And on to my next test. 9th March. Booked a early time as I had to go to work after wards and also so I didn't suffer from nerves as much! This time it was a sunny morning as I started my lesson. My instructor had recently had a new car and I had only one hour in driving the car beforehand. However I felt very confident in it and every control responded with the slightest touch. I practised all three manouvres and did them with no trouble so we made our way over to the test centre. Good job we did as there was bad traffic all the way and we made it with a few minutes to spare. This time when my name was called out I was also introduced to an assessor who would be joining me on my test.
Passed the eyesight test and the show me tell me and was given my first independant driving. I thought I had did it fine until we pulled over and was reminded I'd forgot to turn right! Did another two of these and then drove round for about 20 mins. I had to do a turn in the road for my reversing part, slightly nervous as it was this that I failed my first test on but did it fine. Time to drive back to the centre and even though I hadn't felt like I had drove bad, part of me expected a fail. Called my instructor to the car for my result and was told that I had passed with 3 minors! I almost felt like crying!
That night my girlfriend put me on her insurance on the car and I drove to Merry Hill. Loved it. Apart when the car shot off and I nearly hit a lamp post! The next night went out in the car alone for the first time ever and did about 25 miles. Since then any chance I can get I'm out in the car. Realise everytime I do drive is that I should have done this years ago. The good thing is is that now when I am out of work next I have more options open to me. T.L.M.S
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Past the Post Part 2
My second test was on the 25th January. As before nerves kicked in when I was sat in the waiting room. There was a lot riding on me passing the test being out of work, knowing this would help me find a job. Had a good lesson beforehand and ironed out any trouble I might have so I felt confident. Got through my show me tell me and faced the independant driving for the first time. Did that easy enough, had a reverse park and did that superbly. Carried on around the test route, had a bit of a mishap approaching a island by not positioning the car properly but thought I had drove well enough to pass. To be honest I couldn't believe it when he told me I'd failed. 15 minors. Mostly for steering, said I crossed my arms on numerous occasions. I knew that was a lie because I'd never done that before.
Despite the set back I went home and rebooked for Feb 7th with the last money I had. Managed to fit one lesson in before and again my instructor saw no faults in my driving. I decided that he'd sit in with me this time. As before did show me tell me and the independant driving part easily. It was exactly the same route as my last test so I know what roads I was facing and what lay ahead. I had a reverse round the corner this time and did that well. Pulled up at the test centre and my instructor was certain I'd passed. Nope another fail. 1 major and 6 minors. The major was going on the wrong side of the road. When I asked the examiner where this happened he stuttered and struggled to say where. I was gutted again but knowing how close I was to passing I knew I had to carry on.
Despite the set back I went home and rebooked for Feb 7th with the last money I had. Managed to fit one lesson in before and again my instructor saw no faults in my driving. I decided that he'd sit in with me this time. As before did show me tell me and the independant driving part easily. It was exactly the same route as my last test so I know what roads I was facing and what lay ahead. I had a reverse round the corner this time and did that well. Pulled up at the test centre and my instructor was certain I'd passed. Nope another fail. 1 major and 6 minors. The major was going on the wrong side of the road. When I asked the examiner where this happened he stuttered and struggled to say where. I was gutted again but knowing how close I was to passing I knew I had to carry on.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Past the post Part 1
Wow I didn't think it had been so long since I last updated this! So much has happened since I last wrote so I'm gonna break it down. Not in a rap sense though.
Well first off I started work again and then left that company in October.In leaving I gained a increase in wages so that meant I could start driving lessons again. It had been nearly a year since I failed my last test and since then had not drove a car once. Rather than having the same instructor as last time, I decided to start with a new one and went with the AA. A bit nervous to start with but after 15 mins I felt much better and by the end of that lesson the instructor told me to book my test. Booked it for December 1st. Next lesson came, all went well and the instructor said he'd be in touch as he was on holiday for a week. The next thing I get a phone call from the AA saying he's packed it all in and they need to find me a new instructor for my test in two weeks!
