With my new razor (Lynn honed DOVO from Vintage) some Clubman cream, my old (yuck) Burts Bees brush & mug and an IRS strop I went - very tentatively - into the bathroom.

Washed my face with hot water/soap
Did 20 strops on the IRS
Ran hot water into the mug and put the brush in
(slightly shaking )
Did 10 more strops
Emptied the mug and shook out the brush
Tried to make some lather in the mug (didn't work TOO well, the mug isn't well shaped, I think)
Lathered up my face as best it would to soak and did 10 more strops (I DEFINITELY need to work on my stropping!)
Used a bit more cream and tried again to create lather (I'm assuming Giovanni's brush - incoming - will help with this)
Applied (very gingerly and shaking worse!) the razor to my cheek and made my first pass (no blood - that's a good thing!)
Made a second, and a third.... about twelve in all. No cuts. Some areas were shaved pretty well, most weren't but I was shaking so badly at this point I quit and finished with my Fusion (whew!) I'M SUCH A WIMP!

I think the razor needs some work (more/better stropping). It did pull a bit.

Overall not a bad first try but a LONG, LONG way to go.... I have bad eyesight and seeing what I was doing was a problem. Also a mole on my left cheek makes that area "more difficult"

Anyway, thought I'd post my first impressions. Any and all suggestions and comments welcome....

Thanks to all who are so very helpful here.

Ken