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.

Ups and downs and ups.

6.47am. Third (sometimes fourth) Wednesday in the month, so you know the score by now. I have x number of pupils taking their test in Ullapool. Yawn. Well, you don't have to read on if you don't want to.

We have been on a really good run. In March I had 6 pupils (out of 8) pass, then last month, all three passed (2 with 1 minor fault, 1 with 2 minor faults). Today I have 5 pupils on test. I am as confident as I can be about all of them, but you never know. Two of them in particular could be chauffeurs, their driving is so calm and precise, but all it takes is one momentary lapse and they come back with a fail.

9.50am. A good start. Congratulations to Matthew, passing with 3 minor faults on his first attempt. I enjoyed a Big Hot Roll (Bacon, sausage and egg) and a pot of Earl Grey at the Tea Store café while he was out and I was mildly concerned when I saw him approaching a motor-home that was stopped opposite the road he wanted to turn into, and immediately before a blind bend – it could not have picked a worse spot to park. No problem; he brought his speed right down, indicated and moved out nice and early before committing himself to pass (although a few minutes later I learned that one of his three faults had been selecting second gear a bit too early at that particular point). Anyway, a job well done and good luck with your band, 'Torridon', on the festival circuit this year.

11.01am. So far, so good. Kim, five months pregnant, and feeling under pressure to pass first time as a result, did just that; passing with 6 minor faults. As a passenger, she is possibly one of the most relaxing drivers I have had the pleasure to teach. A touch careless with the indicators and a bit of coasting, but I'm very pleased that both you and the examiner now agree with me that you can drive.

11.45am. Congratulations to Ruth. Another first-time pass. I shall miss our lessons. It was the theoretical questions she posed me that made her lessons one of the week's highlights. Questions such as “What do I do in my test if there is a spider in the car?” and, on one memorable occasion, when I asked her to pull up just by the next lamp-post, she asked “What's a lamp-post”? I considered that, being an intelligent lady, she was being all philosophical and existential, but no, she was just being dizzy. There were many more questions that tested the limits of my knowledge, but I hope I tested hers too.

Turned a bit chilly now. The sun is trying to come out, but the wind is a bit fresh. I am sat on a tree stump at The Pottery Centre, which is where the tests begin and end. My pupil currently out on test is the only one not taking her test for the first time today. I was so convinced she would pass last time (March), but she allowed herself to get too close to a slow-moving truck and consequently failed. Usually, I could let her drive around without saying a word, but nerves have got to her today and, in the four minutes we had to practice before her test, there were a couple of silly blips, such as slowing right down and engaging 1^st gear for a junction that could easily have been negotiated in 2^nd. Nothing serious, but it won't help her nerves. This is the trouble with Ullapool tests; because they are literally back-to-back, with barely 5 – 10 minutes between them, my pupils are often fairly 'cold' when they go out on test. Virtually all my pupils in other areas ask for an hour's lesson immediately preceding their test; I know I did when I took my test. However, I have two pupils in Elgin, with tests approaching, that both want to just meet me at the test centre, with no lessons beforehand. Their reasoning is that their nerves would build up in the hour before. I will go along with their wishes, but I have told them that I will keep that preceding hour free in case they change their mind.

I was amused earlier to learn that another instructor had been trying to poach one of my pupils. The cheek of it! Not just once, but on several occasions, he has asked her if she wants lessons with him, despite the fact that she has told him she is having lessons with me. Ultimately, it is the pupil's decision, but I just have to make sure that my pupils enjoy their lessons and feel as though they are making good progress. Hopefully then, they will stick with me rather than go with an unprofessional trainee instructor.

1.41pm. Alas, my fourth test pupil of the day was unsuccessful. She had to emerge out of a tricky uphill T-junction, with parked vehicles restricting her view on both sides. I wasn't sat in on the test, so I don't know, but the examiner said that she had not made thorough enough checks on both sides before emerging. At the moment she is angry and concerned that she has 'let me down'. She has done no such thing. I think her driving is comfortably good enough to pass the test, and she never lets me down in her lessons. Perhaps she honestly believed it was safe to emerge, but the examiner had not yet made up his mind. It's no big deal. It's not life or death and she'll get another chance before too long.

My last test pupil of the day is currently out, negotiating the coach-loads of tourists who are wandering aimlessly around the harbour area, and the other drivers who are doing U-turns in crossroads. I have to confess, I'm a bit jittery about her. Her last few lessons have been great and, at the end of her last lesson, I told her I was sad. “Why's that?” She asked. “Because you don't need me anymore.” was my (honest) reply. However, in the lesson immediately before her test she didn't seem to be concentrating fully and her steering was not as accurate as I would have liked. A bit of concentration though, and she should be fine.

2.39pm. Not enough concentration, obviously. Only a handful of minor faults, but a serious fault for her steering. (Hate to say I told you so, as The Hives once said). Sadly, she will not get another chance as she is returning to Poland in a couple of weeks as she and her fiancé prepare for their wedding. At least she went away smiling and confident that she would pass in Poland (so long as she maintains a bit more control on her steering).

As always (with the exception of last month), I am a bit disappointed not to have every pupil pass. Three out of five pupils isn't too bad, but it actually reduces my pass rate. Not that that is of any concern to Kim who has just text me to let me know that she has already sorted out her insurance and has been driving around the village on her own. That's what it is all about and I'm sure the two that did not pass today will soon be able to join her.
Just about time for a quick late lunch and yet another pot of tea before my last five lessons of the day (including two brand new pupils). So, despite the two hiccups and a very long day, I am rewarded with two of the best aspects of this job: Three test passes and new pupils. I would have a little dance, but I might spill my tea.