Showing posts with label Driving Lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Driving Lessons. Show all posts

Monday, 12 September 2016

The Final Countdown!

Heyy, 

Sitting in the car, dressed in Mr. Warehouse's tracksuit jogging bottoms, hoodie and my Bailey Button UGGs, I felt I needed an excuse for my unusually relaxed Sunday afternoon attire. 'Think women, think' I said to myself as I racked my brain trying to think of a valid excuse for being so slobby on what was a beautiful day. 
"Sorry, Just got back from the Gym" I lied to my driving instructor. Don't know why I had to lie. He wouldn't have cared. I don't even own a Gym Membership let alone go to one. The closest I get to a gym is walking past on my way to a fast food outlet or another variant of a poor diet choice. Hmmm, Krispy Kreme

Nevertheless I started my driving lesson well, pulling off and out of the residential areas surrounding my little home without a hitch. I figured that since this was going to be my last lesson I would wear my so-called 'lucky' shoes and hopefully they would give me the confidence I was so lacking in my driving lessons of late. Heading towards the test centre my instructor reminded me that I would be taking a mock examination on yesterday's bright Sunday afternoon. Starting off with the general knowledge questions I was asked about tyre pressure amongst other things and on asking how I check it my mind decided to just go blank. 'Kick them - If they spring back then their full enough? No that cannot be the right answer. Feel them with your hands? Oh god, why don't I know this?' I thought to myself. 'I know that there is that thing at the petrol stations that beeps when you have reached full capacity but surely that's not the right answer?' I again pondered. With no other option I gave it my best shot. 
"Is it to feel it with your hands?" I said, knowing more so when it was said out loud was probably the worst response a testee has ever said. This was fully appreciated when my instructor repeated my ridiculous answer back to me. Expecting him to laugh out loud I waited patiently as he scribbled on the mock examination paperwork. 'Fuuuuuuuuuck'


Heart rate slightly increased, I started the engine of my dearest Beema and carried along the winding and bendy roads that ran throughout the heart of the Bedfordshire countryside. Carrying on through my mock test I managed all the roads including a busy dual carriageway, a three-point / turn in the road, a parallel park and even avoided what could have been a very serious crash. You see I was coming down a very narrow residential street that I have never encountered before and as I was approaching the end, already in first gear I slowed right down, more so for my own sake, being the first time I had taken that route before. Then, just before I was about to take the bend in question a green car came speeding round forcing me to slam on my breaks, stalling the car. Hands waving in the air and probably shouting obscenities, I ignored the arrogant driver that knew he was in the wrong and that obviously had been born without having to be a learner driver, for I cannot see any other reasoning for him acting in such an irrational and cock-chinned way to another fellow road user, especially given the speed he was going round the corner of a twenty-mile-an-hour zone. 

Regardless I continued and successfully drove back to the test centre, pulling up outside and awaited the inevitable fate that would be I failed. 'This is what it is going to feel like babe. This is the blissful innocence of a naive learner driver on the bare brink of her test. Revel from it and enjoy the fact that your in the middle of the countryside and surrounded by trees to hang yourself in when you fail' I pepped myself. Just FYI though I am not a mental health risk - No matter what my close friends and family may say! I am fully sane and can assure you I would not be honestly that devastated after failing miserably. I have a job to get to and a party that weekend. I am not going to kill myself. 

"So I am happy to tell you that you have passed your driving test - Albeit a mock" My driving instructor said.
"I'm sorry what?!" I exclaimed after a long silence ensued. 
"You've passed. But you had some faults ... " My driving instructor said again for the second time, continuing this time to explain where I went wrong. I was sort of listening, but sort of not. I knew where I had fucked up on. A roundabout I had messed up my signalling on and a tad lack of lane discipline on roundabouts but other than that I had passed. I was happy. Very happy. Beaming with pride I drove the circuit once more and prayed I would have it again for my actual test, although with more than eleven more test routes the examiner could take me I am not holding my hopes too high. Ending my final lesson I took a moment to think if there was anything I wanted to ask my driving instructor. 'To think that the next time you sit in this car it will be for your actual fo' sho' driving test with a real examiner and a real outcome that will literally change my entire life as I know it.' I thought, and as surreal as that was I bid my driving instructor a farewell as hoped I would not have to see him after Thursday. 

