31st January 2007 45th Driving lesson

Lesson started well didn't over rev as much as last lesson, steering was a bit wrong as I was driving to close to middle of the road a few times. For some reason I forgot to change down gear a few times coming up to bends. I had to be dualled at a junction as I didn't check left. I keep putting hand brake on when theres no need I should use clutch control. I managed to get up to 55mph today.

First stop the test centre for eyesight test I was tested the first distance I would be asked on the test and couldn't quite read the number plate (there are only 3 cars there so I will try to memorise them all just to be on safe side) Turn in road first manoeuvre first go I only just got round in 3 turns second one was better. Parallel parking was on a narrow road so bit hard I had to turn wheel left then right twice to get in and didn't observe enough. Second one was better both times I managed to park ok so it is improving.

Kept braking without covering clutch a few times then needed petrol and stopped in petrol station without putting clutch down and stalled. Filled up with petrol again and did it exact, I can do it now. Back home my instructor had measured the required distance on some string and tested me on reading her cars number plate I had to walk back to end of the string so I did get to see the first 2 letters and the last letter my instructor was stood blocking the others I made sure I remembered them incase I couldn't see it from the distance. I did manage to read it all correctly (well I knew the numbers were 06 so I only had to read 2 letters which I could. My instructor then asked me if I could read another which looked a bit further away and I couldn't so she said she is not letting me book anymore lessons til I've been to opticians to see what they say despite my efforts she would not change her mind. I must of tried for at least 5 minutes. Anyway I have said it before and I will keep saying it I will NOT give in I know I can normally see the required distance just and it was dull today which makes it slightly harder. Also there are 3 cars that I could be asked to read the number plate from I could memerise 3. I can drive safely well as safe as any other learner and none of the mistakes I have ever made arte cos of me being short sighted. I WILL DRIVE, this will NOT be my last lesson.

Theory booked finally

Just finally got my first and hopefully only theory booked for 20th February at 3pm so better get practicing hazard perseption and go over the multi choice questions to make sure I pass.

24th January 2007 44th Driving lesson

Not the best lesson by far. Set off and stoped too near middle of the road for turning left. Next I somehow ended up in the right hand lane at a roundabout my instructor asked what lane I should be in, I relise should be in left lane. What do I do? Quickly steer left STUPID STUPID, my instructor stops me cos cars were passing on the left. Should of used left wing mirror, I've done that mistake a few times before but no cars was passing before so got away with it though my instructor told me to use mirrors, I MUST remember to check mirrors next time. We need petrol so have to get into left lane soon or we will pass petrol station so I signal left and this time checking left mirror manage to get into petrol station. I put petrol in and get it exact. A few times I miss checking mirror before signaling. I end up stalling twice, once was on a hill going up and I had to stop to let a bus past and don't put enough gas on from that point I put too much gas on at almost every chance I got, moving off, doing manoeuvres. My instructor asked why have I got so much gas on? and said its the clutch that moves the car almost constantly. The second time I stalled was at a junction.

First manoeuvre was going to be reverse round corner but there was a car parked so I did parallel parking instead I some how did it quite well ignoring the engine reving like mad (too much gas again) I parked best yet, not too far from the car in front for once. Then reverse round corner which was down hill so didn't need gas as my instructor pointed out, this went well. Turn in road went well aswell.

By this point my instructor had told me about too much gas and clutch moves the car loads of times it was getting funny I said to her she must be sick of telling me that and she laughed and agreed. I get ready to move off yet again too much gas I say it before my instructor has chance, she asked me what moves the car I answered the clutch see I know it I just can't do it. She kept telling me not to look at rev counter this lesson which is a habbit from my first lessons though don't look at it much now just on hills and manoeuvres. On a roundabout going right I signal right do mirror checks and forget to signal left to come off. On another roundabout going right I need to change lanes so I steer right, what did I miss mirrors and signal and blind spot check. Well my instructor reminded me about mirrors and signal just missed blind spot. I kept steering too near middle of the road and going to close or wide passing parked cars. It was rainiong on and off all lesson I never notice when it stops as I'm watching the road you don't notice if its still raining.

Near the end I did another parallel park which again went quite well though too fast but parked well again and too much gas (surprise suprise) it's the clutch that moves the car I know I just can't do it. Also I didn't look back enough. My instructor asked where I should look I answered out the back window she agreed and said I looked every where but out back window.

To say the general driving was bad I did enjoy it and have a laugh it just got funnier my instructor having to repeat herself about too much gas and clutch moving the car. I am going to be booking my theory very soon now.

17th January 2007 43rd Driving lesson

For the first time ever I had only just got ready for the lesson when my instructor came I'm normally sat waiting maybe something to do with me having to be up early. I did some more clutch control changed to first gear bit early a few times but apart from that did well, steering was slightly out at times I was too near middle of road but getting better. I forgot to signal once again today though it was the bend where I have costed and had to change gear while steering the list of mistakes on that one bend will soon be as long as the list of overall mistakes.I still check mirrors enough finally it took long enough for me to remember.

