I have long wanted to learn to lock pick.  It fascinates me.  A visit to the Science Museum with my 5 year old daughter found me inspecting old locks in the basement.  A few days later a conversation with my nephew turned up that he was fascinated too.  At last an excuse to splash out on a few cheap picks and a practise lock.  How difficult can it be?

Extremely f****** mega difficult, that is how difficult it can be.

I understand how the lock works and the theory behind picking.  I know my lock back to front but can I feel the little ticks and clicks I am supposed to?  Can I tell when I am near? Not a chance.

I have learned a huge amount about the inside of the lock and can tell pretty much what I am doing but the elusive skills are so hard to learn.

Tonight, for the first time I managed to open the full 5-pin lock, but I know that it was chance.  When I can pick it three times in 5 minutes I will be a believer.