I've been self- employed for the last 20 years, but in the last 2 years business has dropped off badly, to the point where I'm scarcely making a living. I've spent a lot of money trying to revive the business without effect. It's getting to the point where I've got to do something else, but I can't think what to do. I've been very specialised, very targetted, and not many people outside my core customers need what I do. And it seems they don't need it anymore either.

I'm getting towards 60, and i don't know if I've got the energy to start all over again. But what alternatives are there to flipping shelves at supermarkets, or stacking burgers? To dig I am not able, to beg I am ashamed.