Update on my car

Its still working petrol light is on and petrol meter empty but there has to be some petrol in or it wouldn't move. Got flat front tyre on drivers side so hoping to get pump with meter on saying how much air is in then see if it stays up. I've washed it and cleaned inside and been starting it up daily and reversing and forwarding it on my drive. My mum keeps telling me to leave it alone and says my car is cleaner than the house lol. I got her sat in it and she said don't move it but I reversed it a bit she looked terrified she doesn't trust me no idea why.

28th March 2007 Better lesson

Instructor came and said its quite foggy but see how it goes as he had told me he normally cancels lessons in fog I told him I thought of sending him a text saying please don't cancel lesson. Started well I don't think I checked mirrors as much as I should. I saw sign saying 40 speed limit and went to 4th gear to get up to 40mph my instructor tells me it's 30mph so I slow down gear down and say I thought I had just seen a 40 sign my instructor relises his mistake I was right :-) glad I'm right sometimes. I ended up in wrong lane at roundabout going straight on middle lane on approch and stayed in middle lane going round should of been in left lane so I ended up in right hand lane off the roundabout but managed to change lane safely I've learnt to check wing mirror before changing lane after nearly causing accident one lesson. My instructor says I need to stay away from white line more and react to cars stopping in front a bit sooner. I could do with getting out of junctions and roundabouts a bit sooner.

I pull up at side of road and get told that we are going to do an emergency stop. So set off again 2nd gear foot over clutch ready and stop when told I enjoy it and do it well. I was going to do parallel park but some idiot came up behind me even though I had put the car in reverse and didn't leave room for me to reverse so I did reverse round corner which went wrong I hit kerb and ended up looking in left wing mirror and steering left towards the kerb instead of right away from kerb. It sounds so simple to work out which way to steer til it comes to doing it.

27th March 2007 bad afternoon lesson

Well todays lesson proved I was right to book a morning test as I just can't drive in afternoons if you like reading about bad lessons you will love reading this. Started off quite well regular mirror checks easily got to speed limits had to watch I didn't go over. Did quite a few dual carriageways. Had quite a bit of practice in driving in traffic. Driving up a quite steep hill in traffic stop and go again only didn't have enough gas on and stall AND roll back both me and my instructor go for brakes as a car was behind thats me failed if it had been my test. On a roundabout I nearly go in wrong lane instructor gas to tell me twice. My instructor asks me what a white circle with black line through means I stupidly obviously not heard right answer zebra crossing lol. He asks again this time I do hear right and answer national speed limit which is 60mph which we had just passed and I had missed it so was doing about 30mph soon got up to 60mph though. I forgot about gears a few times today was in 4th and went on roundabout in 4th though going at around 15-20mph so right speed. I then went round a bend uphill in 4th and thought I was in 2nd til the car was hardly moving I went to put it in 1st and relised it was in 4th not 2nd. On the way home twice I left braking bit late and had to brake hard to avoid hitting car in front. Back home my instructor asks me how I think the lesson went and I say not that good. He said it was my worst lesson yet with him. I was leaving braking late a few times and cos of things going wrong I didn't check mirrors enough on second half of lesson. I did show me tell me bits at end. Another mistake was I saw a give way sign at end of the road and never thought to slow down so carry on at 40mph and relise its a junction when I see the give way lines so have to brake hard to stop in time.

My car works yyiippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Well it moves at least. I tryed putting petrol in it that didn't work so spent most of the weekend reading how to charge the battery couldn't get battery out so charged it while in the car thought it needed bit longer today but it didn't charge so tryed starting it up and it worked. So far I've only moved it slightly on my drive going to wash it and clean it out in a bit and practice reversing and forwarding it on my drive I have already tryed moving it with hand brake still on oops and put too much gas on to move. It will take some getting used to and probably needs some work done things I've noticed that need sorting is theres patches of something leaking from under the car and the speed and petrol meter don't move. Going to check brake lights and reverse lights tonight or tomorrow cos I need my mum to stand behind to check them as I use them.

Todays lesson canceled by instructor :-( 5pm tomorrow.

23rd March 2007 1st mock test

Instructor was 15 minutes late so thought I'd been forgotten but he finally came. Drove to test centre quite well checked mirrors enough finally. Got stuck behind a tractor was about to over take but cos I was near a roundabout I was told not to then bit later instructor hinted that I should overtake so I did safely.

