Insurance Sorted

I have been added on to DH's insurance as a sencond driver - which actually reduced DH's monthly payment by £7.

Friday 30th May - drove about half a mile, down a straight dual carriage way, with DH in car
Sunday 1st June - drove into town and back again, with DH in car
Wednesday 4th June - drove back from Taunton (12 miles) with DH in car
Thursday 5th June - drove to local supermarket and back with DS in car
Sunday 8th June - drove 22 miles to Watchet with DH in car

My last entry

I guess this should be my last entry on this blog ..... as I now am a qualified driver!

I passed this morning, with 5 minors. Three of those were because I stalled the car twice.

I am really really pleased. DH is going to sort out insurance for me and then I will be off!

Lesson cut short

Todays driving lesson was cut short, as my instructor felt that I had mastered everything there was to know. This is itself was a huge boost for me.

Driving Test next Thursday at 10.24am

Back behind the wheel

Today, I had my first lesson in months. It was a good lesson, I did manage to stall a couple of times at the beginning.

But all in all it was a good lesson, drove all around Taunton.

Price of the lessons have gone up since last time, from £38 to £40.

Last lesson next Wednesday ...... before test!

Postponed Test

Due to unforseen circumstances, my next driving test has been postponed.

Damn

Once again I failed.

But with only 4 minors and 1 serious. The serious was a roundabout and pulled out when i shouldnt have.

I am so annoyed that I screwed that roundabout up. I panic on roundabouts, and my judgement is crap. I knew, as soon as I pulled out that I had failed. How I continued on the remainder of the test I dont know.

Not heard from instructor as yet - for next one. But I do know he is back at the test centre with another pupil today, who is taking his 6th attempt. I expect he is waiting until afterwards, and gonna book two at the same time.

Last Lesson before test

It wasnt too bad today. Was rather warm though, as I kept my coat on for the whole lesson.

I asked to have a lesson just on roundabouts, and thats what we did. I must have gone around 30 roundabouts. And to be totally honest, I only screwed one up. The roads did seem to be fairly quiet, which was good. Just hope its like that when I do my test.

I've been told to go into my test with a postive attitude. Something I struggle with, but I will pass my test, and I hope its this time.

Fingers, toes and eyes all crossed

Another Year

Today was my first lesson since failing my 2nd test. Its been over a year since I started learning, 23rd January 2007, seems a lifetime ago. And I dread to think of how much money I have spent over that year.

Well it had been a while since I sat behind the steering wheel of a car, and although most of it came back naturally to me, I did keep forgetting to up into 4th gear - whoops! Course this wont be a problem when I eventually pass, because the car I will be driving is automatic.

We did (I mean, I did) a turn in the road - perfectly, I reversed around a corner fine too. Bay parking was ok, and also asked my instructor to show me how to park forwards into a bay.

Roundabouts still scare the shit out of me, and we will be doing some more practise on them next week.

2nd Test - Failed

Today was my 2nd test and I failed it yet again.

I had the same driving examiner as last time, he asked me the questions on Handbrake and condition of tyres. Which i got right.

We drove off and avoided the large roundabout I failed on last time.

I had a double take at reversing around the corner, and for that I got a minor

I had a total of 4 minors in total

But my serious faults were for waving a car on to take the same turning as I was, even though I had right of way.
He also said that I indicated the wrong way at the roundabout.
I did have trouble parking the car at the end, where I stalled it three times, but this didnt go down on my form

Anyway next text is booked for mid February, but my instructor will be keeping an eye for any cancellations that come up inbetween now and then.

So fingers crossed - third time lucky

Much better lesson today

I quite enjoyed my lesson today, we did alot of town work, and covered roundabouts again. I have been shown to look past the previous junction and to see what the oncoming traffic is doing there. This did seem to help.

5th December

My driving instructor picked me up about 9.10 as usual. And I drove over to Taunton, about 40 minutes in a light on the dashboard lit up, and my instructor looked frantically to find out what it was in the manual. It didnt appear to be anything important, he said, so we carried on.

Just after all the dashboard died and then no power. I pulled over unable to use indicators or hazards. And the RAC were called.

It was pouring with rain, and after about an hour and a half, they pulled. up. It was decided that the alternator had gone, but this particular RAC man was unable to tow us, so we had to wait for another. After many hours sat in the car, watching the rain falling. I got home at 2.05pm

Two lessons now booked in for next week

Not much to report today

I did two hours of driving around, did some parallel parking (perfectly, i might add) and some reversing around corners (perfectly again) and also an emergency stop.

Just trying to get in as much practise on the road as is possible before the big day.

I will pass, I will pass, I will pass ................................. one day !

Back to old school

I had my first lesson after having a couple of weeks break. And I was really really relax about it today.
Did lots of driving amongst other traffic. Did a few roundabouts and generally got me back into the swing of it.
Next week we will have a lesson on manueveres and just remind me of them all.
My test is booked again - I know when it is - but I am keeping it a secret from you all.
Enjoyed today lots.

Today was my test - failed

After weeks and weeks of guessing when my test was, it arrived today. I had actually guessed it was today, so it wasnt too much of a shock, still had quite a good relationship with the loo prior.

We arrived in Taunton about an hour before the test appointment and we sat in the car, running through the pointers and the questions i would get asked.
We then went for coffee - the first time i really felt relaxed with my instructor

We arrived at the test centre 10 mins before my appointed 10.44 slot. Out came the examiner and checked my paperwork.

And out to the car, leaving my instructor sat in the waiting room.

I was asked about oil, and headlights, as my show and tell questions

We set off and headed off to Town centre.

I had to do a reverse around a corner and a bay park.

But I got a serious fault on a roundabout, where i pulled out, and the examiner felt that a car had to slow down to let me out. Not sure i agree!

Anyway next test will probably be in December, My instructor is gonna take me for a few booster lessons just before it. He will ring me later when he as booked it.

How much longer?

Well another week went past and it wasnt my test.

We drove over to Taunton again today (sorry I mean I drove), around all the little roads by the test centre.

I did ok with the maneuvres, but still managed to stall about 4 times on junctions. Other than that my driving was ok-ish

My instructor ran through all the points of the test to prepare me for the looming big day!

I did double check that there are toilets in the test centre, cos I am sure i will need them!

9th October

Well todays lesson wasnt very good.

I stalled many times, was in the wrong lane at a roundabout and got quite flustered.

Everyone says you have a crap lesson the one before your test, lets hope that was it.

Almost there

Todays lesson was yet another mock test, I would have passed apart from one thing. I forgot to signal as i changed lanes.

Wednesday 26th Sept

We did another mock test today, and although I would have failed again, My instructor said that I had made tremendous improvements over the past few weeks.

I failed as i touched the kerb with the back wheel on a corner, and also allowed the car to roll back whilst waiting for lights to change on a hill.

But my lesson was a good one, next one is next Tuesday. I will start to take my Kalms from Monday as I am sure my test is only a matter of weeks away now.

Tuesday 25 Sept

I was all ready to do a lesson, when the instructor never showed. I phoned him to be told that I had got my days muddled, and it was tomorrow at 9am

Almost there

I had my 54th and 55th driving hour lessons today. I had a good lesson, quite enjoyed it actually.
By certain things that were said, I believe I have my test coming up on Tuesday. Not been confirmed by just a gut feeling I have.
So fingers crossed (plus toes, eyes, arms and legs)