As I walked home from where I had parked at the end of my street, I could feel my face cracking in half with the strain of my mock-passed-driving-test induced smile. I showed Mr. Warehouse and he jumped up with joy, giving me a big cuddle all in the knowledge that he knew just how anxious and unprepared I felt less than a few hours before. But as I sit here today now, with less than two days, eleven hours and thirty-something minutes before I take my actual real life driving test I feel lots more confident and gladly it is confidence and not my normal cockiness or arrogance that usually surrounds anything else I do. Hopefully I pass first time as I did on my mock, but as ever I am knowledgable that I am a human and I cannot predict what will happen on the day. Hopefully I have a nice examiner and he is in a good mood, or she, and is laid the night before so they are nice and relaxed and like to pass little girls who are somewhat OK at driving. 

Hopefully this time next week I can not only report on my passing but also on my party and all the birthday fun I have been up to. Ahh yes, next week will be very busy indeed. 

 'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

The Final Countdown!

Heyy, 

Sitting in the car, dressed in Mr. Warehouse's tracksuit jogging bottoms, hoodie and my Bailey Button UGGs, I felt I needed an excuse for my unusually relaxed Sunday afternoon attire. 'Think women, think' I said to myself as I racked my brain trying to think of a valid excuse for being so slobby on what was a beautiful day. 
"Sorry, Just got back from the Gym" I lied to my driving instructor. Don't know why I had to lie. He wouldn't have cared. I don't even own a Gym Membership let alone go to one. The closest I get to a gym is walking past on my way to a fast food outlet or another variant of a poor diet choice. Hmmm, Krispy Kreme

Nevertheless I started my driving lesson well, pulling off and out of the residential areas surrounding my little home without a hitch. I figured that since this was going to be my last lesson I would wear my so-called 'lucky' shoes and hopefully they would give me the confidence I was so lacking in my driving lessons of late. Heading towards the test centre my instructor reminded me that I would be taking a mock examination on yesterday's bright Sunday afternoon. Starting off with the general knowledge questions I was asked about tyre pressure amongst other things and on asking how I check it my mind decided to just go blank. 'Kick them - If they spring back then their full enough? No that cannot be the right answer. Feel them with your hands? Oh god, why don't I know this?' I thought to myself. 'I know that there is that thing at the petrol stations that beeps when you have reached full capacity but surely that's not the right answer?' I again pondered. With no other option I gave it my best shot. 
"Is it to feel it with your hands?" I said, knowing more so when it was said out loud was probably the worst response a testee has ever said. This was fully appreciated when my instructor repeated my ridiculous answer back to me. Expecting him to laugh out loud I waited patiently as he scribbled on the mock examination paperwork. 'Fuuuuuuuuuck'


Heart rate slightly increased, I started the engine of my dearest Beema and carried along the winding and bendy roads that ran throughout the heart of the Bedfordshire countryside. Carrying on through my mock test I managed all the roads including a busy dual carriageway, a three-point / turn in the road, a parallel park and even avoided what could have been a very serious crash. You see I was coming down a very narrow residential street that I have never encountered before and as I was approaching the end, already in first gear I slowed right down, more so for my own sake, being the first time I had taken that route before. Then, just before I was about to take the bend in question a green car came speeding round forcing me to slam on my breaks, stalling the car. Hands waving in the air and probably shouting obscenities, I ignored the arrogant driver that knew he was in the wrong and that obviously had been born without having to be a learner driver, for I cannot see any other reasoning for him acting in such an irrational and cock-chinned way to another fellow road user, especially given the speed he was going round the corner of a twenty-mile-an-hour zone. 

