Hello: from Northampton. England

My name is Jack & I am a retired structural & civil engineer. I became a member of this site today & automatically assumed that it would be necessary to perform some sort of introductuction immediately. It appears, from briefly reading one or two other introductions, that this is not, in fact, the case.
I was forced into early retirement in 2004, following two severe stokes in August of that year. Until then I was very active, fit, and a keen veteran racing cyclist. It has taken until the middle of 2008 to become just moderately (day-to-day) active again. I can walk & talk again. I no longer have epileptic seizures, and though my left side is still very noticably affected, my right side has largely recovered. My speech has also improved to the stage where I can talk to people who know me [& know about the effects of the strokes] on the telephone. It is certain that I will never return to college lecturing.
So, I have looked at things I can do, to replace the things I can no longer do, and taking up photography is one of those things. I bought my first camera, a digital, (sorry ) [a Sony a200 DSLR] three months ago; and whilst I enjoy the ease with which even I can take photo's, I want to learn the fundamentals of photography & not become part of the Auto Mode, Point & Shoot school of snap-taking. Consequently I have bought myself A Nikon F601 [US/N6006] 35mmSLR, with a variety of lenses, which has all of the autofocus modes, but also the ability to set Aperture & Shutter priority as well as Manual Mode. And to really get back to basics I have also purchased a Nikon FM2n, which is, as I'm sure you know, entirely manual.
So it's very much a learning ground for me at the moment, & a professional photographer here in England, suggested I look at this site, being dedicated as it is to non-digital photography.
So I am here to learn. I'll gladly contribute, as I'm able to. But essentially I'll be asking the questions, rather than answering them.
I've learned a lot already, at least from an academic/theoretical point of view, but I have much to learn in terms of practical application.

Regards,
Jack

 

Thank you all, each and every one, for a very warm welcome.
Tlee: It's colour at the moment, though I have converted one or two colour images into B&W on Photoshop Elements.
I'll be willing to experiment with anything once I feel comfortable with the camera, exposure, composition etc.
Daventry & Camp Hill. What a small world, pentaxuser & Adrian.
And I didn't know that there is a Northampton in Massachusetts

I hope to get to know many of you during the coming months.

Regards,
Jack

 

Thank you Lori. I have been amazed how friendly contributors are, already. I look forward to becoming part of the community of photographers. And Delphine, I've never been in a darkroom in my life. So that would certainly be a first. Because my balance is affected & I am now consequently so clumsy, I'm not at all sure that anyone would appreciate having me in their darkroom.
I hadn't noticed that there is a UK forum, but have now bookmarked both of the links that you provided. Thank you.

Regards,
Jack