Transcript of Premium Bonus Ep 72- Transcript

Charlie:
Hello and welcome to the British English Podcast. The show that helps you understand British English and attempts to unravel a British culture or cultural similarities and differences around the world. Um today we're going to be focusing on hobbies, and I thought it would be good to get Martin from Rock n Roll English back on the show to talk about his hobbies, whether he thinks that the hobbies that we mention are usual, um not typical, or even a bit strange. Martin, how are you doing today?

Martin:
Not bad, Charlie. Very happy to be here to talk about my hobbies.

Charlie:
Would you say that you've got many hobbies?

Martin:
I would say I had hobbies before children. Um. And then. And then I'm sure people that have got kids will be able to relate to this. Your hobbies start to slowly decline once you have children.

Charlie:
Yeah, I can imagine that. Yeah. They should put hobbies on. Sorry. Put parenting on the list of. Although. Hobbies. That's probably a nice thing. No. Do you like parenting?

Martin:
Uh, yeah. I wouldn't class that as a hobby. I heard someone say, actually, on one of the parent things I listened to, they said, if you could just take away all of, like, the other rubbish of, like, cleaning the mess and, like, getting them dressed. And it was just like, take them to the park. Yeah. Then yeah, that'd be great. I would love that. That would be a hobby.

Charlie:
Okay. So you enjoy the taking them to the park?

Martin:
Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's great.

Charlie:
That's good fun. Okay. Yeah. That's interesting. Yeah. No, I, um, I went camping with my wife's family the other week, and we looked after a niece, and we went to the park. And the nephew actually. And the nephew's at the age where he just wants to kill himself. He's like two. I think.

Martin:
Yeah ok. My son. Similar.

Charlie:
Yeah, right. That's quite full on. Like you've got to like. Well.

Martin:
Also true.

Charlie:
As an uncle, I was literally just hovering over them like helicopter parenting. Massively. Did you, do you kind of let them kill themselves?

Martin:
Yeah, a little bit. So I went to the park the other day, for example. I took both of the kids and came back, and my son had blood all over his face and, like, knocked on the door. And my wife was like, what the hell have you done? And I was like, yeah, he kind of just sort of was climbing up something and just sort of jumped off it. Um, he'll be alright. Well, once they're your kids, you're kind of just like, yeah, you'll be alright. Like, stop moaning. You've just got blood on your face. Like, what's the matter with you?

Charlie:
I was thinking, if they're mine, I would treat them a bit differently. But yeah.

Martin:
Yeah, you care less when they're yours because you're looking after someone else's kids. But when they're yours, you know, falls down the stairs, you're like, oh, come on, stop moaning. You'll be fine.

Charlie:
Right. The first one on this long list that we might skim through and skip some is public speaking and storytelling. That is the first hobby. What do you think about this one immediately?

Martin:
It's something I actually enjoy. I've been I enjoy a lot more now I'm older, but as a hobby it was a bit of a strange one, I think. Like, I don't know anyone who does that as an actual hobby of like today. Like for example, if I think of a hobby and I think of like my brother would say, today I'm going out cycling. I couldn't imagine him saying, today I'm going to tell some stories. Um, I don't know where he would he would do that either.

Charlie:
Yeah. So it says under it Toastmasters, open mic nights, stand up comedy and storytelling events. I don't know about the storytelling events. Stand up comedy. Again, it's not like your average mate is like, oh, I'm just going to do some stand up.

Martin:
Exactly.

Charlie:
But Toastmasters, a few of my friends and family have done this in the past. What about you?

Martin:
At weddings, it's the only time I can think of that.

Charlie:
Oh so Toastmasters is a company or like an organisation I think, where people go every week and they do their elevator pitch of their company to a group of people.

Martin:
Okay, right. Okay. Totally did not know what that was. Um. No, I don't know anyone that's done that.

Charlie:
I wonder if that's a global thing. Like, I wonder how many countries would would partake in that. It's quite a strange thing if if you're not that confident at public speaking.

Martin:
Yeah. There are. Isn't there somewhere in London a park where you can just, like, stand up and.

Charlie:
Ah, yes.

Martin:
Have a...

Charlie:
Is it like a soapbox corner kind of thing?

Martin:
Something like that. I would imagine that that would be quite good. So I was public speaking, connecting something to what we just spoke about going to the park. Yeah. Um, this actually was a while ago now. I was at the park with my kids again, and then someone came over and just went. Can I have everyone's attention, please? I was thinking, oh, God, here we go. Some some drunkard now is like, you're thinking like we're with kids. He I mean, it doesn't look doesn't sound good to say, but just looking at him, I was thinking, oh, God, here we go. Can I have everyone's attention? And then he just said, I just want to wish everyone a great day! And walked off. And I thought, what a great bloke. What a great bloke.

Charlie:
Yeah, he should get to Speakers' Corner. I just googled it. That's. That's what you were talking about. Hyde Park. Speakers' Corner.

Martin:
So, um, obviously, if I ever spoke to that guy, I would imagine one of his hobbies is public speaking. Just going to parks and wishing people a great day. Yeah.

Charlie:
Yeah, yeah. I wonder if he's a member of Toastmasters.

Martin:
Yeah.

Charlie:
Alright. The next one is learning instruments. I think you're a guitarist. Are you? Do you play the guitar?

Martin:
Well, on my website, there's a sort of cartoon picture of me, I think, with a guitar. Um, never played a guitar in my life. Uh.

Charlie:
What was the logo inspired by then?

Martin:
Well, so the rock n roll English thing, I mean, there are a few things where it came into my head, and I just remember someone saying to me once, he's a dentist, a friend of mine, he said, yeah, I'm a rock n roll dentist. And I thought that sounded pretty cool. If you just put rock n roll in front of anything, like I just saw you drinking some water, if you said this is rock n roll water, I'd be like, I want some of that. Um, and I just kind of thought, well, let's just go with that. Um, and then obviously, once you've got that, the the guy who was helping me with the website, I was too embarrassed at this point to have my own picture on the website. So he created like a cartoon thing, and he was like, well, we've got to give you a guitar. Um, and then so. And then I had a guitar. But, uh, yeah, lots of people have asked me that. Um, I've even had people actually send me abusive, uh, emails because rock and roll English isn't about rock and roll, and they say you've stolen the domain and getting really pissed off.

Charlie:
Ohh, right.

Martin:
Yeah.

Charlie:
As in people who want to create a a channel around English, teaching English, but around rock and roll.

