With "shoestring-travel through about forty countries, A-grade junior sport, a B.A. in humanities, four technical certificates in manufacturing, plus several years on the shopfloor" WHY haven't you got a job yet? You can't afford to be picky after a long period unemployed (I know from experience): you've just got to take any old job WAV. You've evidently far too much free time. I resent my hard earned taxes going to keep you. You're like the kid who won't leave home, indulging their adolescent fantasies while being shielded from being in the real world of employment. Time for tough love I think.