Pulled up at test centre did eyesight test from furthest distance and got 6 figures right and 1 wrong I said 6 it was 5 so not bad. Instructor said some examiners may let me off with that others may get me to move a bit closer either way likely to pass it which is great I honestly thought I'd struggle with it til I had passed. Now they may not even need to measure the distance. Walking to the car my instructor asked me how to check brake lights were working and what to look for when checking the tyres got both right. Instructor filled in test sheet and I signed it. Set off making sure to not rush and do regular mirror checks and blind spot check. I was told to pull up on left in safe place to do a hill start which I am normally good at I put it in first gear check mirrors and blind spot and set off and roll back I manage to brake and try again this time doing it well. Next I get asked to pull up and do turn in road which I do well though get a minor for it cos my instructor says I was too far from the kerb which I didn't notice. I did reverse round corner well except went slightly wide which I got a minor for. I was told to turn left at the end of the road and signaled left too early as there was another left turning before the one I wanted. I did a roundabout which I haven't been on before so my instructor told me where to be but didn't mark this cos he chose to help me before I had chance to go wrong. Back at test centre he asks how I think I've done I tell him I know I will of been marked for rolling back on the hill and signaling too early and probably for not checking mirrors even though I tryed to remember. He tells me I got 15 minors the 2 mistakes I said was 2 minors cos no other cars were near when they happened. The shock of the day I didn't get a single mark for mirrors I told him I was shocked. I got minors for:
1 for going wide on reverse round corner.
1 for observations on turn in road.
2 for control steering 1 was going to wide round mini roundabout and another.
2 for moving of under control
3 for signals when necessary so became seri0ous cos my other instructor got me to signal to move off every time.
1 for signal timing that could of been at end I was late to signal to park up or when I signaled too early.
2 for appropriate speed one was cos I did 28mph in a 40mph zone I thought it was 30mph zone and the other could of been being slow getting out at junctions.
2 for undue hesitation not sure how I got these.
1 for positioning in normal driving too near white line.
1 for positioning normal stops that could be when I stopped to do turn in road I was too far from kerb.

Overall not too bad didn't get any straight away serious or dangerous. Driving home I think I missed mirror check a few times I must of done I can't of got through a full lesson not missing any surely. Next lesson 5.30 Monday does it get dark before 7.30 now once clocks go forward? I hope so cos then I'll get to drive in the dark for first time.

Got keys to my car but

Well my mum got them yesterday but didn't tell me grr got up this morning she was at work and had left me list of jobs she wanted doing then told me to text her I did. She replyed have you done this and that. YES in the end I phone her as I guess she has hid the keys somewhere and she eventually tells me where they are. I get the car unlocked and theres a puddle on the floor of drivers side dry that up and start it up it goes backwards cos its in reverse first time I've ever done that mistake. Then it sounds like its not starting up theres a choke on it so no idea if thats anything to do with it not starting. Petrol meter stays on empty so that mite be it needing petrol. I have no idea. Maybe its the battery as the battery light comes on so I am going to charge it tonight and hope for the best. Thats if I can work out how to I'm clueless about cars.

19th March 2007 another good lesson

My driving is improving slowly for first 10 minutes or so I checked mirrors enough so I can do it only got to carry on for another 30 minutes longer for the test. Even checked door mirrors when turning a few times. My instructor says I sometimes get too near middle of road. Drove on some very narrow roads did ok its hard to keep left when you are nearly touching walls or kerb when in middle of road. Main mistakes this lesson first was when I got asked to pull up on left facing down hill then as soon as I'd stopped I was told to move off again so I rushed and forgot blind spot check. Second and probably worst one was turning left sharp corner slowed down and stopped in 2nd gear saw it was clear set off and staled cos it was still in 2nd. got round corner aswell so had to start it up again and move off quick. Third was stupid my instructor tells me to go straight on and there is a mini roundabout but the road looks like it goes straight on so I don't slow down and look til very near it slam brakes on and look and its clear. Also speeding or so my instructor said I saw a 40 sign so did 40mph and instructor said it was 30 soon after the 40 sign. Another was coming out of a junction in 4th gear oops I did slow down and look and saw it was safe to go though but obviously my speed was too slow for 4th gear, I didn't even relise til my instructor pointed it out. Mirror checks disapeared after the begining of lesson ggrrrrr I know when to check them I just forget. I'm getting more confident in getting out of junctions and roundabouts judging if the car passing is far enough away for me to get out safely.

