Once I turned 17 I couldn't wait to get my provisional driving licence...it was part of the road to adult hood. I loved my lessons, just didn't like the idea of actually taking my test, so the driving kinda fizzled out, tried again at 20 but chickened out again. So you can imagine the look on my face when I was 23 and instead of the Bon Jovi tickets I was hoping for Mark gave me a driving theory test and a block of ten lessons. THUD went the brick sized book as I dropped it on the floor. (You'll be glad to know that I did get the Bon Jovi tickets!!) the lessons were valid for 12 months and by the October I'd made no attempt at even ringing the instructor, by November I started to feel a bit guilty, It would be a waste of money if I didn't take the lessons. I decided I'd just do the ten and then that'd be it...I'd stick to walking, the bus, the train. Again I enjoyed my lessons, My instructor Ange was fab, I'd tootle off in the car for and hour and we'd be chatting, putting the world to rights, and occasionally remembering to mirror, signal, manoevoure and the odd parallel parking (I hated them - still do!!) So when the subject of the test came up, I tried to put it off again. Didn't work. So on the day of the test I wore my lucky ear rings (turned out they weren't so lucky). I can't remember exactly what I failed on...something to do with a round about I think!) But I failed. On the plus side my dad bought me a huge tin of minature hero chocolates (I have NO trouble remembering that!!). So I had another go. I knew before I even turned the engine on I'd failed. My under bonnet checks hadn't gone very well...it helps if you can actually remember which button opens the bonnet...I opened the petrol cap! My tester was standing in the rain while I ran around the car looking for the button, convinced someone moved it. Finally he said "Let's just get in the car." Then there was the matter of my driving licence...it was in my hand, obviously I couldn't drive holding it, instead of doing the sensible thing and popping it in the space by the side of the door, I leaned across to open the glove compartment (Do people ACTUALLY keep there gloves in there?? I've always wondered!) It wouldn't open, so I yanked it open...the whole contents landing in the testers lap...so yeah, I knew that one wasn't gonna end well. Third time lucky I finally passed, I had the same tester as the glove compartment incident and when he told me I'd passed (2 days before Christmas and 2 years after the Driving lessons "Present!!") I said "I didn't even mind having you again, even though you failed me last time." He said. "I failed you?" I replied "Well no, I failed you just told me!" So I'd done it...but told Ange I still didn't really like driving and it was a means to an end. Well that's changed slightly. I am lucky where I live to have a prom to drive on along and beautiful views of the Irish sea, so on days like today when it's gloriously sunny and I have Kings Of Leon or other good driving music on like Don Henley's Boys Of Summer , there is nothing that beats driving along there and that's when I'm glad I learnt to drive. One day I'd love to drive along the pacific Coast Highway in a jeep, with the wind in my hair and music blasting out. Ange now says to me "I told you you'd like driving one day." and I say "I still can't bloody park though!"
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Author - Bev's Blog!
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April 2019
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