IF AT FIRST you don't succeed, then try, try again.
That maxim has never seemed more appropriate to me than yesterday, the day of my fifth driving test - and success at last.
After four failures in the months running up to Christmas 2009, I made it a resolution to pass as quickly as I could in the new year.
The snowy weather meant I had little practice over the holiday season and so I moved this attempt back from 13th January to two weeks' later.
The extra time was spent doing a few more hours of practice but, just like previously, I was still nervous when test day arrived.
A final practice on the morning of the test with instructor David Convery settled me down and I succeeded in tidying up my manoeuvres, most particularly the reverse parallel park.
The test itself began at 12.43 under leaden skies though the roads were dry.
From the Gateshead test centre on Wellington Road in Dunston, I went straight on to the A1 for four miles to the West Road roundabout.
I made my way down the West Road and turned left at the Co-operative store crossroads into an estate where I performed my first manoeuvre - reverse round a curved corner.
Just pulling into stop before the manoeuvre, I showed my first real sign of nerves when I clumsily clipped the kerb after coming over a speed hump. This earned me one of just four minors on my test sheet.
Nevertheless, the curved corner manoeuvre went well and after some more estate driving, I was soon heading back to the test centre via the same crossroads and the A1 again.
I took the Dunston turn-off having still not done a second manoeuvre.
But, straight after the slip road, my confusion disappeared as I pulled into Beech Drive to do a reverse parallel park.
The morning practice paid dividends and I parked behind a white van without a problem.
It was then just a case of holding my nerve to get round the final few corners to the test centre.
When I arrived, I pulled into the parking bays aware that I had made no major mistakes. But I could not let myself believe it until the examiner said: "Peter, I'm pleased to say you've passed."
At that moment, the pent-up adrenaline suddenly surged and I leapt from the front seat to give a bear hug to David, my thrilled instructor.
My persistence had finally paid off. I had done it at last. I had given Millie the Micra a worthy owner.
Diary of a learner driver
November 2005
Applied for and received a provisional licence
January 2006
Took six hours of tuition but decided against learning to drive after fast losing confidence from early struggles with control of the car.
2009:
March 13
Passed theory test with 50/50 on the questions and 56/75 on hazard perception.
June 12
First assessment drive for two hours with instructor David Convery.
June 15-16
First crisis of confidence, a result of struggling with control of the car and clutch control in particular. David encouraged me to persist.
June 23
Last lesson before a break before Glastonbury Festival. After gaining some control of the car, I was introduced to some major roads and roundabouts.
July 6
Belated first lesson for almost two weeks after hiatus for Glastonbury Festival where I lost my spectacles causing a further delay.
July 31
Second crisis of confidence, regarding roundabouts in particular. My lack of understanding about which traffic affected me almost caused an accident and David applied the dual controls. I doubted once again if I could ever become a driver.
August 26
A major improvement on roundabouts raised my standard to test level but my observations were still quite poor and, with just a few corners to go before the end of the test, I failed my first attempt when attempting to turn right at a crossroads despite the presence of oncoming traffic.
September 26
A holiday in Portugal followed the first failed test, lasting until September 7. The bad nature of the failure provoked a third crisis of confidence and I decided to avoid the subject of driving for a while. I stopped contacting David, my instructor, until he sent a thought-provoking email. It pointed out that I had already invested a lot of time and money into passing my test over the summer, and that I really was not that far away.
October 12
I decided to continue but my driving confidence needed to be rebuilt as this was my first time back in a car for over six weeks.
October 29
Confidence was quickly restored thanks to some excellent tuition and I took my second test. I failed surprisingly on a turn in the road, despite this being my best/the easiest manoeuvre. Once again, my observations let me down.
October 31
The disappointment of a second failure was eased by the purchase of my very own car - a 2003 Nissan Micra Tempest in metallic blue, christened Millie by the previous owners.
November 25
A third test but a fourth crisis of confidence which ultimately killed off any chance of success. I put a lot of pressure on myself as I thought that I really ought to pass having narrowly failed on the previous occasions. This self-imposed stress and a poor body clock combined to give me hardly any sleep and it was no surprise when my thought-process failed towards the end of the test, leading me to choose the wrong lane on a roundabout.
