My First shave

Would just like to introduce myself. I was curious about all these claims that straight razors give such a close shave and the time they last etc. stopped into one of the antique stores within walking distance of my house yesterday looked over their selection and picked up an A. Field & Co 2009/Germany for $10.50 seemed to be honed pretty well and I only have a relatively coarse diamond whetstone (Blue from DMT) here so I stropped it up on an old belt and some newspaper gave it a rough try with just some hand soap lather last night survived it with no nicks (Mind you I'm keeping a beard for the winter so this was only the neck/throat and the tiniest upper bit of the cheek) today I went out and bought a cheap boars hair brush a styptic pencil (just in case haven't had to use it yet *keeps fingers crossed*) and williams mug shaving soap. Lathered up and I went for another round... once over with the grain once against and while I'm still sliightly rough in a few patches probably the closest I've been to a baby's butt in a few other patches in a long time. (of course those are the patches that are a bit red but practice will hopefully make perfect hehe). Finished off with some Gillette gel aftershave I had around and well... time to strop the razor :-D