mushrooms. I HATE mushrooms. So when I find somewhere that actually knows how to make vegetarian food that tastes like, well, food… I’m thrilled.
Traveling
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These were on a trip to New Orleans a while back. It’s been a long time since I’ve been anywhere, and obviously with COVID it’s going to be a while, but I love exploring new cities and finding great out of the way spots (particularly bookstores). New Orleans was one of my favourites because I loved how colourful and full of life it was, it had great music and bookstores and some of the best food I’ve ever eaten! London, however, is still my favourite city in the world, and the UK in general my favourite place. It just feels like coming home.
Anything with my kid (particularly sleepovers at the moment)
As mentioned in the intro, this is my all-time favourite thing. Nothing beats it; nothing ever will.
Graffiti-spotting
This is more of an incidental thing that I just used to do without even noticing I was doing it. Every bus ride, train ride, walk in a new neighbourhood – eyes open.
One short, but that’s all I’ve got for now! I’d love to hear from any of you who share any of my interests, or if you have any interesting ones of your own!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.
It’s a bit painful to remember the things we once did but we are unable to do right now.
I know, right?