I've been a fine artist, an architectural technician, an interior designer and a graphic designer - and way back since I was a teenager in the 70's, I've been in and around bands. Over the years, I've mostly played bass, and have recorded and played live in various guises, and at various times along the way. More recently - I've studied guitar and music theory, and have now even begun to find my way around a drum kit. All the while, I've developed practical skills in building, finishing and customising my, (ever expanding), collection of guitars and other musical equipment. There's now a blog, documenting some of my ongoing projects, at www.garageland.co.uk . "I've got two sheds, a workshop and a sizeable kitchen table. A decent collection of tools, and over decade's worth of experience in practical woodworking and finishing. A lifetime's passion for music, an insatiable creative urge and a straightforward DIY ethos forged in the days of Punk." "Stuff to do..."After over a decade of independent freelancing, I'm now in "sabbatical" mode. Gardening leave... Dry dock... call it what you like. Up until now, I've always gleaned a living from different aspects of the "visual arts". Now, I'm coming to terms with early onset cataracts, and the subsequent effect of implant surgery on my vision. The human eye is a wonderful machine - (although it seems the "auto focus function" in mine is now non-functional, and a few of the other components are starting to creak). Sure - I can get by just fine with spectacles, (different pairs of which can provide adequate focus for specific depths of field) - it just always seems to be, that the particular pair I need for the immediate task at hand, is in another room... or somewhere else... I'm sure there's a metaphor for something in all this.I used to be able to carry out virtually any practical task with ease, and with a fine eye for detail - and I took pride in being able to turn my hand to anything. Now, I all too easily lose things, and then spend hours trying to find out exactly where I put them. I sometimes misjudge critical distances and then walk into doorframes or walls. I was never what you might call "clumsy" before - now, just watch me with a hammer!... It's become difficult to paint a professional gloss over such traits. One thing is certain - I need to find a way to precisely define and control my working environment, in whatever I choose to pursue next. Time to re-assess, and make a few adjustments in life... as the character says in the Neil Young song - "I won't retire, (but I might retread)".