b'sometimes I couldnt bear to have them touch me. Iabout the possible long-term consequences of the tried every treatment possible including the looneydust and the drugs.and alternative ones. On one occasion I came out of I do often wonder if I should be doing something an acupuncture session with several needles still inelse, but I have made such big commitments to my head, which I didnt notice until they caught onguitar making and it is more or less my whole life the roof of my car. Eventually I spent three weeksnow. Ive had to take time off work a few times and in a private clinic, which cleared it up completelyI have to pass certain work onto others - I cant until I went back to work and it all started again. work by myself any more. That was life changing I had gone from being quite happy covered in dust,crisis number three, does that make me an artist to not being able to tolerate the tiniest amountyet?on my skin. Sometimes when I looked and feltI was beginning to suspect that making things out of dreadful, I would hide myself away, but often Iwood wasnt a good life plan.I really should have would just swear a lot, drink a lot and carry on nobeen a watchmaker.matter what. It couldnt continue, and I was forced to sell the business. I have things under controlI often hear people say things like what a now, but I cannot say touch wood for obviouswonderful job, you must get real satisfaction etc.reasons. The problem is still there, but I have gotYes, that is true in many ways, but guitar making better at dealing with it. I am now very sensitive tois not a healthy way to make a living.All the usual nearly all hardwoods and even to sunlight, no jokesrisks of wood working apply - its amazing how about vampires please. Every morning I slap onmuch damage you can do to yourself with a chisel several barrier creams, dose up with antihistamineor hand saw, and once you start to use any sort of and try again. At work I wear gloves and a hat.machine, the risks spiral.Ive spent my share of Every night its wing of newt and toe of bat totime in A&E over the years, usually accompanying repair any damage done during the day. I keepmembers of staff. Sometimes Ive been away from certain woods as much as I can and findaccompanying myself, Gemini again. A moments ways to continue, it isnt easy and I try not to worrylapse - oops, there goes another one. Its ok, youve got nine more.Troy Donockley & Barbara Dickson Troy is our resident magician - he either scares us or astonishes us at every meeting. Some impressionable musicians have been known to flee his presence muttering Hail Marys and making the sign of the cross. He only ever comes to visit when he has a new trick to show us.Part of his family lives in Blackpool, not far from where I was based a few years ago, and he originates from Workington, not far from where we are now. Parents from my kids schools know him well, and tell me that his first band was called Yoube enough for an ordinary man, but he isbecause of Captain Troy Tempest in Slosh. The only meaning of slosh thata member of the magic circle so he justStingray and he calls me Sheriff, but I I know of is related to the uncontrolledcreates an illusion when he needs to bethink he calls everyone Sheriff.movement of fuel in aircraft fuel tanks,in more than one place. Barbara was a guest on Desert Island so that makes complete sense. In fact,Troy has a habit of saying I have toDiscs, and her one allowed luxury was just about as much sense as Troy usuallyhave it, and that has resulted in severalher Fylde guitar.makes. guitars, a mandola, a fan fret bouzouki Now he plays with Nightwish, Iona, Bad(possibly the first one ever) and the fan Shepherds, and is musical director forfret twelve string that I built for Gordon, Barbara Dickson. Any one of those wouldand which I have promised to replace when I get a spare life. I call him captain, 72'