I bought the Uno board and borrowed "Getting Started With Arduino" by Massimo Banzi from the local library some years ago.
I made up some simple projects from the book-flashing LEDs and so on and made the changes to flashing times (like everyone else does) however I have become stalled on doing anything much more.
In the past I have made up many kits using soldering techniques and boards-some of them still useful and in service.
eg speed controllers for brushed 240v motors,a driver for Luxeon LEDs and so on.
I am looking for someone else in the area who I can go to and talk about some of the holdups I have with Arduino-I am sure they are incredibly dumb things that are holding me up and a few tips from an experienced person would see me on my way-I am sure Arduino is the direction to go rather than the older soldering kit methods-just not making the breakthroughs yet.
Perhaps-if it suits I could return the kindness by taking you on a sailing trip to Fraser Is-who knows!
Regards
Peter