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
Showing posts with label Instructor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Instructor. 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
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, 1 August 2016
Foot To The Floor!
Hello,
Pulling into my road after my driving lesson on Friday evening I felt OK about the last couple of hours handling lots of town driving and weekend traffic. Conducting a near perfect parallel park outside my little flat I turned off the engine and took my Ugg-clad feet off the pedals and relaxed.
"So where was it that you went for the operation?" My instructor asked me. Confused I worried what he was on about. I mean I had a bandage on my arm where I had my Implant replaced the following evening, but I wasn't sure what he meant by that statement.
"I'm sorry I am not sure I understand?" I asked timidly.
"Well that's the best I have seen you drive. Ever! So where was the personality transplant done?" My Instructor replied, chuckling to himself. Thankfully I took a sigh of relief and explained that I thought things had been a bit jittery on the pedal control since I was wearing heavy winter boots with thick soles but my instructor reassured me and said that I should probably start calling them my 'Lucky Boots'. We talked for another few moments about my upcoming test and what it would entail. Suddenly I realised that my actual real-life driving test was in a matter of weeks. Six-weeks and three days to be precise. And yes, I am crapping myself.
I am honestly actually looking forward to it, even though it has come round so fast. I am stunned at how quickly I have learnt everything. I mean granted I still cannot bay-park for shit, but I figure that we will get better in time with that one, but all the manoeuvres I was dreading; Emergency stop, Reverse round a corner and Parallel parking I am all fairly OK with but for some odd reason I have got worse as time goes on with my bay-parking. It feels like only yesterday I was getting in the car for the first time and being pleased that I had driven home or that I pulled out onto a busy road for the first time, now I am less than two-months from finding out whether I have passed my test or not. Eeeek!
I am not expecting to pass first time. I mean obviously it would be a bonus for me as I wouldn't have to shell out another sixty-something-quid in order to retake my test but I acknowledge that realistically the odds will be forever stacked against my favour. An average of seventy-percent of people taking their driving test for the first time will fail, according to my instructor anyway, so the likelihood of me failing is slightly inevitable. My Father always taught me one good thing at least and that was that if I set myself up for failure and prepare for all the horror that it brings, anything else will be a bonus. I suppose in a squaddie sort of way it makes sense, I'm just hoping I have taken everything on board and get a pass first time!
Something else that I will have to consider is if I should bring my instructor along for my test itself. It would be my choice on the day if I wanted him there, watching me from the back seats of my White Beema. (Which I have since hugged, knowing now that it will be the very same car I take my Exam in. I don't know why, I just thought examiners had their own testing cars?) I am erring on the side of caution here as I would prefer for obvious reasons not to be judged by two people, one whom I have come to know rather well, but also I am thinking about some of the things my instructor said to me on Friday evening after my lesson. He explained that not only does he like to become familiar with the body language and conducts of a Driving Exam but also what roads they take so he can show and practise with other learners. He also talked through the interesting fact that once an examiner has finished and is making their decision on whether I am a road-worthy person, if for any reason the examiner is unsure on whether I am capable of certain situations or is unsure of how I handled what happened during my forty-minute Exam, my instructor was right there in the back seats of the vehicle so can judge as well for himself how I handled it, either agreeing or disagreeing with the examiner. In a small way having my instructor in the car with me may be a plus point since if I was to handle a manoeuvre or road situation poorly or less than satisfactory then at least my instructor could explain that in actual fact I had done that move or street a billion times before and I had been fine with it, reassuring the examiner that is was simple nerves or anxiety that slipped me up. Nevertheless this is all a few weeks away and many more lessons so I am not too thoughtful of it yet.
You know what else is only a few weeks away? The kids going back to feckin' school - Well yes, and no I cannot yet sympathise the pain and torture of Peppa Pig on repeat but I am sure I will some day. No its soon going to be my birthday. Urgh! A whole twenty-five years on this planet. That's more than a quarter of my possible lifetime already gone. Poof! Disappeared! But it would seem as though I simply cannot wait until my Alice in Wonderland inspired thirtieth Birthday Party. I want one now. So why not. Well the answer is that in all fairness I couldn't think of any reasoning not to have one, apart from the money it would cost me. I need to be careful though as Mr. Warehouse has only just got a permanent and full-time role so we will be going a few weeks with little money so I need to go easy on the plans. Maybe we shall save the Flamingos and fireworks for my twenty-sixth?
