On the absolutely remote chance that

• Anyone reads this...
• and has been in a similar situation ..
• and can be bothered to reply

a request for advice, reassurance, or anything...
I've never been a professional programmer (see earlier diary entry if you really must). I've been teaching in a small uni for 11 years now - I've got very good at 100 line programs, and not a lot else. I'm very pissed off - 11 years is too long, don't like the current trends in education etc etc. Thinking of leaving and finding work programming (almost inevitably webby stuff, perl, Java etc, at which I am a total amateur). But I have a lot to learn. At 45 is this a crazy move? Am I going to find work for 6 months, and then find the bubble bursts and we're back to 'sorry, no-one over 30'? I don't have the knowledge or confidence to try going straight into contracting, or the capital to start my own company - I need to work for someone else. No problem for me, but maybe a problem for employers - I am going to need to be paid more than the 17 year old who can do just as good a job as me in some ways (probably better in some), though definitely not all..

Any opinions? btw, I'm in the UK, not the US