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Original poster

Learning to drive driving you mad?

999 replies

ShowOfHands · 27/06/2010 07:33

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.

OP posts:
tigercametotea · 30/08/2012 15:14

I hope you are getting mentally prepped for the test. Which day is it next week Sossiges? I know what you mean by not wanting to put pressure on yourself as it will just make the disappointment worse if you don't pass. Funny enough my instructor said it's okay to go in thinking you will fail. He had a few students do that and they passed eventually. I don't think it matters. Just do your best.

Imflabulous · 30/08/2012 15:55

Hi i have been lurking the past couple of weeks, i have been learing since June (got a few lessons for my 30th) and i passes my theory today! Im well chuffed as i was quite worried i would not pass as never ever do well in tests.

I have a lesson this evening and cant wait to tell my instructor i passed.

How is everyone doing? Im trying to improve on looking in the mirrors more regularly and work on slowing down at a junction and remembering to drop down the gears!

MissMogwi · 30/08/2012 16:20

Well done! I was nearly doing cartwheels out of the test place when I took mine! Grin

I've had a lesson today and it went really well, I just forgot a couple of really obvious things which make me cross at myself as I do know them.

hopingtodrive · 30/08/2012 16:22

Hi ladies so glad I found this thread. I did my theory test a week ago and will start lessons in a month. How did u find an instructor? I have been looking online but can't find reviews except for one school in my area

Imflabulous · 30/08/2012 16:36

My instructor was who my DH learned with and he is uber patient and a really good instuctor with a good pass rate, aso he is not expensive and im getting a deal as he know DH!

Always go through word of mouth if you can, but i think at the end of the day it depends on if you gel or not.

Sossiges · 30/08/2012 22:18

Hi hopingtodrive (aren't we all Grin) try this I think it has a pretty comprehensive list of ADIs

Sossiges · 30/08/2012 22:24

Hi to all [waves]
Driving lesson went ok today, if I hadn't stalled twice going into a roundabout, had turned in earlier on the reverse around a corner, ditto on pparking and not broken the speed limit on 12 separate occasions, it would have been pretty damn good. Next lesson on Monday then - the test [horror]

Sossiges · 30/08/2012 22:26

Oh, and meant to say, have a few trial lessons maybe with different instructors to see which one you get on with best

Sossiges · 30/08/2012 22:29

tiger go for it - go to Chester Ice Cream Farm - and report back. Go on, you know you want to...

hopingtodrive · 31/08/2012 00:23

Thanks sossiges, I called around a few schools and they wanted me to sign up for 10 lessons straight away. I will call the ppl from the ADI.

Best of luck with your test. :D

Sossiges · 31/08/2012 08:55

Hmm...personally I wouldn't sign up for 10 lessons without knowing the instructor a bit. You might not get on, although I suppose schools have lots of instructors and you could swap...

I had three separate lessons with my current instructor before I went for a block of lessons, just to be on the safe side.
Thanks very much, I need all the luck I can get!

hopingtodrive · 31/08/2012 09:21

You will do great:). Everyone keeps telling me, it's all about the confidence.

This is my last big resolution for 2012 to get a license, I found this thread at the most opportune moment as 2012 is just about to slip away.

MissMogwi · 31/08/2012 09:26

It's my resolution too. I will pass my test and buy a car in 2012.

It sounds daft to those who drive, but little things like taking stuff to the tip myself and taking the girls to parties that are far away without a trek on the bus, or the cat to the vets will make my life so much easier!

Wish I'd done it years ago, I'm bloody 33.

Mich19801 · 31/08/2012 14:02

Hi, Im preparing for my practical test... Im finding the manuovers ok but this new show me tell section is killing me... I get so mixed up :-( can anyone help... I dont have much time with the little one hanging off my leg... Any mobile apps going around??

Sossiges · 31/08/2012 14:40

Hi Mich what's the problem with show me/tell me? There's a list of questions here pages 200-203 inclusive. Even if you get both questions wrong it's only one minor, so don't worry too much. I think you need to know this stuff though if you drive, like checking tyres and oil level and that your washer bottle's full Smile

Sossiges · 31/08/2012 14:42

Bloody 33? You're still a baby!

Sossiges · 31/08/2012 14:42

I'm [mumble, mumble] this year, bugger it Grin

MissMogwi · 02/09/2012 11:35

Got a driving lesson shortly. I'm nackered and a bit stressed about money, can't see this going well!

Sossiges · 02/09/2012 22:27

How was it?
I have a driving lesson tomorrow, last one before test, so it's bound to be a cock-up from start to finish. I have been watching a mock test on Youtube, the girl was a much better driver than me and she got 8 faults. I have no chance [hides under duvet]

Imflabulous · 03/09/2012 06:55

Good luck with your test sossiges you will be fine!

Miss, how did your lesson go? Some times you dread the worst and its fine.

My instructor is on holiday this week so will need to con dh into taking me out a few times, dont want to forget how to drive in mean time.

MissMogwi · 03/09/2012 10:08

It went ok actually! Although I had a moment when I totally mixed up left and right.Confused

Good luck with your test Sossiges, how are you feeling?

MissMogwi · 03/09/2012 10:09

I know what you mean about forgetting to drive if you miss lessons. I get all nervous again if I miss one or two, but it soon comes back.

Mich19801 · 03/09/2012 13:18

Hey Sossiges thanks, I'm a bit of a visual revision person. The Horn i have no problem with. lol Its just the whole under the hood part... I get nervous and mixed up... bless my instructor he must want to shut my head under the bonnet sometimes... Maybe its a confidence thing... :-( BUT I found something useful over the weekend... Really good actually...

play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appinventor.ai_1arcsoftware.Tell_me_Show_Me&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiYXBwaW52ZW50b3IuYWlfMWFyY3NvZnR3YXJlLlRlbGxfbWVfU2hvd19NZSJd

Nice little brain teaser and all seems well with it too. Ran it past my instructor and he said its great. So I'm on the ball every time the little one has a nap. :-)

Sossiges · 03/09/2012 17:23

Lesson was dire today, so that bodes well for test tomorrow...Hmm
Hill starts will be the death of me and I used to be so good at them (wails and crawls back under duvet)

Sossiges · 04/09/2012 10:12

Hey, hey guess who passed (with 5 minors)?
I'm well chuffed Grin
DH bought me fizz and flowers. Double chuffed!

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