After you are confident on the newspaper (or even from the outset), try placing your strop flat on a counter top and use it as a paddle strop. That way strop tension is one less thing to concentrate on FWIW
If you are posting your razor and don't have a box, try using a plastic toothbrush holder from a cheap shop and a couple of silica gel packs from a shoe shop to keep it safe in transit.
I love Naniwa hones and this is where I've bought them - (this is the 8K listing)
JAPANESE Naniwa Ebi super stone sharpening whetstones no stand opt 9, chef knife | eBay
He also has Shaptons and Suehiros as well and my advice would be to get to know someone who has a few different hones or several people who have only one brand of hones and get them to teach you/let you use their hones, just so that you can get a feel for what suits you, if that makes sense.
I would not be even looking at learning to hone for at least six to twelve months if I had my time over and knew what I know now...hehehe
Keep us all posted and, if you move to Brisbane, I'll only be too happy to help.