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

Off to Florida

I just had my last driving lesson before Florida. We did a mock test, and guess what I failed..... I am not surprised.
Kept getting cocked up with which lane I should be in and then changing my mind half way around the roundabout - Oh well, I have got my mind on other things.
He did say that my manuevres were excellant, and my observation was good, and if anything those were the two things I was most concerned about.
Next lesson booked for 17th July at 9am
Right i am off to make sure these cases are ready to go!

Show Me Tell Me

Todays lesson was doing maneuvres again, which I am glad to say I think I have got almost sussed now.

We then run through the procedure for the test, and I have been given a list of possible questions for the 'show me tell me' part of the test, to which i have to learn

We are doing a mock test next week in Taunton.

Then I am away for a fortnight after that and have no further lessons booked as yet.

Driving Test Booked

My driving instructor phoned me today, to get my theory pass certificate and my date of birth, so that he can book my driving test.

He then rung me later in the day, to say that all booked, and to take provisional license and theory pass certificate with me for every lesson now.

I had asked him to book it without me know the date, as I tend to get all worked up, and knowing I have 'maybe six' weeks to go until the big day, does me no favours.

He has also cancelled this Thursdays lesson and booked me in for Wednesday at 11.30 instead

Lesson hours 33 & 34

When i jumped into the car this morning, My driving instructor was booking someone elses test. The earliest appointment was 3rd August, quite a few weeks away. He still hasnt booked mine so we are looking at mid August before I get the chance to try.

We spent the whole 2 hours reversing around corners and parallel parking, by the end of the lesson, I almost had it mastered. Gonna give it another go next week, as i really need to feel confident doing them.

Hours 31+ 32

Just came back from my driving lesson (hours 31 + 32).

Only did manoeuvres and found them bloody hard.

But he laughed it off and said he was amazed when I did a three point turn first time perfect, still not booked my test yet, as he didnt ask for money.

More Manoeuvres

I am just crap at doing manoeuvres. We drove all the way to Taunton to practise. So the next two lessons we are staying in my town and gonna do nothing but parallel parking, reversing round corners etc. Which is great cos I really do need more practise.

My instructor is gonna book my test, he is not gonna tell me when its for, I just have to be prepared and take driving license and theory certificate with me every lesson, as soon as he tells me that it is booked. That way I don't have weeks and weeks to worry over it.

He will just pick me up as usual and off to the test centre we will go!

Today was lesson hour 29 & 30

Lesson hour 27 & 28

Really Good Lesson, actually quite enjoyed it.

Drove to and through Taunton, which is much busyier than my town. Yes I still stalled the car a few times by not giving enough gas when pulling away. But I am really proud of how it went today.

Even got to talking about booking my test. Said it wont be long, and there is already a 6 week waiting list, so I recon by the summer holidays are here, I will be attempting it.

Today I even had to park in a public car park for real, whilst my instructor popped into a shop - cheeky monkey!!

No lesson next week, as my instuctor is off golfing, but I have another booked for the following week on the Wednesday

At least I am smiling today, after my lesson, which is a major improvement on last weeks

Driving Lesson, hours 25 & 26

Well it was such a bad lesson, anyone would think it was only hour 3.

I kept forgetting to look in rear view mirror, forgetting to put the clutch down when i was braking, therefore stalling about 6 times.

I couldnt get anything right today.

I think my instructor could tell I was a bit dis-heartened, cos he said that we would still plod on and for me not to loose any sleep over this morning.

I did do staggered junctions today, and I think I did them okay.

Will be driving through Taunton town centre next week, lots of slow moving traffic!!