Hi Dave, I hope that some of the banter on here will encourage our wife’s who do have to put up with a lot even after of 25 years of self employment and recently gone Ltd. For taxation reasons I still don’t get home till 7:00pm. We have hardly any social life during the week and when we try we are always late. But we have treated weekends as sacrosanct.

When I first went self employed I was earning significantly less than my wife who encouraged me to go self employed. And we have never looked back despite the long hours and hard work it has given us a lifestyle and status that we are satisfied with. So much of this has been achieved with a supportive and understanding wife who in the background has been an inspiration in so many areas. And it is always good despite being late to find a meal on the table and a household that works like clockwork. Mind you I have come close with poor communications over letting her know my home times not to have found my dinner in the dog.

You are right about being a jack of all trades to cope with what is thrown at you but despite the march of technology this has weeded out the men from the boys. When I first started just about every Fed in the shed was at it. I see technology as a challenge rather than a threat and is what has got rid of the chaff in this trade. Any one reading this needs to rise to the challenge and yes get on the training courses and spend hours pouring over info which is so readily available right here on the net and if you are really committed you will win through. I’m sure like so many in the trade I left school with very poor results but have a love for this trade and have learnt more in the school of life than formal education could have ever taught me. Although I sometimes wonder if I had paid more attention how things would have turned out.

However I have spent too long at this thread and my colleagues in the office are wondering if I am communicating love letters so must leave off this subject. But best of luck to any one contemplating starting it alone I for one would encourage you and support you however possible.

John Kennard.