Martin:
Um, I've had that as well. Or just people about just something about rock and roll history of English. I don't know, but I do get abusive emails a couple of times a year from people. Uh, but, uh, so going back to instruments, obviously now I would love to play an instrument, but when when I was in school, it was seen where I went to school as if you played an instrument, you were a bit of an idiot. And people would basically take the piss out of you. And one of my close friends used to play the saxophone, and he even says now how he used to try and hide his saxophone case, because he knew once he got it out, everyone would be going, oh, you wanker! Fucking instrument! Instrument boy. And he would be embarrassed. And he didn't want to, but his mum made him continue. And now he can play the sax and everyone thinks he's really cool. But during school. Yeah.

Charlie:
Yeah, it's an interesting one because an instrument leads to, quote unquote, the rock n roll life. Rock n roll lifestyle. But at the beginning and throughout the whole career of a musician, it's quite nerdy. You've got to be quite a nerd to be able to dedicate so much time to learning the instrument.

Martin:
Exactly.

Charlie:
It's an odd one. How? Like, Slash from guns N roses is, like, so cool. But he's also a nerd. Like.

Martin:
Yeah, of course.

Charlie:
Took ages to learn about how to do the fret board and stuff, but yeah. So in my school, learning the drums, the electric guitar and, you know, the a bass, any anyone in like a four piece band was considered quite cool.

Martin:
Okay.

Charlie:
But for your school, any instrument was sad?

Martin:
Yeah. I don't remember anyone playing a guitar that well. I'm using my brain now to think about when I was like 13, which is. Yeah, well, no, which isn't obviously how I was thinking back then. So I'm trying to think now if someone played a guitar, maybe I would have thought they were cool, but I don't think I would have done okay. Um, but about instruments, a British culture. Tell me if this happened in your school. I think it happened in all schools. Did you learn how to play Three Blind Mice on the recorder?

Charlie:
On the recorder? Yes. And before that, there was a weird wind instrument in, like, reception. It was like a ball of air. I can't even remember what it was called. Do you know what I'm talking about? It was bright blue.

Martin:
Are you sure you just weren't, like, blowing like an inflatable ball?

Charlie:
Um. Basic. Do you remember it at all?

Martin:
No, I don't remember that. I just remember having the recorder, which, if you think about it, is such a waste of time or it's such a waste of people's time. Um, playing this instrument, the recorder. I don't know if people are familiar with this. Um, and, yeah, we must have had to buy those recorders. I doubt the school gave us one, because obviously you're blowing on this instrument. Yeah, like I wouldn't want to be blowing on something that had been in the school for 20 years and people had been blowing on. This sounds very dodgy, but.

Charlie:
But, yeah, um, the recorder was a very common instrument that I think you have to have learnt three blind mice to be able to graduate primary school. In the UK. Um, it's a shame though, because it gives the flute a bad rap I think because the flute is a beautiful instrument.

Martin:
Yeah. The record.

Charlie:
Very skilful.

Martin:
But has anyone had a musical career with a recorder? Um I can't, I've not seen it.

Charlie:
I think 1% of the listeners are really angry right now saying I am a recorderist? Would you, would that would that be the noun?

Martin:
Yeah. Oh, and something else about this whole primary school thing. I've seen someone recently who's quite getting quite big now in the UK who go plays concerts and he calls it primary school bangers. So like the songs which people used to sing in primary school. And he was at Glastonbury and they were singing like, give me joy in my heart, keep me. I don't know all the words, but, um.

Charlie:
Keep it going!

Martin:
And there were what were the other ones? Um, yeah, but there are some real primary school bangers. In my school, I went to a Catholic school. Yeah. Talking about wasting time, they used to interrupt afternoon lessons for hymn practice. So that would be. That would involve us going into the assembly room and practising hymns, which are like church songs for people that don't know. And again, you just think, what a waste of time that is for a child's education. Like what is your eight year old doing? He's learning how to sing songs for church. Like...

Charlie:
I agree, looking at it as an adult, but at the same time, the development that they get, I guess is what they're doing it for. Like learning how to organise themselves into learning.

Martin:
Oh, right. Okay.

Charlie:
Like they're not going to be learning something by Dua Lipa or anything like that at that age are they.

Martin:
Um, but yeah.

Charlie:
I'm not putting Dua Lipa on a pedestal at all. But.

Martin:
But I just remember going into that hall and even even at that, we were like seven just being like, oh, for God's sake, like, what are we doing this? And even more ridiculous, one of my friends, the teacher, he was so bad at singing, the teacher actually told him to stop, so he would he would have to go into hymn practice. And then he wasn't allowed to sing because his voice was so bad that you just imagine that you're going there, you're seven years old, and the teacher just says, just give it a rest. Just, just stop. Like you're hurting everyone's ears. Just. Just give it a rest.

Charlie:
That is nice. Oh, I've found it. Um, the ocarina, a six hole ocarina.

Martin:
A six hole ocarina.

Charlie:
It's bright blue. That's what I had in reception before a recorder.

Martin:
It kind of looks familiar. Ish. Um, no.

Charlie:
I think you would remember.

Martin:
No. Yeah. Yeah, mate. I think I have seen one of those in my life, but I don't remember playing that. It looks pretty. It looks more. That looks more complicated than the recorder.

Charlie:
Do you reckon?

Martin:
Yeah.

Charlie:
Okay. Um, so what else is normal in the UK? Piano. The piano is quite a popular instrument. Yeah.

Martin:
Mhm. One of my friends was really good on the piano, and he was considered cool because he was like, really good. Yeah.

Charlie:
Okay, okay. Saxophone is really cool now. It's become quite a tradition in like weddings I'd say to have like.

Martin:
Right. Yeah. Yeah. Actually it is. Yeah.

Charlie:
Oh, wow. The saxophonist is about to play.

Martin:
Yeah. My friend. Yeah, exactly. That's what. That's what we were saying to my friend.

Charlie:
Um, ukulele. The ukulele.

Martin:
Is. What is that? Sorry.

Charlie:
That's the small guitar. Like a little.

Martin:
Right. Oh, yeah. Of course. Yeah. Um, yeah. No, I, I mean, my kids had one have got one of those in Italy at their grandparents' house. And I always think as well you get people buy stuff for kids like a Rubik's Cube. Like have you ever seen a two year old complete a Rubik's Cube? Like some of the things people buy kids.

Charlie:
I'm starting to worry, Martin, that you're putting high expectations on your children. Like, you're not allowed anything unless I know that you can complete this to an adult standard.

Martin:
I've never bought them a Rubik's Cube. I'll buy them like a dinosaur that they press, and that makes a stupid sound. And even they.

Charlie:
Daddy! Can I get some watercolours?

Charlie:
Are you going to be a professional artist? Not yet? Well, no.

Martin:
Yeah. Yeah.

Charlie:
But, um, another thing that I suppose is now a bit more popular is like electronic music production. I imagine that would be quite cool. Like to be able to produce your own tunes from your laptop. Using one of those like drum pads and those sort of electro?

