I don’t know what it is about being in IT that automatically assigns you the role of "free engineer" for anyone and everyone you know and the expectation seems to be that you’ll be able to fix the problem in an instant from a loose description of the problem, or offer sage advice given an extremely brief remit.

In the last week I’ve had to install Sky Wireless Broadband, AOL Broadband, given advice on the best 24" screen to get, remotely troubleshoot a wireless printer installation failure, offered advice on a suitable hard drive multimedia player and had to recover a laptop for a colleague.

Now, obviously I don’t mind doing all these things because I enjoy technology through and through but I wonder if it’s the same in other professions? Do Doctors get it, Mechanics? or how about Bricklayers? I’m thinking of replacing a wooden fence panel with a brick wall - what would you recommend?