I hope Party doesn't mind my telling you this, but given what I do professionally I have offered to chat/meet and advise or at least go through some options. Like one or two others have said good on him for looking in the mirror and taking the first steps towards doing something.
Have you thought about running your own business? If that Nazi "never had a job in his life" from Benefits Britain can run an Escort Agency in his spare time, I'm sure you could come up with something that would make some money. You wouldn't have to give up your current income until you were ready to proceed with your new venture either.
I'd like to, but no idea in what, or how. If I can find a path to follow, hopefully one day that could follow. Running a business that is, not being a Nazi Pimp.
It's all about the air content I believe... Erm, possibly. I don't mind a bit cooooking, but from watching Hell's Kitchen & Masterchef, I think I'd waste too much food. Which would give me sadz.
My Mrs chucked her cheffy job & has started baking again, ticking over nicely locally. She needs to expand with a website though.
I started a biz, in 1991. Enterprise Allowance Scheme - £40 p.wk. on top of the Old King Cole. Built it up to a turnover of near half a million £££ in 3 years. Then, Ronnie and Margaret re-structured the world economy.....thousands out of work......set up as self-employed in the same biz (computers) with their redundo. By '95 I was fecked - bankrupt - lost my biz/property/house..... Thank you Margaret, you ****ing monster. Dunno what it's like now, Party.
My dad's a self-employed joiner. He set up his business after having several heart attacks so he could work on his own terms. His old bosses kept giving him useless trainees so he still did a lot of the work despite his heart problems. In the end he decided to quit and go his own way, and it was the best thing he ever did.
The other side of the coin is that Dame Thatcher and her deregulation allowed the likes of me to enter a previously closed-shop market and do reasonably well, several years down the line. If it wasn't for that, there is a high chance that I'd be working as a rent boy in some South Coast navy town, sucking off retired Marines for a couple of potatoes from their allotment. Hard times. ESSEX GULL
I'm getting made redundant again in the next couple of years so may well attempt to expand a little then.
Thing is Ern if you're gonna do that then potatoes are the best vegetable to choose as they are so versatile.
I'm not doubting the tuber's versatility Charlie, but to do what he's suggesting to an ex-mariner I'd demand a punnet of rasps. Nothing less.