I Got A Space!!

Well last night after taking my daughter to Brownies (and discovering it wasn't on... ) I had to park round the corner again, but the car outside our house eventually moved so I ran out to the car to have another pop at parallel parking!

Well... What can I say..? Diabolical just isn't the word! I was parking on the right hand side again which made it harder, but I didn't DARE drive round the block to turn round in case another car got there before me! I started to turn into the space but had far too much lock on and ended up hitting the kerb long befoe I was ready to turn in properly! Tee hee hee! Hubby came out to guide me in and I did eventually get it, probably a good 5 or 10 minutes later. Next time I'm driving round the block to park on the left!

Nightmare Of Nightmares!

I just remembered that I was gonna add this the other night, then promptly forgot!

Friday morning I was dreaming about being at work and I nipped out to get a drink from Woolies. While I was in there, I saw my daughter who was there with her friends. There were loads of escalators, but they weren't your average, run of the mill kind, they were simply conveyor belts, full of lumps and bumps, that wound their way up and down throughout the store.

Each floor was for a specific age group so my daughter couldn't go above ground level because you had to be over 10 (which she isn't yet!) but she insisted on following me up! There were warning signs all the way up and even scrolling neon signs that contained inappropriate language which she was reaidng out loud. I told her off and told her to go right back down on the other escalator, but she wouldn't. I pulled her over to the downwards one and pushed her onto it but she fell over, so ended up going down backwards on her belly.

When she got to the bottom there was a gap between the belt and the floor so she started to get dragged between the 2 and was screaming for dear life. I went to press the emergency stop button but there wasn't one at the top so I had to run down the stairs because no-one was helping her! When I got to the bottom, there was literally half of her head sticking out and the rest of her body was trapped so I pressed the stop button and screamed for help! No-one was helping and she was still screaming and I heard her say she couldn't breathe so I was frantically trying to drag her back out when someone came over to me and said, "I dunno why yer bothering, she's gonna die anyway."

At this point I woke up in a cold sweat and couldn't stop crying. Every time I closed my eyes again all I could see was her head stuck there and I could hear her screams. It affected me so badly that I had to wake up my husband, then switch on the light to read for a while to try and get the image and sound out of my head.

That nightmare will now be firmly etched at the back of my memory, along with the many others where someone is threatening to attack me but I can't run or scream or climb up stairs. It's not one that I wish to experience EVER again and I hope that by telling it here that I may finally get it out of my system. Fingers crossed anyway!

Sod's Law!!

I chucked a hissy-fit (yep, again!) the other day and decided that I wasn't gonna drive again because I can't park through lack of available practice in my area! Imagine my frustration at lunchtime when I made hubby drive us out and then back home again and there was a space outside our house!! I was so annoyed, more so when hubby told a neighbour that I was refusing to drive so I was determined to do it this afternoon.

We went round to Currys and Morrisons later on and I decided to park nearer Currys because it was easier to be honest. No problems there, drove into the space and straightened myself up ready to pull back out again. Of course, once we got back home again the space had gone though there was one on the opposite side of the road, a little tighter though.

I decided to give it a go but my road position was all wrong and I couldn't tell how far passed the car I'd gone coz my son's head was in the way, so I drove round the block to give it another go. There was a bigger space round the corner though, so I decided that'd do instead.

I was parking on the left, which is how I was taught, so I found it MUCH easier to get into and only had to reverse in, then drive forward to straighten up! A massive improvement on any of my previous attempts!!

I keep checking out to see if there's a space on our road, but none as yet, though possibly if people would park properly instead of taking up 2 spaces...

Parallel Parking Breakthrough!

I parked the car after coming home from school on Tuesday morning (wouldn't usually take the car but promised son coz hubby off work ill!) and even though it took me probably a good 5-10 minutes, I think I'm FINALLY beginning to understand how it works now!

Hubby said, "Once you pass the end of the car, start turning," which I did, then as soon as the front of my car passed the back of it, I had to give it full lock, which again I did! I ended up with my back wheel on the pavement a little bit, so I moved forward to straighten up, then reversed back again and ended up with the wheel on the pavement again!!

I can't remember how many times I did it, but I ended up pulling forward to get straight and leaving it there!

I haven't been back out in the car since then, but it might be possible later on tonight. I know for a fact I won't get the chance to practice parking again though!

What Is Going On??

