17th August 2007 test day

Lesson before test started a bit bad braking a bit hard reving a bit much and the worst mistake was pulling out at junction when car was coming my instructor loudly says wow and slams brakes on looking bit scared. After that lesson went well did bay park which my instructot tells me to turn straight away so then he could get me to move forward to straighten it up which went ok.

Test do eyesight test 1st time same number plate as I got asked on 1st test. Opened bonnet and answered the engine coolant question and showed how to check horn working. Got to a roundabout was told to take 2nd exit so guessed that was straight on middle lane but it was left lane so got serious for that and going too fast up to a bend though under speed limit which was 60mph. Got reverse round corner which went ok and bay park at end which my ADI was watching though inside test centre. I turned too early and tryed to straighten wheel then do full lock again but could see that wouldn't work so could leave it and get definate serious or try going forward and straighten up nothing to lose I went forward and straightened up and parked well. Some how ended up with 2 serious and 17 minor some were for hesitation and no doubt one for stalling at a roundabout first time I've stalled on a test.

16th August 2007 last lesson before test

Again no major problems speed getting better slowly though missed seeing a speed sign saying 40 from a 30 so ended up staying at 30 but made sure I saw it 2nd time and no wonder I'd missed it as it was nearly in a tree. Twice I went over white line on right turns before turning. Mirrors are ok I think.

Did bay park which still not perfect but managed it 1st time very close to white line on left then on it and 3rd time was good. Did good reverse round corner though need to look back rather than left wing mirroe too much. Turn in road great again. Please let me get reverse round corner and turn in road on test then I should pass, parking manoeuvres are probably main thing I could mess up on. Did emergency stop my instructor tells me he will tell me to do one soon then takes ages to tell me and keeps giving directions I'm trying to work out when he will say stop and determined I will do it a lot quicker than last time, eventually he says stop and I slam brakes on quick enough this time and remember to check over both shoulders.

A stupid white van pulls out in front of me making me slow down so my instructor hoots horn and sticks 2 fingers up at them. On way back my instructor decides to wind me up knowing I am never ready for lesson to end and we always go same way back so stop at traffic lights I know left is way home so he tells me go right then quickly changes it to left and says my face lit up when he said right.

15th August 2007 another good lesson

Well arn't you meant to have bad lessons before a test? well must be doing something right hope it carrys on for Test Friday. Well got in car do all checks and my instructor says I did them in wrong order I put seat belt on before ajusting mirror not that it makes any difference my instructor asks me to pass him some highway code cards so he can show me I'm like yes ok I believe you, more interested in getting going. Think I checked mirrors more today at last. I went slightly over limit odd times though will be watching my speed all time on test. Had to be dualed at a junction didn't look left enough as view was restricted. Went straight on at a roundabout when should of gone left and signaling left. took bit long to decide which lane at roundabout though got it right.

Did parallel park first I park at side of parked car and another car come up behind so I wait to see what its doing it stops so I put car into reverse. The driver then beeps at me, my instructor opens his window and shouts to the driver "bloody learner (pointing to roof sign) then calls him an idiot. I enjoyed that. Now start the manoeuvre and start to turn right too soon so instructor tells me when to turn. I can't get it right either too far from kerb or hit it. Next turn in road love that manoeuvre can do it more or less every time. Next bay park which is hit and miss today was miss, 1st and 2nd go I steered left too late then my instructor tells me when to turn so that one goes well then I have another go on my own and manage it ok. Reverse round corner goes well aswell just need to look back more as usual.

Missed seeing a speed sign so my instructor tells me I should keep watching the road even when we are talking I tell him I was watching the road thats why I missed it cos signs arn't on the road, he couldn't argue with that. Near end my instructor gets me to open bonnet to make sure I can do it and asks where brake fluid is and how to check it. I point to it and say min, max ha ha not best way to explain but I know it and my instructor knows I know though he said for god sake don't say that on your test.

14th August 2007 good lesson

I put petrol in at start of lesson did it exact. Today main mistakes were forgetting mirror checks (how many lessons do I forget mirrors most of them grr) Well today it was on leaving roundabouts the main time I forgot I would check them before signaling and leaving roundabout but forgot to check again when I'd left it and took a few practices to get timing right as I was checking a bit early. Was bit hesitant on a roundabout and had to be dualed on another. Speed again. Learning when to wait for cars to pass on other side or road when parked cars are on my side.

Did turn in road well again, reverse round corner went well aswell. Parallel park still not great.