Regardless I continued and successfully drove back to the test centre, pulling up outside and awaited the inevitable fate that would be I failed. 'This is what it is going to feel like babe. This is the blissful innocence of a naive learner driver on the bare brink of her test. Revel from it and enjoy the fact that your in the middle of the countryside and surrounded by trees to hang yourself in when you fail' I pepped myself. Just FYI though I am not a mental health risk - No matter what my close friends and family may say! I am fully sane and can assure you I would not be honestly that devastated after failing miserably. I have a job to get to and a party that weekend. I am not going to kill myself. 

"So I am happy to tell you that you have passed your driving test - Albeit a mock" My driving instructor said.
"I'm sorry what?!" I exclaimed after a long silence ensued. 
"You've passed. But you had some faults ... " My driving instructor said again for the second time, continuing this time to explain where I went wrong. I was sort of listening, but sort of not. I knew where I had fucked up on. A roundabout I had messed up my signalling on and a tad lack of lane discipline on roundabouts but other than that I had passed. I was happy. Very happy. Beaming with pride I drove the circuit once more and prayed I would have it again for my actual test, although with more than eleven more test routes the examiner could take me I am not holding my hopes too high. Ending my final lesson I took a moment to think if there was anything I wanted to ask my driving instructor. 'To think that the next time you sit in this car it will be for your actual fo' sho' driving test with a real examiner and a real outcome that will literally change my entire life as I know it.' I thought, and as surreal as that was I bid my driving instructor a farewell as hoped I would not have to see him after Thursday. 

As I walked home from where I had parked at the end of my street, I could feel my face cracking in half with the strain of my mock-passed-driving-test induced smile. I showed Mr. Warehouse and he jumped up with joy, giving me a big cuddle all in the knowledge that he knew just how anxious and unprepared I felt less than a few hours before. But as I sit here today now, with less than two days, eleven hours and thirty-something minutes before I take my actual real life driving test I feel lots more confident and gladly it is confidence and not my normal cockiness or arrogance that usually surrounds anything else I do. Hopefully I pass first time as I did on my mock, but as ever I am knowledgable that I am a human and I cannot predict what will happen on the day. Hopefully I have a nice examiner and he is in a good mood, or she, and is laid the night before so they are nice and relaxed and like to pass little girls who are somewhat OK at driving. 

Hopefully this time next week I can not only report on my passing but also on my party and all the birthday fun I have been up to. Ahh yes, next week will be very busy indeed. 

 'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx

Monday, 29 August 2016

A Bumper Bank Holiday Bash!

Hey-Hey Amigos!

So the Bank Holiday has blessed us in the UK with fairly decent weather and a three-day weekend has certainly been used to its full advantage. 

Starting on Friday night, Mr. Warehouse and I headed over to the venue for my party to pay the deposit and whilst we were there we had dinner in what the main pub nicknamed the snug, which, with its burnt out fire place and cosy soft seating I could easily see it being the place to be in winter time when its cold and snowy outside and the fire crackling away in the background, smells of warmed cider and Christmas to come it is defiantly somewhere I will be coming when the weather turns frosty. We had already planned that on Saturday, because my phone was still not ready after nearly two-weeks at the repair centre at Samsung, we would instead head over to the retail park. Now for many people heading out shopping or to a retail park for the day/afternoon may not sound like fun, but when you don't have the luxury of driving then you soon get bored of the same old shops with the same old things in them. It was nice being able to go somewhere fresh and interesting, plus Mr. Warehouse and I were even able to squeeze in a stop off at a couple of car dealerships en route. 

Hopping off the bus at Evans Halshaw we walked around the forecourt looking at cars and peering in the boots and windows excited about the prospects of me being hopefully less than a month away from buying my first car. After a chat with some sales reps and asking some really silly and pretty pathetic questions I walked out feeling pleased that my budget of up to £150.00 per month for a finance package was very comfortable indeed and in all fairness I could easily find something for a lot less. Happy, I headed out into the sunshine with a smile on my face all in the knowledge that I would in many ways be protected in both buying brand new as well as second hand or used. Next door was a similar car dealership although this time I was actually approached by a rather enthusiastic sales guy. Friendly but not too forward he helped me get the keys for a car I had been looking around so I could have a seat and get a feel for a vehicle that could one day be mine. The car I was interested in was a shiny black Ford Fiesta. It was perfect for everything that I needed it to be; Small car so low on running costs, insurance and road tax, large boot for the dog and holidays away, four-doors so I don't have to keep adjusting my seat every time someone gets in and with only fourteen-thousand-so miles on the clock of a two-year old car, it was certainly something not to be snubbed at. Taking a look round other vehicles I was smitten and soon was encapsulated by the cars and prospects of finally owning one, free from bus routes, timetables and rainy, cold winters at bus stops. 