December 16
After a few sessions of practice, I took a fourth test in much-improved spirits after a decent night of sleep. Unfortunately, I failed to clear a roundabout quickly enough having chosen to move off, and my last chance of passing before the holiday season was gone.
2010:
January 12-13
January 13th was the original date for my first attempt in 2010 but the wintry conditions meant I had not done any practice and I moved the test back two weeks. In the meantime, I took a few more lessons including some experience of driving on what ice remained on January 12th.
January 27
A fifth test and, finally, success. Persistence paid off and at last I got to tear up the L-plates. Instead, I attached some 'new driver' P-plates and completed a first 'independent' drive, a short trip to pick up my mother from work.
Showing posts with label david convery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label david convery. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Thursday, 17 December 2009
That familiar feeling
I HAD a less than four-midable outcome as a fourth driving test failure left me with a now familiar feeling.
Just like on my third attempt, my critical mistake was at a roundabout - this time, on the Team Valley.
But unlike last time when I used the wrong lane, it was my moving off which let me down.
Another major difference to my stressful third experience was the fact that I had a good night of sleep and felt alert rather than nervous.
And so, on approach to the roundabout, I realised there was traffic and I would not be able to go. I put the car into first gear and waited for a chance.
A couple of opportunities arose almost straightaway but I had not had enough time to notice them.
Sure enough, I spotted a third chance with a car from opposite blocking traffic from the right - and I decided to take it.
The gap was legitimate but I moved off so slowly that the car from opposite had gone and a truck from the right had begun to move.
I still managed to clear the junction in time but it was much tighter than it should have been and my lack of urgency caused the examiner to mark this as serious.
I had been assessed by this examiner previously - on my second effort when I failed on poor observation on a turn in the road.
The manoeuvre must be a favourite of his as he asked me to do it again but this time my concentration was much better and I completed it without any bother.
Having left the Gateshead test centre on Wellington Road in Dunston, I drove on the A189 to Bensham for the turn in the road before heading to Low Fell for my second manoeuvre, a reverse park.
Again, I overcame this task easily enough but elected to tidy up my straightening of the car by using first gear, costing me one of seven minors.
From there, I drove back to the test centre via the Waggon Team roundabout and a short trip on the A1 lasting just one junction.
While I realised at the time that I had made a mistake on the roundabout back on the Team Valley, I hoped the fact that I managed to clear the junction just in time would be considered in my favour.
But it was not to be, and the result left me once again scrambling for the positives.
As expected, the experience of three earlier tests made me less nervous and my manoeuvres passed off well in the test and in practice with my instructor David Convery.
The result, however, was another crushing blow and it means that Millie the Micra goes into 2010 still sitting outside the door without a fully-licensed owner.
Of course, I intend to continue into the new year until I pass but, after a fourth failure, I have also been left wondering if I will ever do enough to cross the finishing line.
Just like on my third attempt, my critical mistake was at a roundabout - this time, on the Team Valley.
But unlike last time when I used the wrong lane, it was my moving off which let me down.
Another major difference to my stressful third experience was the fact that I had a good night of sleep and felt alert rather than nervous.
And so, on approach to the roundabout, I realised there was traffic and I would not be able to go. I put the car into first gear and waited for a chance.
A couple of opportunities arose almost straightaway but I had not had enough time to notice them.
Sure enough, I spotted a third chance with a car from opposite blocking traffic from the right - and I decided to take it.
The gap was legitimate but I moved off so slowly that the car from opposite had gone and a truck from the right had begun to move.
I still managed to clear the junction in time but it was much tighter than it should have been and my lack of urgency caused the examiner to mark this as serious.
I had been assessed by this examiner previously - on my second effort when I failed on poor observation on a turn in the road.
The manoeuvre must be a favourite of his as he asked me to do it again but this time my concentration was much better and I completed it without any bother.
Having left the Gateshead test centre on Wellington Road in Dunston, I drove on the A189 to Bensham for the turn in the road before heading to Low Fell for my second manoeuvre, a reverse park.
Again, I overcame this task easily enough but elected to tidy up my straightening of the car by using first gear, costing me one of seven minors.
From there, I drove back to the test centre via the Waggon Team roundabout and a short trip on the A1 lasting just one junction.
While I realised at the time that I had made a mistake on the roundabout back on the Team Valley, I hoped the fact that I managed to clear the junction just in time would be considered in my favour.
