Back around 1984 my parents purchased my first spinning wheel, an Ashford Traveler.  Two months after it was purchased and meticulously stained and varnished by my father, I was allowed to embark upon months of frustration.  I didn't have the luxury of having anyone teach me about my wheel, so trial and error it was.....many errors. 

Eventually, my Traveler and I clicked.  It served me well as I toted my portable wheel about in my convertible.  Back then, I only spun angora wool, it wasn't until 2006 that I tried my hand or shall I more appropriately say, "my fingers" at another fiber. (My fingers still prefer angora)