Just before end of lesson I do reverse round corner my instructor telling me what to do as it's first time I've done it with him. reversed into a narrow road and did well. Then for parallel park and it went a lot better than I expected my instructor did tell me what to do though but one of the best I've done on this no mistakes on any manoeuvre. Wait til I have to do them without being told. Mock test Friday should be interesting to see where I need to improve. Bets on what I'll be marked down for driving too near white line and not enough mirror checks and maybe not being in right lane though getting better and I've decided if I'm in wrong lane I'll go what ever way the lane goes as you can't get marked down for going a different way than asked if done correctly.

Test finally booked

9th May at 10.24 can't wait please let me pass. I got morning test cos most of my lessons have been mornings and my few afternoon lessons go wrong with one or two being the exeption. Plus I'll not be able to settle the day of test til it's over.

15 March 2007 SO HAPPY

Went to where new Rotherham test centre will be quite a few dual carriageways tryed to check mirrors more and slowly improving. I need to keep of white line and not give parked cars too much room.I nearly went through red light cos I thought stop line was further forward and nearly went on motorway oops. I was on a strange roundabout and it looked like you had come off it when you was still on it and the turn after the one I took was motorway and my instructor had to tell me to turn before the motorway. Went under a motorway which was good. I went on some spirel roundabouts quite good. Got stuck in some traffic did that well and manage to get biting point on a hill without hand brake didn't roll back. I can get out of junctions better now and judge if its safe when another car is coming in distance. I had to be stopped from turning right into minor street cos another car was coming didn't see it at first. At the place where the new test centre will be my instructor tested me on reading a number plate and again I though I couldn't quite read it but had a go and got it right. I had to turn car round at end though was enough room to do U turn also did U turn at a roundabout. My instructor told me to pull up going down hill to check I could move off going down hill which I did well. I some how managed to be in right hand lane instead of left I noticed a second before my instructor asked where I should be and checked mirrors before changing lane. I've noticed my instructor picking up on little things more now like driving near middle of road or gears and got told about not coming off gas enough changing gear signaling too early getting ready for test now. Overall one of the best lessons yet.

I asked my instructor about manoeuvres as I haven't done reverse round corner or parallel park with him at all and I was hopeless at parallel park before so expecting to end up more on pavement than road on that and reverse round corner was ok but probably go wrong with not doing it for a bit. He said now I know where I'm taking my test we will do them each lesson. Also I asked about mock tests he said he does do them and will do one on Friday with me so I have a lesson Monday then the lesson after is the mock test looking forward to it. Getting more keen to pass if thats possible.

Got home tryed to book test wont accept my bank card number so trying again later. My mum cheared me up telling me her mates daughter isn't bothering with driving any more she failed 2 tests a while back. So I can have her car its not the type I'd of chosen and its white I wanted blue its a panda car only got 2 doors or 3 including boot I wanted 4. But it's a car so I'm delighted liking it more by the minute now its going to be mine. It will probably need work done on it but should save money not having to buy a car. Just once I get keys I must NOT drive it til I pass. I NEED to pass first time or its going to make it 10 times worse knowing I could of been driving that day if I'd passed.

14th March 2007 short lesson

Well got up no problem when ever I have to be up early for driving I'm up before my alarm goes off any other time it takes a few alarms to get me up. First lesson since that woman went into back of my instructors car and in the same area Rotherham no presure then lol. Instructor came on time just (I'm impatient) told me he had to be back for 10 as he had to have xray cos of yesterday. Drove up to first smal roundabout left changing down to 2nd gear bit late so struggled to steer, used clutch control in busy traffic did well with that used clutch control once when on slight slope at traffic lights managed to hold it still no hand brake. Tryed to check mirrors more.

Got to test centre waited for few who had tests to go (first time I've seen any one on test) did eyesight test managed to read one and part of 2 others from the first distance you get asked on test. My instructor thought I drove better today in Rotherham than Worksop, but said that could be cos I'm improving in driving in general. Tomorrow another early lesson should be 2 hours hopefully cos this lesson was no where near long enough only had about hour and quater. Rotherham again tomorrow and going to see where new test centre will be in May and decide if I like Rotherham or Worksop best think it may be Rotherham as I know it more.

