27th September 2007 test day

Well after the last week I have decided today is the last lesson I will have with this ADI as he seems to be putting me down whenever possible up til now I haven't thought much about this test as I just want it over so I can enjoy driving again either solo or with another ADI the one I had before this one has said he mite be back doing lessons soon so I mite be able to go back with him. Only now am I starting to hope I do pass again but trying to think of having more lessons with my last ADI again so I wont be too keen to pass like I was 1st time tho doesn't work much.

Practice parallel park to death in hour before test Get it ok a few times other times bit wide started too close or far from parked car straightening up bit soon. then drive to test centre I make one car slow down on roundabout other than that its ok.

Test starts eyesight same car as last time so get it right 1st time. I get asked the oil question and power steering. Drive out of test centre everything ok not very busy I do junctions the way I know best leaving clutch down til I check if its safe. Do hill start get turn in road that goes well no minors. Not totally sure of every roads speed limit so when not sure stay at 30mph stop to let cars pass on other side of road cos cars parked on my side but road was wide enough to carry on so got minor. Every awkward junction or lane change there were no cars about so no problem with them. Got back to test centre had to bay park I thought I'd passed til then so it all depended on this one bay park if I passed or not. I sat willing myself to get it right. Full lock where I thought it should be nearly in and wasn't sure if I was straight so went forward to straighten up and then relised I'd not done a single observation so had look all round and reversed straight and parked well. Then I'm told I'd PASSED. I proved my ADI wrong and felt so god about it.

26th September 2007 parking lesson

Mainly bay park and parallel park today. Bay park to right first working out when to turn full lock really not totally sure but manage better to the left. I then try it between 2 parked cars this is easyer as you can see where you are going better. I have a go at parallel park which goes ok. Getting used to junctions leaving cltch up but plan to do it way I've been learnt on test.

25th September 2007 bad 2 hour lesson

I say bad but it was more my instructor picking as many faults as he could. He said I went through a red light, I saw traffic lights so slowed down ready to stop but they had gone off so I said they have gone off haven't they to my instructor he never answered so I went past them and he said I'd gone through red light. My instructor also said I'd caused 3 cars to slow down but only said this after the 3rd one which I didn't see how I'd made it slow down.

Did reverse round corner bit wide but corrected it well and turn in road which had to be done in 5 turns so my instructor decided he'd tell me when to stop on 1st reverse bit and told me to stop after only going a few inch back then forward again and on the reverse bit I hit kerb cos the car back wheels were same distance from kerb instead of the right hand one being closer. I have done turn in road in 5 turns many times before with no help and done it better than today.

24th September 2007 good lesson

Well stayed local and did junctions better today though still not sure about how this instructor says do junctions. Went bit futher near end on national speed limit roads. Nearly pulled out in front of another car at junction. Can't remember rest.

Edit: By this time I wasn't enjoying lessons with this new ADI which is why I didn't update this as much then forgots parts of lessons, he seemed convinced I was going to fail my test and kept picking up any little fault he could. Also another fault he picked up on either this lesson or the next was I was on a national speed limit road and passed an advisory 40 sign the ones in rectangle that you can legalally go above so I do around 45mph my ADI insisted I was speeding and made out the sign was compulery max speed saying it was in a red circle when it wasn't I saw it.

23rd September 2007 better lesson

Well instructor said back to basics today emerging from junctions. 1st hour was all local junctions I have never had a major problem with this and never been marked down on any test for this. My instructor got me to change down to 1st sooner coming up to junctions look and keep moving if safe. Constant reminders to check wing mirror aswell before signaling. After a drive round junctions my instructor still not happy so does demo drive which he does a few junctions how he says I should be. He changes to 1st then brings clutch up and while still moving slow checks if its safe then pulls out. I have always been told by all my other instructors to change to 1st then leave clutch down til I know if its safe or not then stop or go. So I try doing it his way and manage it but doesn't feel right as if I have to stop it means pressing 2 pedals down at same time instead of one. Apart from this there is no major problems just need to look further ahead and react sooner at times.

Edit: At end of the lesson or when we was a few minutes away from my house I ask my ADI if I can end lesson at my nans house which is no more than one minute from my house, my ADI moans about this as he let the lesson run over by a few minutes and comments about the 3 hour lesson where he asked me if I wanted a drink and I asked if the time would be added on at end as I was paying him to learn me to drive not sit drinking. Anyway on a lighter note time to pay for lesson comes so I get money out to give him then he asks for the money I tell him I've given it to him, he says I haven't I think we both got slightly wound up as we both thought we was right I definatly did it went on a few minutes so I checked in my pocket couldn't feel it so seriously on verge of walking off but I decided to show him what was in my pocket to prove I didn't have it phone in one and .... the money for lesson in other how embarassing I honestly thought I'd given it to him as I did get it out of my pocket ready to give him but must of put it back without relising. I said sorry to him tho he didn't say anything think he was mad at being called a liar well not them exact words but same thing. I know I would of been so can't blame him.

22nd September 2007 3 hour bad lesson

1st hour was worst wasn't seeing and reacting to things soon enough, mirror work not enough mainly wing mirrors when turning, my instructor said I'm rushing up to junctions and stopping too quick because of it. We stopped so he could go through it with me after that I improved a bit. Did a few national speed limit roads hit kerb on a roundabout, pulled out at junction when not safe. Tryed to move off in 3rd gear at traffic lights and stalled. Enjoyed the 3 hour lesson but in 1st hour I thought I'd struggle to last 3 hours.

