Timing Advice Please

Timing is not something I have involved myself in really. I've not tried to avoid it but up until now I haven't really needed to worry about it on any of my cars.
Our Golf (1.3 carb with transistorised ignition) has had poor fuel efficiency since we got it really and I suspected this may be down to the timing possibly being out. I also thought it was a little down on what power it should have (not a lot I know ).
I would have got this sorted before now but my timing light gave up the ghost and I only got a replacement today.
So, to the questions and let me tell you what I have done today.
1. took off cam belt cover.
2. disconnected vacuum pipe from dizzy and plugged the end (here I think I made a mistake. Should I block the pipe when it is connected to the carb or when it is connected to the dizzy? I blocked it to the carb which meant the little pipe on the dizzy was open to the air - wrong I think?)
3. put a bit of paint on the mark on the lower pulley wheel
4. took a photo to show you to make life easier. Am I right in thinking that the notch out in the plastic bit, which is arrowed grey, is where I should see the timing mark when the timing is correct. The white arrow is where it was before I adjusted the timing.
5. set the strobe to zero degrees (it defaults to 10 for some reason). Is that right?
6. twisted the dizzy until the timing mark was in the notch (grey arrow).
7. the revs went up once set so I adjusted the tickover back down.

8. took it for a drive. It now runs more smoothly and has a little more go at the top end.

Please tell me where I have made any mistakes and what i can do differently or better.

Thank you

 

Anyone?

 

Sounds spot on to me Phil. I did much the same to Ronan's one years ago, and it's been fine. I think i gave it 5 or 6 degrees more advance, to help it.

 

Thanks Mate, that's reassuring.

 

Thanks Jonny, any other observations?