Friday December 7, 2007
There’s a small band of journal/blog readers and writers, loosely tied, who’ve become a family almost, across two continents. I sit rather on the side of it all, joining in the fun, commenting and laughing, and commiserating all in turn.
I’ll be honest. I almost never think about it when writing here. I still hold to the quaint idea that a journal is a closed thing, used to record the days and doings of an individual, not those of a meta-group. I’m wrong, of course, but I make no apology for that–it’s my journal and I write what I want to.
Even so… One of our number yesterday failed her first driving test. We all of us sent hugs and commiserations and, still running today, accounts of our own experiences, in different countries, when undergoing this most basic and vital of all barriers to be overcome in the acquisition of full adult freedom.
I was brought up in a time when young people almost never had motor cars–too expensive for most of us. Like many of my peers I was happy with my motorbikes for years and years, passing my test when I was a young ‘un. Happy days, filled with memories of leather and sad captains.
When it came to the point where I wasn’t able to fall off safely, I discovered a loop-hole in UK legislation that permits qualified motorcycle licence holders to drive a 3-wheel tricycle. Just like a car but smaller and cheaper.
I drove a series of those until, in my mid-30s, my boss took me on one side and persuaded me that the dignity of my position demanded something less outre. Thus began a series of driving test failures. I was on the point of chucking the whole stupid exercise when finally, on a test where, early on, I fouled the reversing round a corner part, I said, loudly, “Oh,*%$# it,” and carried on driving to get the episode over, not caring, confident I’d failed and determined never to bother with it again. Passed with flying colours.
It’s a rite of passage, I suppose. Or something.
The author, webmaster, and minder of the cat
20 responses so far ↓
Chris // December 7, 2007 at 8:23 am
At the age of 66 I still have a valid motorcycle driving licence. I’m sure I would never dare to try to exercise my right to drive one again (fortunately for the road-using public).
oldgreypoet // December 7, 2007 at 8:26 am
Me too, Chris… but… wouldn’t it be good to feel the wind in your hair just one more time? Actually, no, not in my case, anyway. Haven’t got enough hair left for a good feel, I’m afraid. Back to dream time.
louphoria // December 7, 2007 at 9:24 am
Thanks for sharing that John, it’s good to know I’m not alone in cursing for lousing up the corner too! lol
I don’t think your wrong to keep your Journal as a record of what you do - it’s why people love it as much as they do. But then, it can be fun to cross reference the odd time, I certainly enjoyed today’s ‘inspiration entry’
wayne // December 7, 2007 at 9:40 am
In our part of Texas getting your drivers license is a rite of passage for the teenage boys. Without it you are pariah. My brother dailed his first time and his “girl friend” dumped him.
dara // December 7, 2007 at 10:59 am
I remember I was SOOOOOO upset when I failed my first drivers test. 27 years later I can still feel the embarassment when I told my friends that I hadn’t passed the parking portion of the test.
Kate & Jim // December 7, 2007 at 11:00 am
What a fantastic looking little, ‘um…car? And bright yellow too! Was this one yours? Must have been loads of fun to drive.
gary // December 7, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Whatever the purpose of this blog or its affiliates, its good fun, isn’t it?
Jim // December 7, 2007 at 2:09 pm
About this “reversing around a corner” part of the driving test in the UK and Ireland… Although it sounds self-explanatory just from its name, it really made no sense to me. It couldn’t be what it sounded like because why would anyone want to do something like that and why would the examiners want to test such a foolish (and dangerous) action? So I turned to Google and found that it really is what it sounded like — even found a video demonstrating how to do it — and containing such tidbits of wisdom as it is okay to remove your seatbelt while doing this maneuver (given what a dumb maneuver it is, I would think this would be a vital time to be certain to be wearing a seatbelt and shoulder strap) and that you should secure the car in case of on-coming traffic (I assume that “secure” means stop backing-up rather than jump out and lock the doors).
I cannot understand why they would test such a maneuver. May I suggest that no U.K. licensed drivers try that over here; you would be likely to get a traffic ticket for performing a reckless action.