13th March 2007 No lesson

Should of had lesson of 2 hours at 12.30 so I'm ready for 12.15 incase instructor is early 12.30 comes and goes stil no sign of him so I text him incase he's forgot he doesn't recieve it so his phone must be off. I start to wonder if he's avoiding me 1.20 he recieves my text yet no reply I begin to think he's ignoring me as he normally replys quick about 1.30 I finaly get a reply saying he's sent me a pm on 2pass forum. I get on to check messages and all it says is read his post on general ggrrrrr this better be good. I find the post quite long so to shorten the story he was picking his wife up from hospital and an idiot woman drove into the back of his car so he had to walk to A & E and has neck brace on. Ok fair enough not his fault so the message read anyway. Hopefully have lesson tomorrow 8.30 earlyest lesson yet so mite be half asleep, no should be ok once I'm up hopefully I do seem to have better lessons in mornings just not sure about this early.

10th March 2007 Worksop again

I still can't decide where to take my test I don't think I'm keen on Doncaster cos of all signs you have to see and follow and lane changes. Worksop where I've been today isn't too bad exept not many dual carriageways and quite a few junctions and turns close together. Next lesson I'm trying Rotherham then going to decide where to take the test and book it. Good thing about Worksop is that I'll probably have some lessons on A1 though didn't go on it today which probably was for the best as I needed to see the rest of possible test routes as I can do dual carriageways well all you do is go fast and watch mirrors and in front. I want my full test on a dual carriageway (I wish) Todays lesson went quite well just need to pass parked cars without going too wide and stay away from middle of road and guess what else.........................yes check mirrors more grrr I hate them. I could sometimes get out of junctions or do right turns bit sooner if a car is coming up in distance I tend to wait even if I could go before it gets to me. I hit kerb going round a bend today and scraped kerb pulling up at the end of the lesson something I hardly ever do.

I did bay parking again not quite as well as last time I drove into a bay or more like on the line of 2 bays then reversed back trying to get straight in one behind I couldn't see the white lines behind so trying to line front of car up with one in front, turned wheel wrong way so had to go forwards a bit then reverse back only there was another learner in front and I forgor to put it into reverse so my instructor braked and remined me I somehow managed it ok then. My instructor then tested me on reading a number plate through some trees and I did struggle a bit but managed to read it just. Lesson learnt if I'm not sure what the number plate reads have a go as this happened today I was ready to say I couldn't read it but had a go and got it right. My instructor went through the show me tell me questions at the end. I'm not getting wound up if I forget them as the most I'll get for getting both wrong on test is one minor not going to make much difference in me passing or failing. On Tuesday I will decide where to take my test and get it booked. Mirrors is the main thing I will fail on so I must check them more. I just want to pass and would be so mad at myself for failing on anything et alone something I know I need to improve on like stupid horrid mirrors. I'll be checking them every second to make sure I don't fail for them.

4th March 2007 Single 2 hour lesson

Got text off my instructor that the car wouldn't move in any gear so could only have the 2.30 lesson that was booked bit disapointed.

Determined to check mirrors more this lesson, it's raining so have to ask how to put windscreen wipers on as its the first time in the new car that its rained also get shown how to put side lights on. I set off and am told to turn left I signal right and have to change it. I tell my instructor that if this lesson goes well I think I will get my test booked which includes a lot more mirror checks which I think I did check them more but still no where near enough. About half way through the lesson I kept forgetting to signal and nearly going the wrong way. I actually did go straight on when I had been told to go left, that was through forgetting to signal. I also put it in neutal at traffic lights and wondered why I couldn't get biting point a mistake I don't normally do. I had to stop for some traffic lights on a very steep hill and managed to move off again well. For the first time ever I think the lesson actually improved after the middle bit normally when I start making mistakes it carries on til the end but the end was good today.

I did a good turn in road I'm getting used to keeping the car slow on manoeuvres now. I'm improving at roundabouts knowing when to turn off. I went bit wide on passing a parked car today and also too close as I knocked the wing mirror against another car. I need to learn to watch for road signs and road markings to see where I need to be driving. Two more mistakes were stopping bit too close to car in front in fact had to brake hard to not hit it I saw my instructor go for brake aswell but I managed to stop in time well I'm not going to let myself bump into another car am I. At the end of the lesson I stalled, car was in gear and I let clutch up stupid after all these lessons I know clutch needs to be down at all times when car it in gear.