So I wrote a project-management program for a small business using Microsoft Access 2007.

Now they've requested lots of additional features (timekeeping, privileged data tiers ...)

I personally use Linux, but the whole office uses Windows.

I'm relatively new to programming but like to teach myself using projects like this.

I'm right on the edge on this -- I can't really tell what the path of least resistance here is: do I stay in access + VBA and teach myself a dying, annoying language -- while struggling against all the limitations of Access? Or do I move to something else?

Python seems simple enough ... Whatever I use, i need to be able to offer a GUI.