The countdown.....

The day after Ben Wyvis was a little painful, but I was pleased how quickly the aching disappeared (unlike the blisters). Meanwhile, Matthew was progressing nicely. He was still sitting in on lessons (as long as my pupils were in agreement) and getting as much driving as possible inbetween. He asked if I could give him a mock test.
"We can do that, " I replied, "but I warn you that I will be strict and pick up on the slightest imperfection, otherwise there is no point."
I thought it went well, considering that we still had a week to go. I can't remember exactly, but I recorded just 5 driver errors (minor faults, if you prefer). But there were three moments I considered were serious.
He switched off the engine. "How do you think that went?" I asked him.
"Yeah, I thought that went well."
"Anything you weren't happy with?" and he talked about a couple of the things I had recorded as a minor driver error.
"How about the time when you moved out to allow traffic onto the A9 (dual-carriageway)? Your awareness and use of mirrors was really good, then you went passed them, but when should you have returned to the left lane?"
His face dropped a little, "The lane was busy."
"It was, but you had plenty of opportunity to return to the left lane earlier than you did."
"Then, toward the end, when I asked you to turn right at the roundabout, taking the fourth exit to Culloden, how were people to know where you were going?"
"I know, I forgot to indicate," he replied, "but I was watching the man at the pedestrian crossing."
"Yes, which obviously is good, but people approaching the roundabout still need to know where you are going." I don't think he was convinced. The trouble is, he sees no end of drivers approaching roundabouts (junctions) without indicators, so it might be understandable that he didn't consider it serious.
I'm struggling to remember what the other serious fault was, but I remember Matthew only grudgingly agreeing with me.
He was very quiet for a few hours afterwards. "Don't worry about it. There was no point doing a 'mock test' unless I picked up on everything that wasn't correct."
"I know, but three serious faults.'
"Yeah, but you (hopefully) understand why those things could have affected other road users, and (hopefully, again) you won't repeat them." He still wasn't happy.
The rest of the week continued to go well - more lessons, then, finally, a day off for Matthew while Joanna was busy passing her test in Elgin. "Can we do another mock test?" Matthew asked. We had two days to go. Would we be better off working on his weakness? And would a 'negative' result knock his confidence? But he really wanted another mock test, so I reminded him that I would be strict again.
At the end of the mock test I asked him "Ok, how do you think it went this time?"
He was hesitant, but I could see he wasn't disappointed. "I thought it was better."
"Anything that you think caused anyone else a problem? Or could have caused a problem?" He wasn't too sure.
"Just three minor errors this time, but......... (drumroll)..... No serious faults this time." His face lit up. "It was a nice drive. You just need to be a bit more aware of road signs and take in what information they give you. But carry on driving like that and you'll be fine."
The next day, inbetween lessons, we worked on his awareness and anything I thought could be polished further. He wanted an early night, but I thought that would be pointless, so Jane joined us for a trip to the cinema to see The Lone Ranger, which I thought was a bit too long, although good in parts. But Matthew loved it, and it did the job of taking his mind off the test.
I think I was getting more nervous than he was. Big day tomorrow.

Tested to the limit

The week started to so well, with Liverpool beating Man Utd, and the weather making it feel much more like Spring than Winter. But, gradually, the week got worse.
Wednesday morning I was stunned to look out of my window and see the return of snow. Fortunately, it didn't last too long, but it stayed long enough to cause more road accidents (or rather, it was a factor in some drivers not dealing with the conditions). So Wednesday and Thursday weren't great, but Friday was the day from hell.

I have a pupil who is just DESPERATE to drive. He first contacted me about six months ago - five months before his 17th birthday - and spent the next few months arranging lessons and asking almost every question imaginable about the process of learning to drive and the tests. Finally, a few weeks ago, as soon as he turned 17, he began taking a course of 3-hour lessons, passed his theory test and applied for his driving test. He practiced every day with his parents and became possibly the most dedicated pupil I have yet had. I pushed him and pushed him and, as his test approached, his driving was virtually faultless.
The day of the test arrived and, despite his ability, he was still a little nervous, so he asked me if I would sit in on his test. I have probably said it before, but, although I will always agree to do so, sitting in the back of my car while a pupil is out on test is not the most relaxing experience for me. I can’t say or do anything - I have to make myself as invisible as possible. I usually sit behind the pupil and watch the road ahead, silently urging my pupil to react the way I would and squirming if they don’t. With this pupil I was doing very little squirming. I wouldn’t exactly say I was relaxed, but there was mild clenching rather than squirming.

After he successfully negotiated a particularly tricky parallel park, in a road that is barely wide enough for two cars, he was directed to Lossiemouth, where he dealt superbly with several awkward meeting situations. By the time he had tackled some blind, uphill crossroads and had begun the road back to Elgin test centre I had completely relaxed (not even the mildest of clenching). I had counted three minor faults and was very proud of his overall drive. He just had to turn right into the test centre. Approaching the junction from the other direction was another learner driver. Presumably this was a fairly new learner driver, as they were approaching the junction rather slowly. My pupil was waiting patiently then the oncoming leaner slowed right down (approx 2 - 3mph) to take the turn. My pupil mis-interpreted this as an invitation to cross and began turning right, in front of the learner. I clenched and squirmed like never before. Why? Why? WHY?
Twenty seconds later he had parked at the test centre and the test was over. The examiner sighed. "Why did you think you had time to turn? He asked.
"I thought he was slowing down to let me go first."
The examiner turned to me and asked "Did you think that?"
"No," I had to honestly reply, "he was slowing down because he was a learner driver."
The examiner gave the bad news to my pupil, who was completely shocked that he had failed, and added "It's a pity." as a he left the car.