But it was not to be, and the result left me once again scrambling for the positives.
As expected, the experience of three earlier tests made me less nervous and my manoeuvres passed off well in the test and in practice with my instructor David Convery.
The result, however, was another crushing blow and it means that Millie the Micra goes into 2010 still sitting outside the door without a fully-licensed owner.
Of course, I intend to continue into the new year until I pass but, after a fourth failure, I have also been left wondering if I will ever do enough to cross the finishing line.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Under pressure
MY THIRD driving test failure was perhaps the most inevitable of them all in the end.
Despite the experience of two earlier attempts, this was the first time that I felt an unbearable pressure to pass.
After relatively close calls on my first two tries, I expected myself to pass in the run-up to this latest test but failed with four minors and a serious.
My big mouth had blurted the date to all and sundry and so I put myself under even more pressure. Ultimately, my biggest worry was disappointing people.
I had taken the evening before the test off work. This leave had been taken before the result of my second test as I intended to visit York City for the Minstermen's match against my home town, Gateshead in the Blue Square Premier.
But, having failed on the second attempt, I ditched my trip to York as I had arranged for my next attempt for what would be the following morning.
I kept the annual leave, expecting to use the day to relax. But the time off had the opposite effect, serving to extend the length of time in which the nerves could build up.
At midnight, I settled myself down for what I hoped would be a good night of sleep.
Instead, I tossed and turned in bed for a few hours before a full-scale panic attack which had me sweating from every pore.
My anxiety was so bad that no rational explanation could calm me down and, due to the resultant insomnia, I expected that I may even have to cancel.
Eventually, pure exhaustion from the stress got me a few hours of shut-eye and I awoke in a slightly more positive mindset.
I was not feeling as tired as I thought I would be and my morning practice drive with instructor David Convery was of a reasonable standard.
It seemed somewhat remarkable given my previous state but, by mid-morning, I had calmed down sufficiently to sit the test at Gateshead test centre on Wellington Road in Dunston.
Still, I was hardly nerveless and early jitters meant that I made an error at my point-of-turn on a bay park, which was the first exercise after the sight test and show me/tell me questions.
I was able to correct this when straightening up, though, and headed towards the Teams where I was asked to do my second manoeuvre, a turn-in-the-road.
The turn-in-the-road was the element upon which I had surprisingly failed on my previous attempt.
But I had been practising the manoeuvre since the start of this driving process in June and that fail proved to be the exception rather than the rule as I found no difficulties this time.
From there, I went across the Waggon Team roundabout towards Lobley Hill before driving down Dunston Bank and across the crossroads at the bottom onto the A1.
I drove for just a mile on the carriageway in pouring rain and high winds, leaving at the third exit, signposted for Blaydon/Consett.
The next part of the test was where I made my latest crucial error as my tired brain confused the lane arrangement at a roundabout after the slip road.
The slip road had put me in the middle lane of three with a road merging from the left for the same direction and a separate right-hand lane for turning right.
Instead of using the middle lane on the roundabout, I chose the right-hand lane and narrowly avoided an accident by swerving to the correct exit.
I had confused being in the right-hand lane turning right with being on the right-hand side of two lanes going left.
It was a fundamental error and, I assure you, not one which I would usually do.
But I knew straightaway that it had cost me a chance of passing and the final few roundabouts back to the test centre were a case of going through the motions.
Ultimately, it was my concentration which had given way, just like my nerve had on the previous night. The lack of sleep from the latter undoubtedly resulted in the former.
Yet the test had an oddly cathartic effect of convincing me once again that I was a competent driver. Despite another bad mistake, I had reduced the number of minor errors to just four.
I think I just need to believe in myself a bit more - and get a better night's sleep next time.
Despite the experience of two earlier attempts, this was the first time that I felt an unbearable pressure to pass.
After relatively close calls on my first two tries, I expected myself to pass in the run-up to this latest test but failed with four minors and a serious.
My big mouth had blurted the date to all and sundry and so I put myself under even more pressure. Ultimately, my biggest worry was disappointing people.
I had taken the evening before the test off work. This leave had been taken before the result of my second test as I intended to visit York City for the Minstermen's match against my home town, Gateshead in the Blue Square Premier.
But, having failed on the second attempt, I ditched my trip to York as I had arranged for my next attempt for what would be the following morning.
