Chapter 8 - More Growing

The car was parked on the drive. I wanted to go somewhere and Ian was too tired to give me a lift, so public transport had to be the order of the day. Raining with a cold wind whistling round my ears did not make me a very happy bunny! I then decided it was time to start driving lessons again as I had been trying to get through my test for years - ever since we lived down in London. Ian had tried to teach me but as this nearly ended up in divorce, we gave up on that and I got myself a driving instructor.

Twenty years, half a dozen tests and four children later I still had only a provisional license. I decided that this was the right time to try again. A member of staff at the Day Centre had just got through her test. She said she needed the patience of Job and he got her through so I decided to give it a go. I told him all I wanted to do was enjoy my driving, and not worry about the test. I was really nervous and scared after so many failed attempts.

He accepted this and began to work on my confidence. This soon increased, and I really began to enjoy my driving. I did try one test and failed but instead of giving up on me, like my other instructors had, we soldiered on with a will. The next time I really went into it with a different attitude - rather quietly confident with a determination to overcome this mental monster. I was overjoyed when the examiner gave me the go-ahead especially as he had failed me previously.

This was not the end of the story but only the beginning as now I really did learn to drive. Ian arranged for me to be insured for his beloved car. This really did show his true love for me as it was quite a big step for him to trust me with it. It was a big black seven seater and I really did feel as though I was driving a tank.

My spatial skills were not good so when I tried to park it in Stockport, in a pub car park, I got myself into a lot of difficulty. I think I might have lifted a car or two up in the air as I did my best to find a place to park. I think a few dints might have appeared in our car as well but Ian was very diplomatic and just accepted it.

In desperation, because I was firmly jammed in, I appealed to a man who was on his way back from buying his lunch, to rescue a damsel in distress. He easily extricated me from my predicament and went on his way with my grateful thanks ringing in his ears, his look of exasperation telling all.