Crossstitchforum - A FREE forum for Cross Stitchers

I have just booked my very first driving lesson.....



Aaargh!

If you're in the Midlands next Wednesday afternoon, be kind to any learner drivers you come across - it might be me

You'll be fine once you get over the nerves. (I don't think I could drive over there; you guys drive on the wrong side of the road. )

fccs wrote:(I don't think I could drive over there; you guys drive on the wrong side of the road. )

lol I feel the same! Id feel constantly confused just trying to figure out what part of the road im supposed to be on!

You'll be fine. If I did it, anyone can

And Debby, I think you'll find that we drive on the correct side of the road. It's the rest of the world that has it wrong

Good luck Mabel! You will do fine even if its trickier over there.

cairee wrote:

fccs wrote:(I don't think I could drive over there; you guys drive on the wrong side of the road. )

lol I feel the same! Id feel constantly confused just trying to figure out what part of the road im supposed to be on!

Any special reason you are learning now?

Carole

Glad I don't work Wednesday's so won't be on the road I might actually see you as we live in the same town

Seriously though I'm sure you'll be fine

Carole wrote:
And Debby, I think you'll find that we drive on the correct side of the road. It's the rest of the world that has it wrong

Just relax and I am sure you will pick it up very quickly MAble.

Oh I am sure that you will figure this out just as easy as you did Hardanger. Good Luck

Oh driving is great, hope your first lesson goes well!

Good luck.

It took me quite some time to convert to 4 wheels from 2, for some reason on my first car test I terrified the examiner when trying to swoop the car around a bend that my Suzuki 550 would have made fun. Ahh well. When I took my 3rd car test in my 2CV, the examiner actually screamed in the emergency stop because the nose dived so far despite the fact I didn't put the brakes on as hard as I could - the suspension movement is spectacular. Anyway, I think the examiner passed me that attempt to avoid having to go in my car again.

As for driving on the wrong side of the road: I had an accident in Canada on a motorcycle where I was entirely to blame. I came up to a set of traffic lights in Vancouver, looked automatically for oncoming traffic and rode my motorbike in front of a car I hadn't seen, because I'd automatically looked front right not front left for the vehicle. That hurt as I got thrown over the bonnet (hood) down the other side. I briefly regained consciousness as my helmet was trapped under the car as I was rolling down the road with the car, and finally regained full consciousness in the gutter, bleeding from a leg wound and hurting all over. So, in 48 hrs after arriving in Canada, I'd bought a bike, written it off, landed in hospital, got a photo of me bleeding in the gutter in the local newspaper and got a fine for driving without due care & attention. All because I looked in the wrong place because the rest of the world drives on the wrong side of the road.

Anyway after 24 hrs in hospital I bought another bike, learned my lesson strong & hard and made my way to Toronto via Fairbanks (AK) over the next 2 months entirely without incident.

Regards

Richard

Take a deep breath, you'll be fine.

Ha, I live in Northants, so please warn me if you cross the border....
I did hear a rumour that all police leave has been cancelled for the East Midlands next Wednesday.......

Good Luck Mabel...if you can master Hardanger learning to drive will be a Doddle!!

Carole wrote:You'll be fine. If I did it, anyone can

And Debby, I think you'll find that we drive on the correct side of the road. It's the rest of the world that has it wrong

What about me then!!! I live in France, drive a French car on the right side of the road....no problem! When I go to the UK to visit my daughter I hire a car at the airport and drive on the left in a UK registered car, no problem......BUT some times we drive over in our car or our motorvan in a left hand drive car and have to drive on the 'wrong side' of the road!!!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, locals

rcperryls wrote:Any special reason you are learning now?

Sort of. I never needed to drive back in The Netherlands, I either walked, cycled, or used public transport (6 trains an hour between my home town and the one where I worked).

When I came to England we lived in a tiny village for six months, and if we'd stayed there I would definitely have had to learn to drive right away. But we moved to slightly larger one, I can walk to the Post Office and the supermarket, cycle (or walk) to church and even to the nearest town, and so it came off the priority list.

But lately I've been thinking that if DH ever breaks a leg or something, we're stuffed for any major travel, and I'd have to do the weekly shop in about 4 instalments . Also, occasionally it would be nice to be able to go somewhere further afield without having to ask him to drive me there and pick me up, and it would be useful for the business if I could pick up stuff we've ordered while DH can just get on with work. And I could help out with some of the church driving (when people need to be taken to hospital appointments etc.)

I'm in my mid-forties, and I felt that if I wasn't going to learn now, it probably wouldn't happen at all. So I've taken the plunge!

I am sure that you will pick it up quickly, just relax and accept that you will make mistakes because everyone does. So sensible to learn because as you so rightly said it is a problem if your husband should have an illness or accident but it is also important for your own independence.

Good luck and keep us posted about your progress.

Rosemary

You go girl.
It's the best thing ever for independence. Just think of all those needlework shops you will be able to get to once you pass.

Oooh, now there's a thing, Midge - Burford will be within my reach!

Midge wrote:You go girl.
It's the best thing ever for independence. Just think of all those needlework shops you will be able to get to once you pass.

Reason enough!!!!

Carole

Mabel Figworthy wrote:Oooh, now there's a thing, Midge - Burford will be within my reach!

Now that's a really good reason to learn....Burford needlecraft is fantastic!! My friend lives about 2 miles from Burford.