The Little World

Ever stop to consider how often the demands of other people rule your life? I mean your hobby life.

If you are a target shooter of any sort the police regulations are strict and getting stricter. You are at the command of every police officer, departmental clerk, or politician. You are hemmed in by journalists who want to succeed by making you fail. And that is before you hold your breath and sight down the barrel. You will be sent to the back blocks for your hobby and to Coventry when you are not on the range.

If you are a radio-control aircraft flyer you will be detested by every householder or shire counsellor who hears your engine – even if it is a glider – and everyone will want you to move on. If you secure a flying space in an outer suburb it will be at enormous expense and you’ll be subject to nimby’s as soon as housing approaches. Insurance companies will not want to know you unless you bribe them heavily.

The model railway enthusiast is better off as most layouts are on private property. The outdoor ones will still attract vandals and jealous neighbours but the smaller ones will only be sneered at inside the house. The railway modeller learns to shut out family noise.

The dollhouse enthusiast is ideally set. Their little world is all their own and only subject to financial or space restraints. Hobbyists are adept at encroaching on other’s space and excusing expense so the little rooms continue to be built.

Plastic modellers have little problem apart from neighbours grousing about fumes from airbrush spraying. The final results can be stored in a reasonable space and only madden the spouses or the cats.

You’re lucky when you can play without being told what to do.