13th August 2007 great short lesson

Back to lessons yippeeeeee well one hour today as instructor still not feeling too well, but better than nothing. Well a deal from last lesson was if I managed to keep under all speed limits I get extra half hour on one lesson. Well a bad start to a otherwise great lesson. First bend I hit kerb then first roundabout I have to be dualed both in first few minutes. After that hardly any other mistakes just need to remember to check mirrors when speeding up and slowing down. Instructor said I was watching speed meter too much to start with, I only went over by 1mph twice so my instructor decided to still let me have extra half hour which will be on Thursday.

Did a few bay parks 1st to left and parked well over white line, 2nd I think was better and parked ok I think, I had a go at one to right though turned wheel too soon then had to straighten up and turn right again and still went wrong. Another to the left which went ok. I did reverse round corner and managed to keep close to kerb without hitting it. Had another go and went bit wide but straightened up ok. Did 2 good turn in roads. Also did an emergency stop which my instructor told me he was going to get me to do one soon but said stop when I wasn't expecting it so was a bit slow stopping for 1st time yet.

No lessons

Well should of been having lesson every day til test Friday but instructor is ill so yesterdays lesson was canceled and instructor letting me know when He's better for lessons. Hoping to hear from him tomorrow missing having lessons.

10th August 2007 good lesson

Covered roundabouts a lot today managed to use correct gears and most of time remembered to cancel signal only forgot once which my instructor pointed out then made a point of how quiet I was cos I knew I'd forgot. Main mistake today was hitting kerb. Few times was bit too near white line or near kerb. Mirrors again and my instructor wants me to use wing mirrors when turning aswell as middle mirror. On one road road I was slightly over speed limit by accident and my instructor duals me. I was going to do turn in road but there was cars parked on both sides and dead end so had to turn car round in tiny space which my instructor helped with (his choice) he did first bit with duals after stalling the car then I did reverse bit and pulled out. Instructor decided to blame him stalling on the positions of the duals, any excuse.

9th August 2007 mock test

I hate roundabouts well the main problems are on roundabouts today. Set of down hill start went bit fast so braked bit hard. The main mistake today was going round a roundabout straight on 3rd exit so get in left lane like I should get on roundabout when safe then the stupid lane makings confuse me as the lane I was in went off 2nd exit so I follow that or more like was going to til my instructor stops me and slows car down as another car passed in front so I stop and my instructor constanly says get going get going. I manage to stop for amber light my instructor was pleased with that though admitted he guessed they would change that why we went that way. I took wrong exit on a roundabout should of gone right but went straght on so had to do U turn on next roundabout to go back. Instructor said I'd gone round few roundabouts bit fast.

Mock test with another instructor he seemed nice, eyesight check first which I couldn't read so we got out of car and a dustbin lorry stopped blocking the view so I said I could read the number plate on that not expecting the instructor to ask me to as it was a bit close, but he did and I managed it. So onto show me tell me questions had to open bonnet and point the oil out and how to check enough is in well couldn't find leaver thing to open bonnet so my instructor had to do it luckily he was still there as he was doing lesson for the instructor who did my mock. The other question was how to check power steering worked, got both them right. Quite a good drive overall in fact I avoided getting any straight away dangerous or serious marks. I got my best 2 manoeuvres turn in road which went well no minors and reverse round corner which I went bit wide on think I got minor but mite of been serious not sure as I did straighten up ok. The main mistake was leaving signal on after coming off roundabouts got 5 minors for that so turned into serious and the instructor said I'd put car into 2nd gear at roundabouts then saw I had to stop so needed 1st gear so 3 minors for that equaled a serious. Also got one minor for signalling too early. Did part well tho I turned into a road with lots of parked cars on other side of road and a car was having to drive on my side towards me so I stopped and let them through as no where for them to go. Had to turn car round in tiny circle which the instructor said didn't count for the mock as the road he was going to use was blocked I had to go on pavement as no other way to turn round then had to drive round a van that was blocking a junction which also didn't count on the mock test. Did mostly 30mph roads but one dual carriageway. I park car bit wide from kerb and have to move up to get it closer.

Back with my instructor I pull away from a junction in 2nd gear though don't stall it some how. Right at end of lesson I try getting in parking space in 2nd gear and do stall it.