Edit
This was the 1st lesson my ADI started being very negative about my driving and told me he thought I would struggle with my test which was less than a week away and he even mentioned that if I could of canceled it without losing my money he would of told me to. Actually this was the last day I could of canceled without losing the money but I didn't tell him that as I felt ready.

17th September 2007 good hour lesson

Stayed local this lesson to avoid traffic jams (instructors idea) Did 2 good turn in roads one in narrow road did 2nd one with clutch only which I haven't tryed before it went well.. Did reverse round corner went bit wide on 1st one then my instructor told me what to look for out back window where kerb should be, I had another go and did well on it not going too wide. Did a good parallel park at last I can do it. Still need more mirror checks especially when turning I need to remember wing mirrors. Speed was ok this lesson not much chance to get speed up though. Not hesitating as much now. Well my test is soon though not telling anyone the exact date most know its this month.

16th September 2007 now with 4th instructor 1 hour

Well had to go with another instructor again who I should be taking my test with as my other instructor is having time off lessons due to personal issues. This new instructor is nice enough and get on ok with him just I'm used to my other instructor more. Til my test I'll be with this new one so a few week not saying when my test is only 2 people know and that is this instructor and the one who is off now.

I tell new instructor what I have failed on in other tests and stuff then get driving round housing esstates near me 1st and do parallel park 2 of best yet as my instructor tells me what to look for to know when to turn wheel. I stop a few times for him to tell me bits of what to do like when to go to 1st at junction. Need more mirror checks and when in new road check all 3 mirrors he says and when turning check middle mirror and which ever wing mirror which I normally forget wing mirror. Did bay park twice quite well. My instructor said I'm 1st person he's had who got in his car and managed to drive straight away with no problems. lesson went over slightly about 10 minutes which I didn't mind at all. Well I'm keeping my instructor who I had before up to date with lessons and he said he mite come to test centre on day of my test to wish me god luck which is nice of him no idea if I will be with him or this new instructor if I don't pass this time.

8th September 2007 good short lesson

Only one hour today but better than nothing. Well still can't get cockpit drill right nearly put seat belt on before adjusting mirrors. This lesson working on hesitation and traffic lights mainly every single traffic lights we came to my instructor asks me what I can see ahead so checked mirror ease off gas incase they changed. Sometimes reved bit much on moving off cos of not bringing clutch to slow. Need more mirror checks mainly when changing speed or passing parked cars. For once I didn't go over any speed limit at all. Got 2 hour lesson tomorrow and must do well as my instructor is starting to think 2 hours is too long so hoping to prove him wrong as one hour is no were near long enough.

6th August 2007 mock test

My instructor decides I am having a mock test today but wont start til we get to test centre. The drive to the test centre went quite well only a few minor mistakes. First junction I stop in 2nd gear and forget to change back to 1st so when safe I move off in 2nd though it works just slower than it would be in 1st. Went slightly over speed limit once and need to check mirrors more when passing parked cars. At the test centre my instructor points out these mistakes and says on first junction I turned wheel right bfore stopping so cut across the right hand lane more than needed which I didn't relise.

Mock test seemed to go well apart from going wide on reverse round corner and having to be dualed on traffic light cross roads. I got turn in road which went well I need to rev car less on manoeuvres though. End of test 2 serious which I knew as I saw one marked down before I was dualed didn't have a clue what it was for passing parked car too wide. Only got 6 or 7 minors though which is least I've ever got.

Drive home was quite good aswell though got into discusion with my instructor over approaching traffic lights as I approach some without easing off gas at all so when they changed both me and my instructor went for brake. I told him I wish he wouldn't be so quick to go for brake and next 10 mins was on about that finally we agreed I should of eased off gas slightly incase they changed. End of lesson on my street I ask my instructor if I'm to pull up out side my house and he doesn't answer so I carry on he thinks I did it deliberate but I say I didn't and only carried on cos he never said pull up so go round again and this time he says very clearly to pull up out side my house.

5th September 2007 1st bad lesson in ages

Got in car put seat belt on and moved seat to right position, but my instructor got me to start again cos he said you should do seatbelt last. Main mistakes was at a roundabout where I had to be dualled twice the first time was cos I thought I could go as the van passing was in right hand lane of roundabout and I needed to be in left, but instructor stopped me then second time I missed seeing another car through trying to rush. On a right turn major road to minor I had to be stopped again cos car was coming towards us. I left getting into left lane bit late on leaving roundabout so had to cut across quick. Went round one roundabout in 1st gear.Went on very narrow road which went well. Need to remember to check mirrors before passing parked cars I went too slow past some and gave them too much room. I slowed down on approch to turn too soon so my instuctor insisted on swapping seats so he could show me how slow I went cos I didn't relise I'd gone too slow think he thinks I'm a bit too keen as as soon as I reluctantly got into passenger side I wanted to swap back. I nearly went too far forward at tempary traffic lights so instructor braked and I stalled. At end of lesson I had to park forwards into a bay and didn't park straight so had to reverse and straighten up.

4th September 2007 back to driving finally short lesson

My instructor been on holiday so had an unwanted break from lessons. Only one hour lesson today all my instructor could fit in and it happened to be as it got dark so start of lesson light and dark by end. Moved off forgetting blind spot check speed slightly over once or twice but overall good lesson. Working on hesitation mainly as I got few minors for it on last test I managed ok with it today. Was talking to instructor then relised he hadn't told me which way at junction when I had stopped to check it was safe so asked him he said he didn't have chance cos we was talking so I decide to go right just as he tells me to go right. I'm used to driving in dark now and remember how to put lights on without having to stop.