Learning to drive driving you mad?

[ShowOfHands]

So here it is, a learning to drive thread.

I think there are a few of us. I predict much swearing. Is it only me that goes one step forwards, only to go 8 steps backwards?

I'm SOH, have been learning for the grand total of a fortnight. DH is teaching me. My aim is to be driving by the end of September when dd is supposed to start nursery and they change the driving test again.

I live rurally (very rurally) and rely on dh for lifts everywhere. Even a supermarket trip is reliant upon him being home from work. And as he's a police officer, he's never home on time, works long hours and as a consequence, we're fairly isolated.

I am trying to focus on the new lease of life for us.

I don't have a provisional licence yet (still waiting for it) but live on private land with tracks of about 3 miles so am driving round a farm atm.

I'll kick off the swearing so there's no illusion of standing on ceremony. How the buggery feck do you look in 3 mirrors, one windscreen, at the speedometer and not cry all at the same time? Answers on a postcard.

Hello!

Sorry to hear of the car issues happening- must be bloody terrifying with no dual controls.
Hope you're still enjoying the freedom though!

I've put my test out of my mind for a couple of days, as my mum is doing her motorbike CBT today- she's going out on the road this evening, so I'm all anxious for her instead of me for a change!
I have my 1st lesson since my instructor has been away tomorrow, what a relief!

Hope all's going well with everyone, and hope you're ok and not to stressed, London!

Hello everyone.

Decided to go for a lesson tomorrow. I will just not listen to instructor and do my own thing. Update after lesson...

question for the just passeds ... do you still have your p/d plates on ?
Ive still got mine on , and wonder when i should take them off ?

Good luck London, hope the lesson goes well and your instructor keeps his gob shut

Good luck Londongirl, hope it goes well.

Good luck to your mum, Bounty! I did my bike CBT years ago (on my scooter!) and it was nerve racking but fine.

Mariew, 3 minors and 1 major is actually very good for a mock test, is it not? Especially if you had to do all the manoeuvres? It sounds like you're doing really well and your instructor is being quite hard on you!

Droves, I still have a 'P' plate on the back of the car (not the front though) and don't see me taking it off for a wee whiley yet...

Hope everyone is doing well and not too stressed. I have been full of the cold this week so haven't driven as much as I could. I want to feel better soon and go and drive to my friend's house at the weekend (i.e. get totally lost on Glasgow's south side, but I'm sure it will be fine...!)

Ooh, I nearly forgot - DH and I went out last Saturday night with our friends. I wasn't feeling that great (this cold was just starting then) so I took the opportunity to be the designated driver - it was good! And later, my friend felt a bit ill (the red wine was just toooo good) and I offered to drive them home - I felt so grown up - I'm 38

The only embarrassing thing was, when they had gratefully accepted - brave, aren't they - and I realised dd's car seat was still in the back of the tiny Peugeot 107...it was a bit of a squash to get the two of them in the back but we managed.

Hi all!

Quick post from me as I've been working until this very moment and my head is all loopy now I need my bed!

Droves, for the exact same reasons Sugar mentioned I don't have P plates on the car. Over here you really get a hard time if you have any sort of plate Glad to hear the car is OK (so no expensive repairs due yay). I guess we all have to just get used to our cars

Nyx, well done you, designated driver and all. I have never driven a night yet, another stressful thing to conquer I guess

Bounty, good luck to your mum!

London, oh I hope he keeps his mouth shut, for his own sake, otherwise he'll have to answer to all of us

Mariew, I didn't pass any of my mock tests, my instructor used to tell me he was ten times stricter during mock tests so that we would realise what exactly I was doing wrong. When's your next lesson? I agree with the rest, don't move your test if you don't want to. I kept bringing it forward as I had a very late date and then I was trying to move it back again Do what makes you feel most comfortable, but don't let him bully you

Sugar, I drove on the M62 today and it was horrible, motorways are the work of the devil! Leeds was too stressful, I'd rather drive around here Oh, and I got myself a sat nav so now I have to get used to being able to listen to what it says and drive at the same time!

Hope I haven't missed anyone, waves to all!

morning everyone.

Nyx, the results are quite good, but thats only because he only counted the first manouver. If he hadn't, it would have been 3 maybe 4 majors.

I'm not going to change my test date, because if I fail, and its a big if cos I'm so good , then I will always think if I had the extra lesson I could have passed.