Thankfully they had someone and we arranged to have have 3 90 min lessons before my test. After my first lesson he was surprised that anyone would've put me up for my test but saw enough improvement in one lesson to believe I could do it. We worked hard on my reversing and mirrors as that was the main failures on my first test (2 majors and 20 minors, shameful) and felt they were dealt with, so I felt confident.
Five days before my test I found out I was going to be a father for the second time so went into work that Monday top of the world, took three hours for that to be smashed as was told I was being laid off again Friday. Test day came Wednesday and I was a bag of nerves, with so much riding on this again. Needn't have worried as it was cancelled due to icy roads. Rescheduled for the 21st December I could only get one lesson booked. Then came the snow. Stopped everything. Lesson and test both cancelled and with good reason. So the next date free was the 25th January. Actually I wanted one sooner but is was too soon for my instructor and instead had a lesson. The minute I finished he said I could've just taken my test as I was ready!
Well first off I started work again and then left that company in October.In leaving I gained a increase in wages so that meant I could start driving lessons again. It had been nearly a year since I failed my last test and since then had not drove a car once. Rather than having the same instructor as last time, I decided to start with a new one and went with the AA. A bit nervous to start with but after 15 mins I felt much better and by the end of that lesson the instructor told me to book my test. Booked it for December 1st. Next lesson came, all went well and the instructor said he'd be in touch as he was on holiday for a week. The next thing I get a phone call from the AA saying he's packed it all in and they need to find me a new instructor for my test in two weeks!
Thankfully they had someone and we arranged to have have 3 90 min lessons before my test. After my first lesson he was surprised that anyone would've put me up for my test but saw enough improvement in one lesson to believe I could do it. We worked hard on my reversing and mirrors as that was the main failures on my first test (2 majors and 20 minors, shameful) and felt they were dealt with, so I felt confident.
Five days before my test I found out I was going to be a father for the second time so went into work that Monday top of the world, took three hours for that to be smashed as was told I was being laid off again Friday. Test day came Wednesday and I was a bag of nerves, with so much riding on this again. Needn't have worried as it was cancelled due to icy roads. Rescheduled for the 21st December I could only get one lesson booked. Then came the snow. Stopped everything. Lesson and test both cancelled and with good reason. So the next date free was the 25th January. Actually I wanted one sooner but is was too soon for my instructor and instead had a lesson. The minute I finished he said I could've just taken my test as I was ready!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Laid off
I fancy a rant at what rubbish life loves to throw at me so here it is. For the second time in just over a year I am about to go see someone to sign on the dole. Same firm laid me off again. I'm not sure if it's permanent like last time or just for a week, either way it's screwed everything up. Now this weekend I had planned to go out for the first time in over 6 months but because of this i can't. Also would have managed to start paying my mortgage properly now thats screwed.
What annoys me is that he has kept blokes going whose work isn't as good as mine and even one bloke who legally should be retired!! Now as I haven't passed my test, which is down to the lack of money I earnt, I'm screwed in looking for a job!
It has happened as I have started to get my life on track and things were going well, well I tell you that it won't defeat me. I'm sick of not being able to afford to do things, I'm sick of people who do not deserve it be treated better than me in work and life but I will over come, I will come out of this a better person and in a better position than the people who keep pulling me down. Here's my two fingers looking right at you so take a good look!
What annoys me is that he has kept blokes going whose work isn't as good as mine and even one bloke who legally should be retired!! Now as I haven't passed my test, which is down to the lack of money I earnt, I'm screwed in looking for a job!
It has happened as I have started to get my life on track and things were going well, well I tell you that it won't defeat me. I'm sick of not being able to afford to do things, I'm sick of people who do not deserve it be treated better than me in work and life but I will over come, I will come out of this a better person and in a better position than the people who keep pulling me down. Here's my two fingers looking right at you so take a good look!
Monday, July 5, 2010
One week done
It's been a while since I last updated this and a fair bit has happened since last time. Well the main point of this blog was to keep a note of my driving and I haven't had a lesson since I failed back in December. This month it changes again because I hope to restart lessons in a couple of weeks. I have the extra money for it now I have quit smoking! One week done and I never thought that would happen!
