The one that got away

Ultimately, it is the ability to be able to drive where you want, when you want, that starts people out on the journey of driving lessons/theory tests/driving tests. So I always take pleasure from seeing ex-pupils driving around. I still remember the real sense of satisfaction when Hannah passed: She was my very first pupil, back in my BSM days, to pass without having done any other driving with anyone else. I had others pass before her, but they had had previous lessons, or practice with friends or family. When Hannah passed I could legitimately think 'I did that'.
I even get satisfaction from the handful of pupils who have had lessons with me, but then move away before they pass. It is always nice when, unexpectedly, I get a text, call or email from a former pupil, letting me know that they have finally passed their test in Norfolk, Edinburgh, the USA, or wherever.

The other side of the coin are the pupils that start lessons but, for various reasons, have not yet passed, or even sat, their driving test. For me there is a sense of a job not done. A loose end.
Usually it is because they start their lessons, but move away to university before taking their test. Perfectly understandable, and many continue their lessons during the holidays. But there was one pupil this week, who had probably his last ever lesson with me, leaving me feeling particularly........ Not 'disappointed', that is not the right word. Just a slightly sad sense that I will probably not be there when he passes his test.
He was not my most 'natural' driver. And, although not the oldest pupil I have taught, he was at that end of the age scale. Add to that a less than perfect grasp of English, and, well..... it has been a struggle.
He actually took his first test before I met him, though heaven knows why his previous instructor thought he was ready. Although, to be fair, I'm not even sure he had a previous instructor, such was the difficulty in understanding each other. So most instruction was done by me drawing diagrams or, occasionally, by demonstration. I'm not going to beat about the bush, it was hard work. Because of the language problem I was often unconvinced that he fully understood what I was trying to teach. Other times, I knew he understood, but he just seemed unable to carry it out. Then, just when I thought we had finally cracked it, older faults would sneak back into his driving.
He took other tests. I sat in on one. Despite his assurances that he understood what the examiner was saying, I am pretty sure that he didn't. His first test (with me) was postponed due to snow; one of the very few of my tests cancelled last winter due to snow. He then spent time away, setting up a new business, before returning last Autumn. He resumed lessons and we booked a test for Wednesday 5th December. He bought several blocks of lessons and, the week of his test, he was driving without fault. I was convinced that he was finally going to be rewarded for his time, effort and money. A good thing too, because his theory test was only valid until 8th December, so this would be his only chance before having to re-sit his theory.
Late on Tuesday 4th December it snowed. I had five pupils with tests booked the next day; the pupil I have been talking about had the penultimate test of the day, at 1.33pm. On the Wednesday morning I looked out of the window and could immediately see that the first test or two would have to be postponed.
We turned up for the 8.40am test and the examiner confirmed that the first two tests would have to be postponed. But, to his credit, he said that he would have a drive around at 10.15am before making a decision about the 10.44 and 11.41am tests. The weak December morning sun did little to melt the snow, so it was no surprise when he postponed those two tests too. He again decided to delay his decision on the last two tests until 1.00pm. By 1.00pm the sun had actually melted most of the snow. Unfortunately, there were a couple of junctions which, I had to agree, were just a bit too slippy for a test to be conducted fairly.
It was horrible driving to pick up my pupil, who was waiting, very smartly dressed, and with all his documents neatly presented in a folder, only for me to tell him that his test would not be going ahead and that he would have to sit his theory test again.
The other four pupils, Alison, Beccy, Darren and Euan, all passed their tests, all at the first attempt, when they were re-scheduled for February. Unfortunately, my other pupil did not get a re-scheduled date because his theory test certificate was no longer valid. He re-sat and passed his theory test but, when he went to re-book his driving test, he found that the earliest available tests were not until May.
"It's only a couple of months." I tried to reassure him. But the trouble now, was that his new business, on Skye, was almost ready and he would be leaving Ullapool in early April. I considered all options, but there were no tests available within a reasonable distance before he would be leaving Ullapool.
He still bought another block of five lessons, even though I suggested that he didn't really need them, and that he would be better off taking a few lessons in Skye, before his test (which would have to be booked there). Then, last Saturday, at the end of his 4th lesson from the block of the five he had bought, I asked him when he would like his next lesson.
"No lesson." He replied. "This, my last lesson." I thought, perhaps, that he did not realise that he still had one lesson in credit. But it was simply that he did not need another lesson. He was right; he could drive around Ullapool, the surrounding area, and carry out all the reversing manoeuvres without any help from me. I would  look out for difficult situations and try to get him into them, but he was capable of dealing with whatever I threw at him.
He refused my offer of refunding the unused hour, saying that it was for me because 'I had been a good teacher and a gentleman'. I valued his comments more than the money (which I will spend in his restaurant the next time I am in Skye), but, as I drove away, I felt quite deflated that we had both worked so hard to get him to this standard, yet I will not be there to shake his hand when the examiner presents him with his pass certificate.

You take the low road and we'll take the high road

"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional." (Chili Davis)


Why am I starting this post with such a quote? Here are two more clues:


"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that people who have the most live the longest." (Larry Lorenzoni)
"There's still no cure for the common birthday." (John Glenn)


Yes, I had another birthday this week. It's ok, really. I LIKE birthdays. I hope I always will. I no longer compile lists of CDs and Playstation games I must have, but the odd new shirt or bottle of Lagavulin/Macallan/Laphroaig is always welcome.
"What do you want to do on your birthday?" Jane asked. 
"I fancy a drive over to the West coast."
"But that's what you do all the time." 
"I know, but I like it. We haven't been to Applecross for a while. I'd like to go there."

So, yesterday morning, Jane, Maggie and I (plus our three dogs in the back of our pick-up) set off for Applecross. I don't know why we don't go more often, it is just THE BEST drive. The first two hours are good, but it is the last twenty miles that are stunning, especially the Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle), a (very) winding, narrow mountain pass. This is a photo I took near the start of the pass (yes, I had stopped). The photo doesn't convey how steep the road gets, but the road goes over the top of those mountains. You only have to Google 'Applecross' or 'Bealach na Ba' to find a wealth of stunning images. 

To give you an even better idea, have a look at this video (and there are several more on YouTube).
It wouldn't be a top, TOP day out without a decent lunch and our lunch at The Applecross Inn was way beyond 'decent'. We shared a selection of the freshest crab, lobster and langoustines imaginable, with a window view of Raasay and Skye backlit by a low, November Sun. 
The 'Undiscovered Scotland' website recommended returning via the northern coastal road to Shieldaig, but we wanted to drive the pass again. However, A wee bit of online searching suggests that the coastal road is worth us going back to in the near future.
By all means visit Loch Ness, Edinburgh, Skye, Glencoe and 101 other places when you come to Scotland, but you will never forget a day out to Applecross.