Martin:
Yeah. I mean, is that what kids do in schools these days? I mean, that sounds pretty cool. Anytime we were allowed to use a computer, which was quite rare, and we even had those computers which were called BBC computers. Um, I don't know if they were supplied by the BBC. Uh, but.

Charlie:
I don't think the BBC has done any computers in their time.

Martin:
We definitely had a computer called a BBC. Um, and then IT lessons themselves used to involve like sitting next to your friend who was doing his coursework and then just switching his computer off so he would lose all of it because he hadn't saved it. Um, or another one was get all of the icons, press enter. So all of the programs open. So it would take about an hour for the computer to actually. Yeah. So these these lessons for me when I was in school, IT, music. They weren't... Art. They weren't considered real lessons. They were they were just like, let's mess around for an hour.

Charlie:
Yes. This is going off topic a little bit, but food tech, music, IT.

Martin:
Yeah, oh yeah. Food tech. Yeah.

Charlie:
They were all yeah. And drama for me.

Martin:
Oh yeah.

Charlie:
They were all jokey subjects.

Martin:
Yeah, definitely.

Charlie:
IT was quite funny. I just googled a BBC micro computer and it makes me think that you're 50 years old.

Martin:
I think it's just my school hadn't updated anything. I actually went to my old primary school recently, and they had the old ropes that we used to climb, like in PE. Did you ever have them? Yeah. And and then and then I said to my mum's friend, I said, blimey, I'm sure those are the ones that we had. Like when I went here and she said, they're the ones that were here when I went here. And she's like in her 60s. So I think.

Charlie:
That is a bloody good rope.

Martin:
Yeah, exactly. I think it tells you about how often uh, the school, like, basically buys new things. I also remember doing PE to forget your PE shorts, and they used to give you these shorts, which seemed like they were from the 1800s. And they were so small that my, like, boxers were coming out underneath.

Charlie:
Really nice. Yeah. That'll teach them. Yeah. Okay. The next one is geocaching. This says treasure hunting. Navigating using GPS.

Martin:
Okay. Well, certainly if some if when I was in school, a friend said to me, I'm going treasure hunting at the weekend. I would have I would have said, get the hell out.

Charlie:
I'm going to guess if playing the drums isn't cool in your school. Geocaching is is potential suicide.

Martin:
Although talking of like ridiculous things kind of connected to treasure hunt in a way. Um, one of my close friends from school, he was always a bit weird. He still is. Um, his hobby was solving crimes like real, real crime. So there would be I.

Charlie:
Audio members. My face has dropped. My jaw has dropped.

Martin:
Well, so, like, obviously, we would quiz him about this and he would say, like, yeah, the other day there was loads of police around. So then I just went and asked them some questions.

Charlie:
Like Nightcrawler?

Martin:
So it's like just going there with like pad and pen, just like. Right. So what do we know?

Charlie:
How old was he?

Martin:
Exactly. He was like 13. And then, uh, they would say, well, what what what did they say? And he said they would just tell me to go home. Uh, Case solved.

Charlie:
What does he do now?

Martin:
He's, uh, actually a lecturer at university. He's, uh, he's got a really good... Professor at, uh, university in Glasgow. Um, but just to tell you how weird he is, like, he doesn't have a phone, for example, like no phone. He doesn't even have, like, a not smart phone, a non smartphone. He's he.

Charlie:
I've got to say. That would help in his investigations.

Martin:
Um, and so this continued later in life till when we, we were sort of like 18, 19, 20. And I remember going into a pub with him and there had been a murder and he said.

Charlie:
Real one?

Martin:
Yeah, there had been a murder like in this town where he lived. And he said, yeah, there was a murder here the other day. And I was like, okay. And he went, maybe we can find something out. When we go to the pub. I said, please don't, please don't. We walk into the pub, they say like, yeah, two pints of lager, please. They're pouring the pints and then my friend goes, so I hear there was a murder here recently. And then the barmaid sort of went, mm. And then he said, do you know anything about it? And she looked at him and just said, no. I was like, what did you expect that she was going to she was going to tell you. Yeah, I do know. It was that guy over there. He murdered him. So yeah. And then you're going to go to the police. You've you've, like, solved the case. Um, you've.

Charlie:
Got to start somewhere, though, Martin.

Martin:
Exactly. But he was always. Yeah, yeah, he was always so weird that he kind of was excused of, like, the, like, people taking the piss out of him.

Charlie:
So did that connect to. He did geocaching?

Martin:
Well, I just thought of someone, like, going treasure hunting, like or, like investigation kind of thing. That's why it popped into my mind. But no, I've never known anyone to, uh, go treasure hunting. No.

Charlie:
I've just remembered I've done this, so.

Martin:
Oh, God. Here we go.

Charlie:
Yeah, I've done it once and never again. So my. This is a bit of a long story. My auntie. Well, I'll skip that bit. So my auntie's son, I met him when he was 30.

Martin:
Right.

Charlie:
And he said let's go geocaching. So I was I was like ten, I think. And I was like, what's that? He was like, it's hiking, let's go hiking. And so we went hiking. Oh no orienteering. Orienteering.

Martin:
Okay. So like a fancy word for hiking.

Charlie:
Yeah, but it's with a map and you've got to find things. I was like, heckles are raised here, but. Okay, so I was ten. I went along with it. He gave me a map and then a compass, and then he was like, right, we've got to find these locations across this woodland, and we've got a race and we've got to do it quicker than everyone else.

Martin:
Okay, so it's an organised thing. Other people are doing it.

Charlie:
It's a very organised thing.

Martin:
Oh, right. Okay.

Charlie:
Yeah, yeah. It's, um, it's taken quite seriously. And it's like trial time trials. You've got to get the best time of the day kind of thing.

Martin:
Mhm. Okay.

Charlie:
Weird. It's really, really weird. I, um, you know, don't want to yuck anyone's yum. But, uh, I haven't done it since I was ten. Yeah. Uh, the next one is model building. Gosh, these hobbies are very, um.

Martin:
Like building, like models, like Lego things or. Right. Okay.

Charlie:
Cars, ships. Miniature sets.

Martin:
Yeah, I think I maybe I did 1 or 2 of them when I was a kid, but it's just the patience needed for things. I always think again as well. Like if you're expecting like a, I think like my dad was quite into that and he was trying to get like me and my brother to do it. But if you're expecting like a, you know, an eight year old to sit there with like such patience and do all of these things, you just think like, like, like naturally just got bored. It was like fishing. My dad used to take me fishing when I was a kid. Yeah, but like, now, I think I'd quite enjoy sitting out in the nature and just, like, taking it easy.

Charlie:
That hobby is apparently one of the most popular outdoor activities in the world. Fishing.

Martin:
Okay.

Charlie:
I just have been writing an email this morning about it to people, and 55 million people in the US take part in fishing every year.

Martin:
That's decent. Yeah.