Gauchita I don't know when my next lesson is yet. Hes got a couple of new students on his list and wants us all to fit in on the same day, because he doesn't want to have to keep driving here because he lives about 20 miles out of town. He was supposed to ring me last night and let me know but didn't. I've told him I can do mornings, but as a sahm he probably thinks I'll do anytime, just let him try. He's already seen a different side to me. I was on a busy dual carriageway yesterday, where theres been 3 bad accidents in the past month, and he was chatting away I just told him I was concentrating and he shut up.

Droves, I'm glad the cars ok. You've been driving the instructors car for so long you've just got to learn yours. I know I'll be practicing on an evening for a while when I pass, but thats just cos I'm a huge coward.

Have a good day everyone

My mum passed her CBT! She can now ride her motorbike (which she hasn't got yet!) on the roads with an L plate on She's v v pleased (and I now know how she felt when I was going on, and on about learning to drive )

Had my lesson today, it was pretty ok, no major cock ups, and I managed The Roundabout without taking my hands of the wheel!
Haven't had a mock test though, not been mentioned either?!

Next thursday- eeeek!
I have a lesson tomorrow, but doing country roads- maybe he'll do it the one after that(tues)
Or maybe he just doesn't do them?

Sugar, she had a lesson today, her test is on 13th IIRC. She wasn't sure after her last lesson whether she'd go today but then she posted saying she would. Hope she had a good lesson and her instructor shushed!

Bounty, I second Sugar, you need a mock test to get acquainted with test conditions. I'd recommend arranging one for tomorrow.

Back later! Waves!

Hello,

sorry I haven`t updated for a while, I am still alive!

Had the last lesson today before the test. After the disasterous last one, today was little bit better, the first hour went fast with no problems, I was even joking with him.

Second hour, I done the manouvers, successfully. Then in the last hour I did make small few mistakes and that set him off in the bad mood. I kind of didn`t pay too much attention, but was glad the lesson was over.

Test is Monday @ 9.15 am and I am just getting nervous now.
I will have to keep myself busy over the weekend to cope, I think.

Bounty, how u getting on?

C`mon Mariew, you can do it!

And for all of us a nice Benjamn Franklin quote:

"I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong?

Hi all!

London, glad to hear the lesson went OK. He really has an attitude issue Loved the quote! Everything crossed for you since now for Monday You can do it!

Bounty, how was today's lesson?

Mariew, well done for politely getting him to shush the other day A bit about him thinking he can just leave it until last minute to arrange a class because you're a SAHM.

SOH, how are things? Hope the driving is going well and that we hear from you soon.

Amazingbouncing, how are you?

Sugar, hi! How's the car? I was thinking of you all yesterday when I went to ASDA to pick up something (can't remember what now) and instead of parking way at the back I got myself some courage and managed to park between two cars It took me quite a bit and I was terrified but hey

Right, we're off to London tomorrow morning for the weekend. DH wants me to drive for a bit on the motorway and I'm not looking forward to it too much

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Waves!

Well, here we go, test tomorrow. Started feeling nervous this afternoon, I think there might not be much sleep tonight, luckily I got 12 hrs last night .

I will update after test, should be 10.30 or therebouts

Was terrible Gauchita- I am not liking country roads! Pain in the bum really, as I'm surrounded by them!

I haven't said anything about the mock,so looks like I'm not getting one. I suppose I need to use my remaining time to iron out the creases anyway

Hope all is well with everyone....

and London.....
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!
Hope you manage to get some sleep.

Will catch up properly tomorrow but

London, everything crossed for you here! You can do this!!! Will be thinking of you tomorrow at 10.30.

Waves to all

Hope you managed to get some sleep London, will be thinking of you!

As Sugar and Gauchita have said- YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a while now as I'm just about to start learning (first lesson at 10!)

I did have a handful of lessons about ten years ago but stopped because of uni.

Everyone on the thread is miles ahead of me but I wanted a pep talk - tell me that it's normal to be this nervous??! The instructor seems nice on the phone and I've had a go in a straight line in our car yesterday so not completely alien.

Hi Igglybuff! Yes, it's very very very normal to be nervous. You'll be fine! Lessons are a pain in the behind, they really really are, but once you have passed your test you will be so glad. Keep posting and let us know how you are getting on

London, it's 10:02 here and I am thinking of you and sending you calming vibes GOOD LUCK - YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

Hello to everyone else! Gauchita, well done on parking in the more difficult parking space - once you have done it a few times you will wonder what you were worried about, I'm sure. I'm still not great at parking...my thing at the moment is actually parking, spending ages getting it just right, getting out of the car and then thinking "how could I think that was straight??" D'oh.

I'm off just now but will be back later to see what London is going to tell us