First manoeuvre turn in road which I did well, then the dreaded parallel park which to be fair wasn't too bad by that I mean I didn't end up on the kerb like I normally do. I have no idea how the hell you are ment to know when to turn the wheel the oppersite way just guess work. First go I somehow managed it but was bit to far back, the second time I turned wheel right too soon so had to turn it back left and right again and yet again bit too far back. At least I'm improving slowly. Next was reverse round corner on the corner that is sometimes used in tests that I messed up before. Today I think it was the best I have done on this manoeuvre still need to observe a bit more. First time got round corner well and try to observe round then my instructor asks me if anyone is coming so I think I missed someone and stop, but no one was there so carry on. Second time I touch the kerb slightly but get round ok. At last I can do manoeuvres well nearly. My instructor was starting to sound like a parrot today lol on parallel park and reverse round corner she must of said "it's the clutch that moves the car" at least 10 times cos the car kept reving and not moving.

I stopped to let a bus passed the other way and as I was about to set off an idiot driver rushed passed me my instuctor hooted the horn at them. At a junction my instructor stopped me cos she thought I was about to come out onto a busy road but I wasn't I could see it was busy but couldn't see right cos a ballard was in the way so I edged forward slightly to make sure I could see I did tell my instructor this. On the way back I noticed the car was low on petrol so told my instructor she hadn't noticed so we went to fill up and I put petrol in and did it exact again. At the end of the lesson I asked how long before I'll be ready for the test she said it depends on my eyesight and next week she will measure the exact distance and test me also talk about theory.

9th January 2007 42nd Driving lesson

Best lesson ever, well one of the best. I asked my instructor if I was doing clutch control today as a reminder that she said I would be and she said yes. out of the full lesson there was only 3 mistakes that I made well what I remember. First I was in 3rd gear and told to go left and left changing to 2nd too late so ended up steering and changing down at same time, I should of left it in 3rd til I had got round the bend if I left it too late. Later on a mini roundabout I go too fast and can't steer quick enough so my instructor helps a bit and on the way home I for one of the first times I forget to signal leaving a roundabout. Overall I do everything without being told check mirrors especially when I notice my instructor looking at me steering is a lot better in fact apart from the odd mistakes that I have mentioned and my second parallel park which I'll mention in a bit everything went well.

My instructor gets me to stop at side of road and explains clutch control coming to junctions to put it into 1st gear and creep up checking if its safe without having to stop unless its busy of course. I feel quite confident about it as I can drive without much help now. We go past a few junctions practicing this I do quite well just sometimes change down bit too early.

First manoeuvre is turn in road which I do well, but my nstructor has to remind me to put it back in 1st to do the last bit I still had it in reverse again. Next parallel park the first one was ok I managed to park up ok just left it bit late to turn left at start of it so parked bit far back other than that the best I have ever done on this. Second was back to my normal attempts and hit kerb. Still hate this one how are you suposed to know when to steer the other way.

It got quite dull near the end so I had to put side lights on while driving and accedently put the light on inside the car as well had no idea how to turn it on let alone off so my instructor told me and I had to turn it off while steering. Had some more practice on clutch control in slow moving traffic putting it in first and using clutch to move and stop. When I got home I asked my instructor about theory and as I guessed she mentioned that we are not sure about my eyesight but we would discus it at the end of this block of 10 hours that I've paid for. I told her that I know I can see the distance sometimes so I want to carry on til I do see the distance on the test. She tested me on reading a number plate it was quite dull weather and I READ IT RIGHT I was so HAPPY. Just encourages me to keep at it even more as I hadn't read a full one right for ages so I was starting to think of ways I could get round it. Even if it meant another instructor and memorising number plates on day of the test still not ruled the last one out as nerves can affect eyesight. I will do what ever it takes to pass the test its the only other option other than drive illegally which I don't intend to do.

5th January 2007 41st Driving lesson

I finally feel that I can drive well mostly. I am doing more things without being told I check mirrors a lot more at last it took enough reminders. Steering is the main thing now but improving. I remember to turn signal off more now when it doesn't turn itself off. I got to put petrol in again and finally put the exact £8 in that my instructor wanted I was so happy first time ever I didn't go over.

First manoeuvre was reverse round corner and it has to be the best I have done on this I got round exactly right for I think the first time yet. My instructor asked how I thought I had done I told her one of best yet she agreed but said I could of observed round right a bit more. Another go it goes well again til a car comes up behind me so I have to pull forward back round the corner to let it past. Get ready again and this time I observe round more my instructor said that one was better cos I observed better, but I think I went slightly too wide coming round the corner though my instructor didn't say anything and I did correct it quick. Next is what is supposed to be my best manoeuvre turn in road. I do first bit ok, then reverse steering left then steer right to finish bit early so have to reverse bit more and cos wheels are turned right the back goes right instead of left so not much room to get round in 3 turns I set of to go forward and roll back cos I'm still in reverse, put it into first and steer right can't get round in 3 so bback into reverse and complete it in 5 turns. This is the worse turn in road I have done in ages.

Another eyesight test which I couldn't quite read. I only got to use 5th gear for a few seconds today and 50mph speed limit so couldn't go over that. Overall a good lesson just my eyesight is the question but I can sometimes see the distance so not going to let it stop me driving. Clutch control next lesson my instructor forgot today til the end so mite give her a quick reminder at start of next lesson which is Tuesday at 2 o clock not sure about afternoon lessons only had one afternoon one since the first few and that wasn't great I couldn't concentrate no idea why but wasn't as bad as you would expect well I followed instructions every thing I did I was told.