Thanks guys, all idea's appreciated and noted, I can't figure out how to get multiple quotes in so bear with me lol

Right, yep i'm soaking the brush and bowl while i'm having the shower. and then the water from the puck into the bowl this was the main reason that, overall, my lather is better than it was.

The heat thing i was only really wondering about, I just found it nice in the shop but couldn't figure out how he was doing it because he didn't have a scuttle, just a soap dish and soap. will definitely try the towel thing though

The closed lip or bigger bowl seems a good idea, but unfortunately i'm one of these people that has the attitude of "if they can do it with that kit there's no excuse for me not being able to as well". it may come down to an SRD dish though lol

the skipping thing isn't too bad an issue, it just happens initially, and i can manage everyother part of my face ATG but just coming over the side of the front of my chin and the bouts if you know what i mean. I get there with much fiddling and angle changing and a little extra pressure, but don't feel i should need to be doing that if my technique was good enough.

probably just need to find a happy medium with the lather thing.. it's just that i don't get the lather without pumping but when i do its like a piston forcing everything out of the bowl lol