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
Pulling into my road after my driving lesson on Friday evening I felt OK about the last couple of hours handling lots of town driving and weekend traffic. Conducting a near perfect parallel park outside my little flat I turned off the engine and took my Ugg-clad feet off the pedals and relaxed.
"So where was it that you went for the operation?" My instructor asked me. Confused I worried what he was on about. I mean I had a bandage on my arm where I had my Implant replaced the following evening, but I wasn't sure what he meant by that statement.
"I'm sorry I am not sure I understand?" I asked timidly.
"Well that's the best I have seen you drive. Ever! So where was the personality transplant done?" My Instructor replied, chuckling to himself. Thankfully I took a sigh of relief and explained that I thought things had been a bit jittery on the pedal control since I was wearing heavy winter boots with thick soles but my instructor reassured me and said that I should probably start calling them my 'Lucky Boots'. We talked for another few moments about my upcoming test and what it would entail. Suddenly I realised that my actual real-life driving test was in a matter of weeks. Six-weeks and three days to be precise. And yes, I am crapping myself.
I am honestly actually looking forward to it, even though it has come round so fast. I am stunned at how quickly I have learnt everything. I mean granted I still cannot bay-park for shit, but I figure that we will get better in time with that one, but all the manoeuvres I was dreading; Emergency stop, Reverse round a corner and Parallel parking I am all fairly OK with but for some odd reason I have got worse as time goes on with my bay-parking. It feels like only yesterday I was getting in the car for the first time and being pleased that I had driven home or that I pulled out onto a busy road for the first time, now I am less than two-months from finding out whether I have passed my test or not. Eeeek!
I am not expecting to pass first time. I mean obviously it would be a bonus for me as I wouldn't have to shell out another sixty-something-quid in order to retake my test but I acknowledge that realistically the odds will be forever stacked against my favour. An average of seventy-percent of people taking their driving test for the first time will fail, according to my instructor anyway, so the likelihood of me failing is slightly inevitable. My Father always taught me one good thing at least and that was that if I set myself up for failure and prepare for all the horror that it brings, anything else will be a bonus. I suppose in a squaddie sort of way it makes sense, I'm just hoping I have taken everything on board and get a pass first time!
Something else that I will have to consider is if I should bring my instructor along for my test itself. It would be my choice on the day if I wanted him there, watching me from the back seats of my White Beema. (Which I have since hugged, knowing now that it will be the very same car I take my Exam in. I don't know why, I just thought examiners had their own testing cars?) I am erring on the side of caution here as I would prefer for obvious reasons not to be judged by two people, one whom I have come to know rather well, but also I am thinking about some of the things my instructor said to me on Friday evening after my lesson. He explained that not only does he like to become familiar with the body language and conducts of a Driving Exam but also what roads they take so he can show and practise with other learners. He also talked through the interesting fact that once an examiner has finished and is making their decision on whether I am a road-worthy person, if for any reason the examiner is unsure on whether I am capable of certain situations or is unsure of how I handled what happened during my forty-minute Exam, my instructor was right there in the back seats of the vehicle so can judge as well for himself how I handled it, either agreeing or disagreeing with the examiner. In a small way having my instructor in the car with me may be a plus point since if I was to handle a manoeuvre or road situation poorly or less than satisfactory then at least my instructor could explain that in actual fact I had done that move or street a billion times before and I had been fine with it, reassuring the examiner that is was simple nerves or anxiety that slipped me up. Nevertheless this is all a few weeks away and many more lessons so I am not too thoughtful of it yet.
You know what else is only a few weeks away? The kids going back to feckin' school - Well yes, and no I cannot yet sympathise the pain and torture of Peppa Pig on repeat but I am sure I will some day. No its soon going to be my birthday. Urgh! A whole twenty-five years on this planet. That's more than a quarter of my possible lifetime already gone. Poof! Disappeared! But it would seem as though I simply cannot wait until my Alice in Wonderland inspired thirtieth Birthday Party. I want one now. So why not. Well the answer is that in all fairness I couldn't think of any reasoning not to have one, apart from the money it would cost me. I need to be careful though as Mr. Warehouse has only just got a permanent and full-time role so we will be going a few weeks with little money so I need to go easy on the plans. Maybe we shall save the Flamingos and fireworks for my twenty-sixth?
'Til next time, Love A.Lou xx
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