can anyone give me a bit of moral support re. my driving. I am in bits...

[MrsPixie]

I passed my test 5 years ago but after having DD 3 yrs and a near miss in the var with her as a baby I just haven't driven.

I started some refresher lessons last week and today was such a disaster . I was a bit slow on a right turn and an animal guy in a van gave the a tirade of the most disgusting abuse ever. I was so upset and my driving instructor was looking at it from his POV! WTF???

I am currently sobbing and just don't want to do this but i know i must for DDs sake. I feel like such an idiot

the logo of the van was very well-know around here and i have a good mind to call them up and tell them word for word what one of their "drivers" screamed at me..

having such a shit day

Change your driving instructor. In fact, move to Manchester and get my DH to be your driving instructor. The van driver was a tosser and your instructor showed you no support, guidance or - FFS - instruction on what you did wrong and how to correct it.

May both be infested with itchy infected piles after breaking both their arms so they can't scratch!

Do that Mrs P.

I took my test in the late 80s, moved to a city where a car was unnecessary, then wanted to start again about a decade late, having hardly driven since the test.

I had some refresher lessons, and the instructor was stunned by how far back I'd slipped - I was like a complete beginner again for a few weeks and made loads of mistakes.

Persevere, but I suggest a change of instructor - they're there to support you not make you feel worse. Your confidence will have been badly dented by your previous experience and you need a sympathetic instructor.

Presumably there are L plates on the car? Learners make mistakes, drivers are supposed to be careful around learners. Think of yourself as a learner until you have your confidence back and make sure you have an instructor who understands that.

Forget the van driver. I was flashed and honked like fury recently for having the temerity to drive within the speed limit on a narrow road with a box of post-operative guinea pigs on the passenger seat. You have to learn not to take it personally.

Good luck.

Thanks guys - I am feeling a bit better, I am so fed up with it so bloody frustrating. Will stick with small journeys, I only have one lesson left with him so will just grin and bear it. He is a cock though.

Get a new instuctor! I had about 10 lessons when I was 17, and then did nothing til I was 21- I had to have loads of lessons again. But my new instuctor was great- really good at building my self-esteem, and once I had that, it all came back to me! Passes first time, and don't know what I'd do without my car.

Good luck!