42 3/4 Hours.
Yet another interesting one today!
First off it was round to the test centre for some bay parking. There were already 2 cars there when we got there so we had to sit for a few minutes beforehand so rather than waste it just sitting there, my instructor went over a few things that could happen on the test, such as getting in the wrong lane and correcting myself. That's all good and well saying what to do, but will I remember??
Anyway, I won't NEED to correct myself because I'm not going to make mistakes... I hope...
So when both cars headed out it was my turn. I got myself into position on the right hand side of the line and set off. I knew instantly that I'd turned too soon but my instructor said to turn to the left slightly to correct it, which worked. I got in, but we gave it another go which was fine.
Next it was out of the test centre and we headed in the direction of Maryport. I may have jumped the junction slightly, but as I told my instructor in my defence, there were 3 cars all indicating left, then another car popped up behind them as I was turning out of the junction so I was - in theory - already on the road and they were obviously going too fast to get right up my backside! That's my theory anyway and I'm sticking to it!
As we got to the roundabout at Northside we took a left and headed for Seaton, which really is my pet hate! Not so much Seaton itself but the back road to Flimby! I may have mentioned it once or twice before today...
When we got into Seaton we had a go at reversing round a corner, which I did manage, but forgot to stop for a pedestrian! D'oh! I nearly hit the kerb at one point too I think but I got myself sorted and got round ok.
So we headed back up to the main road and I managed a pause on a slight hill junction before heading out onto the dreaded road! The reason I hate it so much is because it's a national speed limit road and doesn't have any white lines WHATSOEVER! I hate it with a passion and don't intend to EVER head that way EVER AGAIN once I pass my test!
We took a left onto the road which heads for Flimby and I managed to slow down too soon again, but at least I was at a nice speed when I got to the corner!! Now at the end of this road is a Give Way junction which is also on a hill so it's possible to head out of the junction in 2nd gear. This time I headed towards it too fast and couldn't really slow down fast enough even though I had my foot to the floor so we decided to do it again. Now logic would tell you that we'd head through Flimby and turn back towards Seaton but oh no, I think my instructor had his insane head on today!! Halfway down the hill he got me to pull up to the side outside a house, which I did expecting him to then tell me to carry on when I was ready. How wrong was I..? Nope, he then said, "Right, we'll have a turn in the road." My face must've been a right picture and all I could say was, "What here??" In my head I was thinking, "Are you insane?? Do you have a death wish?? I'm going to die!!"
Anyway, I psyched myself up, waited for all the cars to pass and started the manoeuvre. I knew from the first move that I wasn't going to get round in 3 so asked if a 5 point turn was ok. He said that was fine so I carried on. More cars came and passed, then I got one bloke who couldn't get passed so had to sit and wait on the hill. Oh joy of joys! I'm just glad it wasn't me sitting there! By about the 3rd turn I was knackered and felt like I was gonna break out in a sweat, but I got round in 5 and breathed a huge sigh of relief!
We headed back up the hill and passed the junction that I'd initially managed to fluff up, took one big circle and headed back, coming at it from the other way. I still managed to slow too soon but I got round and back down to the Give Way junction, hitting it much slower this time and getting out no bother. This time there was no stopping on the hill, except to give way to other cars, and we headed right down and out of Flimby, back towards Workington.
We took a left back into Seaton and my instructor asked if I'd like to give it another go, to which I instantly shook my head and said, "No, yer alright!" No hesitate whatsoever much to his amusement!
So it was up to the junction on the hill that has alluded me time after time after time. This was to prove no exception so we took a side road to get back round and give it another go. This time I actually nailed it, at last! Hooray!! Mind there was a car coming that I was giving way for that I was willing to get a move on so I could get out, otherwise all my hard work would've been lost on having to use the handbrake! I actually did it though so I was dead chuffed.
Nothing exciting really happened after that, except when attempting a parallel park on Corporation Road and a bus squeezing past me when my nose was sticking out! I thought he was going to wait to avoid taking my front end out but he didn't! Impatient bugger!
By now it was almost time to head home so we set off, me whooping for joy in my head that my instructor had forgotten about the little road near my house that I'd mentioned last week! There was time for one last parallel park halfway down my road, then we had a little lesson under the bonnet. Everything was fine there, except I forgot to say that you have to lift the windscreen washer top to check it. The lights and everything I'm fine with and I showed how to check the parking brake so I think I should be ok with that.
Next week will probably be more of the same which is good because I actually enjoyed todays lesson! I was extremely pleased with myself which can only be a good sign...
