Hi all
First of all let me thank you for all your good luck wishes. And for those of you who thought I wasn’t coming back to let you know I was just been bit busy recovering !!
Was going to do diary but was bad every night so will brief you with my experience.
It was a fail but not a bad fail. 
But that was nothing compared to the week I had. My nerves got so bad that half the time I was throwing up. Not like me at all wanted this so badly but for some reason my nerves kicked in from somewhere. 
Monday… Bag of nerves… But arrived and started my 1 to 1 training. Bearing in mind it was first time I had driven anything that big. But 3 hours later was reversing in the yard. Belting headache when arrived home my god so much to take in.
Tuesday. …Bag of nerves and this time I was seeing the bathroom more than I wanted to. Kept telling myself to pull myself together but my body was having none of it. Anyway got there and started day 2. Head buzzing. But tried to take it all in.
My trainer is brilliant and I mean really good in fact the whole set up at bassatts is fantastic can not praise them enough.
Wednesday…melt down day had no sleep kept thinking I had forgot everything he had taught me. Tried to pull myself together got in car got half way to centre and had to pull in …threw up again . Never have I been like this and I done some crazy things in my life.
In a lay by and think I can not do this so rang centre and said can’t come not cut out for this. Drove home feeling crap. Could not believe I had given up. When I get in I get a phone call from the manager of the centre trying to calm me down and asking me to go back in. So I do . Back in car drive the 30 mile back and see my trainer waiting. They were brilliant explained that lots of people go through it and really did try and put my mind at ease. Did a little driving but still had no confidence.
Thursday . . Promised them I would go back today so got tough with myself and got in car. Then what happens the rain and thunder and hail that most of England got decides to come down just as I am going to start. But we kept at it had another go at the reversing that was all fine then took me around the routes we could squeeze in . We done lots of shouting at each other and swearing and LAUGHING and yes I was finally understanding it All and it was all falling into place. But we both agreed not quite ready for test, but would go ahead and get the experience of it.
Friday . . . Had an hour before test so we covered some more routes . By then I was shaking again and very silent. But all in all had a real good drive and actually enjoyed it and was told that was brill now just drive like that later and you will nail it.
Get to test centre"… Bugger on loo again "…shaking…sick…name called. Oh god here we go. I froze. Mind went blank. Get in and start the reverse . Won’t repeat the words that came out next but I knew I had failed …touched the line. 
could not believe it. Hadn’t done that all week. But then all I could hear was my trainer saying just carry on with test no matter what happens. So off I go knowing I had failed before even getting on the road. But then I thought hey annie just enjoy this now as 2 days ago you had given up completely.
Then realise I was on a route we had not covered and I don’t know area at all. All I could hear was my trainers voice telling me what to do. 
Get back to test centre. The examiner looked at me and said sorry to say you have failed, well I knew that. But you know I was smiling as I had realised I had done the week and the test and I never thought I would get through it. Had 8 minors . I was proud even though I had lost half stone , felt crap all week, and was so angry with myself for feeling so nervous.
BUT I AM GOING BACK …COUPLE MORE HOURS TRAINING AND RE TEST AND THIS TIME WILL FIGHT MY NERVES.
Now when I look back I have learnt so so so much and know next time will enjoy it and have now got the bug …I WILL HAVE MY DREAM.
And a big thank you to my trainer.
Well what can I say Annie, I guess I’m proud of you for not giving up. You got so very close and you know you can do it.
Remember that on your test you can get out and have a look at how close you are to the barrier, but you did the right thing to carry on with your test despite knowing you had failed, you could have stropped and threw the towel in.
When is your next batch of training or test? Remember to take a banana when you start in the morning and one just before you go into the test!!
I wish you all the best for your retest, and thank you for coming back to let us know how you got on, I knew you wouldn’t leave us hanging 
Never mind, you have the determination, you’ll do it!
So sorry to here you failed but really pleased that you did go out on that test as it does you good
Now you know you can do it just relax if you can have a massage after the training ( local hotel etc ) that is if you can it will do you good also take Sam advise with the bananas or buy a Kalms remedy from the chemist
Better luck next time but dont let us know until you have passed
That’s exactly how I felt but without the sick 
I even messed up the reverse and that was my favorite bit! well done for sticking with it.
