Taking the 'H' out of 'L' plates

Last Saturday I had an extended lesson because I was going to do a mock test. It certainly did not help that I was still hung over from the night before and my instructor informed me that it took 18 hours for the alcohol to leave the system. Great. It was certainly not 18 hours since I had last touched alcohol.

Is there not any kind soul out there who would consider taking me out to practice? I am a good driver really. I promise you.

Last Saturday I had a very varied lesson that included travelling at 60mph along a twisty country road before being spilled on to a dual carriage way and increasing my speed to 70mph. I also had the usual fun of negotiating the built up areas around Brighton where you can be travelling in 1st gear for a while. We did, indeed, get stuck in a jam towards Newhaven but once out into the picturesque countryside of East Sussex it was a breeze and I enjoyed the views, perhaps, a little too much as my instructor commented on my lack of concentration several times. I must keep my eyes on the road and my mind on the gears, mirrors and any potential hazards.

I don't have a driving lesson until Saturday week now but I have been told to prepare for a mock driving test where my instructor promises to be ruthless, well, not ruthless but I will have to drive as if I am being examined. The butterflies have already started fluttering in my stomach.

Last week I had an unexpected journey into unknown territory. Unfortunately, the wheel of my instructor's car was damaged so I had a lesson driving back to his home so that he change his tyre before he could do any further lessons. The trouble was that he couldn't take the tyre off as a vital piece of equipment was missing. In my technical ignorance I have forgotten what it is called. I drove all the way to Shoreham, a place I had only previously visited by train, bus or bike, so I was quite excited by the experience.

I was again a little rough with the gear stick and my skills on the steering wheel do need improvement but I still put this down to not enough practice. These are things to bear in mind as well as keeping up with the flow of traffic and not to be over cautious at times. I am comforted by the reassuring words of friends who tell me 'everything becomes automatic after a while'.  They don't offer to take me out in their own cars though.