Driving Number 4

Bit of a break between posts as unfortunately I was very sick last week and had to miss my driving lesson! Disappointing.

So today was largely recap of the old left hand turns. Feeling slightly apprehensive after the break, I seemed to settle back into it quicker than I thought.

I do believe that it's a mark of my evolving maturity that I told my instructor what I needed (e.g. 'can we go round the block one more time to cement this in my mind?') rather than just meekly going along with what she said. It's almost come as a shock to me that I have my own mind, and that it's thoughts are worth listening to (at times)!

Having mastered mirror, signal, manouver and left turn in first gear, complete with handbreak stop at the junction, along with giving way behind parked cars, we decided to take it up a gear. Literally. So we set off, we get into second gear, happily go along until a car whizzes into the road forcing me to stop behind a parked car. So we carry on in first. Once we have turned we aim to speed up into second again. I manage the speed, push down the clush and the car makes an awful revving noise and jumps - horrible. I'm like, 'I don't know what I'm doing wrong!!' So we turn into a side road to discuss. Turns out you're supposed to take your foot of the accelerator as you put the clutch down. Oh. That'd explain it. D'oh.

So today I avoid my instructor squealing at me, and just squealed myself. I have to say though, I did notice a marked improvement in my confidence and reaction times. It's not taking quite as long to carry out the instructions I'm given, my feet and hands are starting to move automatically. Whoo. I started the lesson thinking I'll never get it, and left the lesson thinking, 'ah ha, here we go!'

I only hit the curb once. Guess that's good going. Especially since my clutch control of just rolling into position at junctions and when parking is so excellent! ;) he he.

Right hand turns next week me thinks.