Ref CTC:
Unfortunately I got the chop at the final stage of selection
What does that say about self-selection?
Go into non-flying jobs with a decent attitude and don't even mention that you will be leaving to persue a career as a pilot if offered a job in the flightdeck. They don't know the cost, so simply say that you had a sabbatical as it is something that you always wanted to do; now you fly at weekends only.
Talk about giving the wrong impression - of course you won't get anywhere otherwise.