Keep the pouch tightly sealed to keep it fresh. Experiment with different belnds until you find one you like. It's always nice to get a tobacco that your wife or girlfriend likes, so get her input. The English blends tend not to be a favoriate with the woman. This comes from saliva and the condensation of the moisture within the tobacco.
Lets move on to the matter of packing and lighting.
You want to have it slightly springy, neither to loose or tight. It should be easy to draw through. Use the reamer to loosen if it's too tight. For a new pipe, coat the inside of the bowl with honey. Light your match or butane lighter and hold it horizontally over the bowl, puffing and moving the match in a circular motion over the tobacco until it is alight.