30th August 2006 24th Driving lesson

Well it has been 3 month today since my first lesson. Why can't I drive yet. Oh well I'll get there eventually. I know how to drive and I know what to do thats easy the hard part is doing it at the right time.

Lesson yet again started well so I can drive, just need to keep concentrating and remember to slow down and brake gently at junctions and roundabouts (I'm slowly getting less and less keen on roundabouts) I braked to complete stop about 2 car lengths away from roundabout today for some reason. I just can't brake gently AND stop at the line. I can brake gently when I'm pulling up at side of the road when I can stop where ever I want, just not at a line. about 15 mins into the lesson I kept reminding myself to concentrate.

Did turn in road on slight hill one going up and another going down which went quite well better than I expected, tho I did go bit to fast again braking too hard. At least I will be good at emergency stop. Straight reversing went quite well just again bit to fast, but getting used to stearing had to keep stopping for cars passing seemed to be reversing ages. I forgot to put my seat belt back on after reversing oops so had to pull up again to put it back on. I drove into town then which was quite busy, traffic lights always seem to go red just before I get to pass them so I have to stop which can be annoying at times.

I sometimes put too much gas on to set off. My instructor was in a question mood today. Why did I have that much gas on to set off on straight road. (cos thats how much gas the car decided to have on. Ok I ease off gas) Why was I on gas when cars was stopping in the distance. (cos I'm no where near the cars. I start slowing down. Why am I on gas when going down hill slightly. (cos the road is clear and the car isn't going too fast. I cover brake. Why am I signaling early. (cos she told me to turn and I'm used to mirror and signal as soon as I'm told to turn)
I have got into the habit of covering brake when ever I'm not needing gas or brake even if I know I wont need brake I cover it just so my instructor doesn't end up telling me looks better on me. I need to be quicker getting out of junctions and roundabouts.

Another driver overtook me near a crossing and my instructor was saying he must not know the high way code and said that I do and I agreed, so she asked me what the speed limit was I wasn't sure as there was no signs telling you so as it was a built up area I guessed 30 and got it right. Up to now she has only asked me speed limit on 30 or 40 roads so 50 50 chance of guessing right. On the way home tho she tested me on speed limit again and I guessed 40 my instructor asked where it said 40 (it didn't say any speed limit anywhere) so I said 30 and got it right.
Still not done 5th gear yet tho I made sure I did 40mph when I could and my instructor told me to slow down few times so hoping I will get to do 5th gear soon. Theres a slight chance I mite get 2 lessons next week tho not getting my hopes up too much cos it depends on a test if it gets canceled I get extra lesson (please let it be canceled) well next lesson is Monday and I will find out if I can have the extra lesson which will be on Wednesday. I wonder if my instuctor feels I need an extra lesson after todays didn't go great as she never normally mentions extra lessons. Anyway what ever the reason I will be having it if its free.

23rd August 2006 23rd Driving lesson

Quite good lesson today well after last week anything would be an improvement. It was raining to start with tho stopped soon after getting in the car. I did 2 new roundabouts both quite big, one had traffic lights on and I could only go straight on as left and right was onto the motorway. The other was one where you had to change lanes to go right, it was first time I have ever had to change lane and seemed to go quite well tho my instructor told me when to do it. I'm not keen on roundabouts as I look right to see if its clear too long and end up stopping too close to middle of road and on right turns I hate having 2 mirrors to check and blind spot. I still keep braking too hard mostly when I don't slow down enough at junctions or roundabouts and sometimes put clutch down bit early when stopping at junctions.

I did 3 of my best turn in the road yet no mistakes at all and did some straight reversing which still needs more practice, but now I am getting used to keeping the car slow I should get better at it hopefully. I forgot to mirror and signal once when I was pulling up at side of roadand sometimes signal too early. I am getting used to changing gears tho sometimes forget what gear I'm in or change down too late. My instructor said I will be going to 5th gear soon as I'm getting used to the speed, she said this just after having to tell me to not go over 40mph even tho the road was clear so I plan to keep getting up to 40mph when I get chance to show I'm ready for 5th gear. I check my mirrors more now tho still don't like them cos don't see point checking them as often as you should.

