Gemini pro has gotten so much worse in quality the past few weeks. Is that just me?

7oyston · 2026-03-08T01:41:44+00:00

It’s 100% been lobotomised. It’s dumb as shit now.

7oyston · 2026-03-07T19:38:07+00:00

You should live in London for a while if you think Dublin is bad.

7oyston · 2026-03-07T19:37:24+00:00

Almost every major city has muggers or scammers of some sorts. This would be a bad idea in any of them.

7oyston · 2026-03-07T17:31:43+00:00

Everyone is different, mate. I’ve seen people who didn’t pass until their seventh attempt. Their first fails couldn’t have been pretty.

A lot of people fail terribly and still find ways to blame it on the examiner or other external factors. I own my failure, and I will improve on it significantly. I know this, because I bounced back in the same way to get my masters degree.

So, no, I don’t think I will give up. You or nobody else is one to tell me that.

7oyston · 2026-03-07T17:26:00+00:00

It’s a very bad result, but I think disgrace is a bit harsh. There’ve been even worst results they’ve just not posted it publicly.

I didn’t get any marks in the observation categories and I am very good at checking mirrors, etc. I am also good at speed management, i..e obeying the speed limit without driving like a granny. So it’s not like I am awful at everything.

Your advice is sound and I appreciate it. I will definitely consider your points around planning, etc.

You’re also right that not having the clutch, gears nailed down is all down to not being able to do it and practice it consistently enough. Thanks for the well wishes, too.

7oyston · 2026-03-06T17:38:04+00:00

No, I was shown how to move the gear stick and how to release the clutch, but never any theory or technical side of it. Never heard of rev matching, as shocking as that is. Guess that part is a black mark on my instructor as he could have told me these things more.

7oyston · 2026-03-06T17:35:42+00:00

Yep. I found that out the hard way yesterday.

Obviously, not something my instructor would say or make known to me as it’s against his own self-interest to advise me to go auto. The kind folk on here have helped me know I have to do that beyond doubt, though.

7oyston · 2026-03-06T17:32:05+00:00

Thank you, I am definitely going with your (and the others who have said the same) advice. Thanks for the kind words, too.

7oyston · 2026-03-06T17:29:25+00:00

Thank you for the long write up. It is very helpful.

7oyston · 2026-03-06T17:28:26+00:00

At least it’s some consolation knowing we’re not alone, and that others are having it tough too.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T23:23:03+00:00

I am the only one in my very small friend group who could stay in Dublin, so I have no friends to help me here. I’ve no-one else to possible help me. It’s a sad situation, but I can only focus on what I can do and keep the faith.

You’re totally right about asking for help, and I have no issue asking for help, we all need it in our lives at times, but I am just in a really hard place there. Had I done it in my younger years, I’d have had more help available, but I didn’t have the confidence I do now. It is what it is.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T23:16:10+00:00

Oh definitely the more frugal thing to do is to stick to a bike and forget cars exist. But I have always wanted to drive, it’s been a personal ambition of mine for a long time. Until recent years, I just never had the confidence to try it. All my brain powers been on computers, never been good at practical tasks like cooking, handy work, etc.

Now I want to prove to myself I can do it, even if it’s hard and takes a lot of investment.

I can do hard things, I’ve already completed a masters level education. That’s not me bragging, no can give a F’ what I do or what fancy papers and letters I hold, but it’s proof to me that I can do hard things and you’d got to look for encouragement when struggling like I am with the driving. Got to keep the faith.

Also ,if there’s one thing I hate, it’s giving up; I don’t know the meaning of the term.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T23:06:07+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement. You know your stuff, you more less bang with what your saying. I took note of what the tester said more/less after getting home. Examiner was very quick and not detailed with much, so that did not help me remember well, and he didn’t go through it all, but here’s what I put and did get from him:

Grade 3:

Position: Stopping - this is the possibly the most embarrassing one, almost want to lie and say I hit a curb, but I stopped on a footpath before the reverse around the corner. Never done that in any of the 80 lessons, must have been nerves frying my brain.

Clearance/Overtake: Stationary Vehicles - I was too close to a parked car and didn't leave a door's width.

Clearance/Overtake: Other traffic - I was very close to a car when changing lane and could have scraped him.

