Accountant by day.
Bricky on the weekends. I wanted to terrace my steeply sloped garden to make it a bit more usable. Couldn't afford to pay some some dodgy builder so taught myself to lay bricks with t'internet and a bit of practice.

Result: 2 walls about 25 feet long with steps built in and not a wonky brick in sight. They've held back the garden for 3 shitty winters with no damage, even though I avoided having to get them signed off by a structural surveyor by keeping them each under a metre high.
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Thu 17 Nov 2011, 13:41, 4 replies)

Pics or it didn't happen ;-)

(stewiegriffin, Thu 17 Nov 2011, 14:10, closed)

Friend of mine is a
maxiliofacial surgeon during the day.

She challenges herself once a year to learn something new, which over the years has included growing orchids, making stained glass windows and several other odd choices. One year it was bricklaying.

So, my old flat had a shitty little garden, with a knackered old shed, but a spectacularly perfect brick wall along the side boundary, built by a woman who has 4 degrees and spends most of her time reconstructing faces of people who have crashed their cars.

Funny old world, innit?
(username failed moderation, Thu 17 Nov 2011, 15:49, closed)

Churchill did the same
If it was allowed, I would have been a brickie. One of the greatest thrills I got was going to Chartwell (near Sevenoaks) and seeing the walls that Winston Churchill used to construct as part of his leisure time.

I still have to learn the skills, but I dip my lid to you sir. Well done and click.
(justin(e), Sat 19 Nov 2011, 15:19, closed)

Go for it
The only advice I would give is to keep your lines straight, use a level - then check it again, and get good gloves.

There are loads of different bonds and techniques which are easy to follow online but I had to keep it plain to match my house.
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Sun 20 Nov 2011, 20:58, closed)