Class 1 passed :)

Wohoooooooooo!
A little blog will follow, bit busy this pm

Nice one SadMike…

Have to change your handle now!

Great news matey

Good luck with the class 1 job search

I assume it was an ARTIC and not a W&D

  :smiley:  :smiley:   :smiley:  :smiley:   :smiley:  :smiley:   :smiley:  :smiley: 

congratulations

Nice one matey well done

Well done mate. No one can take it away. Get out there now and bag yourself some experience

Well done mate

well done

regards
Paul

CONGRATULATIONS on your “C+E” test pass

Are you called HappyMike now?

Thanks everyone for your words of support! Just enjoying an evening with a bottle of whisky, as I couldn’t celebrate last night, because I had to be up at 06.30 this morning to go to hospital to have pain killing injections in my back.
Well I am still buzzing!
Right…bloggy time!

Day 1: Monday
Turned up at 06.45, got a brew. Keith was there. (Keith told me to ask for him when I was doing my 2, so I did) We got in the wagon. Keith was driving at this point, got the wagon out of the yard, and took me to a “quiet” road near the abbatoir. I got in the driver seat, and it all felt familiar. (they use a stretch version of the same tractor unit for the class 2) Drove up and down this road for 1/2 an hour.Only difference, starting off in 3rd. Immediately felt at ease as I already knew this bit of the wagon. The length took all of about 1/2 an hour to get used to, bit more swing out on tight bends, but was easily copable. Got out onto the road, people seemed to give you more leeway (not surprised…big artic with L plates lol) Drove up to the test centre, had a lovely brew and bacon butty at the butty bar, watched someone doing the reverse, He got it in, but heard later failed on road… . Made our way back to the yard, and got into the start point of the reverse. Keith showed me once, then was my turn. just followed instructions, and got the first ever reverse in with 1 shunt…chuffed!
Went home with a feeling I had come into the big league here!

Day 2: Tuesday
Same time, this time I got to pull the wagon out of the yard, and off we went, hill starts, downhill starts, tight turns, test centre, brew, bacon butty, more tight turns, hill starts, downhill starts, back to the yard. 3 reverses, 3 in 1 arrow think I got it sussed!

Day 3: Wednesday.
Had to wait for Keith as he lives in the middle of nowhere and had got caught out a bit by the snow. No probs, got the wagon well warmed and was listening to the radio. When he turned up, we got out on the road. Hill starts, tight lefts, awkward rights, getting terrorised by schoolkids in tameside with snowballs, much to mine and Keiths amusement! Test centre, brew, butty. a few more really tight rights and lefts, hit the curb twice that day, back to the yard, nailed 3 more reverses in one arrow. Did an uncoupling exercise…most work I had done since may…sweated like a pig lol. Keith told me if I don’t pass my test, then it will be for doing something really stupid. I was confident This is where Keith bid me bon chance, as he had the next two days off. Laters Keith!

Day 4: Thursday
New instructor Phil. Last time I saw him, he was with a couple of the other instructors having some banter with me. Thought they would take me on
Told Phil he looked like a fat Alan Carr! The other instructors found this most amusing, he didn’t know who Alan Carr was. I made sure I had a printed picture of Alan Carr in my pocket for our next meeting. I handed it to him, and you could see the look of recognition as he looked at it…point made. Luckily, he had my sense of humour, and we got on like a house on fire. Same script, lefts, rights, tight lefts, tight rights (only hit one kerb today) Hill starts, downhill starts, back to the yard. 3 reverses, all in one arrow. Couple of controlled stops, uncouple/recouple. Phil told me he had felt relaxed with my driving all day. Even got a well done.

Day 5: Friday - Test Day
Got in, a couple of reverses…one arrow Unhitch/Hitched, controlled stop. Test was 08.45. Parked at the local industrial estate from the test centre. Phil asked if I needed a nervous pee before I went out on test. I told him I was not one bit nervous, and I wasn’t. Maybe it was my years as a motorcycle courier or my age… but I was seriously not nervous.He didn’t believe me. I told him I would see him when I have passed. This may sound mad…but I honestly found driving artics easier than class 2! Keith told me he knew I would say that earlier in the week.
The test. Reverse…1 arrow, uncoupling/coupling by the book, controlled stop. spot on. Drive, uneventful really, 9 minors, missed gears x2, positioning on last corner before test centre x1, hesitation from pull away from a parked place x2, better safe than major x1 for not using mirrors changing direction, awareness planning x1 (had to swerve past a parked car) and parked across someones drive on the “pull over to the left” x1 for steering. turning left x1
Pass is a pass though!

Whats next?
Got my ADR booked for the end of january

BIG thanks to all the people at Enterprise LGV in Manchester
They come highly recommended by me!

SadMike:
Just enjoying an evening with a bottle of whisky,…
Right…bloggy time!

Boozing & Blogging - is that legal

Nice blog, mate. Big Congrats on the pass!!

Looking forward to doing mine at some point in time; whenever the ‘pain in the ■■■ optimist’ in me finally overrides common sense!

LOL

Are you still grinning?

SadMike:
Whats next?
Got my ADR booked for the end of january

That’s the spirit Mike!!

I’m here to help if you get stuck with anything on the ADR course, but good luck with it anyway.