Question: Has there ever been a time when you have regretted becoming an engineer?

Tom Rooney answered on 19 Jun 2017:

Hi DG,
I think the thought ran through my mind once when I was trying to re-wire a cable connection on a radar in an exposed area of a ship anchored in Port Stanely, The Falkland Islands. Air temperature was -12degC and there was a 50mph wind blowing straight through the gap I was working in, making the wind chill something like -35degC. My hands were throbbing, my face was stinging and I had to get into the warmth of the ship every 5-10minutes to avoid frostbite. It was NOT fun (!) and I was asking myself why I didn’t become a chef or a glassblower or blacksmith… something hot or at least warm! But I eventually got the job done, it took me 4 hours to do a job that in warm conditions would take about 30minutes. When the radar worked again I was at first relieved, then proud.
Overall, no regrets, I’m loving my choice of career.