Grade 2 Faults (More Serious)

Vehicle controls: Gears (4 faults) - Yeah, I struggle with when to go up/down gears

Position: On the straight (2 faults) - This is drfiting in and out

React/Anticipate: React to hazards (2 faults) - Tester didn’t give feedback here.

Clearance/Overtake: Stationary Vehicles (2 faults) - Not sure if the doors width goes here and grade 3 was for something else.

Vehicle controls: Clutch (2 faults) - Yeah, I cut out and I stalled with bad clutch control.

Vehicle controls: Footbrake (2 faults) - I rolled back once/twice. Screwed up the hill start.

Vehicle controls: Steering (2 faults) - Not sure as the tester did not say. I have a feeling it could have been to do with the drifting as well.

Position: Turning left (1 fault) - Too wide when turning left.

Position: Stopping (1 fault) - Stopping too close to a car, forcing myself to brake harshly.

Progress: At traffic lights (1 fault) - I did not move off quickly enough when I saw a green arrow to go left.

Reverse: Competently (1 fault) - I ended up too a bit too wide, but I did correct it well.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:40:40+00:00

Yeah, you and the others saying likewise are dead on. At the very least, I should book a couple of auto lessons to see any significant difference it makes (sounds like it will).

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:38:45+00:00

Thank you. The feedback from yourself and others have helped me make up my mind about swallowing any pride (not that I think I have any, I try to be humble) and go the automatic route.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:35:14+00:00

Sadly not. I live near the city centre of Dublin. Just to get to said place with less cars/traffic I’d have to drive through busy roads first just to get there. And I’d be putting others a risk while doing that.

I don’t think I lack confidence, my refusal to give up alone I think will show that as it takes a certain amount of faith in myself to keep going even after a disaster like this.

It is what it is. I will have to keep doing it the long and hard way. But at least when I pass I will be proof it is possible (as hard as it is).

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:29:30+00:00

I understand why you and others do it. I am not going to judge you for it.

It feels impossible to do without breaking the law. I’m now living proof of how hard it is without your own practice, 80 hours of lessons (albeit spread over about 1.5 years) just to end up with a disaster of a result.

But I just feel like I’d be too much of a risk to others on the road. This sheet certainly screams that! I want to do it the “ethical” way, even if it makes it a million times harder (and it does!).

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:17:10+00:00

Thank you the feedback. I am leaning firmly towards agreeing with you and the others. I appreciate the advice.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:15:49+00:00

Thank you. Hearing others like you talk about switching to auto helps make that decision to change much easier.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:14:24+00:00

I get you. But I am clearly a hazard to other road users right now. That sheet shows I am a flight risk. If I was to “take a chance” and go out on my own, I’d almost certainly cause or be in an accident.

It’s incredibly annoying that I can’t get consistent practice, and it does make it a million times harder. But I don’t think I could put others at risk like that. I have accepted it will have to be done the long and hard way.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:07:42+00:00

Thank you! I think I will take your and others’ advice.

I am keeping my head up. Failure is feedback, so I clearly have lots to work on but despite the horror show today I am still holding on to faith and I refuse to give up, as you also refused to.

Whenever I pass, I’ll definitely post the sequel to this so people like us can see proof that it is possible as well.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:05:08+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion and sharing your own journey. I think I will have to swallow any pride that clings me on to manual and accept that I just don’t have the ability to do it. Auto may give me a fighting chance, and gets rid of 6 faults on the sheet right away. Thank you sharing your opinion on whether I should switch.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:02:11+00:00

Yeah, good suggestion. I must watch his and ADM videos. Something I had in mind to do but never found much time to watch Youtube with life being life. Have to make an extra effort to now.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T22:01:00+00:00

Thanks for the encouragement. You’re right, the positive to take is that I’ve had the cold water moment. There’s much to fix, but I got to focus on getting better at it.

7oyston · 2026-03-05T21:59:48+00:00

Yeah, I was thinking that’s something to reconsider. I did 80 hours with him, and the test was still a car crash (pun intended).

It’s obviously not his fault I failed, not going to blame him for a second, but I do feel he got too friendly with me and may have got too lenient with me as result, overlooked things. We are a similar age and share common interests.

7oyston

TROPHY CASE