It gives me great pleasure to announce that on Friday the 9th of September 2011, i managed to not only pass my driving test, but did so with NO minor faults!
What lunatic would give me a license? Was my first thought on hearing id passed.
And to get no minors atall? The examiner was surely drugged, blindfolded and gagged!
I made plenty of mistakes, i know this because i counted them as i made them. I could also hear my instructors voice in my head yelling 'Bam! You've failed' as he so often liked to do.
So how did i pass my test? My only theory is that my instructor tricked me into being very over careful, very over cautious and very over ready for my test so much so that i flew through it with flying colours, while believing that id failed miserably.
He told me he had no doubts that i would pass, so apparently he had alot more faith in me than i did in myself.
I think ive spent the whole weekend in shock and denial that ive passed my test because i keep going over it with anyone who will listen as i regale tales of my test over and over trying to figure out how i managed to pull one over on the examiner but its something im going to have to accept and of course get excited about!
We went to look at a car yesterday, i can quickly see this becoming my new 'baby'. Something i never understood before i entered into the world of driving.
It is a Ford Fiesta 09 reg, 5000 miles on the clock and gorgeous! The other half gave it a quick test drive (as i was too shy!) and declared it worthy enough to buy.
I am very excited to go and pick it up next weekend, and also quite nervous. This is it! The real test comes now that i have to drive a car without my trusted instructor sat next to me with the wonderful (or not so wonderful at times) use of his dual control pedal.
Despite me being excited and nervous all at the same time, i am in a funny way, going to miss my instructor. He of course was being paid to teach me to drive, and that was the job he did well in getting me over my absolute terror of being on the road, pushing me not only to achieve my true potential but also to force me onto a small motorway albeit in the left lane only and also get me over my fear of getting on and off them! But in the year he taught me, he also became a friend. Another outlet for me to let off steam to, chat about families, good news, bad news, and so on with. He was there when my nan sadly passed away earlier this year, he was there when i had a big fallout with the other half not long after, he was there when my baby started nursery and when my second born started reception on her first day. He shared with me his stories of his two grandaughters that he doted on and the general ups and downs of life. His previous jobs, his previous experiences and his infinite wisdom that only comes from years of life experience.
So in a way i am leaving one chapter behind and starting a new one, and this is quite an exciting, but scary prospect for me. I am a creature of pure habit and i dont often like life changes.
It is strange to know that i no longer need him or have to book another lesson up and carry on from where we left off. Especially seeing as i still feel i have a long way to go re: driving. He did say though that i am welcome to book another lesson at any time i feel like id like to brush up on my driving, parking or even motorway lessons with him and i think i will probably take him up on that.
To round things off, i thought i would send him a Thank You card. This is what the message inside said:
To <driving instructor>
Thank you very much for teaching me how to drive!
I really couldnt have done it without your patience and understanding
I have come so far and overcome a huge fear of mine that will now change mine and my girls lives for the better.
Its all thanks to YOU!
Thank you so much, please keep in touch
Nikki Goodwin
So here i am about to start on a new journey with my own car, my freedom and while its a scary prospect... I cant wait to get started :-D
I passed!!
What lunatic would give me a license? Was my first thought on hearing id passed.
And to get no minors atall? The examiner was surely drugged, blindfolded and gagged!
I made plenty of mistakes, i know this because i counted them as i made them. I could also hear my instructors voice in my head yelling 'Bam! You've failed' as he so often liked to do.
So how did i pass my test? My only theory is that my instructor tricked me into being very over careful, very over cautious and very over ready for my test so much so that i flew through it with flying colours, while believing that id failed miserably.
He told me he had no doubts that i would pass, so apparently he had alot more faith in me than i did in myself.
I think ive spent the whole weekend in shock and denial that ive passed my test because i keep going over it with anyone who will listen as i regale tales of my test over and over trying to figure out how i managed to pull one over on the examiner but its something im going to have to accept and of course get excited about!
We went to look at a car yesterday, i can quickly see this becoming my new 'baby'. Something i never understood before i entered into the world of driving.
It is a Ford Fiesta 09 reg, 5000 miles on the clock and gorgeous! The other half gave it a quick test drive (as i was too shy!) and declared it worthy enough to buy.
I am very excited to go and pick it up next weekend, and also quite nervous. This is it! The real test comes now that i have to drive a car without my trusted instructor sat next to me with the wonderful (or not so wonderful at times) use of his dual control pedal.
Despite me being excited and nervous all at the same time, i am in a funny way, going to miss my instructor. He of course was being paid to teach me to drive, and that was the job he did well in getting me over my absolute terror of being on the road, pushing me not only to achieve my true potential but also to force me onto a small motorway albeit in the left lane only and also get me over my fear of getting on and off them! But in the year he taught me, he also became a friend. Another outlet for me to let off steam to, chat about families, good news, bad news, and so on with. He was there when my nan sadly passed away earlier this year, he was there when i had a big fallout with the other half not long after, he was there when my baby started nursery and when my second born started reception on her first day. He shared with me his stories of his two grandaughters that he doted on and the general ups and downs of life. His previous jobs, his previous experiences and his infinite wisdom that only comes from years of life experience.
So in a way i am leaving one chapter behind and starting a new one, and this is quite an exciting, but scary prospect for me. I am a creature of pure habit and i dont often like life changes.
It is strange to know that i no longer need him or have to book another lesson up and carry on from where we left off. Especially seeing as i still feel i have a long way to go re: driving. He did say though that i am welcome to book another lesson at any time i feel like id like to brush up on my driving, parking or even motorway lessons with him and i think i will probably take him up on that.
To round things off, i thought i would send him a Thank You card. This is what the message inside said:
To <driving instructor>
Thank you very much for teaching me how to drive!
I really couldnt have done it without your patience and understanding
I have come so far and overcome a huge fear of mine that will now change mine and my girls lives for the better.
Its all thanks to YOU!
Thank you so much, please keep in touch
Nikki Goodwin
So here i am about to start on a new journey with my own car, my freedom and while its a scary prospect... I cant wait to get started :-D
Yay! Well done! You'll soon be out and about and wonder how you got around before driving! Sounds like a good journey you've been on and with a great outcome! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Unfortunately though the car has fallen through so its back to the drawing board looking for another!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Well done you! Amazing to have no minor faults.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca xx
ReplyDelete