Once again I have that achey feeling in my left knee and the burning sensation up the back of my thigh. Is it the way I'm sitting in the car? Is it from a previous work related injury? Whatever it is, it seems to be aggravated every time I drive and then walking around at work the next day and it's really starting to get annoying now!

If I knew I could get a doctors appointment some time this year I'd phone in the morning for one, but unless my leg decides to drop off, then I know I have no chance of getting in!! Oh well, time to stock up on painkillers again me thinks...

Stupid O'Clock & Driving Around!!

Hubby has been off work today coz he's poorly sick (won't go into details, not a pretty sight!) and so I offered to take the car up for his dad last night, but hubby INSISTED he'd be fine today and was going to work. Now 5.05am came and a sicky smelling, feeble sounding "Ailsa..." woke me up. Yep, you've guessed it, he still wasn't well and now wanted me to take the car up! If he'd let me do it when I'd suggested, I could've still been in the land of nod, but nope, up I got, dressed, cleaned my teeth and shoved a bobble in my hair.

The car had been blocked in so I got him to get it out for me, then I was about to get in and get myself sorted when a car came round the corner! Who on earth was up and driving around at this time in the morning?? By this time it was 5.30am and so I had to quickly jump in and just drive off. Had no time to alter the seat, the mirrors or anything! I hastily did that once I got to the end of our road, but I think I must've moved the rear view mirror a little too much and it was pointing down, so this was sorted as I was heading up through Mossbay.

I got up to father-in-law's and there was nowhere to park, so I just kinda pulled over to the side a bit and got him to drive me back home again! I'd had enough at this point and just wanted to get back home to my bed! I told both him AND hubby that he'd better not make a habit out of it just coz I've passed my test!

We got back to our house, I climbed out, got back in and up the stairs, got my PJs back on and crawled back into bed. My leg was giving me some jip at this point coz it's only the second time I've been out driving since I hurt it last week, so needless to say, I didn't get much sleep after that! I think I finally fell asleep around 6.20am but then my alarm went off at 6.35am coz I'd forgotten to change the time, so that was the end of that!

Now it wasn't till I eventually dragged myself BACK out of bed at 7.15am that I realised I'd put my top on inside out and the only reason I DID notice was coz the tag was tickling my arm!!

I had to go and pick the car back up at tea-time (just in case it's needed tomorrow) so off I toddled, on my lonesome, and again to pick my son up from Beavers!

My head is actually thumping from the lack of sleep now, but at least I'll have the car tomorrow if the poor little soldier is still poorly sick! What a great day to have a day off! Hehehehe!

The Pain! The Pain!!

It's official. Driving is bad for your health, don't take this statement lightly!

Since passing my test I've had to drive hubby's Vectra which has now knacked up my knee! What started off as a little ache after driving has now turned into a full blown pain when I'm doing my day to day business at work. I'm blaming the fact that I have to stretch my leg to put the clutch to the floor, sit any closer and I'm too close to the brake and accelerator which makes my other ankle hurt.

Last night was the worst nights sleep I've had in a LONG time, I just couldn't get comfortable, however I lay my leg hurt. I tried keeping it straight, it killed me, I tried bending it, the pain wasn't as bad, but was still bad enough. I woke up this morning and it felt fine, till I actually moved around and then it started again.

I don't mean to sound melodramatic but I can actually relate the pain to that of when I trapped a nerve in my other foot, it's almost disabling at times, just like that was!

I'm gonna go to work today armed with the deep heat and see how I get on, though I can see a trip to the doctors coming on who I reckon will simply say, "Don't drive then."

Bank Holiday Frustrations.

I decided this morning that I was going to tackle the parking bays at Morrisons while the shop was closed today, also planning on popping into B&Q while we were there!

We all got into the car and drove a few yards down our road when some STUPID idiot opened their car door just as I was reaching them!! Hubby wasn't even looking so didn't know what I was doing, he said later on that he thought I was stopping for a car, which I was, but a parked one rather than one coming towards me! There's absolutely NO WAY that they were looking when they opened the door and They're so damn lucky that I spotted them when I did or they'd have had a lot of damage to pay for, as well as a verbal tongue lashing for being so stupid in the first place! I hope they can lip read because they really were what I called them!! To top it all off, there was no wave of apology or anything!!

I was actually shaking for a while after that, so it was lucky we headed to my father-in-law's, even though we'd agreed to do that AFTER the parking! The idiot had thrown me that much that I'd forgotten where we were going and everything!!

Anyway, I eventually calmed down and we headed for the car parks, which I discovered was rather busy because Halfords was open, though strangely B&Q wasn't!! Damn!