After that I went to Inverness train station to meet another pupil for his test. He had had lessons and failed his first test with another instructor, but this instructor had booked a holiday that coincided with the pupil's second attempt, so the pupil had called me and asked if I could give him a block of lessons and take him to his test. The lessons were fine and I was confident that he would pass. By 12.10pm my pupil had still not arrived, so I decided to call him. Unfortunately, on my stupid replacement phone, I did not have his mobile number saved, but I had his home number in my diary. I called and his mother answered. Sometimes pupils keep their tests a secret, so I just explained that he was late for his lesson. His mother said that he was in Fortrose today - I began to get a bad feeling - but she would call him. Ten minutes later I had still not heard anything, so I called the mother again.
"Oh. Has he not called you?" She asked. I said 'no' and asked for his contact number so that I could call him. No reply. I sent him a text. I was just glad that we still had an hour and a half before his test. I had visions of him asking me to collect him from Fortrose (which was possible in the time). Still no reply. What should I do? I decdied that the best course of action would be to stay where I was, as it was, just a few days ago, where we had agreed to meet.
Another Inverness pupil had previously asked if he could have a lesson this afternoon, but 3.00pm (after my pupil's test) would have been too late for him. I considered calling him to see if he still wanted the lesson, but I decided not to in case my test pupil turned up. At 1.45, he had still not turned up, so my only option was to drive to the test centre in the hope that he had gone straight there. No, he had not. I could not understand it. The examiner called out his name, so I knew that the pupil had not given me the wrong date/time. Who knows why he did not show. He has still not replied to my calls or text, so I can only conclude that he had forgotten and was too embarrassed to get in touch. Maybe I will never know. He may have wasted his £63 test fee, but he cost me three, possibly four, hours of income. Not happy.

I drove on to my next pupil. She has her test within the next month and I don't think she will be ready in time, so I decided to give her a mock test. Her control and awareness can be as good as anyone's, but she lacks concentration. I was hoping, after the wretched morning I had just had, that she would prove me wrong and do well in the mock.
She didn't prove me wrong. In fact, it was probably the worse she had driven for weeks. I had a suspicion that she was relying on me a little too much, so a mock test would test this suspicion. I'm not going to go into detail but it went so badly wrong that, half-way though, she stopped the car and asked if I could drive her home.

I love my job but I had just had a bad day. I looked forward to getting home, opening a bottle of wine and doing some experimental cookery.
I got home, opened a bottle of wine and, while I perused the cupboards for ingredients I had a little rant about my day to Jane. Then I switched on the telly and learned of the terrible and tragic events in Japan. It put my day in perspective.
So if you ever catch yourself saying "I've had the day from hell", just think back to Friday 11th March 2011, because the people of Honshu really did have 'The Day from Hell'.

Cruel to be kind

Horrible, horrible, horrible.
Following on from my last post, where I talked about "Zoe's" troubles, today was the day where we had to decide whether she should postpone her test, which is booked for next week.
Obviously, when someone starts a course of driving lessons, it is because they want to pass their driving test and gain that wonderful freedom to drive wherever they want, when they want. Because driving lessons cost money, it is understandable that most people want to pass as quickly as possible. In 'Zoe's' case, she has been patient and taken years (and several driving instructors). I will take immense pride from being the instructor that finally gives her the ability and confidence to drive solo and pass her test. 'Drive solo' - That is what the examiners are, ultimately, asking themselves, "Do I think this person will be fine driving on his/her own, in all situations?" It is the same question I ask myself when I consider whether a pupil should apply for their test. I have said before, I sometimes ask myself 'would I be happy for this person to drive my granchildren around?'
Today I simply told 'Zoe' that she was on her own, but I would give directions (i.e. test conditions). If she got into a problem, she would have to get herself out of it.
At the end of the lesson I knew that she was not yet ready. Our respective work commitments meant that we probably would not be able to fit in more than one more lesson before her test, which was not enough in my opinion. Usually this is not a problem, we simply postpone the test for a few weeks. Unfortunately, 'Zoe's' theory test pass was nearly two years ago and a postponement would mean that her theory test would be invalid. Either way she was going to lose money: If she cancels her test, she would have to retake her theory; but if she went ahead and took her test, I thought it would be unlikely that she would pass, therefore, a waste of money. Besides, the examiners would take a dim view of me if I put someone forward for a test who I did not think would pass.
She was naturally very upset and berated herself for all the hours (and money) she had spent on her driving. Her initial reaction was to say that 'she was going to give up driving, she is obviously not a 'natural driver', and she was going to spend her money (that she would otherwise spend on lessons) on holidays, clothes and things that make her feel good'. Now, I'm not going to give up on anyone, but, at the same time, I'm not going to bully them when they least feel like it. I tried to emphasise all that is really good about her driving and to remind her that she is actually very close to being ready to drive solo or, if you prefer, 'test-ready'. She got out of the car, still very upset, and we agreed that she would take a few weeks break, see how she felt after that, then work on any aspects of her driving that were lacking in confidence.
Several hours and a few other lessons later, I still feel bad about telling her to cancel her test. She has text me to apologise for getting upset, but I told her not to be daft and to enjoy her few weeks away from driving (or from me). It was an horrible feeling, as we neared the end of that lesson, knowing that I would have to advise her against taking her test, but, it is my responsibilty to make sure my pupils are safe drivers. I couldn't honestly say that 'Zoe' is a safe driver............. but she will be one day.

(Thinking of the title for this post has got me singing this all afternoon - not out loud you will be relieved to hear.)