My father was a very good craftsman. He made furniture, he made silverware and he had an incredible gift in terms of how you can make something yourself.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
My father thought of himself as a tradesman. A craftsman.
I grew up in a craftsman's home, where things were done with our own hands. I did cabinetmaking for four years and I hated it.
First of all, I'd like to say here the fact that I'm not naturally a craftsman has made me work very hard.
My father was very much a handy person round the house, and I learnt a lot of carpentry from him.
My father's parents were carpenters. They were also builders partly. They were painters. And several of them were very, active in the theatre and all such nonsense, you know.
Among my European ancestors were piano builders, goldsmiths, and vintners but, to the best of my knowledge, no professionals of any kind.
As I mentioned, I was a carpenter for a time.
That is the way a great master carpenter feels, or an architect or composer or anyone who creates anything - people want to be appreciated for what they have done.
As far back as I remember, and earlier, I was an artisan, a maker and doer. Mechanically minded, my parents said.
It takes a lot of help - nature, friends, family, craftsmen - for me to make what I make.