Cheers for all the replies thus far folks. It's good to know a bit about what you're getting into with airline flying before you spend loads of money chasing it. Personally I think it sounds great, and anyway, as the saying goes ,you work to live, not live to work. So, as 'Sandy Helmet' points out above, I see flying as a career where I can enjoy my job and lead a good life outwith it too.
Every day I will think about the cr@p I'm doing for work today, then I'll be grateful for the boring bits too!
EM