Guess What?

Around this time last week, I promised that within the next 10 working days I would fill you in with how my driving test went.

I was indeed very sneaky in hinting that it may be the week commencing Monday 10th December but no, that sneakity sneak that is me, kept it quiet for nearly 7 weeks that my test was booked for December 7th.

Earlier in the week I had that strange dream like thing where I passed and I wanted it to be a good omen. However, the rest of the week was far from fun.

I had a bit of a poo stressful week with the kids, the weather changed and we had snow and icy nights. I thought I lost my purse at one point too so it felt luck was against me and I was certain I was going to fail.

 I didn't feel my mock test went well and with the week I had, there was no way in the world that I would pass first time.

But not giving up before I even began I read my stars before I went yesterday morning:

VIRGO December 7th, 2012
DAILY HOROSCOPE

Show off a little -- lord knows you deserve it! You pulled off something big that just came to light today (maybe even to you), and there's no reason not to celebrate. Go for it!

So that put a little more spring in my step.

I messed up on parking on the lesson before my test and although I would say I didn't feel particularly nervous, I certainly would not describe myself as confident as I set myself into the test centre.

However, fate must have felt differently and somehow, through what I can only call a Christmas Miracle - I passed!

Yes, that's what I said :

Only just I hasten to add.

I felt I had failed.

I had driven so much better so many times. I was too close to vehicles in front once or twice. I felt I missed mirror checks. Through nerves I kept putting the fog lights on when I turned on the left indicator (not once did I do this with the right) and I felt I've messed it up and began to relax after about 10 minutes.

I just about bay parked correctly as I finished the test. I never felt that I was straight enough to start the manouver and ended up just in the lines as I finished.

The examiner totted up his markings and I had had few enough errors to pass my practical driving test.

To pass the UK driving test, you are currently only allowed 15 driver errors, and none of these can be serious or dangerous driver errors.

I had 14. (covers mouth a little embarrassed but happy)

So, I passed! It may have been incredibly close and two marks from a fail but I was on the RIGHT side of 15. It was totally unexpected which makes it that little bit more special. And was very much a fantastic end to a rubbish week.

My instructor was impressed!

She got in the car and listened as I was told I lost marks mostly for mirror observation (just the once but I thought I did more) and hesitation. I was slow pulling away into a gap when stopped on a busy road. I was ALWAYS taught if I cause another driver to slow down then it's not good driving so I waited quite some time for a gap I was confident with. I didn't want to be marked for being dangerous and misjudging a gap when it was raining and played on the side of caution. Others were just an odd mark for this and that.

My examiner wasn't offhand or anything when he said I'd passed but as soon as my instructor said I was her second First Time Pass this week, he smiled and said  "Really, well in that case, Well Done and Congratulations" much warmer and seemed genuinely happy for me.

I text hubby on the way back and told him the good news. By the time my instructor had driven me back he was on the phone updating the insurance for the car.

An hour after I got back I was in my own car. That sounds SO weird to say my car, but I guess it is mine now. Hubby took me out for lunch to celebrate and in the evening bought me a bottle of wine to celebrate.

Now being a driver I was a VERY good girl and settled for a small glass about 7pm so I could drive today.

I drove into Colchester and the journey was fine until I was about 2 minutes from my destination and I nearly had an accident on a mini roundabout. It was my right of way, I went a little wide misjudging the narrowness of it. After 17 months of being taught "always try to go ROUND it rather than over it" this rounabout was in a rubbish place and turned out that I should have gone over it. At the same time as me going wide, the car approaching from the left was going way to fast and looked like he wasn't going to stop. Crash averted I carried onto my nans confidently to end my trip.

It was scary but I learnt that not everything I learned on my lessons apply in every road layout.

I won't be trying to do that at that roundabout again.

So, yep, Passed and been out adventuring in our massive giant of a car from the word go!