Thanks Pandora
I believe there are a few heavy drivers here on fraggle rock who do much the same as you suggest. Certainly the network from here does open up a lot of opportunities.
The reason I dont want to just fly for fun is just me, really. I need a vocation change, not just a diversion. My career bores the backside off me, which isn't due to where I do it, because it did in the bright lights and big cities too. Many years ago I thought I had let the aviation thing go. I didn't, and it has just been festering away ever since.
If I can find a cost effective and efficient route to take me to a FATPL in the next 3 or so years whilst I continue to earn decent money,then I will have the best of both worlds - a roof over my head, a well supported family, and with a bit of luck when the clouds of doubt start blowing away from aviation, be able to gently step from one career to the next. In the meantime, I will have had plenty of recreational fun learning my new trade in the 3 dimensional classroom.
Early days yet, but we shall see
Thanks again