Ngaire, I admire your drive and dedication. You are showing us all that a determined artist can teach themselves to draw in any corner of the world, remote from any official schools or teachers.
You now have all the resources you could possibly need: the Bargue drawings, Tony Ryder's book .... and a pencil.
I wholeheartedly agree with Mischa and Steven's advice not to attempt too much too fast. If I were in your situation, I would go through the Ryder book step by step, page by page. Master the envelope idea. Make dozens of very accurate envelope drawings, THEN move on to blocking in. Only when you get great at one step should you move on to the next.
You asked:
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Being atelier trained do you still have your creativity intact in your work or has this type of training upset the balance, I ask because I read that sometimes atelier training (to perfection) stiffens an artist up and they lose their 'dither' (as per Harold Speed explanation)or 'freedom of individual interpretation' so to speak?
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I think the 20th century adulation of "freedom of individual interpretation" at the total disregard for artistic training has landed the art world in the mess it's currently in. Train yourself to see and draw as well as you possibly can. You will always be "you" inside and nothing could possibly make you lose your individuality or creativity if you don't want it to. The difference, after you thoroughly train yourself, is that you will then be able to precisely communicate any idea you so desire, and knock our socks off with the power of it!