I restore antique chess sets which I have done for 25 years or more, starting with damaged 'smalls' and chess pieces for the Portobello Road dealers, I am now regarded, rightly or wrongly as something of an expert. I post regularly on facebook and my website chessspy.com
Sadly this has not improved my OTB chess play which languishes at a mere 1500 or so.
I am married to historian and multi woodwind instrumentalist Milissa Ellison.
And live in 'wild' West Asheville NC