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)

53rd learning hour

Had my extra hour lesson today, I drove in and around town, which was great, cos lots of roundabouts and traffic lights.

I only stalled it once too. REALLY PLEASED WITH MYSELF.

I've been to the seaside

We drove in a completely different direction today, and I ended up at Weston Super Mare. Its quite a fast road out there, but I think I did ok.

I only stalled car twice, and the first time was 10 yards from my house!

I decided that I need a couple of extra lesson, just to build my confidence up. So I am gonna have a couple of extra hours each week. The next lesson is tomorrow at 11.30.

After that its next Wednesday for my 2 hour lesson, and then the following Tuesday.

Dont feel quite so stressed after todays lesson, probably because I wasnt being pulled apart in a test scenario

Arghhhhh!

After a shite afternoon, I have come to a decision.

If I fail my test (which i expect to do), I am going to tell my current instructor that I am gonna take a couple months break.

Without taking a break I am going to rebook with a new instructor with an automatic car. Daves car is automatic, which he will allow me to drive when I pass. To be totally honest, Dave will stick with automatics through choice anyway. So that answers that.

50 Down - hopefully less than 50 to go!

50 hours later, and I still stall the car when trying to pull away at most junctions. Did another mock test, and yet again would have failed.

Perhaps I will never pass my test.

Putting the stalling aside, I also kept wandering too far into the middle of the road.

My test is now put back as far as it can go. It can not be altered again. So sink or swim

Feeling very deflated yet again, each driving lesson gets me more and more pissed off with the whole thing.
Why can 17 year old, drug crazed kids pass, when I, a mature, sensible woman, cant even get the grips of the car right.

Instructor away again next week. So next lesson 12th September at 9am

Driving Lesson (hours 47- 48)

Todays lesson was initially going to be at 6pm. Luckily the pupil who was due to be first today, cancelled so I took their place.

We did yet another mock test. It seemed ages before my instructor had to write notes for himself, but soon enough he was scribbling on his piece of paper

a) my observation today was much better
b) Hillstart was terrible, stalled
c) then had trouble with turn in the road on a hill, as I stalled again about 4 times
d) forgot to change down a gear on a roundabout
e) struggled to get up a hill (because I was in 4th gear)
f) parallel parked perfectly (see I can do it - occasionally)

Next lesson is next Thursday, then instructor is away in Ireland the following week, so missing one that week.

Another Lesson

I was dreading todays lesson, more than any other. I guess it was because, last weeks was so bad.

Anyway, didnt do maneuvres today, we did another mock test. And yet again I would have failed.

1) Reversed around corner badly
2) was in 4th gear when should have been in 5th
3) Wasnt looking in rear mirror as often as i should have
4) Turned right whilst there was a 'fast' oncoming Lorry
5) clipped the curb with back wheel

BUT I did do the park in bay perfectly

Oh well, another £40 down the pan!

Next lesson booked for Tuesday evening at 6pm - Oh dear, bad time of day for me really

Rubbish Lesson

Today should have been my driving test - but wasnt !!

Instructor said we would spend the day in town, doing manoeuvres. I probably had the worse lesson so far today. Could I get anything right - like hell i could

Normally my lessons are 9am, todays was 12 noon. I am much better earlier on a morning, by 12 I am normally considering an afternoon nap. It was hot and sunny and the roads were very busy.

Decided I hate driving ............

Test postponed

I feel a little de-flated after my driving lesson.

I had found out that my test was for 10th August. With two more lessons booked between now and then.

My instuctor now tells me that he is away next week, and will still take me for my lesson on the 10th, but doesnt feel I am quite upto scratch to sit my test on that day.So he is putting it back.

I know it would be better for me not to take it until we are both confident that I could pass. But also feel a bit gutted that if he wasnt away then I would get those couple of extra lessons in, and probably be ready for it by then.

Oh well, it might be September by the time I get one now.

Just hope postponing it will raise the chances of me passing first time.

Jet Lag

I really do seem to have jet lag, concentration is rubbish and by 2pm every afternoon I have wanted to go to sleep. Where as overnight, I am wide awake .... grrrrrr!!!!!

Driving Lesson this morning at 9am, practising lane work. I seem to be able to swap lanes very easily, especially when I am not supposed to. Only stalled the car once!

Told instructor that no other lessons were booked, and he opened his diary and there standing out at me was my test date.

I have told my hubby when it is, but will not tell anyone else, until its done!

Anyway another lesson next Thursday at 9am