Charlie:
It's a lot, isn't it?

Martin:
Um, it it is like I think it would be enjoyable now. But again, when I was eight and you're just sitting there and you're just like, you don't catch a fish the whole day, like, I mean, there were times when you did catch a fish and it was great. You're like, ah you're thinking you're like, you're like catching like a whale, and then like, you get a fish like that. But still it was it was great when you catch a fish, but just the sitting there doing nothing when you're eight, it's not really sort of that interesting.

Charlie:
No it's not, it's not instant gratification by any means. And there's very little stimulation whilst you're waiting for the big catch.

Martin:
Mhm. Exactly.

Charlie:
And also you've got to be quite skilful after waiting for ages. And so a young kid is probably not going to have that skill ready to unleash and get the reward, are they.

Martin:
Yeah. Well I, you know, I caught some fish. We used to go to like fishing, fishing lakes though. So not like, it's more difficult if you go like sea fishing and stuff. Um, so like, fish are there to be caught and then you put them back. Um, but still. Yeah. I mean, it didn't involve that. I'm not sure. My dad must have helped me anyway. Yeah. Um, but. Yeah, something I would like to do now. Um, but. Yeah, but but the problem is, now I'm kind of scared of all fish and things, and I wouldn't want to touch the fish.

Charlie:
Um, yeah. Oh, right. You wouldn't. Yeah. Yeah. No, I wouldn't actually like that. But my, my, I don't actually like eating much seafood. I like some things. Like raw, like sushi. I quite like that.

Martin:
Okay.

Charlie:
As soon as it's cooked and it tastes really fishy. I wasn't raised.

Martin:
I'm the opposite. Okay.

Charlie:
What? You don't like raw fish, but you like fishy?

Martin:
I'll eat raw fish, but like sushi. I'm not a big fan of sushi. My wife loves it. And I think my wife knows that I don't particularly like it. So she just says she likes it more than she actually does. Um, and then she'll be like, can we go sushi? And. Oh, for God's sake. But I basically eat sushi on her birthday every year because.

Charlie:
That's hilarious. Going back to the model building. Um, so I actually, I was so I was, I was part of the cool group, quote unquote. Um, actually, I should say that again, because I told a student you should say it at the beginning. I was part of the quote unquote cool group. Um, in my school, I was kind of on the precipice of being kicked out of the cool group and, uh, secretly, you know, Thursday, Friday night, we'd be at the park drinking beer at like age 14 or 15 and above. I'd hate it that taste of beer, but I'd force myself to do what they were doing. But secretly, on the weekday I would. I'd be like painting a little model car. I'd have like a little setup, and I would be that really patient, like, calm person that would take my time and nerd out on building a Ferrari Enzo or something.

Martin:
And then when your friends come by, you just just quickly just put it in the cupboard just in case anyone sees it.

Charlie:
What's that? Oh, smash it up. Yeah. I'll get the beers out, lads. Come on. Hiding my personality from everyone.

Martin:
You were a bit older then, though, I suppose, to have the patience for it. Because I remember doing those things when I was sort of under ten. Um, but, uh. But. Yeah, I suppose you get that kind of satisfaction at the end, don't you? Like I had someone on the podcast talk about this. She called it type two happiness. So type one is like, you know, if you if you have a beer like by the lake, that's great. But if you cycle up a mountain, get to the mountain and have a beer there, that beer is going to taste much better because you've got that sense of achievement. Um, so I suppose there is some kind of type two happiness of like, you've spent all this time and you've got this beautiful car or whatever. At the end of it, when you look at it, you're like, oh, I worked so hard to get that. So I suppose there's that to it. But yeah, not something I've ever really been into myself.

Charlie:
Oh, I see, that reminded me, actually, yesterday I was spending time with a friend who said about his group of friends in WhatsApp, have like a picture of they send a selfie of like the best type of beer you can have, like what you just said, like up a mountain having a refreshing beer or like the first pint on the on the Sunday football day. Like for them they know that they've got like ten more to come. And they're very happy with the fact that they're starting early or like the first pint abroad. When you've sat down at your resort and you've got like a week of gluttonous behaviour coming up. Um, but yeah. Okay. So, um. We have come to the end of part one, so feel free to take a break from your listening practice, but if you're happy to keep going, then we're now moving on to part two of this episode. Thanks so much for being a premium or Academy member and enjoy the rest of the show. The next one is drone, flying a drone.

Martin:
Okay.

Charlie:
Aerial photography.

Martin:
Okay. Yeah. I haven't really got much to add on this one. Um, I've never done that myself. What... A question, though, is. So I'm assuming you have. Um, but do you need, like, a license to do that? Because if that drops out of the sky and falls on my head.

Charlie:
Yeah.

Martin:
I am not going to be particularly happy with you.

Charlie:
No.

Martin:
If you're if your drone falls out of the sky and lands on my head.

Charlie:
Yeah.

Martin:
I'm going to be pretty pissed off.

Charlie:
Yeah. Yeah. Quite rightfully. Yeah. I've gone off the idea of it because. Partly because of that and also because.

Martin:
But do you need a license? I actually don't know.

Charlie:
In ge- Uh, in some countries you do. In America, you do. It depends on the size of the drone. If it's like a certain weight and under, you don't need it. Um, but, yeah, it's it's something that I used to really like. And then one day it decided to malfunction, and it went left instead of right, up instead of down. And it was really stressing me out. And then I tried to get it out on a boat in Sydney. And the captain or the skipper, he was like, mate, so many people have got their drone out a bit drunk and lost their drone. And it was like £800. I was like, no, no, no, I know how to fly my drone. It's fine, it's fine. I got it out and it literally just went above like two inches above the ground. And it started going left instantly and I had to stamp on it before it went overboard. It was, I was like probably a second away from losing it forever.

Martin:
Um, I must admit, I was hoping that story was going to end. I lost my drone. I'm quite disappointed that you didn't.

Charlie:
I've still got it, but, um, I gave it to my dad because I was like, I literally never fly it. And he was like, can I use it to look at my golf club?

Martin:
Okay. Right. When you said golf club, I thought his actual like, club that you play with. And I was thinking, do you need a drone to do that? But then I realised, you mean like where the actual place where he plays.

Charlie:
Another reason I've gone off it is apparently it's the. It's in the top ten icks of single girls who are dating. I mean, I'm married now, but apparently.

Martin:
Always to keep that in the back of your mind though, just so you know.

Charlie:
If somebody says they they fly a drone, a girl is instantly turned off by it.

Martin:
Oh, right. Okay. Interesting. That's good to know.

Charlie:
Yeah. I don't know if that helps with whether these hobbies are usual or not so usual in the UK, but let's keep going. So next one you might have something to say about this. Binge watching documentaries.