Now as I have quit I'm looking at things to replace the habit and decided on fitness. Rode my bike yesterday for the first time. Brought it Jan! I went out on it, broke it and fixed it at cost. But it felt really good to get out there, if I can add that to playing football every week should be fitter soon.
Another change to my life is that my beautiful girlfriend has moved in with me and we plan to marry soon, well as soon as we can afford it. A good reason to get the driving sorted!
As of next season I won't be having a season ticket. First time since 1999. The cost became too much and I had lost interest even though we were winning games. I'm still gonna watch and listen to every match, thanks to the various outlets we are blessed with these days, who knows I might end up returning later in the year. T.L.M.S
Now as I have quit I'm looking at things to replace the habit and decided on fitness. Rode my bike yesterday for the first time. Brought it Jan! I went out on it, broke it and fixed it at cost. But it felt really good to get out there, if I can add that to playing football every week should be fitter soon.
Another change to my life is that my beautiful girlfriend has moved in with me and we plan to marry soon, well as soon as we can afford it. A good reason to get the driving sorted!
As of next season I won't be having a season ticket. First time since 1999. The cost became too much and I had lost interest even though we were winning games. I'm still gonna watch and listen to every match, thanks to the various outlets we are blessed with these days, who knows I might end up returning later in the year. T.L.M.S
Thursday, April 8, 2010
A long gap
It's been too long since I last wrote anything. Time has been a cruel mistress as she allows me none! With work picking up, sadly not the wage side, and my studies I haven't had much time for anything. As I started this blog to chart my progress to learn to drive better say where I am with that. Still haven't drove since I failed my test and that is a big disappointment for me. It's not that I don't want to or that I'm scared it's more of a lack of money. Times in this household are still hard and I'm struggling in that sense to make ends meet but hope is on the horizon. Even though I'm still down I'm very happy as I'm in a new relationship and it's going great. Couldn't be happier in fact. If I'd known 14 years ago I'd be with this person now I'd have done something about it then!!
Hopefully Saturday night I will be celebrating the Albion's return to the greed league. I must say it's never boring following them. In fact every season since I got my season ticket in 1999 we have been involved in either play offs, promotion or relegation. plenty of ups and downs. If there is one thing I do miss from the barren years is the atmosphere in the ground. Now it's full of fans who only started turning up when we got promoted the first time and, in my stand at least, the noise levels have died down. It's a shame but thats the way it is. Still have games when it rocks but few and far between and I get the sense most fans are sick of being a yo yo club. Something to talk about on site every day though! T.L.M.S
Hopefully Saturday night I will be celebrating the Albion's return to the greed league. I must say it's never boring following them. In fact every season since I got my season ticket in 1999 we have been involved in either play offs, promotion or relegation. plenty of ups and downs. If there is one thing I do miss from the barren years is the atmosphere in the ground. Now it's full of fans who only started turning up when we got promoted the first time and, in my stand at least, the noise levels have died down. It's a shame but thats the way it is. Still have games when it rocks but few and far between and I get the sense most fans are sick of being a yo yo club. Something to talk about on site every day though! T.L.M.S
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Urges
It's been nearly 3 months since I last drove a car and the urge to do it again is gnawing away at me. I so badly want to get behind the wheel again, probably not in these conditions though! If I had the funds I'd be out there like a shot but fate has conspired against me lately. Never fear I tell myself it will happen soon, how soon is the question. So instead of driving I've filled my life with various activities to occupy myself. Last night I started playing football, first time in years and my legs are still feeling the effect of it! Aching all over but it was enjoyable. However any benefits the exercise had is now lost as I've just come back from a curry and a few beers!! My degree work is going well even if at times I feel I have no idea what I'm doing but it's good to stretch my mind. Someone recently has come into my life and while it is early days it's going well and thats putting a smile on my face. So while the driving is taking a back seat other things are going on, just want to get the complete set now! T.L.M.S
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)