It all starts here....

I'd like to start my blog with writing about my hobbies first. Since I am not engaging in every single of them on a daily basis its a good idea to give a quick overview of how often I do things.

1. Cooking
Well cooking is something I do at least 6 times a week. Guess that makes it the Number 1 of my hobbies. I like traditional (german) meals, but at the same time healthy and also sustainable food. Meaning, I try to use locally grown ingredients, that are in season. I also like Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Greek, Indian and Vegetarian Cooking. I am concious (most of the time) of my weight and try to cook low-fat and still YUUUUUMMMMMYYYY.

2. Photography
My Husband and I started taking pictures with a decent entry-level DSLR Camera about 2.5 years ago. Since then we have impressively upgraded our equipment, which consists of the following:
Sony α200
18-70mm Kit Lens
70-300mm Kit Lens
50mm Sony Lens
105mm Macro Sigma Lens
70-200mm "Beercan" Minolta Lens
100-400mm Sigma Lens
2 Tripods
External Flash
Filters (including IR)
and a few bits and pieces.
My Husband and I "specialise" in different categories, I like anything to do with People, Portraits, Situations, Street Photography, but also still life and Night Photography, especially painting with light. My Husband on the other hand focusses on Landscape, Panoramas, Macro, Sunsets.
This is both not surprising given our personalities. When I publish Photos here, I'd also like to show some of my Husbands work, it really needs an audience too.

3. Sewing
Gosh, I don't rememer how this one started. I guess finding suitable clothes for my taste was always challenging and I had this idea of creating my own. So one day I walked into a little sewing machine shop and bought a used Janome machine. I started with cushion covers and small things, but also have started to sew clothes for my daughter. This hobby needs a lot of time and I always struggle to fit this into our spare time.

4. Yoga
I tried Yoga for the first time about two years ago, at my workplace. It was good fun and I liked it a lot. Due to some circumstances I had to stop Yoga, but plan to include this in my weekly excercise as soon as possible.

5. Painting
Always loved that one. Has been some time since I last painted. Will show some of my previous work here.

6. Writing
Another thing I always enjoyed. Apparently I have been quite good at this at primary school, I remember one of my teachers always asking me for new stories. I have a vivid imagination and actually a few ideas on books but don't have the guts to start one. Meanwhile I stick to short stories in my blog ;)

7. Reading
I have made the experience that a lot of reading triggers a lot of writing ideas. Both reading and writing started in primary school and went hand in hand from then on. I like Fantasy fiction most of all. And historic novels. Also Comics. Then forums and blogs.......

8. Squash
Finding sport that suits me and I really like has been a challenge. I'm not a runner or gym person, I like "fighting" for my own but in interaction with someone. So I tried Tennis. And then it rained for weeks and weeks, so I switched to squash with the same trainer and loved it since. I do need longer than average people to learn sports, but as long as I enjoy this, it doesn't matter so much.

9. My family
This is obvious. I am mum to a gorgeous daughter and married to the best man in the world. No more to ask for and no more to say.

10. Travel
This might originate from my natural curiosity for new things. I haven't travelled as much as I'd like to, due to financial reasons but the ideas of going places never end....

11. Lists
I love lists. I write them everyday. Maybe this is my secret number one hobby. I write a shopping list, a weekly food list, a to-do list, a not-to-do list, packing lists, ideas lists. Basically anything you can list. And I get great satisfaction from crossing off items on a list. To complete a task and then cross it, pure heaven for me. It gives a sense of achievement and control.

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Leaves only one question: What should I start with from my hobby list?