Made nice progress last night. Had another attempt at the Capra Demon and died, then noticed when I respawned at the fire link shrine the stairs leading down to New Londo Ruins
How did I miss that? I've been there so many times
Thought I'd take a cautious look about the place and ended up finding The Valley of Drakes and getting some loot next to a poison puking undead(?) Dragon. Got scared when I saw the 3 or 4 other dragons on the path ahead so went back to New Londo Ruins. Took on the ghosts along the bridge and then got too cocky and ended up getting ambushed by more of them further into the ruins. Deaded.
Decided then to head back to where I was stuck before in the Undead Parish and made it to the next Bonfire near the Blacksmith*, defeated the Titanite Demon then headed back to the main building to win a scrap with a black knight with a mace to grab the Fire Keeper Soul.
Got late so had to save it there.
*How do you reinforce weapons there?