So needless to say I didn’t pass (as I would have been straight back on here to update this thread otherwise) but doesn’t really matter now as I got through at the 2nd attempt yesterday.
Daft as it sounds I think part of the reason I passed at the 2nd attempt yesterday rather than at the first attempt a month ago is simply because I wanted it more badly (not least due to the financial pressure, as the thought of multiple artic + instructor re-hires and retests soon gets a little scary financially).
Despite the month gap, I felt at home straight away as soon as I was back behind the wheel of the Volvo FM, after a 9am start I’d already dashed off two pretty decent reverses and an uncouple / recouple by about 9.30 and both my instructor and I felt I was more confident and relaxed behind the wheel once I was out on the road than I probably was at any point last month.
15 or so hours of Artic training and then straight into a test (as I did last month) can be pretty intense and therefore pretty mentally draining.
Out on the road yesterday and finding the right lines on junctions and roundabouts came straight back - well more or less, will come to that - so overall I’d benefited from the break - I was pretty much straight back to the level I’d been at a month ago, but:
-
more relaxed (after my ‘holiday’)
-
more confident (having already done the test once before helps here 
)
-
more focused (partly from that financial pressure I mentioned earlier).
So I passed,with ahem 11 minors ( I think the theoretical max for a pass is 15).
Two were in the yard (took a shunt on the reverse and didn’t re-couple successfully at the first attempt either) so that leaves 9 out on the road, 4 of which were for steering 
If like me you were under the impression that 4 minors in any one category would be a fail, then it turns out it ain’t that clear cut. I think it’s a fairly safe bet that if I’d picked up another one here I would have failed (the examiner stressed it was a fairly close run thing) but I think essentially he was marking me down for two different faults - both committed twice :
1)“kissing” a couple of kerbs on roundabouts
and
- Using too much of the “wrong” side of the road turning left into T junctions (to avoid “kissing” any more kerbs naturally)
Anyway, very very pleased to have got through. Did both licenses with Tockwith Training. I’d passed my Cat C first time with them and they’re on my doorstep. Instructors, vehicles and facilities all great, but they ain’t cheap.
If I’d not got through yesterday I think I’d have left it a few months and booked a few days on Wag and Drag with PSTT, but as it is I’ve already got 20 hours experience in the type of vehicle I’m most likely going to be driving and I got to go the 7 miles home every night while training to hang out with my cat (oh and the wife).
Another point to note, Tockwith also run a Volvo FH (think it stands for ****ing high) which is what I drove on my hour taster session with them (and wrote about at the top of the thread as feeling a bit like a “mini village”). When I turned up for my 3 days training discovered I was in the FM which I felt MUCH happier in straight away (as the cab height is much nearer to my TGL) so unless you’re coming from some huge - 3 steps up - 26 tonner I would say it’s the FM you want if you go with Tockwith (or anyone else offering a similar choice).
Although, the exact same length , the FM “feels” smaller and I found the view into the mirrors and back to the rear wheels much more natural.
(they use artics not W&D).
). Like you I did get one for taking a shunt on the reverse though.
