Why am I here ?

The question was asked so what the hell, I'll try to answer it.
For myself ? nothing really.

But this I do know. I got this far because older guy's in my trade were kind enough to give me honest advice and valuable tricks of the trade that you just will not find in books.
Always that advice came with a personal story or someone they knew and worked with. 

My first foreman was a great mentor. He taught me so much. Young men are stupid. I was stupid too when I was young. I was cocky sometimes, I did things that got me a real bollocking sometimes. I deserved it too.

They didn't get in my face to humiliate me. They corrected me before I got hurt or fired for screwing it up. They had been where I had been. They understood. 
I'm getting on in years now and I'm saddened by one thing above all. That I won't pass on what I have learned to a worthy apprentice as they did to me.
It never occurred to me when I left my first employer that my foreman would give a damn about me leaving.

He was genuinely saddened and even emotional. So he gave me solid honest advice to help me on my way. I never forgot that. 
It went something like this.
"People will envy and even hate you for being a good craftsman son. But you've got what it takes and I wish you all the best.
Never let them take away your pride in your work. Never let them run you down. Watch your back because some blokes can't be trusted". He started to get teary eyed and so I shook his hand and said good bye. He was to choked up to say anymore.

Later I found out why he was the way he was. A rival started working at the firm. He was a nasty piece of work. Everyone learned to fear and resent him. He was a bully and a thief. He tried to destroy Terry and take his place. Sabotaged his work, stole his most precious and valuable tools. 
Worst of all he sabotaged a lifting block and Terry's new Console fell to the church floor destroying many months of painstaking work.

Terry had a nervous breakdown. He was off work for a year plus. The lads took it hard. Everyone loved Terry. So did I. 
The bad guy was confronted on his crimes and stormed out, never to be seen again.

That's the real world for you. Warts and all.
BUT most of the pipe organ builders I worked with were kind, generous, decent soul's. They accepted the lousy pay because they loved the work. As did I.
We looked out for each other and accepted each other's quirks. I will always remember those days with heart felt gratitude. 
Why did the firm collapse in later years ?
The new boss knew he had a morale problem.
Year's of broken pay promises had left the lad's resorting to the one luxury left. Working slowly. I was trained to work fast and efficiently by Grandad. 
" They don't pay you enough to work that hard". I was told that many times.
Instead of giving the lads a decent raise  the boss bought in a general floor manager who just fluffed around all day trying to look useful and doing nothing.
A great firm went to the wall because the boss didn't truly respect his most valuable asset's. 

Now woodworking is a huge hobby industry. 
Everyone thinks they are the next big thing, the final word on tools, craftsmanship and machinery. But hardly anyone listens to those who actually know from experience.
We are an embarrassing reminder. 
They want modern designs held together by cheat joinery like Malloofs chair's. 
They use domino's because it's quicker than tenons. They cheat in so many critical areas.
I have done modern contemporary minimalist stuff. It's easy compared to what my skills are used to. It pays the bill's.
People have stolen my work and claimed it as theirs. Re badged it. 
That's why I don't provide hi res quality pics here. 
But my clients see my work in the flesh and that's what brings in the commissions.
My new house will double as a showroom.
I will fill it with Harpsichords for my own use and pleasure. The home concerts will resume.
What I have shown here is relatively speaking kinda Meh. But it's well made.
No cheats. No short cuts.
Dark times ahead. But maybe on the other side of woke, DEI and the great reset a new cultural Renaissance will occur and men will seek to rediscover what we knew and practised. 

As for trade secrets  ? I don't share those with anybody. Never write them down. 
Never. Basic sound woodworking 
principles ? Ask away. Take or leave my answers as you wish.