When the going gets tough......

I like a challenge. And I get plenty in this job. 
A few months ago, I had an email enquiry, asking about an in intensive driving course. Nothing too unusual in that, intensive courses seem to be increasingly popular. I replied, asking various questions to establish previous experience, availability, whether or not the theory test has been passed, and whether they are looking for a test at the end. All her answers seemed fine until she asked what days I am in Fort William.
Ah, that's a shame, I thought, I don't cover Fort William. Fort William is 90 miles from me, not an awful lot further than Ullapool, further north on the west coast, at which I instruct several days a week. But the journey, although spectacular, is a relatively slow, wiggly drive, across to Inverness, down the side of Loch Ness, Loch Oich, the Caledonian canal, Loch Lochy, then around the western flanks of the Grampian mountains to Fort William. I would have to say 'No'. "Why not just have regular lessons with a local instructor?" I asked. She replied that she had taken some lessons, but felt that an intensive course would suit her better. She also said that she hadn't yet taken her theory test, so I suggested that that should be her priority if she really wanted an in intensive course.
A couple of months later, she emailed again to say that she had passed her theory, so could I take her on for an intensive course. I relented. She seemed such a nice person and I was impressed with her determination and excitement at the prospect of being able to drive. I did make it clear that I was not familiar with the area but, if she accepted that, I would be happy to help.

The plan was for me to hire an apartment and spend the whole weekend there, working on her driving, then take her test on the Monday lunchtime. I wanted Jane to join me. Although I would be busy during the days, she would be able to explore Fort William, walk our dogs in Glen Nevis, and hopefully enjoy a break from her own business. A perfect plan, or so I thought.....
Last Saturday morning we drove down to Fort William. The forecast was not good for the west Highlands, but it was warm and beautiful blue skies when we set off. As we progressed, a few spots of rain began to turn to a heavy downpour. By the time we reached Fort William there was a lot of water on the roads.

After getting settled in at the apartment, I left Jane staring out the windows, watching the rain getting heavier and wondering whether she should have stayed at home, in sunny Morayshire. I drove off to meet Shauna. A few years ago Shauna had had an operation on her hip which had gone wrong. Complications had left her without full use of her left leg. She told me that she had gone from being an optimistic teenager to someone who would now need crutches to help her walk and had lost interest in her future. It was only when she got herself a black Labrador puppy that her optimism returned. Having the company of the dog inspired her to get up, get out and start living again. And it was this new optimism that inspired her to learn to drive so that she and her dog could get out into the Highlands and go for more spectacular walks. 

The lessons and test were all in her car, a Polo automatic (because she was unable to use a clutch). Over Saturday and Sunday we would have two hour lessons throughout the day, with 45 minute breaks inbetween. Meanwhile, the rain was completely unrelenting. It made for even more spectacular scenery, with Britain's highest mountains spouting numerous waterfalls and the rivers churning and gushing to worryingly high levels. On the roads the puddles were getting bigger and deeper. By Sunday afternoon the roads were flooded in many places and some roads were closed. We used the opportunity to work on driving in such conditions, assessing the road and, where the water was particularly deep, keeping the car moving steadily to create a bow wave in front of the car. At one point we were on a single-track road, that was severely flooded. Some sheep had escaped from a field and were anxiously running along the verges around the car. Meanwhile, we had a cyclist braving the flooded road behind us and an oncoming car with barely room for the two cars to pass. Shauna handled the situation beautifully. I told her "If you can deal with all that, you can deal with anything".

Monday morning, the day of the test, and I was now very worried. Not about Shauna's driving, that was very hard to fault, but by the fact that I was convinced that the test would not go ahead. Despite no let up in the incessant rain, the council had worked wonders with drainage and only a few roads remained closed. But even if the roads were better, they were still bad and, most importantly, the road south of Fort William was closed due to landslides. This meant that the examiner would have to make a massive detour around the Grampians, up the A9 and back south to Fort William. It was therefore, an huge relief to see the examiner walk toward us at the test centre and an even bigger relief to find that the test would go ahead. Shauna asked me to accompany her on the test." What brings you so far from Inverness? " the examiner asked me. "Shauna asked me nicely" was my honest reply. 

The test was.... different.... The road closures and amount of traffic meant that the examiner had to rethink his route on a few occasions. This didn't matter though. Having no experience of instructing in Fort William, I had taken Shauna all over the place during the last two and a half days, and we had no preconceptions of where the test might go. It was no surprise (at least to me) when, at the end of the test, the examiner told Shauna that she had passed. 

Since then, Shauna has got insured and has been driving all over the place. It is always very rewarding for me when someone passes, but this one was more special than most. With her licence, her new freedom, and her dog, 'Ziggy Stardust' by her side, the world really is her lobster now.

Whilst we were in Fort William our daughters seemed to delight in letting Jane and me know how mild and sunny it was at home. So we took the rain back with us.