Martin:
Yeah. Um, if I had the time, I would do that. I, the last time I did that, I was sick one day. And so basically the wife and kids went out and I did what, I binge watched about four football documentaries. Um, and. Yeah, no, it's good, like binge like binge watching TV series as well. Again, another time I did that was when I kind of like broke my ankle and I was on crutches and I couldn't walk. So it's kind of like, well, what else are you going to do? So, um, I actually watched the whole series of The Wire. Remember that?

Charlie:
Oh yeah, yeah. Wow.

Martin:
Um, so that was pretty good. And but then you get to some point where you've, you've, you've watched like, like eight hours in a day and like you're kind of thinking, oh God, this is. You don't really feel like a great person. So when I was talking about type two happiness, that I suppose that would be the opposite of that, because you've done literally nothing the whole day, and it's just kind of like self esteem. If you've just been on the couch all day for like 6 or 7 hours. Yeah.

Charlie:
Yeah.

Martin:
Not something... Not great for mental health, I would say if anyone's, uh, anyone's thinking of doing it.

Charlie:
Yeah, definitely. Definitely got to mix it up. Go for a. Yeah, go do some geocaching. In between each series.

Martin:
Exactly.

Charlie:
Maybe don't. Maybe don't, um, maybe do some sewing and or calligraphy. Those are the next ones. Sewing and textile arts and then calligraphy and hand lettering.

Martin:
Yeah. So so the hobby. So calligraphy. Yeah. Got that right. Um, like, what does that actually like, who am I writing letters to? Or am I just just writing, like, you know, like when you have that, like, dummy text, like, what's it called? Lorem. Something like that. Am I just writing just random like?

Charlie:
That's a really good question. Who am I writing to? That's kind of like a Karl Pilkington kind of thought.

Martin:
Well, just because, like, if this is my hobby, you know something I enjoy doing, there's only so many letters that you can write to like, you know, your mum and stuff. Like your family.

Charlie:
Martin's sent us another letter! Come on. Come and read it. He's done a really nice bit of handwriting.

Martin:
Exactly. So I'm just not really sure how that one. How that one actually works.

Charlie:
If you could compose your first calligraphy letter, style letter, what do you reckon the contents would be? So it would be to your mum?

Martin:
I mean, this probably actually sounds quite sad, but I have actually, I thought I'd start doing something similar because everyone talks about journaling. It's good for you. Um. I've never. I have tried it in the past, but I've never been able to keep up with it. So what I've been doing is kind of like writing letters to my children. So I kind of thought so like when I die.

Charlie:
Dear son, pick up your f****** toys!

Martin:
Yeah, exactly. I thought they'll have, like, some kind of memories. So, um. And one of the one of the thoughts I have is, um. Will they be able to read my handwriting because I'm not really into calligraphy and I'm writing quickly. Obviously, I'm not like taking really, really thinking it out. And I do sometimes, even I sort of had a quick read the other day and I was like, what did I what does that say? And like and I wrote it.

Charlie:
So if you can't read your own handwriting. That's. Yeah, that's I think that's time to pick up calligraphy and appreciate the art of handwriting.

Martin:
Yeah. So, so maybe that is something I do need to do. But on handwriting actually, I remember in primary school it was quite, quite a big thing of how how nice your handwriting was. I'm sure there was a handwriting sort of competition as well. And I remember thinking, I think I've got a chance here because I, I didn't, I didn't win, obviously I was I don't know what I was thinking. Yeah, but I remember thinking I had good handwriting. I think if I take my time, my wife actually says if we have to write a card to like a birthday card to someone, she always says, you do it because you've got nicer handwriting, but I think she's just too lazy to to write it. And I mean, to be fair, her handwriting is pretty shit. So, uh.

Charlie:
Slagging her off? Um, yeah, I think there is a household, uh, pen. Can you say that? Pen like the person that writes. I don't know if that's right, but, um, there is somebody who writes the birthday cards or the wedding cards or something isn't there.

Martin:
Generally someone who writes, call them a writer. But could you be classed as a writer for writing birthday cards?

Charlie:
Yeah, but I'm not meaning like the content. I will often write the message in WhatsApp to Stacey, and then Stacey will write it physically, because I'm better at writing and she's a bit better at writing.

Martin:
Okay, combining the two skills. Got it. Yeah, yeah.

Charlie:
Um, but yeah. Calligraphy. I've never done that. I don't know many people who have done that. Apparently it's a very popular one in Japan. That's probably quite obvious.

Martin:
Okay. Yeah.

Charlie:
Um.

Martin:
Oh, yeah. Of course. Yeah. Yeah.

Charlie:
Uh, sewing. So I was I was on the underground the other day, and I saw somebody get some, um, uh, sewing or crocheting? Crocheting, crocheting.

Martin:
Oh, don't ask me.

Charlie:
And when I was camping, actually, yes, another person was just doing it, and they were like, yeah, I'm just making a scarf. I'm like, wow. I've never, never, ever thought about doing that.

Martin:
No, I haven't either. But I know someone, someone who has made me a scarf, actually. Um, and again, I would imagine it's like a good thing to do when you're old. You've got lots of time. And again, you get that kind of like, it's kind of like building, like your car model thing. Once you've finished, it must be a nice feeling of like, oh, like that, I made that. Um, so yeah, I yeah, exactly. So I could see why. But yeah, not something I've ever done or not something I have any idea of how to do. I would have absolutely no idea.

Charlie:
I would be so lost. Yeah. The pronunciation is crocheting.

Martin:
Crocheting?

Charlie:
Yeah. Um. FYI. Right. Next one. Here we go. Here we go. Watching sports.

Martin:
Oh, yeah, I could do that. If I had the time, I would happily sit down and watch, like, football. Obviously my main one. I've mentioned that before on this show. Um, but like, I do like other sports. Um, not that many other ones. But for example, I used to love watching Wimbledon. Like sit down watching Wimbledon. I'd love a bit of that. Certainly in the 90s when there was like Tiger Tim , Tim Henman.

Charlie:
Yeah. Pete Sampras.

Martin:
Yeah. Sampras. Yeah. And watching that. Snooker. I absolutely love to watch snooker. I could sit down and watch snooker all day. And that is one which I can see. Um, for example, my wife, if I try to watch snooker, she would just be like, what the hell is this? Like, get. What are you doing? Watching. Watching this. Um. And. Yeah. So there's there's her. There's. She knows this other Italian girl who lives near to us, and she's married to a Brit as well. And my wife was saying that when the World Championships were on, um, this Italian girl, they just couldn't understand why people would watch snooker. Um.

Charlie:
It's quite a mundane one for the non, um, seasoned viewer.

Martin:
Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah.

Charlie:
There's quite a few like that though aren't there? Like I dare say. I know I'd be upsetting a lot of people, but cricket.