I ended up stalling at the very end of the 2 hour lesson cos of a stupid bus, I wanted to turn right at cross roads a bus came up the road I wanted to turn right into so my instructor told me to stop and let the bus turn, when the bus had gone I try to rush to get going again think I did clutch too fast and stalled. My instructor was telling me not to worry and explained why she got me to stop think she thought I'd blame her, but I'm that used to stalling now I'm like oh well get ready again done it so many times I could do it with my eyes shut. That was the only time I stalled today.

15th August 2006 22nd Driving lesson

This is my latest lesson to date I will be updating this blog after each lesson now and hopefully putting bit more into each one as I will remember most of the lesson as up to now I have had to put what I can remember about each lesson as I only just started this blog and felt it would be better to start from my first lesson as that way people can read when I did things like traffic lights, junctions and roundabouts and how I felt about doing them and how well I did them. I will also be writing more about things I have done well as after a while I seem to just remember the bad bits like doing my first junction (4th lesson) and most of my 8th lesson.

Before I write about this lesson I will write about a few things I have missed out that I did well(cos can't remember which lesson) I once rolled back on a hill and managed to put brakes on before my instructor had to. Once in one of my early lessons I stopped to let a bus past without being told.

Now for mistakes: on my first lessons like 2nd to about 5th there was just so much to think about and do my hearing just seemed to switch off, my instructor would be saying something like change to 2nd gear and by time I heard her I'd relise she had said it about 3 or 4 times then think I'd better do it. Also I often in 1st lessons got hand brake and gear stick mixed up I would be trying to change gear with hand brake or stop the car with gear stick.

Now for this lesson.

This has to be the strangest lesson I have ever had it started off great and went down hill. The first 30 mins were great didn't do single mistake steering was good, I changed gear right time didn't need any help at all. Did my best yet turn in road 2 or 3 times exept stalling once, did better at straight reversing. Still good at hill starts. if the lesson had carried on the way it started it would of been my best lesson yet.

But it didn't. The first mistake was I was driving on straight road 3rd gear checking mirrors and watching where I was going, next minute my instructor says slow down for that speed hump and brakes for me telling me to change down to 2nd. I change to 2nd and try to get going but the car had already stopped so I stall I get worked up and my instructor sounds wound up tho never shouts at me thankfully. I start the car up again and drive on, with the back windscreen wiper on (I didn't even know how to turn it on rushed to start back up and knocked it on) my instructor tells me to pull up on left I go to left ready to pull up, what about mirror and signal? Oh I forgot quick glance in mirror and signal quickly then stop. My instructor asks why I didn't see them humps, I have no idea maybe cos I wasn't looking? Then she asks what is the first thing I should do when she tells me to pull up. I know its mirror signal, so why did I forget. Ok question time over she shows me how to do windscreen wipers off and put front ones on as its raining (first time I ever drove while its raining. I drive on.

Later we come to a right bend which goes down hill so as I'm turning my instructor tells me to cover brake and cos I just ease of gas she brakes then I decide to so ends up stalling again. then at a busy roundabout I'm waiting for a gap and think I have got enough time to get out before the car coming round passes me, but my instructor stops me and end up stalling again. This time I rush to start back up and forget to put it in neutral, I put hand brake on and start it up my instructor quickly reminds me it should of been in neutral. I have since read that putting it into neutral is not something you must do as long as you keep clutch down which I always do.

Quite a few times I kept rushing up to junctions then jumping on the brakes (as my instructor calls it. I also nearly went through a red traffic light and I was busy watching a bus didn't pull out in front of me that I missed seeing a car stop in front and nearly went into that tho I did stop myself just in time. for the last half hour my instructor was telling me EVERYTHING even when we came to some more speed humps she asked me if I had seen them this time.

My instructor said 2 hours may be too long for me and 1 and half hour may be better I asked if I did start having 1 and half hour if I could have an extra lesson a week as I don't want to be having less than 2 hours a week. She said she would have a check and booked me in for a 2 hour lesson next Wednesday. I don't know if 2 hours is too long tho cos the other lessons seemed ok, but if having 1 and half hour lessons means I can get more than 2 hours driving a week it would be worth it. Yes I know I'm too eager or so my instructor thinks tho she has never said it.

8th August 2006 21st Driving lesson

Lesson starts quite well exept I almost go through a red traffic light cos I'm driving down hill traffic lights at bottom change to green I assume they will stay on green as they only just changed but as I am coming up to stop line they decide to change to red so I have to slam brakes on quick. (stupid lights) I keep changing gear too early or too late and steering too near middle of road and stopping to near middle of road when turning left at junctions again.

I try the turn in road again and still do it too fast why is it when I first did this I did it better than I am now gggrrrrrrr, at least I don't hit kerb this time. I practice straight reversing which is harder than it sounds. I have to check bus lane times to see if I can drive on them which I miss both times so my instructor tells me I can drive on them but gets me to drive back round and read what times they are in use.

About halfway through the lesson I feel everything is going wrong and get bit wound up that my instructor is telling me to do things like change gear when I was about to do it. I don't know if she could tell I was getting wound up or not, but she decided to get me to do a hill start which I didn't think she thought I could do. I told myself to make sure I did it right put plenty of gas on and do clutch slow I managed it well didn't roll back or stall. My instructor sounded pleased and told me well done which was just what I needed as til then everything seemed to go wrong. Thinking back I wonder if she knew I needed to do something well and guessed I'd do good hill start so that maybe why she got me to do one as the timing of it was great. Almost went into the back of another car on my way home tho brake in time to avoid it.

I must stop looking at the rev counter to get biting point My instructor stops to tell me that I should not be looking at it I should be checking mirrors instead, ok then I get ready to set off again get biting point where do I look straight away ... rev counter no not deliberate just got in habit of it so much tho I do quickly remember what I was told 2 seconds back and check mirrors.

Sounds like a bad lesson doesn't it reading it but wasn't that bad and didn't stall again today.

31st July 2006 20th Driving lesson

This has to be my best lesson yet and it's a 2 hour lesson, I don't stall at all, I check mirrors more even tho my instructor reminds me a few times when I feel I am checking them she's probably got in habbit of keep telling me now.

I manage to go right at roundabouts with no help steering, I worked out the only way to do mirror checks and steer is to check the middle mirror then look where I'm going then check the left mirror and QUICK blind spot check then look where I'm going and signal left.

My turn in road was probably the worst I have done did it 4 times and on 2 of them I mounted kerb on the reverse bit, I need to keep the car slow to do this properly. The only other thing that went bit wrong this lesson is steering I need to position the car better at junctions and not drive too near kerb and not too near middle or road. I enjoy every lesson, but this lesson ended far too quick I could of drove for another 2 hours given half a chance. Why am I so keen it's horrible the lesson ending when you want to carry on. Ok I have never been glad for a lesson to end but this is most dissapointed I have been for one to end. Oh well countdown to the next one begins here.

26th July 2006 19th Driving lesson

My first 2 hour lesson I need to get off to a good start as normally how ever the start of the lesson goes that is way rest of lesson goes and don't want 2 hours of mistakes.

Luckerly the lesson does start well with just few minor steering errors, I did turn in road again which went bit wrong as it was in 5 turns instead of 3 then did it again and managed it in 3, I need to keep the car slower when doing this manoeuver. I also did a straight reverse tho it wasn't planned as my instructor planned for me to do turn in road but couldnt cos cars where parked up the road and it was dead end so had to reverse to get out went quite well I think. I ended up stalling it a few times , but I am getting better at braking and clutch control.

I am still stuggling with roundabout right turns my eyes can not be looking in mirrors and the road so my instructor ends up having to steer away from the kerb again and signal left to leave roundabout. I can do the left turns and straight on at roundabouts. I need to check mirrors more (still) I have never yet checked them enough, I hate them why check whats behind you its in front you will crash if you are not looking not behind unless you are reversing. Stupid horrid mirrors. Also at one point I forgot I was meant to be turning left and nearly went straight on so my instructor had to steer left and remind me.

Near the end of the lesson I am driving down this narrow road and nearly at the cross roads at the end when another car decides to speed round the bend, my instructor has to slam brakes on to avoid hitting the car. My instructor explains I should cover clutch on that road incase that happens again then I would have time to stop, but also says it was the other cars fault cos they came round the corner too fast.

19th July 2006 18th Driving lesson

Went to busyer roundabouts today and general drive round. Went quite well just need bit more practice on steering as a few times I was either to near kerb or too near middle of road. Did my first right turn at roundabout which didn't go great as I nearly went into the kerb on the roundabout when I did mirror checks cos I can't look where I'm going AND in mirrors (stupid mirrors I hate them)

18th July 2006 17th Driving lesson

For some reason I kept stalling braking cos I forgot the clutch not done this much before so no idea why I did today could tell from start it was going to be a bad lesson.

Got ready to set off clutch down gas on ... what have I missed yes the gear ok 1st gear gas on not that much gas I ease off gas a bit and start. Kept stalling braking mainly at junctions, but once it was cos I thought my instructor mite test me on reading a number plate so I try to get the car close enough so I can read it and stupidly decide I don't need clutch cos that for just before you stop. I didn't think to put clutch down and still let the car roll up slowly.

I was in 3rd gear and coming up to a bend so decide to change down but my instructor stops me and says I need to get speed down 1st.

On my turn in road I also messed up for some reason I couldn't remember which way I was supposed to be turning the wheel and didn't have time to turn in the oppersite direction before stopping cos I went too fast so my instructor had to help.

11th July 2006 16th Driving lesson

This is one of my good lessons I practice my turn in road and do well. My instructor says I have picked it up quite quick. I drive round using 4th gear and on narrow roads. Almost stalled braking but just got clutch down in time a split second longer it would of stalled. I hit the kerb going round a bend. Overall good lesson.

10th July 2006 15th Driving lesson

I get into the driving seat and see a car number plate that I can probably read, but decide against saying that I can read it just incase I get a bit wrong and look stupid (as I can't look at it long enough to read it to myself as my instructor is talking to me) Anyway she asks me to read the number plate and I read it correctly. I ask her if that is the requiered distance, she replies it is probably slightly closer than the requiered distance. But I'm happy I have shown her I can read number plates.

This lesson I start on my first manouever which is turn in road or 3 point turn. I manage to keep the car slow and steer right quickly then stop, now come the hard bit reversiving. I check round put in reverse and get biting point release hand brake... Hang on why is it going forward??? I check it is in reverse it is so I try again and go forward again. My instructor says its cos the road slopes down on both sides so I need bit more gas on, oh yes its same as going up a hill if you don't have enough gas you go backward. Ok try again this time it goes backwards at last I steer left and stop then finish going forwards and steer right. My instructor thinks I did quite well for 1st attempt. I have another go and manage to reverse first time.

Now for a bit of roundabout practice left turns and straight on. I forget to signal left after last turning before the one I want so my instructor signals and steers a bit oh well first time at going straight on just need more practice. now on way home we come to a junction where I have to stop to check it's clear, it is so get ready to go and it stalls and I try again and stall again. I wonder why it stalled as I'm used to junctions and this one is empty. I think my instructor could tell I was getting wound up as she told me to take my time there was no rush no one behind or anything and to put bit more gas on. This did seem to help as I got past the junction then and drove home.

5th July 2006 14th Driving lesson

When I go out to the car my instructor is in passenger side so that means I'm driving from home today. Ok calm down I expected it soon so no need to panic I can drive now.

My instructor has said we are doing roundabouts today. I ask her which roundabout but she tells me to just concentrate on driving and I will see when we get there. It turns out I am going to practice on a tiny roundabout which you can almost always get on to without stopping. My instructor explains I will be doing a left turn and what to do. I get to the roundabout look right its clear (as usual) I go a bit wide but not too bad for first attempt. I have few more goes at it then drive on some lanes where its quite narrow with few bends which goes ok. I am dissapointed when my instructor says she will drive me home cos it's the end of lesson and I would need to do right turn at the roundabout to get home. (come on can't be that hard I'm sure I could do it or even just go right rather than round it cos no traffic is ever on it or we could reverse and go right down a road) Ok ok I reluctently let my instructor drive me home tho she knows I wanted to drive myself and says I can next lesson.

4th July 2006 13th Driving lesson

My instructor tests my eyesight at the exact distance requiered I get 1 number and 1 letter wrong and decide I will be cutting down on computer use as that may help as I know I can sometimes see the distance and WILL NOT let my eyes stop me driving I want to drive too much for that.

I do the traffic lights again this time they are on green as I approch so I know I will have to stop. I stop and start getting biting point, but my instructor tells me to wait til they go to red amber before getting ready. This is the most nervous I have been in any lesson with the exeption off the first time I did junction. The lights start to change I manage to get biting point and go without stalling somehow as all the time I was getting biting point my instructor was saying come on hurry up or lights will change back come on. I managed to ignore her and get past tho I still have no idea how I managed to keep driving with no mistakes straight after that, I think it helped knowing I had been past there last lesson and managed ok. did the lights again that lesson think they were on green so I didnt have to stop.

28th June 2006 12th Driving lesson

I ask my instructor if I will be driving home today. (just incase she forgot about saying I mite be able to) She says we will see how the lesson goes. I make a silent wish to have a good lesson.

We go round usual area using 4th gear lesson does go well thankfully and I don't stall it. when we get back to area I live my instructor tells me to pull up on left, then goes through what traffic light colours mean (as if I didn't know) Well at least it means I will be driving home just have to get biting point quick as I am almost certain I will have to stop at the lights. I drive up very slowlyto traffic lights that are on red in hope they may change before I have to stop and they do YIPPEEEEE I can get past them easy. I have little drive round before the lesson ends then drive home past the traffic lights again now I was lucky for them to change once twice is byond lucky so drive up to them again on red again I drive as slowly as possible and WOW they changed to green again how lucky can I be. I drive home safely.

27th June 2006 11th Driving lesson

I felt a bit dissapointed in myself last lesson for not doing 40mph or anywhere near it so I decided today I would get up to 40mph I would not be nervous I would not end up skidding cos my instructor would slow me down to avoid it.

We go on the same route as last lesson and practice 4th gear again I relise I am doing 40mph and not nervous or anything great I thought I would have to keep reminding myself to do 40 and keep reminding myself it would be safe but actually felt quite relaxed doing it. Had to be told to slow down which makes a nice change from last lesson. My instructor tests me reading a number plate, I get a few figures wrong but still determind I will see the distance. My instructor says I mite be able to drive home next lesson which is tomorrow. She tells me I need to be able to get biting point quickly tho at the traffic lights. I hope to show her that I am ready to drive home and I have been getting biting point quite quick lately so hope I can do it.

21st June 2006 10th Driving lesson

I practice changing up and down gears, then go for a little drive using 4th gear my instructor tells me I can go up to 40mph if I want in 4th or just keep it above 30mph. We go on roads with only slight bends to practice 4th gear I feel bit nervous going at above 30mph fastest I go is about 35mph mostly between 30 and 35 or go back down to 3rd. for some reason I feel if I go at 40 or nearly 40mph I will end up skidding when I do bends no idea why as its a dry day.

I enjoy the drive and pass some pedetrian traffic lights on way back that stay on green for me. I have managed another lesson not stalling, I ask my instructor if I can drive myself home as I feel the lesson went well, but she says not yet as I have to get past a quite busy crossroads with traffic lights that are on red a lot.

19th June 2006 9th Driving lesson

I was ready for starting the lesson anywhere today not doing like last lesson expecting a certain road and being unsettled again good job aswell.

Started the lesson on a hill (great) well I get ready to set off get biting point still with help off my instructor check mirrors and go. My instructor stops me. Why cos some stupid car decides to come behind me it wasnt there when I was taking hand brake off. My instructor tells me I should check mirror again as I start to move off. Ok I try again and manage this time. I manage to avoid stalling this lesson. I use 3rd gear more and get used to changing down gears ready for bends. I signaled too late the one mistake I missed last lesson. Over all a good lesson well any would seem good after the last lesson.

16th June 2006 8th Driving lesson

I'm getting fed up of keep stalling and hope to get through this lesson without stalling (no chance) This is what I call my disaster lesson

My instructor decides to unsettle me today as I am used to going to the same quiet road to start each lesson, but today she decides to put me on a slightly busyer road that does it for me. I'm bit nervous to start with I set off without stalling YET. I do a few left turns which I steer to wide and struggle to straighten up quick enough, I signal to early, I stall it about 3 times, I roll back on a hill instructor has to brake for me. I brake far to hard a few times, I stop too far in at junction and too far out at junction, I drive too slow then too fast. On a more positive note I did my 1st down hill start and that went quite well and at the end of the lesson I used 3rd gear which went well. Anyway at least next lesson can't be any worse and I didn't get mad or upset over it.

13th June 2006 7th Driving lesson

I don't remember much about this exept I stalled a few times and think I did my 1st hill start which went quite well I think as I normally remember mistakes and bad lessons better than good ones. Which is probably why I remember my next lesson quite well. Any one who thinks they have had a bad lesson read my 8th lesson you may change your mind about your bad lesson. I have to do the bad junction where cars are blocking my view on both sides again which my instructor said we wouldn't do again and she says this again this time, I'm thinking yes you said that last lesson. I do manage to edge out a bit better this lesson though still room for improvement.

As I don't remember much I'll write about what I need to improve on I need to check mirrors more, always mirror before signal, brake more softly rather than jumping on brake (as my instructor calls it) practice steering better and remember which way I'm supposed to go left or right and indicate right way,

9th June 2006 6th Driving lesson

I start on right turns this lesson which means I drive more without starting and stopping all the time as up til now I have been doing 1 bend or junction and stopping then starting to do next thing then stop again. Quite good lesson as I drive round and follow my instructors directions I don't think I stalled it this lesson thats a 1st. I come to junction that has cars parked on both sides blocking my view and have to move out slightly and stop I struggle to stop so soon after starting so my instructor has to brake for me, even she says it is a bad junction that we wont come that way again.

6th June 2006 5th Driving lesson

I practice steering more now my instructor explains how to steer round bends keeping left hand on the left side of the wheel and right hand on the right side (anyone who is learning or can drive will understand this) I practice going round bends and seem to be improving. I can get out of junctions now despite my disasterous 1st attempt. (see 4th driving lesson) I still stall it a few times.

I practice moving off at an angle from behind parked cars. How the hell am I meant to do this as it means I have to be good at the clutch which is almost impossible and steer at the same time. Well at least I'm not as nervous as I was doing 1st junction. I get biting point with the help of my instructor and zoom off nearly hitting the car my instructor has to stop me and I try again doing a bit better this time.

5th June 2006 4th Driving lesson

I was hoping not to do anything new today as I wanted to get used to changing gears and steering round bends.

The lesson started quite well I set off without stalling, changed up to 2nd gear went round bend ok. My instructor drove me back round to where I started cos there was junction on a slightly busyer road that I wasn't ready for. So I thought that I would just be practicing the 1 bend and 2nd gear I drove round again did well again, I'm ready to let my instructor get past the junction again, but she says I am going to have a go at it. She explains what I am to do and says even though it is an open junction and I can see without stopping if there is any cars passing I am still to stop. I think great I'm nervous as hell and I have to stop even if its safe to go. I knew I wasn't anywhere near ready and should of probably said so, but all I could think was the quicker I do junctions quicker we can do other stuff and take my test. Stupid I know. Well I set off nerous as hell get to the junction and stop like I was told. My instructor decides then that cos its safe to go I can carry on and tells me to carry on. Even though I had already just stopped I think great and put my foot straight on gas but cos I had stopped it stalled. Great just what I needed .... not. My instructor says I can't change my mind when I've stopped I need to get stupid biting point again, ok she didn't say stupid I added that word cos I still can't tell when I have it and can't keep it when not moving. I TRY to keep calm or calm down more like. I get ready to set off get biting point, check both ways hand brake off and stall again I rushed the clutch in a panic, I try again and stall again and again. cars are waiting behind me I feel EVERYONE is watching finally my instructor says she will get past the junction and goes back to where I started. I feel dissapointed in myself I knew I wasn't ready I should of said, but I had a go and failed. I expect to end up stalling on the empty straight road as I am so wound up and still getting over the disasterous junction fail. Suprisingly I set off no problem and do the bend ok then pull up just before the horrid junction. My instructor then asks if I want another go, this time I am more keen to have another go to get rid of the failed attempt. My instructor tells me this time if I can see its clear I do not need to stop. Thank god for that PLEASE let it be clear. Thankfully it was (I think) anyway I got past it and drove round again still nervous at junction but getting better. I think the good start to the lesson jinxed it maybe if I'd stalled at start and messed up I wouldn't of had to do junctions this lesson oh well done them now.

2nd June 2006 3rd Driving lesson

Got picked up and took to usual road I practiced going round the bend again bit better this time tho still needed help. My instructor said I was going to use 2nd gear today she explained that between 10mph and 20mph I was to use 2nd and that I was to come off gas to press clutch in and change to 2nd. I practiced going from 1st to 2nd while car was still I managed it , but it sounded like a lot to remember and do all the coming off gas clutch in change gear clutch out gas on how was I ment to remember all that??? Well I started up still had to be told when I had biting point and how the hell are you ment to keep your feet still enough to hold biting point no idea. Well set off my instructor told me every detail I just did what she said and managed to get in 2nd gear not as hard as I expected.

31st May 2006 2nd Driving lesson

I thought I would just be starting and stopping again for the hour lesson which suited me fine as long as I was driving most of the lesson.

I got picked up and my instructor drove me to the quiet road we was on yesterday, where I got into drivers seat had quick recap of how to start and stop. I stalled it a few times this lesson (my instructor was right unfortunally never mind) did start and stop 3 times then my instructor turned the car round and I started and stopped few more times. After my instructor turned car round again I was just getting used to it start, stop 3 times swap seats and do it again easy enough, but this time when we got to the end of the road I stopped the car and was ready to jump out for the car to be turned round my instructor said I was going to have a go at going round the left bend (the only way you could go. I was like eerrr ok but not sure I reminded myself that I needed to use the steering wheel and turn it left. I set of got to the bend turned the wheel but not enough my instructor did most of steering, then round another bend which I managed then speed humps I was nervous going over them as I couldn't get square on to them so it bumped round a lot my instructor had to keep steering so we got over them better.

30th May 2006 1st Driving lesson

Ok I have just decided to do a blog on my driving lessons so far as you can see by the date this has been posted it is a while back so I may miss bits out that I forget.

It's the day of my first ever driving lesson I have been looking forward to this for ages as my instructor was going on holiday when I booked this so she has recently come back. First I have to go to work at an after school club the man who should be working with me doesn't turn up I have 4 children on my own luckerly they are well behaved but the morning drags on, maybe cos I keep looking at the clock willing it to get to 1.00pm when the woman I work with will be here and I can rush home for driving. 1.00pm finally comes no one here I start getting impatient cos I think I will be late for driving, finally the woman arrives 10 mins late and says she was stuck in traffic. Yea yea well whatever I'm going, My mum texts me twice telling me not to be running cos I got to cross busy road she knows how exited I am. I run for the bus trying to calm down telling myself its not the end of the world if I am late as there will be plenty more lessons to come. The bus seems to take forever at 2.00pm I get off bus run home my instructor has just arrived. I rush in to put my work bag in and get everything I need, far too exited and emotional.

I get in the car my instructor checks my provisional , I tell her I have delayed driving so long because I sometimes struggle to see the required distance so she says she will test me. (oh no that's all I need I'm emotional enough without being told I can't drive cos of my eyesight) Anyway she stops the car and asks me to read a number plate. No chance though I clean my glasses just in case forcing myself not cry (I'm thinking I will be told I cant see the distance so no point learning to drive) My instructor moves the car slightly closer this time I can read it I'm so happy my instructor says she will test me again in a few week. (I decide that I will do anything possible to improve my eyesight as I even now can't bear the thought of not driving.

We go to a quiet road where we swap seats my instructor says this lesson is going to be mostly talking and at the end I will get a quick go at starting and stopping the car. She explains in detail everything to do and check when you first get in the car, she goes through the pedals and everything. I sit there thinking yes yes I understand what's next bit getting impatient waiting to drive. Finally she tells me to start engine and goes through how to get car moving. Now for the first time I get slightly nervous but still more exited. I magage to start and stop the car twice quite well without stalling my instructor was pleased and said a lot of people stall it on first lesson but said I will sooner or later. My instructor then asks when I would like my next lesson, I say tomorrow but she says Friday is earliest so I say ok Friday then she then says she has a space tomorrow so which one do I want. I ask if she can do both she seems surprised and says yes. That it then both. Can't wait.