I need to make a decision and i thought i would gauge opinion on here...

Basically I am a carpenter and plasterer with 5 years under my belt, and im finding it really hard to get work. I know my work is good, never had complaints, used to get loads of work from word of mouth, get called back for more work etc, but I've not worked for almost 2 months now (done a day here and there but naff all otherwise) and its really getting me down, other than financially of course, feel well depressed, cant sleep etc.
I have tried finding work, but there is nothing around, its very slow. Got loads of business cards, ads in shop windows, phoned all the builders in the phone book but there's nothing coming from any of it.

So I got to thinking why not go to uni? I did AVCE Engineering at college (and ended up a builder somehow ) and i'm always thinking 'what if' etc. so I went looking at courses and found three I like the sound of:

Civil Engineering (related to what i know best)
Aeronautical Engineering (rocket science , but I've always been into planes!!!)
Automotive Engineering (cos i've always been into cars, but I would have to move away)

I'm erring towards the Civil/Automotive ones, and I'm going to speak to both departments in depth about it, where it would take me jobs wise, what I can expect, what they expect etc.

I've been up all night (again) having a think, and researching courses and professions, and frankly I think I would LOVE it, I really want a challenge and the uni thing would definately put me into some challenges, even after I graduate. Plus, as a bonus, I'd be a mature student, so i get grants, and if i get a couple of days here and there, i'll be up on 120 a day again, so no shelf stacking in morrisons

So any thoughts/advice would be greatly recieved, have you done the same thing? Do you know anyone who has?



Steve..