Hi Roy,
I had hoped to add a little bit of background about myself when I posted my reply, but my 7-year old was bugging me at the time so it had to be brief.
I started programming PICs about a year ago, so I still consider myself a relative newbie - I'm just a little bit further along the path than you are. I have started a number of projects that I have had to temporarily abandon while my programming skills catch up with my expectations. Initially, I did not take my own advice and started in the middle, working backwards to try and fill in the gaps. I can tell you, from first-hand experience, that this is not the best way to do it. Working this way is frustrating, as the simplest of mistakes (which would be obvious to those who had started at the beginning) can stop your project working.
In case there still remains any doubt let me say that it was good, honest, friendly advice from someone who has been where you have - and I don't mean Milton Keynes ;-)
All the best,
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