Aquariums
 
A good all round site for anyone thinking of expanding their aquarium or
just starting out is the UK
Fish Keeping association, a directory of National associations, importers,
retailers and web based clubs.
Art
 Everyone has to start somewhere.
If you are a
beginner, Teaching Art, a
leading producer of Art instruction videos, has chosen a range of videos to help those new
to painting, or who are trying a new medium or subject
From Oils for Beginners, through Watercolour Landscapes in England or
Seascapes in California, from Chinese Brush to Gardens in Pastel, there are over 100
videos to choose from.
Astronomy
 A great site for the budding astronomer, is UK 250 which lists all the
astronomy websites you could possibly need.. Find out about the world of astronomy and
learn what you need to become an amateur stargazer. If you are interested, Cosmicdust offers a diary of
celestial events so that you can plan your gazing with ease, even without the equipment.
However, if you do want to get the full kit try BeaconHill Telescopes
. As one of the UK’s leading suppliers, they offer a large selection and low prices
(delivery by arrangement).
Bridge
English Bridge Union.
The only word to describe the English Bridge Union site is … exhaustive. This is
definitely the site for an experienced player thinking of entering tournaments who wants
to know the exact rules (Laws and Ethics) of Bridge. A rather easier site for someone
wishing to pick up the game as a hobby is Card Games, which
tells you the rules of play for Rubber, Duplicate, and Chicago Bridge. You can also visit
the Card Games homepage for information on other card games.
Collecting & Antiques
 
Collector
Online's Club Directory is the most complete listing on collectors' clubs.
Using the search facility is easy - just click on the letter you want to search and check
the listings for clubs.
Crosswords
You can find plenty of crosswords of all standards on the web and many other puzzles, too.
A good starting point is The Crossword Directory
which provides puzzles and forums. If you are looking for help in solving a puzzle try One Across which provides
suggestions. Maybe you want to develop your own crosswords; you might like to review
special software available at Crossword
Compiler. Also take a look at Questique,
a Strategy Crossword game for up to 4 players - a simple handicapping system allows
children and adults to compete as equals.
Digital Photography
 Scanners are now available for less than £100 and digital
cameras delivering almost photographic quality are now at affordable prices.
Digital photography provides some unique benefits: an instant review of your pictures, the
ability to edit them on your PC and the capability of publishing them on the web or
emailing them to friends and relations. To learn more about all aspects of digital
photography visit Digital
Photography Courses which provides concise explanation of products and techniques.
Armed with this information you can review the latest cameras available at Image Acquire
Fishing
 
