Eat My Dust

The way I usually learn from my driving lessons is to take on the points raised in the previous lesson and try to do them correctly the next time we're out. Last time, Mick mentioned that we needed to get to grips with Dual Carriageways and driving at much higher speeds; once we've done that, I'll be put in for my test.

Its been quite interesting today - I'll be the first to admit that I'm a bit slow getting away from junctions, but once I'm in third, I do put my foot down, move up the gears and drive to whatever the speed limit is. What's interesting is other people's reactions to being behind a learner - despite the fact that you're in a brand new 1.8 turbo diesel Ford Focus, they assume you'll pootle along at 30, even on a dual carriageway. This is particularly true of men in small cars with hardly more than a litre engine.

I quite liked watching the expression on their faces today as they tried to overtake me, only to realise that a) I'd got quite a bit more ooomph under the bonnet than them and b) was really putting my foot down. Well, as much of their expression as I could see before they fell back behind me and tucked back into the left-hand lane :-)

My general driving is fine, I think - its just the manoeuvres that I was struggling with today. Although some days it can be the totally the other way round. I very much doubt I'll pass at first go, but hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later.....