Right you lot, I am going to make some form of effort to get the ball rolling. After all the help LizzieAnn has given us over quite a number of weeks I feel that it is only right we make some kind of effort to reply. Firstly in response to the above, I do not feel there has been anything missed out from the series. I can't think of anything else that I would need to know, as my questions have been answered to this point.
As for an area of expertise, I like to think of myself as a "jack of all trades". While this may seem like a bit of a cop out, it is my genuine feeling. I think this is because I really haven't had much time to perfect anything - I have gone from working full time and caring for my Mrs, to giving up work to care for her full time, and now I am going back to university to try and make a life for us. I don't have much 'me time'! While I am no expert, there are a couple of things I am good at and I enjoy. I love to bake. My paternal grandad had a bakery on a wee Scottish island and was a bit revolutionary there because he was so popular he had to own some pretty hefty equipment for that time. My mum and dad both worked in bakeries. My dad made all my birthday cakes as a kid, and I like to think it is something I have inherited. I also have a bit of a talent for seeking out collectibles and bargains within my chosen area. I hunt out things for my partners collection (I could not possibly embarrass her by confessing what it is!!). I have found a few bits and pieces over time that are quite unique and add a bit of value to the collection.
Anyway, I have hopefully done this along the right lines and others will reply with their thoughts!

Very good idea helping each other. Now what areas can I give advice on, drinking, fishing, complaining, winding people up. Not much is it.
In reality what I can offer is a fair knowledge on Insurance policies, as I used to work in the industry.
Letters of complaint I have a vast list of CEOs of companies and their email addresses, which is updated every month.
I am a qualified driving instructor, examiner, car insurance claim assessor and an advanced driver.
I know lots and lots about fly fishing with a sprinkling of sea fishing knowledge thrown in.
So if any of my failings appeals to anyone, dont be slow in asking as I am always willing to help.

Wow, I am really impressed with your expertise, Jo & George, you both have lots of strings to your bows. Can you ever see yourselves as making a living doing any of these things?

Thanks for your kind words on my work so far, Jo, I really appreciate it, and am glad you have no further questions, I hope this doesn't mean I am now redundant!!

As for collectibles, I remember a time when I bought a book in the seventies all about collecting things and decided I would start....I had some china dogs, a collection of Whimsies from Wade and then I hit on the idea of collecting different species of moss....until I came home from school one day to discover my mother had wondered where the odd earthy smell in my bedroom was coming from and been horrified to discover a box-load of old smelly moss complete with loads of creepy-crawlies which she promptly disposed of!!

lol no you are not redundant! We still expect to be updated on any new sites you come across, and you are still on "Pinecone Watch"!

The only thing I could see myself making a living from is something I never mentioned, and that is writing. I have started a novel, but just don't have time to work on it!

I enjoy hunting out collectibles. It is fun becuase the subject area includes autographed stuff, and I have found some cracking things!

A moss collection is amusing! I wonder if I could start that??

LizzieAnn, without you this forum would probably be a failure. You have more to give than you realise. Your common sense is worth a fortune in anyones books and your advice is sound, You have many strings to your bow.

Thank you both for your kind words and it is lovely to know I am appreciated. I have written things in the past too, Jo, and had a few things published, such as poetry and some letters on women's magazines letters pages, but I have never broken into articles until here on the forum. The written word is changing so rapidly and people do not like to read REAL books much anymore, sadly, so we are currently seeing the sad slow demise of paperback books in faour of ebooks....maybe novels might be a thing of the past by the time you finish yours Jo!!

Thank you George, and it is rare to be told I have common sense....usually I am told I am intelligent but lacking in common sense....by my family, usually, because of some of the daft things I do!!

You aint met anybody as daft as me, but I still have common sense, we can not all be brain of britain, but there is space for us all in the pecking order.

Ladies first, of course?!

Or is it hen-pecking order?!

George, I have a question for you - as I have never learned to drive, what would it cost me at today's prices to learn? I have literally only ever in my life had about five lessons - three aged 18 and two aged 40 - what hope is there of me learning at my "tender" age?

And Jo, what little Scottish island was your grandad a baker on? That is really interesting, because I like to think I can bake too....I make a mean banana bread, but you have to remember the walnuts....and recently discovered a wonderful recipe for microwave flapjacks that takes only 6 minutes!

The cost of learning to drive varies from area to area, with the amount of instructors available for your area. In Newcastle the average price seems to be £17 per lesson.
The first question I always asked a person when I gave lessons was "How badly do you want to learn to drive". If you answer because I really want to learn to drive, to open up a bigger world for me, then you have a good chance of passing. The number of lessons varies from pupil to pupil. I took only 4 lessons and passed first time because I desperately wanted to learn. BUT, I had a qualified driver sit with me twice per week during this period to get experience.
At the end of the day its all down to you and your determination and your will to succeed.

When I last took lessons, I was charged £24 per hour!! I think I should come to Newcastle and get you to give me private lessons...are you free?!

OMG so cheap !! Here a driving lesson starts at £30 .South east hikes I guess .

"Im Free", but I am no longer allowed to teach due to health problems. Gone are the days when anyone could teach anyone. Rules are much stricter now

How about we get a driving console game, then George, would that work? £30 in the south east, Tracey, are you taking lessons just now?