spot on Micky. I myself converted from electro-mechanical engineering via a very short course over 10 years ago, as have quite a few others on here. It isn't easy, the theory is straight forward, it's the hands on that can only be learn't the hard way. I was fortunate to be taught 'house bashing' by an old friend which really got me going. I actually feel I am a better theory electrician than many full time apprenticed types because I spent so much time going out of my way to learn and understand, but still not a patch on many of the regulars on here, particularly in respect to large 3 phase works. I did learn an awful lot from the screwfix forum oddly enough, the viscious personal arguing was quite informative, though completely unnecessary most of the time. Hence the post, I'm quite keen to keep this forum friendly, and have a bit more sympathy to those retraining than some, and don't like to see people get kicked, unless they truly deserve it :^O
so we need a new forum - car mechanics, head honcho Micky