Thanks for the warm welcome trifern and Ron - yeah I always use pushsticks - like someone once said: "if it roars and has sharp teeth it probably eats meat"
As a fiddle player and hobby woodworker for 30-odd years I tend to keep my fingers away from stuff that bites! I have great respect for the circular saw and the jointer, and importantly I also wear a 2micron mask when sanding or doing anything that involves sawdust - I think that is the most under-rated danger in the home shop these days. The dust-bee-gone fits well around my beard - unlike most other masks - I'll probably do a review of that one soon.
I have yet to master the art of sharpening and of making close tolerance joints - even mortise and tenon, but will be looking to take a couple of classes over the coming year to improve my skill level.