You may think this is a fundamental thing I have missed but I found out last night that the rod I use for cleaning is also used to aid tuning. I think things like this, missing some of the basic building blocks, are a side effect of self learning. I am sort of looking forward to practicing this evening as after last nights practice I tuned it and it did seem a bit easier to play.
This may be a bit of a tangent but my friend Chris and I where talking about The Church and mission as we are looking closely at some videos of Victor Choudhry and are about to look in more death at a book by Alan Hirsch (the forgotten ways handbook). At this juncture I am cautious but, and here the tangent does a u-turn. I do like the idea that we should learn mission through activity and not academy.  I likened it to my thinking which says: In my mind, I can hear the great melodious tunes I can play with my flute; then I discover the truth when I actually pick it up. It is so easy for the intellect to say I can do this but in reality it is the practice that should develop a clearer and real truth (currently this is that I am hardly beyond the first few faltering steps and need more practice).