Martin:
Yeah I agree, I.

Charlie:
If people don't know about it.

Martin:
Yeah, I totally agree. I for example, I don't like cricket at all and would find it really boring. Uh, formula one, for example. I don't like just going round and round, like I don't like it. But yeah, I think once like for example, with snooker, like once you understand how it works and you can appreciate like a type, like maybe in cricket a type of the way they bowl it or something, I don't know. And when you can really appreciate those things, it's interesting. But if you don't know what you're kind of looking for, then it's not interesting at all.

Charlie:
Yes, yes. Agreed. Yeah. Um, next one is is, uh, home actually before going on to that. So football. You enjoy football. How how many hours a week would you say that you used to watch before parenting and that you do watch now that you're a parent?

Martin:
Um, well, so not only parenting, because living in Italy made me watch a lot less football because it was more difficult to access and stuff. Um, so but before, let's say I moved to Italy and I remember living in London with some, with one of my close friends and. Oh, God. Yeah. So I could easily watch in a weekend the 12.30 Saturday game, the 5:00 game. And then on Sunday, sort of another two games, so I could easily watch four full matches during the weekend. And then I would watch like match of the day. And so, um, yeah. So for people that don't know, match of the day.

Charlie:
That's six to seven hours a weekend.

Martin:
Oh yeah, yeah. Back then and when I think back then, I just think I was living in London, like, what was I doing? And I'd be watching I because I was used to I've been doing it again recently, fantasy football as well. So like you've got players from teams and I remember I had defenders in a game it was Stoke v Wigan. So obviously not really one that really gets the pulse racing. Uh, Stoke v Wigan and I had defenders from Stoke and defenders from Wigan, so I watched the game hoping for a nil nil.

Charlie:
Hahaha!

Martin:
I, that was my ideal scenario to watch a nil nil. It was just, looking back now it just. Yeah I don't know what I was thinking.

Charlie:
Yeah. Yeah, that actually leads me on to gambling. Like betting.

Martin:
Okay.

Charlie:
So fantasy football is kind of. I mean, it's very strategic. And I appreciate the skill involved in fantasy football. You got to know your stuff and read up on a lot of watch a lot of games to know who to put in your team. But aside from that, like in Australia, gambling, it was it was so common. Um, and what you've just said about football, I'd say that of this list, I mean, we're getting to the more popular hobbies. But of this list, I think watching football is one of the most common about among my friends and family in the UK. That is the most common thing so far that I would say yes, that is what British people do. Mostly guys favour this, but most weekends a guy will watch at least one game of football. I would I would stereotype as fairly accurate.

Martin:
Um, I, this may just be like my sort of group of friends and things and like the way my upbringing and my family and stuff, but for me, so I can only make a comparison with Italy. Football is bigger here than it is even in Italy. And the whole the whole weekend often revolves around football. Like my mum will say, for example. So this Sunday, for example, uh, is Man United Liverpool and 4:00. So she'll be like come round, watch the match, we'll have something to eat. And so I just I always feel that football often has a big impact on not. So you said men watch it, which is true. But often like maybe my wife will do something with like my friends and their wives. Maybe the wives they won't really pay much attention to the game. Often we don't really either. The game is on and we're sort of chatting away. Um, but it will be like the match is on, so let's get together. Um, so like that will decide your plans for the weekend very often. Um, That's certainly what it is for me. And it's the same, for example. I'm sure people can relate to this when like competitions run like recently we had the Euros, so it would be like the match is on, like what are we going to do? Um, and so yeah, that is most weekends for, for me. Well less now because like me and my friends have got kids. But in the past especially, it was like, what are we going to do for the match? Where are we going to watch it?

Charlie:
Right, okay. Yeah. That's interesting. So it's even more popular in well, you were in Sicily, right? Do you reckon it's as popular in the north of Italy?

Martin:
Well, so I lived in Rome as well. And I'm not saying it's not popular. It definitely is. But I just feel that more. It's more of a social thing in the UK of like, let's go to someone's house, let's go to the pub and people get together to watch it a lot more.

Charlie:
We have come to the end of part two now, so again, feel free to pause the episode, to take a break from your listening practice and come back to the last part when you're ready. Alright, so moving on to part three now. Enjoy.

Martin:
And on gambling. I don't bet on football myself because I've been stung a few times in the past quite badly. Uh, so I literally don't do it. But like, my friends, like, they just bet on absolutely everything. It's just ridiculous. Like, it's like, not only I just hear, so I just hear, like, my brother's mates, so many people in the UK, I think it's getting to like it's actually getting to a sort of.

Charlie:
Out of hand.

Martin:
Yeah, out of hand. And like if you look, everything is like the betting companies on the, the football shirts and like the adverts, you're just sort of bombarded with it at the moment.

Charlie:
Um, yeah. There are a lot. And it amazes me looking at the high street, because I think that's a good understanding of what's popular. There is always a betting shop, maybe, maybe three on each high street.

Martin:
Yeah, yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah yeah, definitely. But like people like they bet on like who's going to get more throw ins and like, they're just like such random stuff. And then like, I'll be like with my friends, like on a Saturday and be like and look at their phone and they'll be like, oh, like the second division team in Norway are losing. He's like, I had like £20 on them. What are you talking about?

Charlie:
Yeah, yeah. That is so far away from. I went, I went to a mindfulness weekend like a month ago, and it was a retreat where you couldn't use your phone, you couldn't talk to anyone. It was a silent retreat. And they were just, like teaching the importance of just, like, um, detaching your feelings from anything external. It's like the epitome of the opposite of that.

Martin:
The second division game in Norway. Yeah.

Charlie:
And they're upset because of that?

Martin:
Yeah, exactly.

Charlie:
I'm a very good boy with gambling, but I did actually get stung once. Um. Very pathetic. A pathetic amount of money. But back then I was very upset with it all. So in uni, I don't know if I've said this story, but I. I found a hack online of, um, with, um. Oh, what is it? When you're betting on black or white, just like the, um.

Martin:
Roulette. Roulette.

Charlie:
Roulette. So the roulette technique of doubling down or doubling up or something.

Martin:
Yeah. Okay. So every time you double your bet.

Charlie:
Yeah, exactly.

Martin:
Because sooner or later, it's called actually pyramid betting, I think. And it's actually they actually, it's actually illegal. You're not allowed to do it if they catch you. Which doesn't make sense to me. So yeah. So to explain that. So if I bet £10 and I lose. Then the next time I bet 20. Because like, sooner or later you're going to get your money back because it's 50/50. Um, but you're not allowed to do it, which I find really strange.

Charlie:
Yes. And I did 1p as the starting thing as. So.

Martin:
Whenever was 1P a lot of money to you?

Charlie:
When I was a student. So I was.

Martin:
1p!

Charlie:
So I started off really modest, right.