I kept the annual leave, expecting to use the day to relax. But the time off had the opposite effect, serving to extend the length of time in which the nerves could build up.
At midnight, I settled myself down for what I hoped would be a good night of sleep.
Instead, I tossed and turned in bed for a few hours before a full-scale panic attack which had me sweating from every pore.
My anxiety was so bad that no rational explanation could calm me down and, due to the resultant insomnia, I expected that I may even have to cancel.
Eventually, pure exhaustion from the stress got me a few hours of shut-eye and I awoke in a slightly more positive mindset.
I was not feeling as tired as I thought I would be and my morning practice drive with instructor David Convery was of a reasonable standard.
It seemed somewhat remarkable given my previous state but, by mid-morning, I had calmed down sufficiently to sit the test at Gateshead test centre on Wellington Road in Dunston.
Still, I was hardly nerveless and early jitters meant that I made an error at my point-of-turn on a bay park, which was the first exercise after the sight test and show me/tell me questions.
I was able to correct this when straightening up, though, and headed towards the Teams where I was asked to do my second manoeuvre, a turn-in-the-road.
The turn-in-the-road was the element upon which I had surprisingly failed on my previous attempt.
But I had been practising the manoeuvre since the start of this driving process in June and that fail proved to be the exception rather than the rule as I found no difficulties this time.
From there, I went across the Waggon Team roundabout towards Lobley Hill before driving down Dunston Bank and across the crossroads at the bottom onto the A1.
I drove for just a mile on the carriageway in pouring rain and high winds, leaving at the third exit, signposted for Blaydon/Consett.
The next part of the test was where I made my latest crucial error as my tired brain confused the lane arrangement at a roundabout after the slip road.
The slip road had put me in the middle lane of three with a road merging from the left for the same direction and a separate right-hand lane for turning right.
Instead of using the middle lane on the roundabout, I chose the right-hand lane and narrowly avoided an accident by swerving to the correct exit.
I had confused being in the right-hand lane turning right with being on the right-hand side of two lanes going left.
It was a fundamental error and, I assure you, not one which I would usually do.
But I knew straightaway that it had cost me a chance of passing and the final few roundabouts back to the test centre were a case of going through the motions.
Ultimately, it was my concentration which had given way, just like my nerve had on the previous night. The lack of sleep from the latter undoubtedly resulted in the former.
Yet the test had an oddly cathartic effect of convincing me once again that I was a competent driver. Despite another bad mistake, I had reduced the number of minor errors to just four.
I think I just need to believe in myself a bit more - and get a better night's sleep next time.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Third time lucky?
ANOTHER driving test and another failure - but at least I feel much more satisfied with my effort this time.
I know from the result that I am not that far away from passing. I just need the certificate to prove it.
The critical moment in this second test came as I was completing the turn-in-the-road manoeuvre.
It is a surprising fail, as this is something which I have been doing in lessons since June - and a much easier exercise than reversing on a curved corner which I did earlier in the test.
It was also a highly irritating and frustrating fail, given the circumstances.
Having done the first two parts of the turn-in-the-road without difficulty, all that I needed to do was put the car back into the normal driving position.
While reversing, I had noticed a blue van approach from the right and slow down to assess the situation.
Satisfied that he would pull up and let me finish the manoeuvre, I checked to my left and started to drive my car forward.
Unfortunately, the van driver had not pulled up and instead had decided to continue his journey by going around me.
It meant we were both heading for the same bit of road and required sharp action on the brakes, which was marked as a 'serious'.
Behind the van, a black car pulled up in the same position. This time, I waited for longer to ensure the mistake was not repeated.
Irritatingly, the driver of the black car did exactly what I expected the van driver to do and waited patiently.
More irritating was the fact that I would not have even been doing a turn-in-the-road manoeuvre if I had been able to do a reverse park earlier in the test.
But that went by the wayside when another driver pulled up behind the car which I was going to reverse around just before I got the chance to engage reverse gear.
The aftermath of this test has been different to the last one, though.
After the test in August, my bad error ultimately caused me to lose a lot of confidence. This goes some way to explaining why it has taken me until the end of October to sit another test.
Even though I only had a few hours lessons from instructor David Convery in the run up to this test, my driving has improved and I feel so much more relaxed behind the wheel.
