Very sorry to hear the news Alex, hope you are able to 'keep the candle burning' via small private jobs until things improve.

Highly skilled metal Craftsmen like yourself are simply not being trained any more...

I worry about how these 'trade secrets' will be passed onto future generations with news of massive job layoffs in the skilled engineering automotive manufacturing and parts suppliers in the news seemingly every week, trade TAFE course closures etc.

Good luck for this unexpected next stage of your life, family comes first of course but I hope you are able to return to your passion in the future.