Martin:
I mean, you can't get more modest than that, can you?

Charlie:
I would have gone lower. I was just testing the theory of it, and a couple of times I got up to, like, eight flips or eight roll... Rolls? Or turns? And it would be against my colour. So I stuck with white eight times and it would still.

Martin:
So now you're like you're betting like 30p.

Charlie:
No, because one like scaled up or the square root of that or whatever it is, it amounts to quite a bit, quite quickly, like ten times that.

Martin:
Was this a real casino by the way?

Charlie:
It was online. It was online.

Martin:
Okay. Because I was going to say I don't think real casinos would let you bet 1p.

Charlie:
Yeah.

Charlie:
But I managed to get like 50 quid within the day. I had spent all day on it. And then I was like, oh my God. I've, I've figured out the way I'm going to live my life. I was like, I have.

Martin:
I've cracked it.

Charlie:
I've cracked the code. This is it, this is me. I'm a genius. I'm a motherhumper. And then at midnight, I was carrying on. I was like, right, let's up it to 5p. So I did. I started with 5p and it quickly ended up being £150 on the, the like 15th go or something like that.

Martin:
Yeah.

Charlie:
I was like I'm going to be bankrupt. So I got my credit card out, I put it on and I lost it. I was like, oh, I can't do £300, I can't do it. So I went offline and I was like, never again. And I wrote myself a letter. This is how pathetic I am. I wrote myself a letter saying I will never gamble. It makes me feel terrible. Blah blah blah blah blah. And I've never touched gambling since.

Martin:
See, the gambling is an interesting one actually, because I can see why people get addicted to that. To be honest, I actually quite like it. I'd... Like roulette. When I was in Vegas, for example, I actually quite like it. Um, because that thrill of like, this is going to go really well or really badly. I like and the way your emotions can swing is like is very, very dangerous. Um, and yeah, so I remember being in the casino once. It was my brother's stag do. And I went in with like £20. I got it, I think, to like 125. And then I just thought, fuck it, I'm just putting in all of this. I put it all on black. Bang, came in 250. And I just remember just, like running around the casino. I couldn't even, like, contain myself. Um, and then at other times, I remember with a friend at universal.

Charlie:
Wait, did you. Did you leave with that money?

Martin:
No, I did. Yeah, I did. I was, I was, I was absolutely buzzing. It was absolutely amazing. Um, and then other times like this didn't actually happen to me, but a story that comes into my mind. I remember being at university. I was I had just been to the casino. I was telling my friend about it and he said, like, so if I just put like £50 on red, I could have 100. And I went, I said, yeah, but you do have to realise you, you could also lose that. And it's like, yeah. So I remember it was like a Saturday. It was like midday. We walked into the casino. There was no one there. We'd been in like town anyway. We walked in there and he put £50 on red. They spun it and then bang black. And then we walked out. And it's such a depressing moment. Yeah. And he was absolutely devastated. And, I mean, I was loving it, obviously.

Charlie:
Um, yeah. I think what gambling or betting apps now do is they give you a bit of free money at the beginning.

Martin:
Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

Charlie:
And then and then hopefully that reels you in and then you get a taste of that win and then you're coming back for more. Because if you, if your first interaction with gambling is what your friend just experienced, I'm gonna gamble and say that he's never touched it since.

Martin:
Yeah. Well, uh, yeah, I don't think so. We used to actually bet on fantasy football, actually, going back to that, but except that, um. No, I don't really think he has, but, um, but yeah, it it can be very, very dangerous because even even footballers, you can have millions, but you can like, if you're, if you're betting. Yeah. Like, you can lose your money very quickly as you found like 1p can soon turn into £150.

Charlie:
Exactly.

Martin:
Yeah.

Charlie:
Yeah, yeah. So gambling it's it's common, but I don't think it's a very good one.

Martin:
Should be avoided. Yeah.

Charlie:
Um, I'm gonna... So we're coming towards the end. Now. I'm gonna give you five of the most of the top 20 hobbies, and you can choose which one to talk about. So I'm going to say astronomy. This is this is the top 20, in the...

Martin:
Okay.

Charlie:
20th, um, astronomy, bird watching, photography, um, cooking and baking. And then the top one is reading.

Martin:
Mhm. Um, so the only one I could really sort of have, my personal experience would be reading. I actually used to do quite a lot of that, but I think maybe the most popular I think would be certainly like baking, like cooking like in the last kind of like ten years, maybe a bit longer, ten, 15 years, like MasterChef and all of these shows. People people were mad for them. I mean, I personally was never interested, but lots of like my male friends would be like saying like, oh, I've made this cake and like, I saw it on MasterChef or whatever. Um, so I would say that's probably the most common. Um, but yeah, not something I myself have ever been into.

Charlie:
Have you ever baked full stop?

Martin:
I baked my mum a birthday cake once, but I don't know if you can really call that baking. You know, like when you buy those, like, ready made cake things in the supermarket where you just have to put it into a tray and then it like. Yeah. Uh, so I don't really think that could be classed as baking, so no, I myself haven't. The thing is about cooking and baking all this stuff, I just I haven't got the patience for it. Um, and at times when I have tried, like you might, I'll spend like, the morning trying to go around and get all the ingredients.

Charlie:
Yeah.

Martin:
And then you waste like maybe an hour or so preparing it and then it comes out. It's absolutely rubbish. And you're like, I've just totally wasted the whole morning.

Charlie:
Yeah. And you can buy it for the same amount as the ingredients.

Martin:
Yeah. So.

Charlie:
If you've got to start from scratch of getting all of those ingredients because you use like a 10th of every bit pretty much for that cake. Yeah I agree, I agree. Um, have you seen the Netflix show? Is it cake?

Martin:
Uh I haven't no, like watching like TV, and Netflix is just not something. The only thing I generally watch these days are things on Disney Plus which involve, like, princesses and stuff like that. Um, so I don't really have time for things like that anymore.

Charlie:
I encourage you to just Google that right now. Is it cake? Netflix. And just look at the images.

Martin:
Um, right.

Charlie:
I've only watched one episode of it, but it is rather incredible. Everyone listening. I would also encourage you to Google this.

Martin:
I mean, I didn't expect it to be like this. It looks like a game show.

Charlie:
It is a game show. So yeah, contestants...

Martin:
It looks kind of like Deal or No Deal kind of thing.

Charlie:
Yes. Yeah. Contestants make something that looks almost unrecognisable to, like, so, so similar to the real thing that you can't tell which is which. And then people have to guess.

Martin:
So you can't tell if it's like I'm just looking at some pictures now. You can't tell if it's like a cake or like a Reebok shoe.

Charlie:
Exactly. Yes.

Martin:
Yeah. Yeah.

Charlie:
Or like, there's a there's a really big cheeseburger, and then there's a cake version of it.