The Where to
Fish Directory as its name suggests is devoted to finding the best fishing spots
worldwide, for all different kinds of fishing.
Gardening
 A great idea if you have time, is to invest some
of it in making your garden something to be very proud of indeed. The Garden boasts an impressive
list of services: hints and tips in the Shed, a retail and wholesale directory in the
Nursery, and information on gardening services and products in Services. The Shed page
contains not only tips but links to other gardening sites and a directory of gardens you
can visit.
Also take a look at our regular laterlife.com Gardener's Diary written by Rosemary
martin.
 www.letsgogardening.co.uk is
really a one stop gardening website for all your needs. It has the
latest gardening news, shows to visit, articles, stories and information about the
gardening personalities, clubs, weather reports, questions and answers, tips,
screensavers, shop etc. etc. There is enough reading here for a whole wet summer!
To enjoy your garden to the full you might need somewhere to view it from
- Alexander Rose offers a
wide range of garden furniture and complementary products. From the site you can order a
catalogue and locate the nearest store to you.
Genealogy
 Genealogy, the study of your family history, is one of the
most popular uses of the web.
As this is such a popular subject, especially in later life,
we've put together some information and resources to help you in our
Genealogy and family
trees section covering tips for getting started, searching, family tree
software, useful resources and articles.
Graphology
Can analysis of someone’s handwriting really indicate their personality? Graphology
has become increasingly popular as a partial selection method for jobs, but it is also an
interesting hobby and relatively easy to learn. Have a look at Handwriting Analysis
. The purpose
of this web page is to promote awareness, understanding, and support for handwriting
analysis and to provide a central source of information about handwriting analysis. The
presentation of this information is balanced and representative of accepted principles.
This page has been developed by a group of graphological organizations which are listed on
site. Links are supplied to other related web sites which may be of interest. BIG is the British
Institute of Graphology homepage. It contains information about tuition and also helpful
links.
History
 If
you are interested in Medieval History then it is well worth taking a look at
www.seniority.co.uk. There is an article by Arthur and Elizabeth Jordan as a result of their interest in the topic.
They now lead groups on regular visits to places of interest in different parts of the
country. You can see the schedule of these visits on the site and get involved yourself.
Home Brewing
If you have ever fancied being an amateur brewer then Tom and Vince's
Homebrew Pages is a great, friendly site to start out from. The pages are designed to
help you learn the basics of home brewing, as well as advanced skills and how to produce
top quality homebrew. The site has links to many other sites which cover different
aspects, but there should be all you need to know right here with Tom and Vince. They have
lists of suppliers of the kind of equipment you will need as well as details of books
which cover this topic.
Juggling
Why not learn juggling? Not only can you amuse and astound your friends,
but it’s also great for improving co-ordination and balance. Juggling is the main site for
jugglers on the net. It has listings for clubs and societies, events, magazines
and software. Most importantly it has lessons on how to juggle clubs, balls ,hoops, and anything else
you can think of. The lessons have illustrations and are easy to follow, and there are
online catalogues for you to order from.
Kites
kiteworld is
the home of kite flying on the net. It has everything for the kite enthusiast. But
if you are not too serious about kite flying then try Clem's Kites. He’ll
tell you how to make some great kites from nothing but newspaper, tape, and, string. Dicky's Kite Page
offers among other things some great basic information on kite and kite flying and a UK summary
of clubs and suppliers.
Modelling
 Scale Modeling Central is a
good starting point if you are interested in scale modelling. The site covers equipment,
techniques, buying tips, and detailing at both beginner and intermediates levels. It also
contains product reviews, feature articles, FAQ’s, and links to related sites.
Hobbies (Dereham) Limited are based in central Norfolk, East Anglia,
UK and supply a vast range of toys and model making equipment worldwide through the famous
'Hobbies Handbook'. A quality mail order service, this business has been
supplying model and toy makers worldwide for over 100 years. You can order
any product from their site: Hobbies (Dereham) Ltd,
or from the Handbook here where you can see a range of examples.
Puppeteering
This is an unusual hobby, but very satisfying for the creative type. Stayfree
gives details of how to design and produce your own puppets and stages in different
styles, as well as links to other useful sites and how to book this group for shows.
 Radio
Amateur radio allows millions worldwide to
communicate with each other. Radio amateurs even have their own satellites and can
transmit TV pictures from their own homes. The RSGB is the UK's internationally recognised national society for all radio
amateurs. Click here to find out more about this exciting hobby.
Writing
 Do you have the urge to write a novel, short stories or poems? Perhaps
you have always wanted to try your hand at journalism. The web is a major source of advice
on writing and research resources.
Visit the
Writers'
Exchange for extensive links to other writing sites and a writing community for
sharing ideas.
If you fancy writing mysteries The Mystery Writers' Forum provides
information on forensics, poisons, guns and other topics that will help you get your facts
right!
Writing for the web itself is now a major activity and the Trace Project, run by Nottingham
University, focuses on on-line writing. There is a structured site tour to take you through
the facilities which include writing communities, competitions, conferences and on-line
discussions.
Perhaps you are already writing and want to know more about publishing. Have a look at Dan
Poynter’s Para
Publishing. This gives guidance on every aspect of publishing, including self
publishing.
Maybe a course is required to develop your writing talents. The Arvon Foundation runs
inexpensive one week residential writing courses at inspiring locations in Devon,
Yorkshire and Scotland. Courses include fiction and travel writing, poetry and writing for
radio and screen.
Also take a look at one of our past features HOW TO GET YOURSELF PUBLISHED ON THE NET which
describes how Carla Ledbetter became a best-selling author through electronic book
publishing. In it she provides a useful checklist of how to go about it.
If you haven't found what you want above, take a look at our
Hobbies and Interest section, the Sports and activities section,
the
Arts and Crafts section or go to Amazon where you will be certain to find a book
on the hobby or interest of your choice
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