Career path?

[sasguru]

You do need to find your dedicated time. I have an 80 minute train journey each way 3 times per week and I use that time. Have been learning some HTML5, CSS and a little Javascript. Trivial perhaps, in the wider world of 'computer stuff', but I've never written a line of code before, so it's hard work at my age and stage of sleep deprivation. Getting there, though.

Age isn't necessarily a negative when it comes to cognitive ability.
When I was young, true, everything came a little faster, but then again I was always distracted and found it hard to concentrate. You may slow down a little when older but the maturity, patience, efficiency and experience more than make up for it.
Also the latest research (can't remember where I read it - New scientist I think) suggests that age-related cognitive decline has been hugely exaggerated (barring disease).

[Old Greg]

I like to spend the weekend doing stuff with the kids Sas, but each to their own. (Cat in the Cradle and all that)

Aren't they still a bit young for cocaine?

[RedSauce]

Age isn't necessarily a negative when it comes to cognitive ability.
When I was young, true, everything came a little faster, but then again I was always distracted and found it hard to concentrate. You may slow down a little when older but the maturity, patience, efficiency and experience more than make up for it.
Also the latest research (can't remember where I read it - New scientist I think) suggests that age-related cognitive decline has been hugely exaggerated (barring disease).

Memory does fade though

[Old Greg]

Age isn't necessarily a negative when it comes to cognitive ability.
When I was young, true, everything came a little faster, but then again I was always distracted and found it hard to concentrate. You may slow down a little when older but the maturity, patience, efficiency and experience more than make up for it.
Also the latest research (can't remember where I read it - New scientist I think) suggests that age-related cognitive decline has been hugely exaggerated (barring disease).

I am convinced it is the sleep deprivation that is doing my head in. But there may be something in what you say.

In a way, my little web app project is an experiment to see if I can do a better job with niche in depth industry expertise and business change expertise, than a whizzy 'vanilla' web app developer can. I am not sure that I am picking up 'how to build' as quickly as I once would have, but I am sure I know 'what to build' better.

I think that the democratisation of web development may put things in my favour. Or maybe not...

[sasguru]

I like to spend the weekend doing stuff with the kids Sas, but each to their own. (Cat in the Cradle and all that)

Yes, but I can do stuff with the kid every day since I work from home.
I think its been great that I can work from home during his formative years, because even though I can't be with him all the time since I have to work, he always knows I'm upstairs in my study, and can visit for a biscuit, which gives a lot of stability to a kid I think.
I haven't missed any school events ever and he's always the first to be picked up from school.
And I really enjoy having breakfast, lunch and supper with him every day - well not lunch on school days, but you get the picture

[Old Greg]

I am only 29 but am already starting to plan my way away from the 'grunt' work. I love programming and the analysis that goes with it, but in my experience problem solving and writing innovative code is such a small proportion of a lot of contracts and I am not sure how many 'admin' sections of applications and boring reports I can write.

My last permie role has put me off management, I managed a development team for a large insurer writing rating engines for quote & buy websites, the 'grunts' were a miserable bunch and argued with every decision anyone made, were negative about anything and can only find fault in every part of life, it was a depressing situation working in a culture like that.

You need to get some management advice from Dodgy. Write out P45s (or contract termination notices) for each of them and suspend them directly above their desks with thread. Walk around the office with a large pair of scissors in your hands. On day 1, pick a fight with the group leader and sack him via scissors cutting thread. YOU are then the leader and they will be cowed and obey you. Hopefully there will be no more need for sackings, but don't hesitate if challenged by a wannabe new leader, or you are toast.

[russell]

I don't think I will ever go permie, I like contracting and the freedom it brings. Given it's illegal to discriminate against age its not an issue now. I think one could contract into their late 50's easily. Experience is invaluable in this game, and the more you have the better. By your mid 50's after contracting for many years you should have no mortgage and lots of cash/investments with little outgoings.

[sasguru]

Basically I think we are all fairly lucky (those of us without an entitlement mentality anyway) since we get paid more than a decent whack to do, in the main, interesting and enjoyable work. Long may it last.

[MarillionFan]

I am convinced it is the sleep deprivation that is doing my head in. But there may be something in what you say.

In a way, my little web app project is an experiment to see if I can do a better job with niche in depth industry expertise and business change expertise, than a whizzy 'vanilla' web app developer can. I am not sure that I am picking up 'how to build' as quickly as I once would have, but I am sure I know 'what to build' better.

I think that the democratisation of web development may put things in my favour. Or maybe not...

Also depends on when you're in the mood to study. My concentration levels are highest in the evening to late night. I used to study into the early hours & then go to sleep. I'm not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination and my brain doesn't start firing until much later. As this is the time I spend with the kids when here and then the missus gets upset if I spend all evening studying the only time I get now to learn stuff is on the weekend or nights when I work away.

[Old Greg]

Also depends on when you're in the mood to study. My concentration levels are highest in the evening to late night. I used to study into the early hours & then go to sleep. I'm not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination and my brain doesn't start firing until much later. As this is the time I spend with the kids when here and then the missus gets upset if I spend all evening studying the only time I get now to learn stuff is on the weekend or nights when I work away.

I am not naturally a morning person, but have 'trained myself'. With a cup of coffee on the train, I can get a lot done by 8:30 a.m. The journey home I save for the conceptually simple work (putting content into web pages for example). I do stuff in the evening as well, once the little ones are asleep and find that I can often solve problems in the evening that fox me in the mornings and vice versa.