Walking away from the cars and kindly staff I was thrilled to be hopefully coming back soon to purchase a little car. Heading onto the retail park, Mr. Warehouse and I meandered through the shops and people, picking up a few bits and bobs, even being able to grab a bargain of a three-tier black glass TV stand. I was so pleased that Mr. Warehouse finally had some money, and enough that he could start building a life for himself and for us together. I know it may seem trivial but I am just so happy to see him much more relaxed and not worried or frantic about what bills are coming out this week or what money he has left to last him. I mean sure, give him another three weeks or so but I am just glad he is finally earning decent money and doing something that he enjoys. He even has made some friends. Friends of which had even invited him on a works night out for someones birthday on Sunday evening. 
"Ahh it'll only be a quiet one I think, they're not the party animals of our old work place" Mr. Warehouse mentioned. "I will be back by midnight I am sure". But as Saturday afternoon and evening rolled on, both of us couldn't really be bothered and considered sacking the whole thing off the following evening. 

However, this was all before a roller coaster of a driving lesson I had on Sunday afternoon. Asking my instructor if I could bring along someone in the car so I would get used to seeing someones head in the rear-view mirror as opposed to just roads and traffic, Mr. Warehouse joined my two-hour lesson as a passenger. With the first half-hour to an hour being a good drive and all manoeuvres conducted well I was proud to show off my skills as a soon to be fully-fledged driver. However as the second hour started I could feel myself slipping, making simple and honest mistakes and loosing my confidence fast. Although as Mr. Warehouse had made the point that my driving instructor was not the best at giving instructions and left everything until the very last second which in turn I know makes me a nervous and anxious learner driver. Completing an emergency stop on the way home and fluffing up on a few junctions and roundabouts I felt awful and as we pulled into my road I nearly burst into tears when I explained that I felt as though the lesson had been one of my worst. Although my instructor was supportive and had said that two hours is not normal driving in reality and most people loose concentration after such a long time, especially when not knowing where to go or what to do. 

And so after that lesson I was more than ready for a night of drinking, even if only for a few hours. Getting glammed up and ditching the heels I was more than ready for the dance floor. Although meeting Mr. Warehouse's work colleagues I could tell that they weren't quite the disco divas I was used to. Nevertheless we enjoyed some drinks and progressively got more and more intoxicated. Heading on for midnight I looked at Mr. Warehouse, expecting him to be calling it a night soon. However, we had not planned on meeting Mr. Warehouse's cousin at the bar and after yet more drinks and dance we were all very pissed by this point, although whenever Mr. Warehouse was not looking, and to be fair, even when he was looking Mr. Warehouse's cousin would have his arm either round my waist, hand on my arse, kissing my neck or trying it on in other ways which in a way made me more uncomfortable than I ever thought. But I am sure he was very drunk and would not have known what he was doing ... Or at least I hope not. I'm his Cousins Girlfriend - Not his!!!

Getting home in the earlier hours of this morning I wrestled with the pukey Mr. Warehouse for a further two-hours before I finally prised him off the toilet and out of the bath in my tiny restroom and into bed, where he then proceeded to be sick on the sheets. Confined to the sofa I had a good night's sleep and woke in the morning to a very. very, very hungover and apologetic boyfriend. With an afternoon spent with visiting family now over and done with, Mr. Warehouse and I now have a kebab on the way from the takeaway and are looking forward to a night under the duvet and Netflix-chilling!

'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx