Driving - at last I take off on my Own!!

Hi - just a brief one - about my driving and the ongoing battle to get me to drive our car (a VW Polo, formerly my daughter, Alice's till she died in 2000) on my own... I first learned when I was a mere youngster, in the late 1960s, but developed a terrible nervous block although I did pass my test the first time. I just left all our driving to D. (who really enjoys it and is a good driver), after about 3 difficult earlu drives. (I stalled in heavy traffic - I could not change into 3rd gear, or do a hill start on another occasion; I just froze in panic). Then we had an 'old banger' of a car - later on we had trendy Renault 4's - these cars have unusually designed gear levers, so I could not get on with them, though they are good, economical cars. I gave up until only just over a year ago - when, by then D. was getting less capable or well, and I was worried that I might have to drive - but could not!

I had recently inherited some money from my late mother, so I decided some of that should be spent on having refresher driving lessons from BSM - the top driving school in England. I've been all over SW London with my instructor, the indomitable Peter W. I have even driven on the local motorways recently. But could I drive on my own? - No! This was made worse by the fact that last September ('04), when things had been going quite well - my confidence was coming back - but then I had a crash, in our own car, with my husband. We were unhurt, but shaken, and over £1,000 worth of damage was done to our car. It was on a difficult turning near Richmond Park, on a hill, in really teeming summer rain - I was not used to driving is such tricky conditions, and on a hill, so I just lost it! AFter 3 weeks I went back to the lessons and carried on... I had to go back over some ground. But by mid summer this year I felt I should be driving - it was just a question of taking off on my own.

I recently did a few practice drives in our car with D. beside me, but no dual controls - and all went well: no errors. Then he was taken ill last week - a scare, but he is OK now. I really felt I should take the plunge. The weather in London has been still, but very cold - but there was no ice after 9 am. I was able to give it a go today - just get in, get the car ready - and away! I prayed before I started... (God wa with me!) There were a few hazards, even on this easy trip, but I got there with no mishap - I parked (but not too well really ) - then went to my Al Anon meeting, and 2 hours later, drove home. Brilliant! I bought 2 small smiley-face iced cakes to celebrate at teatime, with our cups of tea (very English). I can at least do this drive, and may be one or two others. Next lesson I will have a go at driving after dark - I've only done that once before on a lesson. Then I will try to take over the car now and again, and see if I can progress. Early days, but...

I should really have started this a few year sago. We had a small Vauxhall before this VW Polo, in the early 1990s (and after the 2 Renaults). I could have adapted to that. I was lazy - or maybe too busy. I always made excuses, or gave reasons to put off relearning to drive. But now I think my lost skill (if I ever had it) is truly coming back. May that continue - God willing...! I need encouragement.

The 2 new cats (see previous 2 blogs) are settling in well - and we are seeing Tom again tomorrow at the prison.

Love & peace (don't we need that?) - Tigey