Martin:
And you have to decide is it. And this is the show, I mean.

Charlie:
This is the show. It's just the most empty plot possible.

Martin:
I was going to say.

Charlie:
Um, and there was one with the the Van... No. Um, Mona Lisa painting like the gold rim of the frame.

Martin:
Yeah.

Charlie:
It's unbelievable. Like, the skill involved in this is just ridiculous. But, um, a very, very empty, pointless show.

Martin:
Yeah. I couldn't really. I think my wife might prefer to watch snooker. You know, in comparison to. Is it. Is it cake? Uh.

Charlie:
On her birthday. Right, love? I've got your sushi. Are we going to watch? Is it cake or snooker, though?

Martin:
Yeah. Um. So. Yeah, I'm not sure I'll be watching that anytime soon, but. Yeah. Okay. Looks great.

Charlie:
Alright. Um, let's leave it there. Thank you very much. That was a lot of fun. Um, yeah. So, um, what's your favourite hobby from all this, would you say?

Martin:
It's strange, isn't it? Like you think. You think. Yeah. I've got hobbies, haven't I? And then someone says, what's your favourite hobby? And you're kind of like hey, you know what actually, I would say now. Cycling.

Charlie:
Oh yeah.

Martin:
And especially. So I've got a bike now. I've put one kid on the front and one on the back, and we go out.

Charlie:
Is that still the foldable one? Or have you got another bike now?

Martin:
No. That wouldn't work on that one. I have got my foldable one, which I, which I as well, I actually get off the train earlier. So when I have to work in London and so I get off the train early just so I can cycle. Um, I also used to do that when I was in Sicily, when I used to sometimes take the bus, I'd actually get off earlier just so I can cycle. Um, because I quite like. I recently when my kids were in Sicily and I was living an almost single life for a few weeks before I had to go and reach them to go and meet them, um, I cycled from Chelmsford, where I live in Essex, to London with my brother. Um, and that was pretty good. We cycled around Richmond Park.

Charlie:
Yeah, I was gonna say. So we've taken up cycling recently and Stacey is taking part in the cycle part of a triathlon next weekend with her family. Um like her dad doing the swimming, her brother doing the running and yeah, we've got, I actually got a bike rack for my car delivered just this morning and we're going to we've been going to Richmond quite a few times. It's incredible there.

Martin:
Yeah, it is incredible.

Charlie:
Beautiful to cycle around there.

Martin:
Um, but you should just cycle then. If you're getting into cycling. You live in London. Cycle it.

Charlie:
Well, we've done it quite a few times and it's quite an unpleasant 40 minute there and back. Like, as in 40 minutes to get to Richmond and then back 40 minutes. And then by the time that you're there, you do like a couple of loops and then you're like, we need to go home now.

Martin:
Well, that kind of happened to me because I'd cycled from Chelmsford and then we got to, the plan was central London, got to central London, and I was kind of like, well, that was easier than I thought. And my brother was like, oh, let's go to, um, Richmond Park because he's like really into cycling. He's got all the gear, like the Lycra, which I find ridiculous. But anyway. And then he said, let's go to Richmond Park. And so we got there. So at this point we'd cycled like more than 50 miles. Um, and then he was like, now let's go really fast around Richmond Park. And I was like, uh.

Charlie:
Exactly, exactly.

Martin:
Yeah. Yeah. So I just took a bit of a break at that point and had had a drink. Had a snack. Uh, so. But yes, um, cycling though, like when I take, like, my kids to nursery. Um, yeah, I would say that's my favourite hobby, but but although, I must admit, I don't, I never go I can never just go for a cycle. I need a destination in mind. I don't like. It's like I don't like going for walks. Like if you say to me, let's go for a walk, I'll. I'll feel uncomfortable. I need to know where we're going. If you say, let's walk to the shop, I'll be like, yeah, okay.

Charlie:
Let's walk to William Hill.

Martin:
Yeah, exactly. And put some bets on, um. Then then I'll be happy. Same with cycling. Like, I use it almost as a means of transport instead of just, I'm just going to cycle around the park aimlessly, because when I do that and when I've done that in the past, I'm kind of cycling around. It's quite stressful because I'm thinking like, should I go left here? Should I go right? Well, if I go right there, then that means I need to go this way. And my brain's working too much. Um. And I can't relax. So, um. Yeah. Give me a destination, I'll cycle.

Charlie:
Okay, let's get to that end of the park.

Martin:
And you quickly. Your your favourite hobby?

Charlie:
My favourite hobby is. Well, cycling is now one of them. Um, yeah. Uh, boxing, I like boxing.

Martin:
Oh, yeah.

Charlie:
Yeah, yeah.

Martin:
I didn't have you down for a boxer.

Charlie:
No, nor did I. To be honest. Um, uh, tennis and, um, a bit of golf and the gym. I mean, if that's a hobby.

Martin:
The gym. Yeah, I suppose that's a hobby. I mean, the question was favourite. So you you were asked to choose one of those.

Charlie:
Yeah favourite, favourite. Okay. Tennis.

Martin:
Tennis. Okay. Okay. Yeah, yeah. That's a good one. I would like to be good at tennis. No one's ever taught me how to play. So I always think like. Like with snooker. I had some snooker lessons when I was young. I had, like, only like, 4 or 5, but it changed everything. I kind of think it's the same with tennis. You just need someone to show you a few basic techniques and you're away.

Charlie:
That's true. That's true. Yeah. Yeah I agree. But yeah. Cool. Thank you very much, Martin.

Martin:
No problem.

Charlie:
Absolute pleasure. Um, hope you have a lovely rest of your day. It's a Monday, so start to the week. Oh, no, it's not Monday. That's lying to me.

Martin:
I was thinking is... What's he talking about? Is is this for, like, the day it's coming out? I think I could have sworn it's Friday.

Charlie:
Yeah. Yeah. I was like, Monday. I feel like it's the end of the week. Yeah. My watch.

Martin:
Don't think anyone's ever confused a Friday for a Monday, ever.

Charlie:
Yeah. That's awkward, but my, um. My dial up, like, um. What's it called? What's that called?

Martin:
Yeah, I know what you mean. The thing that on the watch. Yep. Got you. Wind up right? Yep.

Charlie:
Wind up watch. Has stopped on a Monday. Yes, it's a Friday, so enjoy your weekend, Martin. Enjoy your weekend.

Martin:
I will. You too.

Charlie:
Alright. Take care. All the best.

Martin:
Take care.

Charlie:
Bye bye.

Martin:
Bye bye.

Charlie:
There we go. The end of part three. Meaning the end of the episode. Well done for getting through the entirety of it. Make sure you use all of the resources available to you in your membership. Thanks once again for supporting the show, and I look forward to seeing you next time on the British English Podcast.