Prosperous soul in the making

mark55man

some early forms of practice - eg just getting going from stationary and changing gears are relatively stress free (as long as you have a big empty car park) - definitely don't do anything too advanced.  Although, right at the end when nearly test ready, some extra driving time (especially over the test routes) with you can be very helpful.

as ever sounds like you have a good plan for it - affordability is a good excuse for stretching it out   

doingitanyway

Lovely photos. Spring is here for sure

MovingForwards

DD has decided then, that's good. I was also advised not to do intensive courses, learning takes time and reflection.

Delay your DF day to allow the extra fun things you're doing, it will be gone in a few months and then can be put to more worthwhile things. It's been a long 12 months and you need a break from it all.

Enjoy the roast beef.

Drawingaline

mark55man said:

some early forms of practice - eg just getting going from stationary and changing gears are relatively stress free (as long as you have a big empty car park) - definitely don't do anything too advanced.  Although, right at the end when nearly test ready, some extra driving time (especially over the test routes) with you can be very helpful.

as ever sounds like you have a good plan for it - affordability is a good excuse for stretching it out   

I took my girl up to a car park the weekend after she turned 17 last month. She has her first actual lesson at the end of April. She practised turning the car on and showed her how to adjust mirror and seats etc. Releasing the handbrake, chatted about lights, looked under the bonnet at the water, oil, battery and fuses (the limit to my knowledge 😂). Practiced changing gears with the engine off, then finally releasing the clutch and feeling the 'bite'. Which obviously meant she stalled it a few times, but as I said to her, stalling is the scariest thing that will happen while learning (unless she actually crashes I suppose) so I wanted her to experience it in a controlled way. She freaked the first time, but I think realising that it wasn't that bad has helped her. I am fully expecting it to take her a full year to learn, much like I did. It's going to be expensive!

savingholmes

HI Mark, MF, DAL and DIA

Thanks for all the learner driver suggestions - the problem is my car is an automatic and DH's 06 plate has a auto hand brake and other features - and even I have only driven it once - the first day we got it. Neither are ideal for learning in. She'll need to wait for lessons. She had her gym induction today. Next week onwards she has two weeks of exams and then sixth form is pretty much done and she can start focusing on driving, learning theory etc. She needs to get to the top of an instructor's waiting list first and I'm not sure she's even on one yet.  

Work today went better than expected today which was positive. I have a big meeting tomorrow that I'm worried about. Let's hope that it goes well. I did nip to a retail park with DH after a short work day (used up some flexi) and bought some paint and some clothes. May have nipped into MnS food and picked up some faves there too... Budget slightly blown but pay day Thursday. I've seen my payslip and it's within a couple of quid of what I thought so harder than before I salary sacrificed to buy holidays - but not too bad. I talked to my manager today - and agreed to cancel the holidays I had booked that I ended up working on and agreed to use some of my flexi credit for the others - so got 5 days back to use later in the year which was a major result and yet I am still in credit.

I also rang the GP today about a possible skin problem but she gave it the all clear so that was a relief. I'd got myself in a worry cycle over that - probably as displacement over something else - but there we go... I'm probably in MIL's dog house though as we still haven't been to see her yet or invited her here... 

mark55man

entirely instructor based is fine (a lot of instructors prefer it, and some insist)

well done on work negotiations and M&S treats sound nice

jwil

All of my driving lessons were with an instructor, and I'd never even switched a car on when I first started, I was completely clueless.  It went fine though, and I didn't have any more lessons than anyone else at the time.

That's great news that you've got some holiday back.  Hope the meeting goes well today as well.

My anxiety often manifests as health anxiety as well, I'm sure it's just something to focus on.

Honeysucklelou2

I’m starting to think that instructor only lessons are a good way! Sitting next to someone you gave birth to, when they are behind the wheel is not conducive to relaxing 😂. Somehow I managed with DS1 but DD3 asking me which one is the brake -again- is a little unnerving!

Hope all goes well with the meeting.

Drawingaline

Oh I have no plans on her actually driving my car on the road, we are a one car house and it's a zafira so quite big. But I am happy to get her to practice gear changes and manoeuvres in an empty car park on occasion. And I chat to her about road signs and stuff when taxiing her around. 

SandyShores

Honeysucklelou2 said:

..... Sitting next to someone you gave birth to, when they are behind the wheel is not conducive to relaxing 😂. ...

Agree with this.  I only did it a few times but spent the whole time gripping onto the door handle, or shrieking!  It was better for both of us to spend the money on lessons.  And actually, DD knows more about driving than me as they seem to teach you so much more these days (or maybe I've just forgotten a lot).  I keep saying I'm going to do the advanced driving course, so maybe when things are back to normal.