I think you can learn the driving in 4 days plus test but you can’t build your confidence in the same time. Second test went like a dream as I’m sure your will good luck
hi there ,
i read your post after having the ■■■■ ist shift ever and was seriously thinking am I still enjoying this ? then after reading your post realised why i took my tests as I cant ever think of never driving a truck again it would be like cutting of a limb !!!
good on ya fer going back and seeing it through and when you take your retest and hold that blue cert in your hand you will feel on top o the world ,
all the best
jen x
Jennie:
hi there ,
i read your post after having the [zb] ist shift ever and was seriously thinking am I still enjoying this ? then after reading your post realised why i took my tests as I cant ever think of never driving a truck again it would be like cutting of a limb !!!
good on ya fer going back and seeing it through and when you take your retest and hold that blue cert in your hand you will feel on top o the world ,
all the best
jen x
What happened Jen, hope you’re alright? x
sorry Sam didnt mean to alarm you , yes im fine just let things get on top of me , and then had to take an artic down residential street with a hairs breath between the cars parked either side to get to drop , to say some concentration was needed to get in and out was an understatement , nearly got out at one point to some arse who was beeping behind me to tell him you ■■■■■■■ drive this down ere then !!!
thanks for concern though
jenxx
Jennie:
sorry Sam didnt mean to alarm you , yes im fine just let things get on top of me , and then had to take an artic down residential street with a hairs breath between the cars parked either side to get to drop , to say some concentration was needed to get in and out was an understatement , nearly got out at one point to some arse who was beeping behind me to tell him you [zb] drive this down ere then !!!
thanks for concern though
jenxx
Ooohh sounds exciting! Bet you laugh at it now though x
…But you rose to the challenge Jen 
Annie…I remember noticing that the line on the rigid reverse came up much quicker on the test that at any point on my training attempts!
As a trucker you have what it takes…the desire to get in there and get it done. I’ve got my C+E test on thursday, i’m shaking about it now AND i’m having trouble with the reverse!!! 
Best of luck for your retest
Tazbug
Hi thank you all for your replies and encouragement . I have done nothing but think about what I have learnt . Hoping to get booked in again in next 2weeks for lesson and retest.
Tazbug will be thinking of you on Thursday all the luck in the world.
And Sam I am still eating bananas now
littleannie:
And Sam I am still eating bananas now
Good! Keep at it and don’t let them nerves get to you! I actually enjoy the tests when I’m in them, I find it quite easy to relax.
Good vibes for you and please come back and let us know
Jennie:
sorry Sam didnt mean to alarm you , yes im fine just let things get on top of me , and then had to take an artic down residential street with a hairs breath between the cars parked either side to get to drop , to say some concentration was needed to get in and out was an understatement , nearly got out at one point to some arse who was beeping behind me to tell him you [zb] drive this down ere then !!!
thanks for concern though
jenxx
all i do if someone is beeping me while im trying to maneuver somewhere is to go even slower, just to wind them up a little more. No point in rushing something especially if its tight as thats when things go wrong (and I know about it all too well). Some people have no patience or common sense at all, had someone the other day overtake me on a blind bend (even though there was a queue of traffic in front of me), then at the next set of lights I pulled alongside him. He ended up behind me again, constantly trying to overtake even though Im following a queue of traffic! Got to my drop, and 2 minutes later, the same guy follows me in, and promptly parks right under the tail lift, while im in the back wheeling a pallet out. Shouted out to say can you move please, but all I got was “■■■■ off ill be 5 mins!” Was so very tempting to drop the taillift straight onto his bonnet!. a minute later he storms off in his car, so I get the pallet off and wheel it to the shop door (same shop this guy was in). Apparently the guy stormed off as the items he ordered hadn’t arrived, well they had but he wouldn’t move his car when asked!
charliebear:
the guy stormed off as the items he ordered hadn’t arrived, well they had but he wouldn’t move his car when asked!
that is sweet justice , serves the plonker right lol , and I dont let people make me rush it just gets right on my nerves that they are impatient , id love to know who assesses these drops for an artic in residential areas ?
jx
Jennie:
charliebear:
the guy stormed off as the items he ordered hadn’t arrived, well they had but he wouldn’t move his car when asked!
that is sweet justice , serves the plonker right lol , and I dont let people make me rush it just gets right on my nerves that they are impatient , id love to know who assesses these drops for an artic in residential areas ?
jx
I know of one place in Leatherhead that you can only get to by van (unless you had a low cabbed flatbed), but their deliveries wont fit on a van so have to park at the end of the road and wait for the forklift to trundle down. Why build an industrial estate the other side of a 12ft bridge and a tight bend!
Hi Annie
Pat has just posted that some places left on PDA training day if you can get down i reckon you would gain loads from attending as your confidence will go through the roof with these guys ,
Jen x
Thanks jennie …thats what i need.
Back to see my trainer on monday , smiling at thought just need tunny to stay where it is. lol
littleannie:
Thanks jennie …thats what i need.
Back to see my trainer on monday , smiling at thought just need tunny to stay where it is. lol
Maybe go to the training day then back to training trust me it is well worth it
Just read post about the 21july…going email pat see if any places left…