(no subject)

[turps]

Since I last posted I've helped Corey move to his new house-share. He's retaking his last year which meant moving out of the house he's in now as his other house-mates are moving on. Thankfully this time he's got two weeks between moving to the new place and having to hand in the keys to the old place so no frantic cleaning like last year.

However, I did climb a lot of stairs as Corey's room was on the top floor of a townhouse. By the end of the day my fitbit had awarded me my 'Climb a redwood' badge as I'd climbed at least 25 flights of stairs while hauling boxes. By the time we were done I was desperate to have a soak in the bath. And then while I was doing that I remembered his first year at uni, when we moved him into halls and I could barely walk the few minutes to take him to the local Sainsburys to stock up on essentials. Again: man have things changed.

I also went to see The Festival with James. It's pretty much The Inbetweeners with only one cast member, so if you like that you'll like the film. We did end up hanging around for half an hour before going in as one of the projector bulbs had broken and needed changing, which meant no ads and no trailers. Which wasn't an issue really, but we were still given free passes when we left. As we've got unlimited cards they were no use to us so I've given them to Kayleigh and told her to use them on an Imax screening, she may as well get as much value out of them as possible.

I've been out for my first drive with James. Locally there's a place where a housing estate has been knocked down, but the roads remain so all the driving schools take people there. I drove for about an hour and at the end James said he bet I'd enjoyed that, and no, no I didn't. It was scary and I ended up driving on the grass when I got flustered and at one point when I was driving between the streets with actual houses in them, and you know, cars and people, another learner was told to stop by their instructor and I had to drive around a corner and go between their car and another car that was parked up, and what were they thinking?! I'd only been behind the wheel all of half an hour. And I know, they would have no idea I was such a newbie, but still.

Other than that. Yesterday was a bad grieving day. Probably because someone is moving into mam's house, and then Celeb Big Brother started, and mam loved that show loads and she wasn't around to watch and complain about not knowing any of the so-called celebs. Today has been better, so onwards and upwards I guess.

Comments

[nopseud]

{hugs}

I really recommend getting some lessons before you go out driving with other people, if you can. Instructors have dual-control cars so everything is enormously less scary knowing that they can take the controls if needed. They also know the best ways to teach driving, so you'll learn much faster and you won't pick up bad habits that are hard to break later. Even if they're not dangerous habits, they might interfere with you passing your test. It's best to be at the point where you can confidently go 'I know that's how you drive, and it's fine, but to pass the test I need to be doing X' while you're practising.

[turps]

That's the point I'm at now. James was patient and explained things, but it wasn't enough. I needed the security of a dual control because it was scary being in control of a big car. Plus, I suspect learning using the adapted foot controls isn't the best idea. They flip so they're in the usual place when anyone but James is driving, but when Kayleigh tried to drive his car last week she said the brake pedal felt far too high, which could be another issue.

My original thinking was to get some practice without paying for an instructor, but after actually doing it, that's something for further down the road. I've got a bit of money I can use for lessons, so I'm going to go out and book some for the complete beginner.

[frausorge]

Ok, now I'm curious about how driving licenses work by you. Will you get something else after you've taken the test? (Here the thing that lets you get on the road as a student driver is a permit, and the license is the thing you get after passing the test. So I think I misunderstood your last post a bit.)

I hope Corey likes his new housemates.

And, *hugs*.

[turps]

I've got my provisional license at the moment. I think that will be the same as your permit, meaning I can go on the roads as long as an experienced driver is in the car with me. Then I'll get the full license once I've passed the theory and practical tests. Which feels like a lifetime away just now.

He seems to like them. One of them was helping to take his stuff into his house, so that was a good start.

♥

[chalcopyrite]

::hugs::

I remember how utterly terrified I was when I started driving. I used to go through the most amazing geographic contortions to avoid having to encounter, if possible, any other cars at all! And forget driving on streets with cars parked along one side, just forget it.

I'd second the suggestion to get a few lessons if you can, because the instructor will (should!) talk you through every step and will have insight on what the local driving tests cover. But after that, you really just need experience to get comfortable with the idea of steering a large chunk of metal in a straight line!

[turps]

Yes! That's exactly how I feel.

Even though it was mostly other learner cars crawling around the roads I got really nervous approaching them, and when a van came past driven by someone who actually knew what they were doing I stopped until it went past. Something that obviously, I couldn't do on a real road.

Getting an actual instructor with a dual-control car is the way to go for sure.

[sylvaine]

Oh gosh, the driving thing sounds terribly stressful! It's exciting that you're learning it though :D and exciting that you did all that physical exercise, wow, I'm so damn impressed!

*hugs* grieving is so hard. All of the love <333

[turps]

The driving is scary! I really hope it gets better -- and less scary -- as I get more practice.

Thank you ♥

[turlough]

I hope Corey will like his new place! Also, go you for helping him move! If it had been me all those stairs would have hade me come up with a good excuse to get out of helping :-)

That sounds like quite a scary drive! I'll keep my fingers crossed the next one will be much less frought!

*hugs you a lot*

[turps]

He seems to be liking it so far. They have to hand the keys in from the old place today so we're taking the hoover from there to his new place, which suggests they've finished cleaning. Thankfully, my only role today is company, no cleaning or hauling boxes needed.

It was a scary drive. It really threw me having to drive past actual other cars.

♥

[sperrywink]

GO you! 25 flights of stairs hauling crap is definitely an accomplishment. ANd I am so happy you had the stamina and things have changed that much for the better for you from when he first went to uni.

Good luck with the driving lessons,I know you can do it!

ANd finally, {{{hugs}}} just because.

[turps]

There were so many stairs, omg! It's things like that that remind me how much things have changed. I mean, I get used to seeing myself, but when I remember panting for breath walking that short stretch of road to that day when I was up and down stairs for hours. It felt good.

Thank you. For the hugs and the confidence.

[rikes]

OMG, that's a lot of stairs.

Good luck with the driving!

[turps]

So many stairs! His new place is only up one flight, but I'm hoping he won't move again for a long time.

Thank you.