First off it was round to the test centre for some bay parking. There were already 2 cars there when we got there so we had to sit for a few minutes beforehand so rather than waste it just sitting there, my instructor went over a few things that could happen on the test, such as getting in the wrong lane and correcting myself. That's all good and well saying what to do, but will I remember??
Anyway, I won't NEED to correct myself because I'm not going to make mistakes... I hope...So when both cars headed out it was my turn. I got myself into position on the right hand side of the line and set off. I knew instantly that I'd turned too soon but my instructor said to turn to the left slightly to correct it, which worked. I got in, but we gave it another go which was fine.
Next it was out of the test centre and we headed in the direction of Maryport. I may have jumped the junction slightly, but as I told my instructor in my defence, there were 3 cars all indicating left, then another car popped up behind them as I was turning out of the junction so I was - in theory - already on the road and they were obviously going too fast to get right up my backside! That's my theory anyway and I'm sticking to it!
As we got to the roundabout at Northside we took a left and headed for Seaton, which really is my pet hate! Not so much Seaton itself but the back road to Flimby! I may have mentioned it once or twice before today...
When we got into Seaton we had a go at reversing round a corner, which I did manage, but forgot to stop for a pedestrian! D'oh! I nearly hit the kerb at one point too I think but I got myself sorted and got round ok.
So we headed back up to the main road and I managed a pause on a slight hill junction before heading out onto the dreaded road! The reason I hate it so much is because it's a national speed limit road and doesn't have any white lines WHATSOEVER! I hate it with a passion and don't intend to EVER head that way EVER AGAIN once I pass my test!
We took a left onto the road which heads for Flimby and I managed to slow down too soon again, but at least I was at a nice speed when I got to the corner!! Now at the end of this road is a Give Way junction which is also on a hill so it's possible to head out of the junction in 2nd gear. This time I headed towards it too fast and couldn't really slow down fast enough even though I had my foot to the floor so we decided to do it again. Now logic would tell you that we'd head through Flimby and turn back towards Seaton but oh no, I think my instructor had his insane head on today!! Halfway down the hill he got me to pull up to the side outside a house, which I did expecting him to then tell me to carry on when I was ready. How wrong was I..? Nope, he then said, "Right, we'll have a turn in the road." My face must've been a right picture and all I could say was, "What here??" In my head I was thinking, "Are you insane?? Do you have a death wish?? I'm going to die!!"
Anyway, I psyched myself up, waited for all the cars to pass and started the manoeuvre. I knew from the first move that I wasn't going to get round in 3 so asked if a 5 point turn was ok. He said that was fine so I carried on. More cars came and passed, then I got one bloke who couldn't get passed so had to sit and wait on the hill. Oh joy of joys! I'm just glad it wasn't me sitting there! By about the 3rd turn I was knackered and felt like I was gonna break out in a sweat, but I got round in 5 and breathed a huge sigh of relief!
We headed back up the hill and passed the junction that I'd initially managed to fluff up, took one big circle and headed back, coming at it from the other way. I still managed to slow too soon but I got round and back down to the Give Way junction, hitting it much slower this time and getting out no bother. This time there was no stopping on the hill, except to give way to other cars, and we headed right down and out of Flimby, back towards Workington.
We took a left back into Seaton and my instructor asked if I'd like to give it another go, to which I instantly shook my head and said, "No, yer alright!" No hesitate whatsoever much to his amusement!
So it was up to the junction on the hill that has alluded me time after time after time. This was to prove no exception so we took a side road to get back round and give it another go. This time I actually nailed it, at last! Hooray!! Mind there was a car coming that I was giving way for that I was willing to get a move on so I could get out, otherwise all my hard work would've been lost on having to use the handbrake! I actually did it though so I was dead chuffed.
Nothing exciting really happened after that, except when attempting a parallel park on Corporation Road and a bus squeezing past me when my nose was sticking out! I thought he was going to wait to avoid taking my front end out but he didn't! Impatient bugger!
By now it was almost time to head home so we set off, me whooping for joy in my head that my instructor had forgotten about the little road near my house that I'd mentioned last week! There was time for one last parallel park halfway down my road, then we had a little lesson under the bonnet. Everything was fine there, except I forgot to say that you have to lift the windscreen washer top to check it.
Next week will probably be more of the same which is good because I actually enjoyed todays lesson! I was extremely pleased with myself which can only be a good sign...
posted by Ailsa @ 3:49 pm
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