Thank you gechurch, I feel I am on the right track now as my home network laboratory has been growing with every piece of tech begged or borrowed I can lay my hands on. Bedroom looks like a switch room now and with so many pretty blinking lights, I didn?t have to decorate for xmus.
I have nearly finished my Bachelor of Applied Computing with one unit still to complete this semester which is the computing project, collaboration between the student and a real world organization designed to get at least some runs on the board experience wise. The website and content management system I am developing for the org I have nominated would cost at least 30k if contracted professionally. But at the moment is as you say build network systems for experimentation (I have been trialling SmoothWall, IPCop, Endian and Monowall but haven?t looked at ZeroShell yet.) Fix computers (This generates an enormous pile of parts that fills the lounge room) , tutor where you can and keep a rock solid academic CV going that shows commitment to personal development. The networking diploma is better for me at the moment as to overcome the regional tyranny of distance must do it all online as I can?t get to the centre for lab work. I think I will take the respectful path for CCNA 1 & 2 and get it because I want it not because I need it.