Where to begin ... imagine Paintball but with fully automatic, real-steel replica guns. Now before you run off to phone for the police please read on. In Airsoft instead of firing balls of paint at eachother you fire 6mm plastic BB's, typically a BB is actually made up of compressed chalk dust wrapped in a cellulose casing ... but I digress.

  Provided the muzzle velocity of the replica falls below 385fps when firing 0.2g BB's then the replica is classified as a toy. Above this limit and you're going to need a Section5 firearm licence (and no site in the UK will let you use it even if you had one). Most sites within the UK restrict the power even further only allowing replicas with muzzle velocities below 330fps. At these speeds the range of the model is restricted to approx. 50m (at which point you hardly feel the impact).

  Obviously at less than 10m they can sting (ears and knuckles especially) and eye protection should be worn at ALL TIMES, though they are classified as toys in my opinion you should always treat them as firearms. Be safe!

  A typical day of Airsoft ... usually involves numerous scenarios ranging from simple capture-the-flag style games to hostage rescue and demolition op's. Airsoft players tend to be more orientated towards military simulation rather than just run 'n shoot, with tactics, radio call signs and individual team roles planned out before a mission is started. Well, that's what we claim . In order to succeed a team not only needs to be fast 'n furious but also communicate well and function as a unit rather than one man Rambo's. It is the simple case of: United we stand, divided we fall.

  The kit ... from M16's and AK47's to M60's and miniguns, you name it and there's probably an Airsoft replica available. Of course this kit doesn't come cheap, typical prices for Airsoft models range from £25 for a pistol to £250 for an assault rifle, going all the way up to thousands for the exotic and rarer models. A multitude of upgrades and accessories are available to spend even more of your hard earned cash on.

  The world we know is only a very small fraction of the planet. With approximately 70% of the planet covered with water there's a lot of unexplored territory out there. Scuba diving is one way to explore a fraction of that other world. I would encourage everyone to at least try diving once in their lifetime ... you'll either love it or loathe it.

  The undersea kingdom has some of the most beautiful views you're likely to see. From crustaceans to cruising sharks it's all there if you know where to look. Grab a friend and trot along to your local diving center and get your feet wet! Most centers offer a one day deal where you can be instructed during the morning with pool work and then accompanied on a dive in the sea to a maximum depth of 10m. This can be a quick and relatively cheap way to determine whether diving is for you.

  Personally I have only dived in the Mediterranean, off the Balearic Islands. The water is warm, crystal clear and there is lots to see. I am always hoping to go diving in some of the more exotic locations in the world such as The Great Barrier Reef and The Red Sea. I am qualified as an Advanced Open Water Diver (the second rung on PADI's ladder of qualifications) and have seen many interesting creatures during my dives. One that stands out was when doing a wreck dive we were visited by a submarine, typically loaded with tourists who found it very interesting watching us swim about the wreck.

  Diving has many forms, there's open water diving, cave diving, wreck diving ... even ice diving. It may not be the cheapest hobby in the world but it can be one of the most rewarding. Of course diving isn't the only activity you can do whilst swimming about the coastline. Often we will do a little cliff jumping at lunchtime, followed by more diving in the afternoon. Anything that gets the adrenalin going gets a thumbs up in my book .

  As you may have noticed by now all of my hobbies involve large amounts of adrenalin ... usually backed up by a similar requirement in cash. Skiing is no different, another excuse to put life and limb on the line in the pursuit of fun.

  From France, Italy, Austria and Norway in Europe all the way across the water to Whistler-Blackcomb in Canada I've experienced most forms of skiing. The usual carving, snowboarding and even cross-country skiing each with its own particular appeals (and injuries). You can see some pictures in the Gallery of some of my ice escapades.

  The blend of breathtaking scenery, good company and lots of healthy exercise mean that by the end of your trip not only do you have memories that will last you a lifetime but also your physical condition has improved (unless you've been introducing yourself to trees, rocks or other skiers at 30+mph of course).

  Skiing holidays can involve much more than just skiing: skidoos, bobsledding, sleigh rides, ice skating, drinking contests, hot tubbing ... the list goes on . It is a tremendously social sport, both on and off piste. In fact some skiers might argue it's the off-piste lifestyle that has the biggest appeal ... however we'll ignore those madmen and concentrate on cutting our way down those mountains.

  Content to follow...