Kicked out of high school aged 17, never went back to an institution of learning (or any other type of institution for that matter unless you count a night in the Townsville watch house).
Travelled around and lived in various parts of Oz and the world for about 9 years, during which time I was a photographer and darkroom technician for the most part, working in London, Perth, Canberra and for a New York stock agency. But I also worked at whatever was necessary to get by, garbage man (in the days when you ran behind the truck), barman (in a rough pub on the docks), plumber, labourer, carpenter, safe-hand diplomatic bag courier, golf course groundsman, clerk, farm hand etc etc.
Then met my missus while I was photographing wildlife in Kenya and had to settle down. Actually I didn't "have" to but was a bit tired of owning nothing but a backpack and a $100 car and having my cameras in the pawn shop.
Got interested in electronics circa 1980, got a job based on some schematics, lots of enthusiasm and some BS and learnt as I went. Moved into embedded processors soon after, had a product on the market (EPROM emulator), worked as a SW/HW engineer for Prime computer's comms R&D section, SW engineer for SPL on the SSANAME product (which you've never heard of but your immigration/police/taxman probably has) and twice as SW/HW engineer for a small company you've never heard of. Inventer of the year in my state at one point. Started getting back into photography in the 90s. Ran landscape workshops and owned a small gallery from which I sold my large-format (5x4" negs) B&W prints. Was represented by the same poster company that handled Ansel Adams posters.
Retired at 45, built a large motorhome on a 6x6 Army truck, sold everything and hit the road.
That was 14 years ago, been travelling around Oz pretty much ever since, occupying myself photographing wildlife and writing articles for photo magazines. Then about 3 years ago felt the urge to get back into embedded electronics and did so.
These days I just tinker with stuff but lately have been doing some contract circuit and PCB design work plus I just finished an Arduino driver library for a company.
Apart from that naff all really. Man where does the time go?
Rob