“To be able to enjoy one’s past life is to live twice” Martial

cooking, If you love to cook, then enjoy to your hearts content. Pack and give as gifts some of your masterpieces. Bake birthday cakes or biscuits for all occasions. Bottle and preserve this seasons fruit and veggies, presented with your personalized labels. Freeze extras and treat yourself to some for later. Hold dinner parties when you need to cook up a storm and impress friends with your skill. Even if you live on take aways and frozen dinners – Master at least two dishes in your lifetime, just to show you can.

decorating, A change is as good as a holiday. Don’t need to buy anything new. Just take out all the knick knacks and decorating accessories, including lamps, cushions, mats, pictures, maybe even some of the non-essential furniture. Then re-arrange the furniture and start to re-introduce the accessories. Swap accessories between rooms. Create changes for the seasons. Bring out the pinecones you found while walking – for a winter theme, along with a clutch of candles on a plate. Bring a potted plant with bright flowers inside for a few days for a summer or spring fee. Collect some spectacular autumn leaves and place in a bowl, stir in some pot pourri or a few drops of scented oil. Get a bag of light clean sand and pour on a tray, arrange some sea shells from the store or the shore. Buy a small ‘sample’ tin of paint and re colour a small piece of furniture or section of a wall. Fiddle about with what you have in hand, or stored away that you didn’t have room for when you first set up house. OK then, go buy yourself a poster print, or couple of new cushion covers, or a pot plant, or a simple throw over for the couch. Or raid your parents attic and find some new booty to play with.
Have fun, and do it at least four times a year.

crafts & gift making: there is an incredible list of things that will have its own page and instructions for some simple gifts to make and give, that we will keep adding to every week. But start with ideas for things you can cook, preserve, bake, dry, or sew, assemble and glue, pressed flowers to glue on cards and mount for pictures, painting with oils or water colours, knit, crochet, embroider, calligraphy,

collecting stuff – stamps, records, books, figurines, oddities, old photos, china, watches, postcards, spoons or key rings from your travels, – these are only some of the small things, Obviously, if you like something, just start to collect more of them.

Then your friends will catch on very quickly, and before you know it, your collectables will be flowing in to you from everyone you know. Unless, of course, you decide to collect very large diamonds.

photography, Get your old camera out and have fun. Now-days with digital cameras and computer programs – anything goes. Take some photography classes. Just get a new perspective on your world and the people in it. Will not cost a lot, but get you totally engrossed, so – aim and fire at will.

art and painting, Make sure you get your hands on the book “Drawing on the right side of the brain” by Betty Edwards – Fontana or Collins publishing. I guarantee that you CAN draw and paint what you see.

Then also go to the library and get a book on “how to” paint in oils, water colour, acrylics, or how to draw in pencil or charcoal. Also try books that specialize on one subject matter like cats, dogs, horses, landscapes, ocean scenes, etc. Get a block of good sketching of painting paper from the supermarket or an art supplier. And just have fun learning as you go.

If you find you really enjoy this, look for a local art teacher. Many hold classes in their homes or at community or civic centres, for very low fees. This can be more fun than you can possibly imagine. Join local art groups, show your work. Give as gifts. Sell at markets. Who knows what might happen, except that you will have many hours of pleasure.

Back to Top of page

play a musical instrument, If the thought terrifies you, or you don’t want to invest in an instrument yet, try the computer software that allows you to learn on a keyboard that plugs into your computer. Or ask a relative who has a piano, guitar or whatever, to give you lessons. They will be delighted that you are interested, and that they have a skill to share with you. Musicians advertise in the local paper for students. If they have the equipment, you only need to pay for lessons and see how you go. Learn to sing – no layout for a musical instrument there. Join you local drama group, learn to act, be a stage hand. Your contribution will be appreciated.

learn a language. Again, teachers advertise their services everywhere. You can also get some excellent language programs on audio to learn by. Check out if your library has any audio language programs you can borrow. New computer programs are also being created to make the learning process even more interactive. Hire foreign language videos to hear the language in a more natural environment, and get into the culture behind the language. Plan a trip to visit that country. Join the Associations of that country eg: Australia Japan Association or Society for social interaction and to hear the language, or get a partner to practice speaking the language with. Contact that country consulate or embassy for listings of clubs and associations nearest to your home.

Have fun, mind puzzles, Stimulate your brain cells or your laughing bone with games, mind puzzles and similar low cost challenges. Join a community centre that has games nights for scrabble, trivial pursuit etc. Buy some inexpensive crossword puzzle books or mind teaser books. Have a games night once a month for friends to drop in and share the fun with you. Collect Jokes to cheer yourself and your loved ones. Keep a file, scrapbook or computer file. Print your own joke book or quotes collection to distribute to friends for gifts. Try out your IQ levels with tests for yourself and friends.

Back to Top of page

click here for free IQ and other fun tests.

handwriting analysis, This can be a fascinating art, and it has been said that if you modify your own handwriting you modify aspects about yourself too, Learn about your own handwriting characteristics and what they say about you. Do the same for your all your friends who have ever written to you.

Check out Amazon for ideas on books, CD, videos or computer tutorial programs they may have on sale, or even second hand books. Explore you area of interest.

check out the – Music, videos, books – Amazon link below

Most importantly, relax and enjoy your recreation and holiday time. Be creative in your ‘playtime’ and you will soon get creative in your approach to everything else in your life – and be Happy doing it.

Check out these links below for some “recreational shopping”