I started in electronics back in the (late) 50's (self taught) when all I could get my hands on were old valve radios - by the time I was 12 I was the local fixit guy. In the 60's I was into transistors and at school we actually built a small computer from these new fangled transistor things (RTL). In 1971 I went to Newcastle Polytechnic to do my degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. By 1974 I'd built my first 'micro' - using a 6502 and my own operating system. In 1979 I was one of the founders of the Newcastle Personal Computer Society - Then I left electronics and went into teaching - I taught physics in a high school. Introduced electronics to the curriculum and ended up as an advisory teacher and a chief examiner in technology. Completed a part time Open University degree in 1985 (mainly Science maths and Physics ) Then due to cut backs I was made redundant at the age of 40. After a couple of very bad years I picked myself up and retrained as a systems supervisor/trainer on networks only to made redundant again. Thats when I went back to Uni and did a Fine Arts degree - just for me. Opened my own art gallery and became a self employed photographer/freelance painter. Now recession strikes again and at the age of 60 I'm cast on the scrapheap (again!). So the best I can do is to share some hard won experience and expertise. Still its given me some time to write - the first novel in a series of seven is out there on Amazon - The Alchemist's daughter, only six more to write. Nil Carborundum Illegitimy.