27th September
This morning proved to be a day of mixed emotions if I’m honest. We left Hednesford and headed up towards Stafford to go to the reverse pad and then test routes. On the way, dropped the gears a couple of times (didnt panic thou, dipped the clutch in and out and away we go) and just a few other errors which by the standard I set for myself just got annoying. Just overall found myself snatching at it. Think looking back it came down to not having my usual Jaffa cake packet this morning. Who knew a small tasty snack could bring down a man?
At the reverse pad thou, completed 6 reverses and of those 5 went straight in with easy. The last one I wasnt too happy about so to make sure, took the shut, lined it up properly and straight lined it back into the bay. I know on test I will have two shunts to ultimately use, and like I said previously I will use them and not risk a failure.
Now I have always believed that car drivers are stupid but today sumed it up. Coming out of the airfield that we use for the reverse, the road is suitable for two cars to just squeeze through, so why does stupid car driver feel the need to pull out in front of me, bringing me to a halt whilst she squeezes past. It compounds the fact, they are stupid, even more when there was nothing in front of me from either direction nor nothing behind.
We then go and hit the road up to the test centre and I’m pleased to report that I started to get back on top of my game.
Down into Eccelshall, where the roads are nice and tight with on coming vehicles and even more so once you drop into the village itself. There is legal parking on both sides of the high street which see me having to wait for the on coming cars to go first before I am able to proceed. The tight little junctions and roundabouts seem manageable today which I think is in parts to the work we did around Cannock and the surrounding areas yesterday.
Down to the test centre and a quick 360 around the entrance…so this is where I will meet the man who will decide my fate in a couple of days…unlucky fella if you ask me
Come back out and turn right, back along the way we was coming originally and attempt the nice right hand bend. Drop down into low range and creep up to the line constantly checking for traffic and my position in the mirrors. Nothing coming…lets go. We come across the very thight island and then immediately there is also a bridge on one of the exits from test centre. Thankfully a car comes round the island and head our way so keep the wheels rolling and keep in the same gear as the bridge is a bit blind. Coupld of cars come and meet me on the bend so i stop and then look to pinch part of their opposing carriage way to allow myself round. The confidence suddenly comes back once again. Short little ride back down towards Stone which is uneventful (I know come Tuesday morning during rush hour it is going to be nothing but fun). Here we turn back towards Stafford and head through the town centre and take a punt that the roadworks near to the train station have gone…thankfully this is the case. Now I must admit I had to smile here. You come up the road splits into two lanes, left turn and right turn (test route implies that you will turn left), in a rigid you are expected to get round the corner in the left lane only however for the W&D you must block both lanes. I had a couple of horns, but hey what can you do. You have to block them off otherwise you take out the traffic lights.
We then start to head home through the traffic and back to base where we drop off the trailer ready for the coupling back up in the moring.
Weirdly enough I end the day thinking of monopoly…
Do not pass go…until you are clear
Do not collect…the lampost
I know it sounds crazy but it actually ends up working and as I drive along I end up picking up the potential hazards in front through-out the second half of the lesson.
I know for some people it might not seem like too bad of a day, however by the standards I set myself I feel like there is room for improvement and I will be putting those errors right tomorrow when we head of on the Stoke route and a couple more.