Driving Lesson Number 25.
Well I had a break from driving last week because my instructor cancelled, but it was actually a blessing in disguise because I wasn't feeling crash hot at the time!
So it was back to a mock test today to see how I'm getting on and I actually surprised myself with some things and shocked myself with others!!
First off we headed for the test centre, which was in fact closed so I did a turn in the road just slightly further down the road. No probs there, they're a doddle!
Next we headed to Siddick for a parallel park, alas, a van got behind me and there was nowhere to go except back out again. My instructor asked if I'd planned that but I hadn't. Honest! Hehehehe!
So we headed for Flimby instead. Blinking heck, the little road next to the rugby club is a bit small innit?? I managed it though and we headed onto the estate for another attempt at parallel parks. I REALLY can't used to them for some reason! I don't know why, but I just seem to lose it once I'm halfway in and have to turn full lock to the right! Needless to say, that went down as a definite practice point for future reference.
Then we headed up the hill towards Camerton and Seaton. Some... so and so came down the hill and didn't give way to me so I had to use my clutch control to stop me rolling back down!! Humph! Flipping cheek of it! My instructor was rather crafty here too because he got me to stop halfway up and I assumed he was going to explain something to me, but no sooner had I pulled over than he said I could go again! Hhmmm... coulda told me he wanted me to do a hill start!
So it was along to Seaton and I actually remembered 5th gear this week! Yay! Reverse around a corner this time and I was extremely grateful to another instructor for using our usual corner, till I realised that the one we were heading for was actually on more of a hill! D'oh! So I was then cursing him for nicking it!! I managed an absolutely PERFECT reverse which astounded us both I think! I've never, EVER been able to do that in his car! Cue huge grin and a real feeling of accomplishment! Another manouvre ticked off! Yay!
So then it was under the bridge and we headed back towards Workington, eventually! There was a car in front of me that had stopped at the junction on the hill, and after my success of reversing round the corner, I totally forgot about clutch control and started rolling back!! I quickly got the clutch back before I hit the 4x4 sitting right behind me (Eejit...) then almost lost it as I got to the junction but I didn't hit the car coming along the road, thank god!
So next it was through Seaton and down to the roundabout and into Workington. We headed up towards Stainburn and cut off to head for Moorclose. Then he took me on a wild goose chase cutting through Banklands and down to the stop junction at Co-op! I managed that no bother so we headed towards Matalan roundabout... He really loves that thing!! I didn't panic or anything though, even though there were cars flying everywhere and I got round it no problem then headed for home.
On getting there, the only space available (just for a change!) was right behind our car, so I tried to get myself in slowly and gently but jumped a little bit because I wasn't on the clutch hard enough and thought I was going to hit it! Yikes! When I got out though, I was nowhere near it, it was just deceiving.
So the verdict was:
1.I need more practice on parallel parks.
2.I need to concentrate on getting myself further over when turning left at junctions because a couple of times I was almost in the middle of the junction.
3.I need to be less hesitant at junctions because a couple of times I could've been out when there were cars coming but I didn't go.
Apart from that he said everything was fine! I know the basics so it's simply a case of tidying it up. Hooray! He said to give it a couple of weeks and then we'll consider upping it to 1 1/2 hour lessons to get it finished, so I could be away before Christmas yet!! Watch this space... -->x<--
Oh, just remembered it's a new car next week, a Toyota Yaris, so I just hope it's not too different! Hope it's got better brakes though because the Clio's are far too sensitive for me!
So it was back to a mock test today to see how I'm getting on and I actually surprised myself with some things and shocked myself with others!!
First off we headed for the test centre, which was in fact closed so I did a turn in the road just slightly further down the road. No probs there, they're a doddle!
Next we headed to Siddick for a parallel park, alas, a van got behind me and there was nowhere to go except back out again. My instructor asked if I'd planned that but I hadn't. Honest! Hehehehe!
So we headed for Flimby instead. Blinking heck, the little road next to the rugby club is a bit small innit?? I managed it though and we headed onto the estate for another attempt at parallel parks. I REALLY can't used to them for some reason! I don't know why, but I just seem to lose it once I'm halfway in and have to turn full lock to the right! Needless to say, that went down as a definite practice point for future reference.
Then we headed up the hill towards Camerton and Seaton. Some... so and so came down the hill and didn't give way to me so I had to use my clutch control to stop me rolling back down!! Humph! Flipping cheek of it! My instructor was rather crafty here too because he got me to stop halfway up and I assumed he was going to explain something to me, but no sooner had I pulled over than he said I could go again! Hhmmm... coulda told me he wanted me to do a hill start!
So it was along to Seaton and I actually remembered 5th gear this week! Yay! Reverse around a corner this time and I was extremely grateful to another instructor for using our usual corner, till I realised that the one we were heading for was actually on more of a hill! D'oh! So I was then cursing him for nicking it!! I managed an absolutely PERFECT reverse which astounded us both I think! I've never, EVER been able to do that in his car! Cue huge grin and a real feeling of accomplishment! Another manouvre ticked off! Yay!
So then it was under the bridge and we headed back towards Workington, eventually! There was a car in front of me that had stopped at the junction on the hill, and after my success of reversing round the corner, I totally forgot about clutch control and started rolling back!! I quickly got the clutch back before I hit the 4x4 sitting right behind me (Eejit...) then almost lost it as I got to the junction but I didn't hit the car coming along the road, thank god!
So next it was through Seaton and down to the roundabout and into Workington. We headed up towards Stainburn and cut off to head for Moorclose. Then he took me on a wild goose chase cutting through Banklands and down to the stop junction at Co-op! I managed that no bother so we headed towards Matalan roundabout... He really loves that thing!! I didn't panic or anything though, even though there were cars flying everywhere and I got round it no problem then headed for home.
On getting there, the only space available (just for a change!) was right behind our car, so I tried to get myself in slowly and gently but jumped a little bit because I wasn't on the clutch hard enough and thought I was going to hit it! Yikes! When I got out though, I was nowhere near it, it was just deceiving.
So the verdict was:
1.I need more practice on parallel parks.
2.I need to concentrate on getting myself further over when turning left at junctions because a couple of times I was almost in the middle of the junction.
3.I need to be less hesitant at junctions because a couple of times I could've been out when there were cars coming but I didn't go.
Apart from that he said everything was fine! I know the basics so it's simply a case of tidying it up. Hooray! He said to give it a couple of weeks and then we'll consider upping it to 1 1/2 hour lessons to get it finished, so I could be away before Christmas yet!! Watch this space... -->x<--
Oh, just remembered it's a new car next week, a Toyota Yaris, so I just hope it's not too different! Hope it's got better brakes though because the Clio's are far too sensitive for me!
posted by Ailsa @ 8:25 pm
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