On a happier note, I've been awarded a contact to become a mentor on the Digital City Fellowship Scheme at Teesside University over the next year and a half.
Details of what the Fellowship is about can be found here: http://www.digitalcityfellowships.org/
Whether or not anyone will request my mentoring, I don't know, but fingers crossed. If you're on the scheme or know someone that is, keep me in mind.