disigner is apparently a 'Reinventing Healthy Builder' but is actually a mess
My DI said this was my best lesson yet – and I got a fair few ‘5’s on the little chart-ma-bob!
Just did some general driving, no manoeuvres tonight (well, except for a little reversing at home.) The weather was kinda shocking, a lot of rain and night driving makes things a little tougher – even seeing markings on the road, because the tarmac is shiny and reflects the lights. Pretty though. But I shouldn’t be appreciating the pretty lights, I should be looking where I’m going…!
Omigosh. My DI did keep having to tell me the same things over and over – about drifting to the right, not slowing down for puddles, when starting not hitting the gas enough and coming up a little quick on the clutch – at one point I felt I had to say ‘I swear I’m not deliberately ignoring you!’(lol) Which sadly I think she maybe misunderstood because she said something about not remembering which of us she’d told before – but what I meant was more ‘I can’t believe you’ve just had to tell me about that again! Because I KNOW I shouldn’t be doing that!’ There’s just so much to concentrate on at once, that even if you know how to approach something in theory, in practice the thinking time isn’t always enough – even at 25mph! I need to focus focus focus!
She scared me to death too, by choosing the route home that crosses what locals call variations of ‘the magic roundabout’ and ‘suicide island’ ... Oh, the divvilment… but it was fine, because she told me what to do, and because I managed not to stall – oh yeah! Check. Me. Out! Ha!
I did stall some though :( At lights. (Traffic light anxiety!) I do just need to get over it… Also, after the scary roundabout I was so relieved I was alive that I did forget some of my gear changes for the next mile or two.
Despite the stalling, and the ‘oops, I should be over there’ and nearly mounting the pavement once because I over-steered on a left hand turn (not something I’m normally guilty of, not sure WHAT happened there, exactly) – despite ALL of that, really, it was a great lesson. I feel like things are coming on a pace now, and crucially, I’m enjoying it – which isn’t something I really counted on, so it’s a nice surprise.
Kudos to my DI, really, who has about the most patience I think anyone has ever had with me. Also, when she needs to, she has that RARE ability to boss me and criticise me in a constructive way that doesn’t make me hate her or myself! I count myself so lucky that somehow I’ve found such a great instructor first time – I know people who’ve had to try numerous instructors after finding some of them, umm, less than helpful – and I’m the kind of person (low self confidence, pretty low self esteem) that would probably have been put off for years (if not life) if this had happened to me. (I’m such a fragile little flower. I hate that. I want to be badass. XD)
If you’re thinking of learning to drive, my advice if you want it is to ask around, and get an instructor recommended by friends/ colleagues/ anyone you know who recently passed their test and has good things to say about their qualified instructor.
I got me some theory books too. And an interactive DVD. I’d previously borrowed one from the library but didn’t find it particularly enlightening, so asked my DI for advice and then bought some off Amazon – and for less than the cost of a lesson they’ll be well worth it. I hope. I will update!
So that is my homework for the weekend, to learn me some highway code etc… Mmm, educational :)
A whole week until my next lesson/confession! x
