15th April 2007 Good lesson with stupid mistake

Lesson started great checking mirrors enough doing everything right talking to instructor about examiners as I've read a few worrying things about them on tests. Been advised by another instructor on 2pass forum that it may help if I have my instructor sat in back on my test to make sure I get fair test but a fair test can work against you as well as in your favor. My instructor would rather not sit in on tests but will if asked he said some examiners pass people after giving good drive even if they do one serious like going past zebra crossing when people are waiting to cross which they wouldn't of got away with if instructor had been in back, also he said more people seem to pass with him in back which may make me decide to have him in back though I think it will depend how I feel on day of test I must not think it's end of the world if I fail I will get over it and book another.

First mistake was stopping at traffic lights in 3rd gear then forgetting to put it in 1st and moving off in 3rd my instructor reminds me nto change to 1st so I manage to carry on without stalling. The next was probably one of the stupidest ones, I was told to turn right at end of the road so I check mirror signal right and get mixed up where I'm meant to be as there is like a triangle pavement in middle of road left hand side to go left right hand side to go right. I assume the right hand side is for traffic coming the other way so steer left to left side only to end up heading for the pavement bit in middle my instructor slams brakes on just before hitting it and decides I'm closer to going left so change signal to left and have to go left to make it harder I was facing up hill but managed that well. Next mistake was on a roundabout again right turn, signal right and check its safe and go onto the roundabout and forget I'm turning right and go for left lane so my instructor has to remind me. Another roundabout I look right and there are cars on the inside lane and I need outside lane so assume I can go and start to pull on to it but instructor said I should of waited cos them cars would need left lane to exit and if I blocked them I'd fail my test so I'm half way on but wait til a gap comes.

Instructor told me to pull up on left and I guessed it was for turn in road cos it was same road as other times. I did it well today then near end of lesson my instructor said I was to do emergency stop when he said stop I did try to get up to 3rd gear but he said stop before I had chance so slam brakes on as quick as I can. Next another turn in road which I did well then going home and instructor remembers he needs some change so drive to shop pull up and stop and another car needs to get out so my instructor reverses it a bit with his clutch and brake then ends up stalling it cos took his foot off clutch with it still in gear, I just had to point out it was his fault not mine. :-) I then I ask if we can do another emergency stop so he tells me to on a straight road I get up to 3rd but then cars where parked in way and road bend so couldn't then got to junction so had to stop. Then got up to 2nd and he said stop when he said no chance of getting to 3rd so foot down in 2nd just over 20mph managed to do another good emergency stop tires or brakes squeaked it was that quick.