Until this weekend, my family have been under the impression that I have absolutely no idea how to drive a car, and in fact I have never once at behind the wheel. They have believed that I have no concept of bite points, clutch control or smooth gear changes, and that the idea of reverse parking was alien to me.
Not so.
In fact, I'm a pretty good driver.
The news has come as quite a shock, but a good one, I think.
Sometime ago, hidden in the archives of this blog is a post where I spoke about my drive to, er..., drive!
So I applied for my provisional license and booked my first lesson the day it arrived with a female instructor (after hearing quite a few horror stories about male instructors). I'm sure the majority are excellent but being of a nervous disposition I decided a women might be better.
Then I kept quiet and only discussed my lessons with a couple of close friends. To my family I said nothing. Even IJ didn't know where I would sneak off to while she was at school. Concerned that my desire to learn to drive would be met with a lot of some unnecessary negativity that I knew would put me off and leave me feeling frustrated and annoyed because I am very capable, I have continued with my lessons in secret.
And it has not been an easy secret to keep. Twice my parents have driven past me. I have also been learning in their neighbourhood just 200 yards from their front door! I have criticised my mother's driving, quite justifiably, on several occasions especially as she mounts the pavement ever time she drives out of our road (it's a difficult up hill start followed by a tight bend, easy when you know how!). Another time I pointed out that she was cruising along in neutral. Thankfully on all these occasions she seemed to have any idea where my sudden knowledge of driving and the Highway Code had come from, and thankfully they didn't ask. They probably thought I was being deliberately annoying, which is actually a little bit true.
So at the weekend I told me parents (an the rest of my family) that I have now had 13 lessons and every week I drive round for an hour with my instructor in a Mini Cooper, occasionally travelling at 60 mph. I can reverse park (but it takes a while) and I am confident on busy roads in heavy traffic. In my excitement, I have bored them slightly with the details of every lesson while they have been recovering from the shock.
I haven't told them that I have stalled at a major junction and stopped the traffic completely, that I've managed to put the car into reverse travelling at 40 mph, and that if it was not for dual control heaven knows where I would be today.
They don't need to know that.
So now they know I'm driving and it's okay. Sometimes it's best just to get on with things and tell people later when you have proof you can do it. Sometimes we are a lot more capable than other people think we are.
Who knows what my next shock announcement will be. There will definitely be one, I'm certain of that.
In other news: Our friend Lu had a baby boy!
The British Mummy Bloggers carnival is up over at Family Friendly Working.
Good for you! I still can't drive (one of the advantages of being a teenager in London was that I didn't need to learn... but when I became a mum of course I would have loved to be able to drive). I've had about 20 lessons. I do think I would like to learn again. Maybe one day. And if I do I think I'll probably do it in secret for a bit, like you... too much family pressure to succeed! x
Posted by: Liz | October 13, 2009 at 01:21 PM
Congratulations! I'm sure you'll pass your test and be a very competent driver. My mother intermittently reminds me (as recently again as this past Saturday) of the time when I still had my learners licence and was driving her car with her as passenger and I rode over the kerb as I took a corner. I have had my proper licence for 26 years so thats how old that story is!!
Posted by: Momcat | October 13, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Good for you!
I can't drive, never had a single lesson. I would actually like to learn now but can't afford the lessons or insurance :(.
Posted by: Insomniac Mummy | October 13, 2009 at 03:09 PM
I can't believe you managed to keep it a secret for so long! I'm sure I would have blabbed way before you. But well done...and keep up the good work. When's the test?? xx
Posted by: Maternal Tales | October 13, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Great news about your friend Lu
And IMMENSE congratulations on passing the test - enjoy driving !
Posted by: Muddling Along Mummy | October 13, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Excellent thing to learn. And if you felt you needed to keep it a secret, there was probably a good reason. Yay for you!
Posted by: Mwa | October 13, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I'm so impressed, with both achievements. I've been examining my own conscience about it recently too. Suspect I'm ultimately just not that interested by this point in time. Am still in awe of people who actually go out and do it and get through the test and everything, though, like your good self.
Posted by: Dad Who Writes | October 13, 2009 at 10:52 PM
I am so glad you came out my lovely. I was very scared it would be one of my children who would let it out. Now I can breathe easy. So proud of you. x
Posted by: Jo Beaufoix | October 15, 2009 at 05:54 PM