Hobbies
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Urban archaeology: what historical objects have you found in your city?From mudlarking to metal detecting, share your discoveries of the history of your city with GuardianWitness
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A pencil, peripheral vision and a smile … 15 rules for surviving in an amateur orchestraPaul Daniel and Chi-chi Nwanoku from the BBC’s Great Orchestra Challenge offer their tips for getting the most out of life in an amateur ensemble
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Friday’s best TV: Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year; Highlands; Scotland’s Wild HeartMagical wooden wonderlands and blooming marvellous sheds; luxuriantly photographed wildlife through the seasons; and the Olympics opening ceremony
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Readers recommend: share your songs abour hobbiesMake your nomination in the comments and a reader will pick the best eligible tracks for a playlist next week – you have until Monday 25 July
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Summer hacks: 20 ways to make the most of the heatwaveThe sun is finally out – time to quit your job and become a full-time Pokémon hunter. Failing that, bunk off, play ping-pong, fry an egg outdoors or just have a nap
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Is turning a hobby into a career ever a good idea?Will the day-to-day hustle ruin your favourite pastime? There are big questions to ask yourself before you make the leap
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From knitting to BDSM: readers on where to find a sense of communityAs people distance themselves from organised religion, we asked you about your communities and what they mean
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The secret life of a professional poker player: I’m on the fringes of societyI love the freedom and the intellectual challenge that poker gives me, but it takes a heavy psychological toll
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Britain's best places to take off on a butterfly safariThe purple emperor and chequered skipper await, whether you just fancy a flutter or metamorphose into a full-blown spotter
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From zero gravity to Ride & Tie: the quirky hobbies of the tech eliteFor Silicon Valley’s successful tech entrepreneurs the world is a playground of creative ways to unwind, and even boost productivity
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Locked out of heaven: inside the illegal birdsong cafes of IstanbulIn Istanbul, men keep birds locked away in cages to encourage ever more mournful songs – and then gather to listen to their sorrow. Two photographers teamed up to chronicle this secretive subculture
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10 ways to beat lonelinessPeople of all ages are discovering new and old ways to connect – from co-housing schemes to friendship apps and chicken care…
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The part-time taxidermist on a mission to teach others the right stuff – BYO mouseAfter discovering it was near impossible to learn taxidermy in Australia, Natalie Delaney-John sets out to share her passion with others via DIY kits and seminars
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Your thoughts: how do you stay happy?Ahead of our Guardian Live event on 13 January looking at happiness, we asked what you do to remain happy and positive
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Hobbies make us happier – so ignore the mockery, and enjoyGardening, birdwatching, stroking your cat – whatever it is you like doing, just go for it. It’s officially good for you
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Why we are all fired up about the Great Pottery Throw DownWith the nation gripped by the hit pottery show, Tamsin Blanchard meets the last four contestants to hear about the earthly pleasures of moulding clay
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Are yoga classes just bad cultural appropriation?A yoga class has been suspended by a Canadian student body after a complaint that it was culturally insensitive. Nell Frizzell and Reni Eddo-Lodge debate the issue
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The new Lego? More like the new BaykoLetters: As a child of the 1950s, with a mother who was an architect, I played with our Bayko building set
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A design for life: architect’s modelling kits plug a gap in the marketArckit has gained a strong foothold in the lucrative construction toy market but it is not just for kids, as its founder Damien Murtagh explains
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US flower growers fear bloom is off the hobbyHorticultural enthusiasts watch flower societies fall from favour as pressures of modern life build
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Mackenzie Crook: ‘We aspire to be the sitcom Thomas Hardy would have written’Mackenzie Crook is the self-effacing actor who swapped Hollywood for rural Suffolk and the chance to make his own comedy series about metal ‘detectorists’. Tim Lewis meets him
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Bridge players lose legal fight to classify card game as 'mind sport'English Bridge Union says it may appeal against high court ruling that Sport England was acting within the law in depriving it of central funding
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The 50th World Conker Championships – in picturesThe World Conker Championships take place in Southwick, a village in Northamptonshire, where spectators watch competitors from 10 countries do battle with a nut and a 12in piece of string
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How to make map coastersCut out maps of your favourite places, then dream of adventure when you have a cup of tea
From date night to cold showers: 20 habits that changed readers' lives