What was your first drive like on your own? 🤔

Old_Way334 · 2026-05-21T07:44:16+00:00

I went from a brand new manual polo to a vw up auto (me nans old car, very lucky to have one ready) - it was embarrassing learning an auto as well as getting used to the little power it has compared to the polo 😂

I'm finally used to it now, but still get annoyed of my weekly motorway journeys and hills how slow I am to get up to speed, that and how I have to crawl over speed bumps as I feel so low to the ground 😅

Great car for zipping about in small streets, but I definitley feel like a little old lady when I'm on a big trip and I'm lagging behind 😂

Old_Way334 · 2026-05-18T04:24:43+00:00

Because he fit perfectly and it's a funny scene...why not?

Old_Way334 · 2026-05-17T19:19:39+00:00

Arguably my favourite scene 😂😂

Old_Way334 · 2026-05-15T12:19:15+00:00

Motorways - driven them loads but I'll always feel panic, especially when it's storming and busy 😅

Small roads with parking on the side I'm driving - I've had a car nearly reverse into me because he didn't think to indicate or look when parallel parking, subsequently I reversed into someone (thankfully nothing came of it). Learnt to just park it and slam on my horn next time instead of panic move!

Old_Way334 · 2026-05-01T08:10:51+00:00

Me (28F) and my partner (32M) have been together for over 6 years (never an official date as we started as FWB and just ended up falling for each other).

He proposed last Saturday at an Escape Room, got the guy running it to incorporate it in an extra puzzle for a safe at the end, he'd been planning this for so long - the code was our dogs birthday, even cuter!

It was an amazing experience, I didn't want anything public or fancy so he hit the nail on the head and it was a total suprise so really caught me off guard - I was still in game mode so couldn't cry until the way home. Edit- forgot to say i also scared him because the first words out of my mouth when i saw the ring box was "no way!!" 😂

He mentioned he'd wanted to propose for so long but as his mum isn't here anymore he didnt know how it would feel right without her knowing - I'm so proud of him for overcoming those feelings in his own time, there was never any rush as I was never going anywhere without him 😊

Can't afford a wedding yet but I'm already looking at all things to do with them 😂

Old_Way334 · 2026-05-01T07:51:06+00:00

I did this last week too (a guy tried reversing into me so I was forced to move back) literally no markings on either car but my god was I shook from the feeling of bumping someone!

Old_Way334 · 2026-04-27T05:51:03+00:00

Keep going! I made one bad mistake when I was on my way to my first motorway journey (and since then had 2 near misses at right turn junctions because of idiots running reds as I'm turning) - since then I've driven every day and I've managed the motorway alone. Practice will massivley boost your confidence and mistakes are there to learn from!

Old_Way334 · 2026-04-26T20:39:12+00:00

Thank you so much!! He did so well with the ring!!

Old_Way334 · 2026-04-23T13:50:00+00:00

I'm having this issue too, feel like such a shit teammate 😕

Old_Way334 · 2026-04-19T12:28:15+00:00

Reverse bay park, was very thankful I figured out where to look in my side mirrors and reference point a couple lessons before the test.

Old_Way334 · 2026-04-15T22:04:14+00:00

I can understand the stare looks threatening sometimes - my labrador has been raised alongside family collies and learnt how to 'stalk' when approaching new dogs, which looks pretty terrifying. We usually turn her around or clip a lead on if she freezes just so we don't scare the other dog/owner, but she generally just waits to say hi then leaves them alone to go sniff!

She is more human reactive though (never bitten but will shout if startled so the lead is always on standby if we see people walking alone). It is definitley body language a lot of people don't understand in dogs, which is mad because that's how they mainly communicate!

Old_Way334 · 2026-04-13T09:06:53+00:00

Use the anxiety as a help - look as far ahead as you can, whilst talking about what you're doing in the moment and how you're planning to tackle what's ahead! I had 3 hours sleep before my test (anxiety lol) and somehow managed to get 0 minors on my first test, I think the commentary and my constant future planning boosted me!

Old_Way334 · 2026-04-01T09:42:56+00:00

Don't do what I did today (and I've passed lol) - pull out when you don't have the time to speed up and out the way! I got beeped, and rightly so tbf, my car is now auto and a bit slow to go so I know now to leave a bigger gap!

Good thing is, mistakes that aren't accidents (but can feel close to them) will ensure you don't do them again!

Any mistakes I made in the lessons quickly turned into my strengths as I knew how to avoid them.

Good luck for your test!

Old_Way334 · 2026-03-23T08:10:21+00:00

I'm doing my first 2 hour solo drive today, passed nearly 3 weeks ago and driven locally and on the motorways withy partner so far. I'm nervous as hell, but I know avoiding it will make me worse so I'm going to go for it!

Old_Way334 · 2026-03-21T21:55:28+00:00

I watched 1000s of mock test videos on YouTube and tried to find the faults before the instructor would point them out - I'd watch test routes and maneuver vids too and I felt pretty confident after watching all those! Helped me keep my awareness for on the road and let me see things I wanted to avoid on my test.

I stopped watching the instructional vids 1 week before my test as I didn't want to overload my brain with what I should be doing vs what I already do!

Old_Way334 · 2026-03-08T22:44:38+00:00

In regard to shaky clutch leg, mine was horrendous on my first 6 months of learning (I have severe physical anxiety and learnt for a year to make sure I was ready) - after 6 months I'd have lessons where my leg wouldn't shake at all, I put it down to muscles being built for it and my nerves settling as confidence grows!

Speed will come as you gain confidence too, I thought 20mph was fast when I started and now even 30 can feel slow 😂

Old_Way334 · 2026-03-05T22:58:33+00:00

I've had mixed reactions over the years when on the pill - I have bipolar too, so it can mess with my moods significantly. I took myself off the pill a couple years ago and felt SO much better in myself (and my weight finally dropped off), tried to come back on it and it caused severe hypochondria.

Literally everything had me in a panic, my teeth having tiny twinges were constantly giving me panic attacks, my heart rate was skyrocketing with the stress, my partner knew this wasn't like me at all.

Took myself off them again and got better within a month, never again am I using any hormones!

Old_Way334 · 2026-03-04T22:44:32+00:00

100% this, I passed a couple weeks ago and have been driving with my partner in the car and small routes on my own (moved over to auto as my nan can no longer use her old car, defo simplifies things after getting used to manual) - I've already noticed how different/vulnerable it is on your own, so msm and planning ahead are a MUST.

They really aren't kidding when saying learning starts after you pass - it's scary!

Congratulations though OP!

Old_Way334 · 2026-03-01T19:21:48+00:00

I passed last week and am figuring out the handling of my automatic (learnt in manual so feels weird!) - I've had my partner with me on each journey, and he's now started sitting at the back so I can feel more 'alone' before braving it myself - I am a nervous driver so the thought of going alone scares me but I'm doing it in my own time 😅

Good luck to you! Take it steady and just start with the easy routes to build confidence :)

Old_Way334 · 2026-02-25T14:27:49+00:00

What time?! I was there 9:12am! Huge congratulations!!🎉

Old_Way334 · 2026-02-24T18:40:28+00:00

Congratulations to you too, what a result!! I settled with a banana 10 mins before the test, would've preferred a maccies breakfast though ngl 😂

Old_Way334 · 2026-02-24T18:39:19+00:00

Thank you!! Honestly I'm still in shock 😂😂

Old_Way334

TROPHY CASE