In reply to JSA:
You have my utmost sympathies JSA, in 14 years (Jesus, is it really that long!?) of being old enough to work, I've been unemployed for over 6mths three times, thankfully I've never had a mortgage or kids to worry about but I certainly know how the rest of it feels. I remember once the "advisor" suggesting I apply for a job as a class 1 hgv driver, when I explained that I didn't have the necessary license she said "well, apply anyway"! Come to think of it, I may not have been old enough to have the licence at the time!
I got a job just before being sent on a course to teach me how to apply for jobs (not that that's what I'd been doing of course!), they still made me do it - even though I had a job!!
Anyway, I got there in the end each time - hopefully that helps a bit, and I'm now a class 1 driver of all things. I really do wish you luck with your finger boards, I'd've bought one just to help you out if I hadn't just bought one! A cool name does seem to help with stuff like that too (if you've not already done that).
Keep your chin up, you'll get there