29th December 2006 40th Driving lesson

Very dull weather today never had the exact distance measured luckerly as I don't think I would of managed to see it cos it was so dull, instructor said she will measure it next lesson. Quite a good lesson today my steering was a lot better though still a few mistakes, forgot to check mirror quite a few times I actually think I wasn't checking them more than my instructor reminded me about. Completely forgot to signal at a junction for once my instructor didn't notice, I only remembered when we had been waiting a while to get out my instructor said the other drivers on the road could see I was waiting to turn cos of the signal I relised I had forgot and put it on then. I ended up changing gear on a bend again cos there is a junction on the bend which you can't see til you get on the bend and you can see if its clear without stopping. I used 5th gear again up to 50mph would of liked to get up to 60mph but didn't get chance as there were a few slight bends maybe try to next lesson. I went bit over the 40mph speed limit just after using 5th gear by accident.

First manoeuvre was my favorite turn in road which went great. Reverse round corner was the corner they use on tests the one that I totally messed up first 2 times not done it since til today. It went quite well the first one being the better one, second one I didn't steer left enough and got too near middle of road but corrected it and parked ok. Then for my worst manoeuvre parallel parking I just can't do it at all, well it could only go down hill from the other two which went well. My instructor picked the most awkward place possible for this there was a car parked on the right hand side of the road at the exact spot where I needed to start steering left so as well as looking behind and watching I wasn't going to hit the car I was parking behind I had to watch I didn't hit the car parked on the right. I got to the part where I stop and check its still clear before steering right then set off again too fast and didn't steer right enough and ended up on the kerb. Try again I managed it this time mainly due to my instructor slowing the car on the brake. I will never like this stupid manoeuvre.

I stalled twice today which is unusual for me first was as I stopped to check it was clear to go round a tight corner I didn't have clutch down to stop. The second one was when I pulled into petrol station and again braked without clutch. I put petrol in and really tried to get it exactly on £8 went very slow as it got close to £8 and stopped it few times to make sure I didn't go over and ended up 1p over well it said 1p but when my instructor went to pay they said it was 2p over oh well I will get it spot on one day. I was a lot better doing right turns off roundabouts today I can do them again now.

My instructor said next lesson I will be working on clutch control, no idea why as I have had to control clutch many times in each lesson and when doing manoeuvres so not quite sure what she means. Maybe she thinks I need practice as today she was telling me quite a bit not to keep looking at rev counter when getting biting point, mainly on manoeuvres, but it is a habit that I have had from starting lessons I am learning to know when I have biting point without rev counter more now I just have quick glance at it now. Maybe this is partly why my instructor thinks I need to work on clutch control and maybe cos of stalling twice though that was cos I didn't put clutch down to stop.

27th December 2006 Driving lesson canceled

Should of been having a lesson at 2 o clock this afternoon, but my instructor phoned to cancel at about 1.30 cos she's not well. So should be having it on Friday this week instead at 12 o clock at well afternoon lessons don't seem to go great as I'm used to mornings so maybe this way I can avoid a bad lesson. Also 2 extra days to practice seeing the requiered distance to drive which I will be getting tested on next lesson still not looking forward to that part of the lesson.

19th December 2006 39th Driving lesson

I still need to learn to steer I keep heading for middle of the road. I got told to use 2nd gear as soon as we set off I normally get round first bend first cos its almost as soon as I set off time to mirror and signal. We went same way as last lesson used 5th gear no idea what speed limit was but must of been at least 50mph or I would of been told to slow down. For one of first times yet I coasted twice (leaving clutch down while driving) mainly cos I was changing gear then had to stop soon after for a junction. I was reminded a few times about mirrors but no where near as much as I used be reminded. Steering is the main problem at the minute.

I did turn in road my instructor said it was a bit too fast but I thought it was ok the second go was better exept for the reverse bit I put it in first instead of reverse. Parallel parking (I hate it) First attempt I stopped at side of the van I was going to park behind then a taxi and another car decides to come behind me and can't get past so watch me (great) I start to reverse steering left then stop check its still clear the taxi and other car pass me now thankfully, my instructor asks me which way I need to steer to get the front in. I have no idea my mind went blank so she tells me steer right. I do but not quick enough and end up more on the kerb than on the road. Second attempt goes ok with my instructor teling me what to do a bit.

Another thing I need practice on is turning right at roundabouts first one I signal right then when my instructor tells me to check left side mirror I totally forget where I'm going and think she's saying turn left off the roundabout so go to turn left my instructor has to stop me and remind me where I'm going. The second one I needed to be on the right hand side of the lane I was in so my instructor tells me and I think she means right hand side or the road so she has to stop me going on wrong side of the road. Stupid mistakes I know but when you are driving and have 100 other things to do and watch for the simplest things can sound complicated even telling left from right. On the way back it felt like my instructor was driving I was just following her instructons, slow down, speed up, check mirror, signal, cancel signal. At the end as expected I was tested on reading a number plate which I couldn't see but one of the two I was tested on I knew so I made out I could read it (not the best thing to do but I wont let my eyesight hold me back) Next lesson my instructor said she will measure the exact distance and test me not looking forward to that but I have a week to practice and if I don't manage to read it I will have to go to the opticians and see what they say. What ever they say I will still be driving I can sometimes see the distance so I will keep taking tests til I do see it and pass.

12th December 2006 38th Driving lesson

I went a different way to normal today on narrow roads did ok at steering but still needs some improvment in places. I am finally remembering to check mirrors more. I need to get my speed right sometimes go to fast up to hazards.

I did turn in road first today my favorate manoeuvre, not done it for a bit. The first bit I went bit too fast and hit kerb but managed the rest well and had another go which was good. Next was reverse round corner which started great kept car controled and remembered observations steered round the corner and bang into the kerb, pulled back round to start again this time got round ok and another car decides to come up beind me so I have to go back round corner to let it past. Third attempt went bit wide but just managed to straighten up. Driving back round the corner my instructor tells me to pull up again, I guess why for an eyesight test so I slowly brake making sure I get close enough to be able to read it which I do. My instructors says it is a bit close and I admit I had guessed that she was going to ask me to read it she tells me to pull up again further down the road for a slightly further number plate reading which I get one letter wrong on it (maybe cos there was a few marks on wind screen)

I signalled wrong way once today I was told to go left I signalled right and had to change it. At a mini roundabout I was told to go left and signalled and totally forgot to go left and went to go straight on my instructor had to steer left and remind me. At another roundabout I had to keep getting stopped cos I couldn't see properly cos of the sun about 3 times I went to go and another car came round. I stopped at a green light for second time today, but I meant to cos earlier in the lesson my instructor had been saying you shouldn't block crossings off so if there is a car in front and you can't get behind it leaving the crossing clear you should stop before the crossing. This is why I did but as I stopped the car in front moved up leaving room for me to clear the crossing. I just need to work on steering though I did quite well on the narrow roads today and improve on my speed in places and for once mirrors arn't on the list of things to improve, sure they will be again soon. Quite good lesson though have had a few better and a lot worse and I enjoyed it again well the only one I didn't really enjoy was last week.

5th December 2006 37th Driving lesson

I was wondering if my instructor going to turn up as she was 15 minutes late today but added the time on at the end. I stalled at the first junction I did today. Drove quite well for a bit then til a stupid police car passed and put me off cos I had to stop to let it past. From then it went down hill I couldn't keep car straight kept going to middle of road and not slowing down soon enough for junctions and other cars slowing down in front. I was tested on 2 number plates and got one figure wrong on each which was better than last week. Now I'm more used to faster speeds it feels like I'm going slow at doing 35mph especially when other cars are speeding.

First manoeuver reverse round corner I tried to do more all round observations, struggled to keep car slow enough and got round corner and mounted kerb so had to drive back round corner and try again. I forget to put it in gear when I relise it's not in gear I put it in gear and get ready hand brake off car goes forward I had put it in 1st instead of reverse 1st time I have ever done that. I finally manage to reverse round the corner ok. Dread to think what parallel parking will be like. Actually it isn't too bad by that I mean better than last week as in I actually managed it. Both attepts were too fast but I parked ok and when pulling round for the second go I forgot blind spot check. At least this does seem to be improving like with the other 2 went down hill before improving.

Coming upto the dual carriageway junction there is a straight road with a right turn and for some reason you have to turn right you can't go straight on even though the road is clear I always miss the sign telling you to turn right so my instructor says what about a signal and I remember I have to go right. Used 5th gear again getting used to it now though still sometimes rush gears.

By this point for 1st time ever I was ready for the lesson to end no idea why I just couldn't steer right or get right speed. I stopped at mini roundabout when I didn't need to as cars had left signals on and nearly went on roundabout when cars were coming. I hate traffic lights twice in about 5 minutes I had to slam brakes on to stop at red light they changed to red just as I was about to pass stop line another second before changing I would of got through. On the plus side I managed to keep the car at exactly 30mph for a while as that was speed limit and I was in 4th gear and I did a tight bend quite well.

At the end of the lesson I was tested on another number plate which I could just see and I knew it my instructor guessed I knew it as she has tested me on it before I admitted I did know it but could see it. My instructor said I need to improve on steering and asked me what else, I said check mirrors more as that is always something I forget. She said the other main thing this lesson is my speed but mirrors is something else (as usual) Actually mirrors wasn't a big thing this lesson for once. My instructor asked if I wanted one hour lesson next week as that is all I have left of what I paid for but there is no way I'm going back to one hour lessons and only having one a week no matter how bad I drive so got another one and half hour lesson that is the least I'm having a week. Mite not be as over keen as I was before but still can't wait to pass my test and will never give in.