During the course of driving what must be far over half a million miles (probably more in the 750,000 range) thus far, I do not believe that I have ever needed to perform that maneuver. (Do any Irish or British driving test examiners read John’s blog and care to explain?)
bonnie // December 7, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I was surprised to pass on my first try. The day was raining and the hardest part in father in laws big old oldsmobile was the required U turn. I did chose the place to go that didn’t require the parallel parking on a hill.
The tester said I passed the operation of the windshield wipers with flying colors. lol
mageb // December 7, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Dear John, I continue all these many years to start my morning by reading your blog. You have always inspired me. I cannot manage my days without you.
At Ronnie Bennetts urging, I started a mirror blog site at Blogspot where it is easier to leave notes than the insular hive site Open Diary.
http://urban-archology.blogspot.com/
And yes, I am not at all looking forward to my next driving test. Since I am older than 65, they will have me out on the road in all my nervousness if I actually manage to pass the written.
Niki // December 7, 2007 at 2:40 pm
When I was in the 7th grade a group of us…just girls…from my school would go to Charlotte Anderson’s house, where there was no supervision, and we would take the car out and drive all over the place. When it came time for my driver’s exam I passed with flying colors!
oldgreypoet // December 7, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I seem to recall the reversing exercise was called something technical like ‘reversing into a restricted opening’ and probably dates back to the time when most roads were very much narrower than they are now. The ‘3-point turn’ thing, actually ‘turning in a road using forward and reverse gears’ is much the same thing. Both skills are still necessary in rural areas where single-track roads are quite common.
I do agree, though, that it’s wise to be aware of driving regulations when visiting other countries. I make a point of getting a copy of an advisory guide for my destination and studying it closely. Expecting the whole planet to do just as we do is a good way to get a ticket, or worse!
oldgreypoet // December 7, 2007 at 2:54 pm
The little yellow car photo comes from a (BBC?) magazine. Mine were always red. I used to like little red cars.
mageb // December 7, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Oh, How nice to see a note from you. Blogger….I did try and leave the note function as simple as Blogger would let me. Yes too, I went out and spent way too much on George yesterday, but I felt really good about “just doing it.” No struggle…just too much money. LOL
Maureen // December 7, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I failed twice and passed on the third attempt.Ahhh ..the reliant Robin.Such a unique little vehicle.It always makes me smile when I see one.
Andrew Duffin // December 7, 2007 at 6:32 pm
John, that is the first time that Del Boy has come to mind when reading your journal.
Cripes, you do surprise sometimes! YOU drove one of those? Clearly, that was before Graham had any influence in the matter, I’d love to hear his opinion of the “plastic pig”.
btw Maureen, all the best people pass on the third attempt…
Peter Cooper // December 7, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Coincidence! I actually passed a driving test yesterday. I did my first driving test 8 years ago but only in an automatic, as I knew I didn’t want to drive a manual car. (Un)fortunately, the better half wanted us to go to a single car and share, but she wouldn’t drive an automatic.. so I’ve had to take driving lessons and do the test all over again for manual allowance on my licence. Very nerve wracking to go through it all again, even stalled on the test, but somehow passed
Jas // December 7, 2007 at 11:19 pm
I failed my first time, too. I pulled into the intersection to make a left turn on a solid green and failed to notice that it had gone from green to yellow to red while I was waiting for everyone else oncoming to stop and let me make the turn.
After that, it was no problem, though it was a dozen years later that my wife taught me how to properly parallel park. She’s significantly better than I am with spacial relations.
Had I had need to parallel park, or back around a corner, I’d have been in a world of hurt. And had I been trying to pass in a manual transmission car, I’d have never gotten out of the parking lot. I think I was in my early 20’s before I learned how to handle a clutch.
Novie // December 8, 2007 at 12:33 am
I failed my first test for speeding.
Where I live, a newly licensed driver has restrictions regardless of age. A full license is granted only after a period of time. The kids here get a car insurance discount if they do a programme through the Driver’s Ed course.
I remember the days of motorcycles. I did not have a license to drive, but I rode behind my boyfriend. Those were the days of the “chopped hogs”. We had a group (not a gang) who rode everything from a Ducati to a BSA. I doubt I could get my leg over a bike now without help.
Mary Lee // December 8, 2007 at 3:25 am
Dunno why, but that little yellow auto of yester year that you once had, John, really gives me the grins. It was a cute one that looks like it has places to go and thnkgs to take care of.
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