Driving Test

Today I had my driving test, I don't think I have ever been more nervous. I slept so badly the night before, kept waking up with visions of failure, visions of success and visions of any possible outcome. I woke up at about 6.30 and had to read a book to calm my nerves, I rewoke at 8 when the good luck texts began flooding in. My instructor picked me up at 10 and we went over everything I could get in the test for an hour. My confidence grew, I made no mistakes and everything seemed to be going alright.

I parked myself in a bay near the test centre before popping into Burger King to go to the toilet. We both went into the test centre waiting room, over the next 10 minutes 3 other people joined us, they all had their instructors going over things to do, what not to do and such, mine sat there reading a car magazine, he was apparently that confident in me. All four learners sat there, feet tapping, quick breathing, awkward smiles. Eventually the examiners came to get us. Mine was called Paul, according to the doorman he is the strictest.

We got in the car, did the Show Me/Tell Me questions, I got one about rear foglights and one about the anti-lock braking system, good start! We drove off and headed for Rose Hill, at the massive junction in Sutton I came up against my first challenge, an ambulance, I pulled over for it. I hit the kerb. Disaster! It is over! I've failed in just 5 minutes! I kept going, put it out of my head. Rather annoyingly I was taken on an unfamiliar route around Rose Hill, I would have been amazing on the Cheam route.

I was given the manoeuvres Reverse Left and Parallel Park, my reverse left was alright but my parallel park was the best I have ever done. After spluttering through 40 minutes of assessed, silent driving (he did not respond to my humorous comments at all). We pulled up in a road and he looked at me. "You have passed" he said. My heart leapt, I almost replied "really? are you sure?" He took me through my minor faults (all 8 of them). My instructor took me back to school since I am no longer covered by his insurance. My girlfriend phoned me up, I do love her. I text my parents, they spread the word to the whole family. I wandered into school having missed a morning of Challenge of Management, wandered into the study room to find two groups doing a careerstart course, they all looked at me. I said "I only went and passed!" and they cheered and applauded, everyone made me feel so good.

Now I just need a car.