A good start to a good month!

Hey guys! So I thought I'd have a happy post today as I'm in an unbelievably amazing mood for a change.. 

For those who follow me on twitter or have me on Facebook will know, I had my driving test yesterday. Scariest and most nerve-racking experience of my life so far, I tell you! I was literally shaking so much driving to the test centre and simply waiting, let alone when I actually did my test. The first question my examiner asked was whether I wanted my instructor in the back of the car with me.. Now, my instructor and I discussed this before we got to the test centre and we both agreed that it would be the most off putting thing having someone in the back when you're stressed enough as it is and seeing their face every time you made a mistake.. So he stayed at the centre. 

I honestly thought I'd failed. Let me tell you, it was horrible. I managed to roll down a hill slightly because I forgot to put the car into gear for a hill start (not very clever!) and then when I had to pull away another time, a car just decided he would speed round me so I thought that was two fails.. But no. Came back to the test centre and had my debrief which my instructor came over to listen to and, it turns out...

I passed! How this got over 100 likes on Facebook though is beyond me.. Words literally can't express how shocked I was to hear that. So happy, I can't even explain it. In my head, it was a case of 'how the hell did I pass that?!' Mind blowing stuff..

WARNING TO ALL DRIVERS - I AM NOW LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DRIVE. PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR OWN SAFETY WHEN I'M OUT ON THE ROADS

So yeah, an amazing start to my month! Next week, I have a gig to go to (be jealous, You Me At Six and 30 Second To Mars fans) and then all I have is deadlines.. Ah well, can't be that much of a bad month!

Friday 13th - Not so unlucky!

Hey guys! Bit late, but how was everyone's Friday 13th? For a day that is known for being superstitiously unlucky, mine was actually not so unlucky..

For those who read my rant about driving theory (can be found if you click here), you know of my sheer rage and attitude towards it. Well, after four attempts, I FINALLY PASSED! Such a relief and I was so unbelievably happy, it's incredible! Scary to think I'm now another step closer to actually driving. Well, as long as I pass by 2015, I won't have to sit it ever ever EVER AGAIN. Now I just need to book my practical eeeeeeeeek!!

In order to pass your theory, you need 43 in the theory itself and 44 in the hazard perception. Now, hazard perception is dead easy. Simply click when you see a hazard and don't click too much. Easy, yes? The questions are the downfall. Admittedly, they're all just common sense but a lot of them require you to actually think about the question. Something I struggled with a lot. Like, the first three tries involved questions on catalytic converters. Seriously, I haven't learnt about those since GCSE science if not before that - that was nearly 4 years ago! Ah well, all over and done with now and I'm sooo happy :)

College was really good too! Was only in from 9-1pm and had pretty easy going lessons. Really enjoying college if I'm honest. Childcare is such an interesting course and I love the girls on it! Made so many friends last year and we have such a laugh. Lots of banter going on.

Safe to say, this Friday 13th was a lucky one for me! How about you guys? :-)

A Little Rant About Driving Theory Tests..

Hey guys! I've decided today's little rant is going to be about the driving theory test, mainly because I failed mine YET AGAIN this morning but one little mark and incredibly irritated with myself and the test itself. 

(source: www.ashgrovesom.co.uk)

Now, as every test goes, you will always have an idea of what to expect but you never know exactly what questions will come up. I find this incredibly frustrating. Me being me, I hate exams. I'm sure many would agree with me. There is just so much pressure on you to pass and do well that you get so nervous! For me, nerves often put me off and put me in a very negative state of mind. I know, in most cases, you can give it another go and try a lot harder next time.. But the fact you've failed to start with is so daunting.

The theory itself is just common sense, let's be honest. It can't be that hard, right? WRONG. I've taken my test twice now and had basically the same result both times.
 
First, you have the signing in process. You get given a sheet of rules which I'm pretty sure no one ever reads properly.. Then, once you've 'read' the sheet, you go up and they type in your information etc etc. They give you a locker for all your stuff and then the waiting process begins! You sit there and wait until you get called to wait by the door and it is the most horrible feeling while you just sit and wait when all you want to do is get it over and done with so you can go home and either mope about failing or celebrate the fact you've passed. When you actually go in, you kind of zone out and forget the other people in the room and just concentrate on the screen which doesn't help those who are prone to overthinking!

Then it's over. You begin to think through both possible results and get incredibly nervous which is so horrible.. You get your results and you run! Read your results, obviously, and run as far away from the test centre as you can.

In order to pass your theory, you need 43 on the multiple choice and I think 45(?) on the hazard perception. I managed to get 42 on the multiple choice both times and passed the hazard perception both times (it's simply clicking, not exactly hard). I mean, it's not like I didn't revise because I worked my backside off trying to get a good mark as I want to pass so I can take my practical test.. But you never know what questions will pop up and, as I realised the first time I took the test, some questions have been updated which may not appear on previous learning resources which completely throws you!

What irritates me about the theory though is when you get to the test centre, it's all basically teenagers with the occasional older person. Most teenagers look about 17/18 as they've done the wise thing and are getting it out of the way as soon as they can. Me being 19, I could've done mine years ago when I had a lot less going on in my life and could've absorbed the revision a lot better. Then when they all come out saying they've passed and you're just like, oh...

For me, I think it's nerves that puts me off so much. It's so much pressure simply to pass your theory in order to do your practical. That and the actual process of the theory is so tense and horrible.. For those who haven't done their theory yet, you'll see what I mean when you get there!