The kids got out of the car and had a play near Allied Carpets while we must've been there for a good half an hour reversing into and out of bays in the corner. I tried doing it the way I was taught in my instructor's car, though I knew it wouldn't work coz I've tried it before! I tried turning slightly earlier, then took full lock off too soon, tried a little less lock, turned too much when straightening, then eventually gave up, went for some petrol and came home feeling more than a little frustrated! I can drive INTO parking bays (most of the time) but I just don't seem to be able to reverse into them! I guess I just need a bit more practise.

We haven't long got back from seeing Mr Bean's Holiday too, which I drove us to and back home again. All that was fine, though I had to park round the corner again, but it meant I could bump onto the kerb to get into the bay properly. Cheating I know, but it's what hubby does and said I should do!

There's one more day of the Easter bank holiday left, so let's see what tomorrow brings, if indeed we head out in the car anywhere!

Phew!

Had to head out earlier because I'd forgotten to take my cousin's birthday card up to her house. Now had it been a "normal" road, I'd have gone alone, but it's in a cul-de-sac and there was no way I was even attempting that on my own!! Lucky for me too that I took hubby with me! When we got there there were cars and vans everywhere, so I dumped the car in the middle of the road, jumped out to take the card and hubby turned it round for me. It would have been a 20 point turn if I'd done it myself!

Now on the way home I was hoping and praying that our parking space would still be there when we got back, but I was pretty sure that it wouldn't be. However it was, but as I put the car into reverse a car came round the corner! I had to go round the block to get out of it's way so I was then sure that it'd nick my spot, but it didn't! Phew!

I asked hubby to help me to park by telling me what to do, also trying to remember what other people had advised. When I passed the front of the car I asked should I start turning now, but was told not to. He told me to turn as the end of the car got to the side of me (I was parking on the right) but not to put too much lock on, haven't a clue how much I did use actually so I STILL need to practice that! I managed to get in though and then nudged it forward slightly, straightening up as I went and there I was, all parked neatly!! I was really chuffed, especially after the fiasco the other day!

We're supposed to be heading to Carlisle for the continental market tomorrow, so if we drive I'll report on that, though it could be a train job. Anyway, if anyone sees me, feel free to say hello and ask if we came in the car or drove!! (Hubby will know what I mean... )

Phew!

Had to head out earlier because I'd forgotten to take my cousin's birthday card up to her house. Now had it been a "normal" road, I'd have gone alone, but it's in a cul-de-sac and there was no way I was even attempting that on my own!! Lucky for me too that I took hubby with me! When we got there there were cars and vans everywhere, so I dumped the car in the middle of the road, jumped out to take the card and hubby turned it round for me. It would have been a 20 point turn if I'd done it myself!

Now on the way home I was hoping and praying that our parking space would still be there when we got back, but I was pretty sure that it wouldn't be. However it was, but as I put the car into reverse a car came round the corner! I had to go round the block to get out of it's way so I was then sure that it'd nick my spot, but it didn't! Phew!

I asked hubby to help me to park by telling me what to do, also trying to remember what other people had advised. When I passed the front of the car I asked should I start turning now, but was told not to. He told me to turn as the end of the car got to the side of me (I was parking on the right) but not to put too much lock on, haven't a clue how much I did use actually so I STILL need to practice that! I managed to get in though and then nudged it forward slightly, straightening up as I went and there I was, all parked neatly!! I was really chuffed, especially after the fiasco the other day!

We're supposed to be heading to Carlisle for the continental market tomorrow, so if we drive I'll report on that, though it could be a train job. Anyway, if anyone sees me, feel free to say hello and ask if we came in the car or drove!! (Hubby will know what I mean... )

Bleurgh!

We had to nip to Morrisons (yes, again!) earlier and I drove us round. I didn't feel comfortable at all and my driving was rubbish, even if I do say so myself! My gears weren't smooth, I stalled a couple of times and I just wasn't happy in general with my driving.

Hubby told me to look for the white line when parking, but I couldn't see any white line, even once I'd got parked!! It really did feel like I was back to square one and wondering how on earth I managed to pass my test! The side mirrors don't move round enough for me to be able to see the lines properly and I'm still sitting with my knees under the steering wheel! It's a good job you can alter the steering wheel or I'd be buggered!

I could carry on blaming the car, or the fact that I was tired, or even the boots I was wearing, but to be honest I think it was just a bad case of driving.