Pleased to read it Dave. A lot more thinking, never comes amiss! And taking care when aiming (or pressing the shutter button as you call it), also is useful.
Be careful with those people on Flickr though, you never know ... Some can be really nasty.
Only fifty weeks to go; you'll get there ... in the end.
As I am involved in 'back patting' (sometimes more akin to back stabbing), I have no time to follow in your and Pea's footsteps, but I wish you all the best!
Now the serious bit. Never realised it is such an engrossing business and that it teaches you so much. Maybe I should follow in your footsteps. Later.