So, some measure of success, at least; I passed the initial assessment and interview with alliance learning.
Now just comes finding a company to serve as an apprentice with. I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for, really; but -- for now, at least. Although that's not necessarily an indicator of anything, with the way my interests flit -- it seems that the machine-shop is calling out to me.
It has been over 5 years since I was last in a workshop (When I got my Engineering GCSE. In hindsight, I really should have taken a vocational path, instead; but I can't change the past.), but I still remember the thrill of making something out of lumps of metal.
...and dodging screws, offcuts and general detritus thrown by the people in the class who generally just didn't care. ("It's an easy class, innit?") Somewhat difficult to forget that.
Maybe trying to do it for a job will sap the fun out of that too (The "making something" part, not the "dodging detritus" bit. That wasn't fun at all.), I hope not, but it seems that doing something for 8 hours a day can sap the fun out of pretty much anything.
What I'd really like to do is get paid for the miscellaneous things I do in my copious 'free time'; the things like designing (and building, if possible) engines (I have odd bits of a nice little (FSVO 'nice' and 'little') two-stroke flat twin for a motorcycle#1 sketched out; and have been picking at an ECU for same.), gearboxes (For the same purely theoretical motorcycle as the flat-twin was being tumbled about for.), and other silly bits and pieces.
I think pigs have greater chance of flying, than I do of having that happen, though.
In other news, it appears the RSS feed has imploded; and has been like that for some time. I should dig into the blog code and figure out why. Maybe after I stop panicking about finances, and can find an hour or two... or several.
Note 1
Yes, I know about the "Butbutbutbut, tighter environmental regs stopped people building two-strokes"; and I know all about the upcoming Euro 6 (Due to hit in 2012) that is supposedly going to make every manufacturer stop offering diesel cars because it's impossible to meet, etc., etc., etc.