7th August 2007 night lesson

Start of lesson was still light though started getting dark soon after. Set off instructor asks if theres anything we may need on so I say head lights no idea how to put them on so stop to be shown (has to be shortest distance I've ever done on lesson before stopping not even half way down my road) Get to bottom of my road junction and break a bit hard. Go on some lanes with speed limit of 60mph though too many bends to get up to that. Got bit near white line a few times. Getting better at watching speed only went bit over about twice and about 1mph a few times. Need to check mirrors more as usual. Went down a road with no street lights when it had got dark so used full beam head lights first time had to dip them though once for another car passing.

Did all 4 manoeuvres turn in road went well just had to be reminded about putting car in reverse. Bay park up to me if I did it to left or right so went for left as I can do that better did it well then went to move off in neutral. Parallel park did ok just had to be told to steer right a bit more to avoid hittin kerb. Reverse round corner was when it was properly dark so struggled to see where kerb was did ok considering I couldn't see how far I was from kerb but ended up hitting kerb slightly, in day light I would of managed it.

I forgot to change down gears for a few roundabouts though got round ok went too fast round one though. Near end I forgot to signal for roundabouts and forgot mirrors I think. Had to be dualled as a car was overtaking and I was about to move out for parked car. Went on dual carriageway which was good got up to 70mph.

6th August 2007 another good lesson

Well got lessons every day this week except Wednesday got mock test Thursday and real test Friday next week. Did dual carriageways a bit today had roundabouts quite close together so didn't manage to get my speed up to 70 1st time, but my instructor took me back on it, he told me turn left then said told me turn here which was right turn he argued he pointed right so meant right. Idid reverse round wide corner to get back on dual carriageway. Instructor told me to get speed up quicker leaving it in lower gear longer I managed to get up to 70mph made sure I did. I had to be dualled on a roundabout nearly went on it when not safe though instructor didn't say anything cos I knew what I'd done wrong and felt stupid as I know to make sure its safe. My instructor decided to be awkward and slow me down when I was passing a national speed limit sign he said I was over the speed limit of 30 before I got to the higher speed limit sign I was like yes maybe 1mph half a second before if that.

Did reverse round corner went bit wide but corrected it well. Parallel park was a small gap about one car length didn't think I'd manage but did it well slightly wide from pavement but ok. Bay park to the right left steering too late so ended up on white line. Tomorrow is night drive in dark my instructors idea but looking forward to it. (well actually in 30minutes as I'm late posting this)

1st August 2007 good lesson

Very enjoyable lesson today well I always enjoy them. Pulled out at junction when safe then my instructor slams brakes on then points out traffic lights on red and they had a camera on them so good job he stopped me or I'd risk losing my licence before I get it. Need to check wing mirrors before turning more, apart from that my instructor says I'm checking mirrors enough only forgetting once or twice. Better at deciding on safe gaps at roundabouts and junctions had to go in middle lane on roundabout for turning right as car was in right hand lane and it was either go then as it was otherwise safe or sit waiting ages which I already had been, ggot into right lane when safe though. Did a lot of national speed limit roads loved it though still need to watch my speed I was doing about 35mph and my instructor asks what speed limit is I think its 40 but my instructor slows me down so I say its 30mph. Also on a 60mph road I went bit over. I end up stalling car spinning it round on some gravel and go bit fast.

I do a good turn in road love that manoeuvre can do it well. My instructor decides to take me on motorway him driving of course so driving to the motorway he's going through everything to do with motorways (I'm sat wishing I could of driven to the motorway and on it though know I couldn't drive on it yet) I ask why I couldn't drive to it and he says cos I can't think of motorways and drive or I would be like (he looks away from road slightly and deliberatly swerves when safe) I then have a go at instructing which was good though only noticed one of 3 mistakes instructor did 1st was he pulled out of junction when cyclist were pulling out, next he was in wrong gear then the one I did notice was he didn't check left wing mirror when exiting a roundabout, enjoyed that bit of instructing. After motorway I get back driving (yippeeeee) though only for a bit as I'm driving rest of way home shortest way unfortunally. On way we pass my last instructor in his car waiting to get out of car park I was going to beep horn but my instructor said not to. Called in petrol stattion as instructor was hungry so he got us both some chocolate he can be nice. Then drive home I forgot to signal when turning on 2nd to last turn so I'm told take 1st left and my house was 2nd left so I think my instructor told me wrong but turn anyway then ask him and he said he got it right as he wanted me to do the bend right this time. Good lesson just wish it had been longer though did overrun a bit with motorway and having chocolate and the 15-20 mins I missed out on driving will be on next lesson. Next lesson dual carriageways 70mph can't wait though today was good shame can't do dual carriageways and todays route.