This is demonstrated by the marks on my test sheet. I had just six minors and three of those were for hesitation, a result of me erring too much on the side of caution at junctions.
Noticeably, I received no minors for my control of the car, and none for judgement, positioning or speed - all of which is very encouraging for my next test, already booked for November 25.
Finally, as if I needed any more incentive, there was a surprise addition to the family on Thursday night - introducing Millie, my own metallic-blue Nissan Micra.
I know from the result that I am not that far away from passing. I just need the certificate to prove it.
The critical moment in this second test came as I was completing the turn-in-the-road manoeuvre.
It is a surprising fail, as this is something which I have been doing in lessons since June - and a much easier exercise than reversing on a curved corner which I did earlier in the test.
It was also a highly irritating and frustrating fail, given the circumstances.
Having done the first two parts of the turn-in-the-road without difficulty, all that I needed to do was put the car back into the normal driving position.
While reversing, I had noticed a blue van approach from the right and slow down to assess the situation.
Satisfied that he would pull up and let me finish the manoeuvre, I checked to my left and started to drive my car forward.
Unfortunately, the van driver had not pulled up and instead had decided to continue his journey by going around me.
It meant we were both heading for the same bit of road and required sharp action on the brakes, which was marked as a 'serious'.
Behind the van, a black car pulled up in the same position. This time, I waited for longer to ensure the mistake was not repeated.
Irritatingly, the driver of the black car did exactly what I expected the van driver to do and waited patiently.
More irritating was the fact that I would not have even been doing a turn-in-the-road manoeuvre if I had been able to do a reverse park earlier in the test.
But that went by the wayside when another driver pulled up behind the car which I was going to reverse around just before I got the chance to engage reverse gear.
The aftermath of this test has been different to the last one, though.
After the test in August, my bad error ultimately caused me to lose a lot of confidence. This goes some way to explaining why it has taken me until the end of October to sit another test.
Even though I only had a few hours lessons from instructor David Convery in the run up to this test, my driving has improved and I feel so much more relaxed behind the wheel.
This is demonstrated by the marks on my test sheet. I had just six minors and three of those were for hesitation, a result of me erring too much on the side of caution at junctions.
Noticeably, I received no minors for my control of the car, and none for judgement, positioning or speed - all of which is very encouraging for my next test, already booked for November 25.
Finally, as if I needed any more incentive, there was a surprise addition to the family on Thursday night - introducing Millie, my own metallic-blue Nissan Micra.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
A costly lapse
A SINGLE lapse of concentration was the difference between me being a driver this week and not being one as I failed my first practical driving test.
The critical moment came as I turned right on a light-controlled t-junction near the MetroCentre with around five minutes left on my way back to the Gateshead test centre on Wellington Road in Dunston.
Rather inexplicably, I had failed to take into account oncoming traffic and attempted to follow the car in front round the junction.
But, in doing so, I only narrowly avoided an accident as the examiner had to slam on the brakes and I got the shock of my life.
Unsurprisingly, this was marked down to be dangerous and completely spoiled a competent drive up until then during which my nerve had held out better than expected.
I had 'only' picked up eight minors but, obviously, I cannot argue with the result.
Indeed, I am satisfied in a way that I did not pass as it should hopefully stop me from doing something so stupid again when I am on the roads myself.
But I was also naturally gutted to have done such a stupid move at the end of one of my best drives.
The test started at the somewhat precise time of 10.24 in typical British summer weather - i.e. heavy rain.
After the standard eye-sight test and show-me, tell-me questions, I was asked to perform my first manoeuvre straightaway - a bay park at the test centre.
Fortunately, I had only just practiced this on the way in with my driving instructor, David Convery, and replicated it to make a strong start.
I then drove north on the A1 carriageway for four miles to Westerhope in Newcastle where I was asked to do my second manoeuvre, a reverse around a curved corner.
This was less successful as I went too fast to follow my reference properly and at one stage my tyres touched the kerb.
But I was able to correct the car successfully and quickly enough to avoid anything more than that being one of my eight minors.
After this, I headed back to Dunston via the West Road, Denton and Scotswood Bridge.
But then came the gut-wrenching feeling of failure after my horrific error with only a few junctions left.
As well as the cost of taking another test, another hugely disappointing factor is the unavoidable delay until my next go.
My second attempt will be on October 2nd, the gap of five weeks being caused by both myself and my instructor going away straight after one another in the meantime.
Hopefully, by then, I will have cut out the ridiculous mistakes and that good things indeed come to those who wait.
The critical moment came as I turned right on a light-controlled t-junction near the MetroCentre with around five minutes left on my way back to the Gateshead test centre on Wellington Road in Dunston.
Rather inexplicably, I had failed to take into account oncoming traffic and attempted to follow the car in front round the junction.
But, in doing so, I only narrowly avoided an accident as the examiner had to slam on the brakes and I got the shock of my life.
Unsurprisingly, this was marked down to be dangerous and completely spoiled a competent drive up until then during which my nerve had held out better than expected.
I had 'only' picked up eight minors but, obviously, I cannot argue with the result.
Indeed, I am satisfied in a way that I did not pass as it should hopefully stop me from doing something so stupid again when I am on the roads myself.
But I was also naturally gutted to have done such a stupid move at the end of one of my best drives.
The test started at the somewhat precise time of 10.24 in typical British summer weather - i.e. heavy rain.
After the standard eye-sight test and show-me, tell-me questions, I was asked to perform my first manoeuvre straightaway - a bay park at the test centre.
Fortunately, I had only just practiced this on the way in with my driving instructor, David Convery, and replicated it to make a strong start.
I then drove north on the A1 carriageway for four miles to Westerhope in Newcastle where I was asked to do my second manoeuvre, a reverse around a curved corner.
This was less successful as I went too fast to follow my reference properly and at one stage my tyres touched the kerb.
But I was able to correct the car successfully and quickly enough to avoid anything more than that being one of my eight minors.
After this, I headed back to Dunston via the West Road, Denton and Scotswood Bridge.
But then came the gut-wrenching feeling of failure after my horrific error with only a few junctions left.
As well as the cost of taking another test, another hugely disappointing factor is the unavoidable delay until my next go.
My second attempt will be on October 2nd, the gap of five weeks being caused by both myself and my instructor going away straight after one another in the meantime.
Hopefully, by then, I will have cut out the ridiculous mistakes and that good things indeed come to those who wait.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Back to work, back to reality...
And back to the blog - which rather unintentionally and regretfully has become a once-a-week thing. Once again, I must apologise to my readers.
The problem is, you see, that I've been even busier since Glastonbury Festival than I was before it. Now I have a job.
Unfortunately, it is not in the field of journalism. In fact, it is nowhere near. But it's a far sight better than being on the dole.
I'm actually back in the civil service, part-time, working for the compensation recovery unit of the Department of Work and Pensions.
I had previously worked in a contact centre at HM Revenue and Customs for three years before the NCTJ course in September 2008.
At least this current job is evening shifts which gets me off the dole and allows me to carry on with my attempts at driving.
Speaking of which, my lessons became further delayed after my break at Glastonbury by my inadequate eyesight after I broke my glasses.
Thankfully, I have since had my biennial eye test and shelled out for two new pairs of spectacles - a tinted pair and a set of prescription sunglasses.
The gap between lessons behind the wheel (13 days) resulted in a real crisis of confidence - I could barely imagine getting the car started again and started considering whether it was worth
it after getting so uptight about.
But after a gentle introduction on Monday, I started to get it together again yesterday (Tuesday) and even improved from where I was before the break.
My Achilles' heel, however, is roundabouts, which I'm finding a nightmare as I am struggling to read the traffic properly.
My instructor, David Convery, has promised we will work on it this week so hopefully I will have more positive news then.
Although the job and the driving taking up a significant proportion of my week, I intend to keep this blog going - even though, for the last couple of weeks, it has looked as if it's dying out.
I am still looking for work as a writer - and can only feel my chances will improve by keeping this blog going and to pass my driving test.
And to make sure my readers have something to read during this month, I will be publishing my thoughts throughout The Ashes contest between England and Australia on this blog.
That starts later this morning with a preview of the series on the opening day of the First Test.
The problem is, you see, that I've been even busier since Glastonbury Festival than I was before it. Now I have a job.
Unfortunately, it is not in the field of journalism. In fact, it is nowhere near. But it's a far sight better than being on the dole.
I'm actually back in the civil service, part-time, working for the compensation recovery unit of the Department of Work and Pensions.
I had previously worked in a contact centre at HM Revenue and Customs for three years before the NCTJ course in September 2008.
At least this current job is evening shifts which gets me off the dole and allows me to carry on with my attempts at driving.
Speaking of which, my lessons became further delayed after my break at Glastonbury by my inadequate eyesight after I broke my glasses.
Thankfully, I have since had my biennial eye test and shelled out for two new pairs of spectacles - a tinted pair and a set of prescription sunglasses.
The gap between lessons behind the wheel (13 days) resulted in a real crisis of confidence - I could barely imagine getting the car started again and started considering whether it was worth
it after getting so uptight about.
But after a gentle introduction on Monday, I started to get it together again yesterday (Tuesday) and even improved from where I was before the break.
My Achilles' heel, however, is roundabouts, which I'm finding a nightmare as I am struggling to read the traffic properly.
My instructor, David Convery, has promised we will work on it this week so hopefully I will have more positive news then.
Although the job and the driving taking up a significant proportion of my week, I intend to keep this blog going - even though, for the last couple of weeks, it has looked as if it's dying out.
I am still looking for work as a writer - and can only feel my chances will improve by keeping this blog going and to pass my driving test.
And to make sure my readers have something to read during this month, I will be publishing my thoughts throughout The Ashes contest between England and Australia on this blog.
That starts later this morning with a preview of the series on the opening day of the First Test.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
On the road again...
Three and a half years since I last tried to learn to drive, I've decided to give it another go.
I had planned originally to do this first post a few days earlier but I wanted to see how well I would progress in first few lessons.
I have now completed 10 hours of a semi-intensive course which I started on Saturday with David Convery.
Unsurprisingly there have been some ups and downs already and, before lessons, I have struggled to contain the nerves or ignore nagging doubts.
I've already blogged on how nervous I've got in the past - it's almost to the point of fear.
But at least I've done better than last time when I only managed a few hours and didn't even graduate from going round and round the same patch of grass in the Team Valley.
At least now I'm driving from the front door and through proper housing estates in Winlaton - and between Winlaton, Rowlands Gill and High Spen. I even got in fifth gear once!
Since the first lesson, I have improved on handling the car, my use of speed and my awareness of what to do at junctions. I can drive the car in the higher gears without much of a problem.
But, frustratingly, I still frequently stall by failing to keep my feet still and releasing the gas before lifting the clutch in first gear. Grrr...
David, the instructor, is doing his best to improve matters and I'm glad I have chosen him as I seem most likely to pass (eventually) with him.
Today, in my fourth session, I did numerous hill starts and no fewer than four turns in the road with the aim of improving my clutch control.
But, as I finished the lesson, it remained as inconsistent as ever.
Fortunately enough, I have another three hours in the car tomorrow morning with yet more practice on the clutch and I'm ruddy determined to overcome this.
It would certainly be nice to have sorted by the time I go on holiday to the Glastonbury Festival next week.
I had planned originally to do this first post a few days earlier but I wanted to see how well I would progress in first few lessons.
I have now completed 10 hours of a semi-intensive course which I started on Saturday with David Convery.
Unsurprisingly there have been some ups and downs already and, before lessons, I have struggled to contain the nerves or ignore nagging doubts.
I've already blogged on how nervous I've got in the past - it's almost to the point of fear.
But at least I've done better than last time when I only managed a few hours and didn't even graduate from going round and round the same patch of grass in the Team Valley.
At least now I'm driving from the front door and through proper housing estates in Winlaton - and between Winlaton, Rowlands Gill and High Spen. I even got in fifth gear once!
Since the first lesson, I have improved on handling the car, my use of speed and my awareness of what to do at junctions. I can drive the car in the higher gears without much of a problem.
But, frustratingly, I still frequently stall by failing to keep my feet still and releasing the gas before lifting the clutch in first gear. Grrr...
David, the instructor, is doing his best to improve matters and I'm glad I have chosen him as I seem most likely to pass (eventually) with him.
Today, in my fourth session, I did numerous hill starts and no fewer than four turns in the road with the aim of improving my clutch control.
But, as I finished the lesson, it remained as inconsistent as ever.
Fortunately enough, I have another three hours in the car tomorrow morning with yet more practice on the clutch and I'm ruddy determined to overcome this.
It would certainly be nice to have sorted by the time I go on holiday to the Glastonbury Festival next week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)