**********Learning to drive for the terrified part 3*******

[MrsSlowLearner]

That's better

thanks Mrs S, and totale.
need to book another one but can't face it atm!

totale, good luck with yours...just try and stay calm.

I was totally flustered to begin with as we got to the test centre literally 2 minutes before my test was due to start...
(this was after a 2hr lesson mind you )

my instructor had left it until then to show me various bits under the bonnet that you need to know about (why oh why did she leave it right til the very last minute????) -I had to leg it inside before she even shut the bonnet...

Inevitably the instructor asked me to open the bonnet and point something out...that was ok (sort of)...but I couldn't close the damn thing! I was so embarassed, kept trying, couldn't figure out why it wouldn't shut. the examiner even tried and couldn't do it. I was very , hot and bothered, went back to the bonnet-opening thing inside the car, twiddled it ineffectually, meantime the examiner realised I hadn't properly put down the little bar that holds the bonnet up, you have to slot it into a little holder thingy. aaaaarggggh.

got in the car, had to test the horn. that was ok too though wasn't sure if engine had to be on or not so dithered a bit first.

then somehow when I turned the engine on the car was in gear, so leapt forward and stalled!

and then we set off...

tbh, i thought I'd failed already!

So, does the engine have to be on to test the horm?

I have a terrible habit of taking my seatbelt of at the end of each lesson before anything else, my order is usually this..........

stop car
take off seatbelt
hand brake on
put into neutrol

oh dear

totaleclipse - it depends. Some of the older style horns that are situated on the indicator/lights stick will work without the engine running.

The more modern style of being part of the steering wheel normally need the engine running to work.

Just try it out and see.

I have mny first lesson on Friday at 5:30. What will I actully be expected to do, do you know ?

totale, I don't actually know i switched it on, just to be on the safe side...as EricL says, just have a go!

nutcracker I had to drive home at the end of my first lesson-I was horrified! she did help me though-did some indicating for me etc.

I think, if I can remember so far back, she drove us to a quiet area, then I mainly drove round and round the block (left turns only). learned how to pull off, stop, clutch control, gear changes (1st, 2nd and 3rd), general steering etc.

Oh that doesn't sound too bad Cat, was thinking she'd expect me to get in and drive lol.

not til your second lesson nutcracker, if that makes you feel better!

was thinking maybe not driving until the 10th LOL.

Christ I am gonna be so nervous on friday.

seriously, you cant have been more nervous than I was!

just remember, dual controls are marvellous things...
your instructor won't let anything bad happen. And if he/she says more gas, just do it (they're trying to stop you stalling...but there's only one gas pedal, so they can't actually do that for you).

I was utterly hopeless at first, obviously not perfect now (as have failed my test) but at least not scared witless any more !

So sorry you failed Cat, it feels really crap doesn't it

I completly forgot you had your test and then for some reason I remembered at about 4.00am this morning and was really hoping I would come on here and find out you'd passed.

Have you got the next one booked yet?

hello crumpets...yes, not a good feeling...annoyed with myself mainly!
had a little look at the website last night, nothing available til october, but I assume I could get a cancellation sooner than that. Didn't book anything, though I know I should have. Perhaps I will later.

did you have your baby yet btw? is that a silly question? was your due date, like a month ago or something?

5 days overdue

could of got another test in by now

book online and then just do check my test everyday until a cancellation comes up, I usually got one pretty soon, depends on your area though I suppose

It was only your first test though wasn't it? your still a test newbie

a test newbie, I like that

5 days...poor you...hope something happens soon!

right have booked test for october 10th

so do I just go to change my test and keep checking for nearest available dates?

just keep going on 'change a test' they update with cancellations all the time

think you can only change the date 3 times though, hope you get one soon, do you want one asap?

thanks crumpets
yes and no
actually I'd be happy never to go through that again!
but soon-ish would be good. My instructor's off on her hols on September 18th so would be good to do it before then.

CatisSleepy-Well done for braving it again!

Hotcrumpets-Maybe if you had another test it would induce labour?

I had my 1st mock test today
My instructor said "we will get into the drive first then i will start it"
Well i had a bad start ,as i was emerging from junction with bad visibility,despite having looked 4-5 times each way i still managed to nearly have a car crash into us
I was sooooooo angry not just at myself (as i had looked and was clear)but angry at the other car as they must have been going too fast(instructor agreed),instructor did say i could have looked again as i was turning
Anyway i had to fend off a panic attack for the rest of the lesson.
I failed the mock test but my instructor said i had one major which was road postion?,after leaving an island he said i should have taken up the left lane.
He was pleased with me and wants to put me in for a test

Dunno if my nerves will stand it?

By the way meant to wish Nutcracker good luck for her lesson tomorrow

Mrs S that sounds promising!
(I had 5 majors the first time I did a mock test )

dunno about your nerves, I tried Rescue Remedy but it didn't help me much. Will try and get to test centre with more than a millisecond to spare next time, that might help.

And good luck to nutcracker too!

Yes that would help Cat!
Was going to ask you actually about the popping the bonnet bit,did you say that your instructor didn't tell you anything until just before the test?
I am clueless with that sort of thing so i will be pushing my instructor to tell me lots.

that's right! it was a bit ridiculous...I kept asking her about it and she kept saying oh there'll be plenty of time for that, it only takes a minute. Turns out, that's all the time we had!
It wasn't ideal, get yours to show you a bit sooner

Thanks will do,if i am capable of retaining such information?

well as it turns out my problem was being able to shut the bloomin bonnet properly...get that sorted and you'll save yourself a lot of embarassment!