Oh my God, not the age thing again!!!
45?? You're younger than me! Great time to change your life, I did and love every minute of it, no regrets at all. But, I do have the luxury of not having to be the sole breadwinner, so I'd say go and do the NETT course (Franchise??NONONONOPE!!), which will be handy knowledge for yourself and seeing how you take to it all, see if you can get some work in your surrounding area and just see how it goes, leaving your options open a bit. My personal feeling is that the more positive your outlook the better you fare - that goes for anyone dong anything - and cope with inevitable setbacks or disappointments, too, ride them out, be proactive and make your own way.
CJ and girl racer, my husband is heaps older than me and we both feel really young....:yes::yes: