learn to drive

I haven’t driven since April and Dad’s all “don’t worry it’ll all come flooding back to you”. Well it most certainly did not. I had completely forgotten everything and he just sat and yelled at me. Apparently I should know everything. Apparently I don’t acknowledge that I’m going to have to practice. Apparently I’m throwing in the towel and being ungrateful. I can only take so much of somebody yelling at me about how crap I am and how I’m just never going to get it. The only reason I started learning was because everyone at age 16 + 17 starts to learn to drive and Dad was so enthusiastic. I hate it.

Today went better (although yelling still occurred). I coasted calmly through to 3rd gear, did some lovely one handed steering and spent most of the hour navigating the two roundabouts, one on main traffic and the other in an estate that has one house and oodles of land blocks. 7.5 hours in total :)

Dad who was last night so uber supportive of my 3 hours a week idea decided after one hour that he thought my driving was crap. He and I learn very differently and I don’t have a musical ear so I can’t hear the changes in revs. It just sounds like noise! I can’t take lessons until I’m “allowed” out in traffic. I was following his voice instructions and got yelled at. He responded with “Don’t follow me! You’re driving.” He is horrible to drive with. Really, he is. At least I have an extra hour on my log book now and maybe Mum will take me.

I’ve decided I want my P’s mainly so I can drive around to work, uni even and pop up to see my darling Sean or drive to the beach if I feel so inclined. I want and need a teeny car. Big cars make me nauseous. I like the Nissan Micras but oh so expensive and not a first car. So here is a break down of the remaining 94 hours I have until I can get my P’s into Monthly Targets.

April – 5 hours (I’ve got a couple of weeks left so doable)
Then if I aim for another ten after that per month, I’ll end up with 85 and if some of those are lesson hours (1 = 3), I can make up the remaining 9 and be all set to get my P’s for the new year. If I do it’ll be awesome considering I didn’t actually start driving until January 24 this year.

I forgot to book lessons! Oops.
I’m having a bit of a look around for cars too.
I’m after an old model Colt like Mum had.
I’ll have to book lessons some time soon.
I wanted to drive today too but the car’s at work.

In my spare week coming up (in a fortnight) I’m going to book two driving lessons. One on a Monday if possible or the Sunday prior and then a second one on the Friday or Saturday. I once had two piano lessons like this in a week and found I improved greatly so who knows! Also I’m aiming for November 2009. I doubt I’ll have it by then but at least I’m trying. 10 hours of lessons = 30 hours in my logbook so then I only have like, 63 or something to go!!

Today I went for a drive, I had a little bit of time today so snuck in 15 minutes. It went well since I hadn’t been for a drive in oh, a billion years (Jan 29). Considering I haven’t really had much practice anticipating other drivers I did okay. I got spooked at one intersection and over stepped the line. A little shaken, I managed to be okay – good thing the other driver was understanding and stopped in time. My clutch control is good now so now I’m moving onto maneuvering the car and driver anticipation.

I’m happy.

I really need to go and do this.
I was about to apply for this really super great job that I would have enjoyed so much (it also paid well) then bam in fine annoying little times new roman letters was “drivers license required”.
I am so angry about it.
I will have to go driving sometime soon.
Saturday sounds good.

I hate hills.
Always have even as a passenger.
In buses.

Today I went out for a spin on the main road again. My steering was a bit off today, I think I was over correcting. First time I successfully drove in shoes and for once I didn’t have foot cramps! Hurrah. I did a few three point turns and can now nearly smoothly change from second to third and back. I’m working on my hand breaking now. I’ve just clocked about 6 hours out of 100. When I hit 10 I’m going for some driving school lessons.