General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

Not a lot of opportunity for professional engineers to get their hands dirty.

My neighbour has 1st degree in Mech Eng from Imperial College.

She has a Masters in Digital Electronics from same.

She has a Doctorate from Heidelberg in Software Engineering.

I know for a fact that many people on here are using software that she has written.

She still brings her hardware to me to fettle.

Until 1973, I was an electronics engineer.

I wanted to keep a 'hands-on' presence, so elected to work in quality management, where I had opportunities to test items to destruction, do failure mode analysis, and qualify. i.e. ensure stuff met specifications. (Also meant that I could build lots of my own stuff)

Nevertheless, as an engineer, I spent more time doing maths than any other task.

I had chosen Engineering at age of 16, when choices open to me were limited.

In my 20's, I chose again, and went back to University and pursued a different career.

I have never regretted changing, as I found myself in a role to which I was highly suited.

But, I guess, once an engineer, always an engineer, so I have never been able to completely set aside an interest in engineering.