How To Fail A Driving Test - Parts 4+5!!

Similar to this entry:

http://jeffthelion.livejournal.com/106769.html

So here's roughly how it has run, I booked my fourth driving test for April 7th, was very confident but didn't manage to get the left reverse right in the test again. I thought I was close enough to the kerb, I was near enough that a car was able to drive past me while I was doing it! The examiner disagreed and I failed. Once more, without a serious fault, I would have passed, having 11 minor faults:

Left Reverse - Control - 1
Left Reverse - Observation - 1
Bay Parking - Observation - 1
Moving Off - Safety - 1
Use of Mirrors - Changing Direction - 2
Signals - Timed - 1
Progress - Undue Hesitation - 1
Junctions - Observation - 2
Cutting Corners - 1

I was throughly pissed off with this and so was my instructor who thought they were filling quotas of failing people.

So, I hurriedly booked another test as my theory runs out on May 2nd, having been frustrated by the bureaucracy of not being able to be tested within ten days of failing, I managed to find one in Bolton at 8.10AM on Friday 24th of April. This is not an area I'm too familiar with and I'm not a huge fan of mornings, yet still it seemed worth another crack...

Another fail! This time I got the left reverse right, thought I didn't think I had as it was similarly close to the kerb but my instructor said the gradient was tighter so it was acceptable. Thinking I had failed (I also clipped a kerb!), I took my eye off the ball and had to have the brakes applied as we went across the first unmarked crossroads I'd ever attempted! Bollocks! If I thought I was still in with a chance, my concentration would have been better. This time, 11 minor faults:

Controlled Stop - 1
Left Reverse - Control - 1
Left Reverse - Observation - 1
Turn in Road - Observation - 1
Control - Gears - 1
Control - Steering - 1 *
Moving Off - Safety - 2
Signals - Correctly - 1
Use of Speed - 1**
Junctions - Turning Right - 1

*This will be clipping the kerb!
*Speeding - tut! Naughty!

So I've had to book another theory test for this Wednesday 6th May at 9AM and order another copy of the 2009 Highway Code to revise for it. The odyssey continues...

I Am A Published Author... Of Kind!

Last night I went to the Wayne English testimonial book launch (it's entitled "You'll Never Beat Wayne English") and having written around a 1000 words for it, does that make me a published author?! I reckon so!

It's named after our diminutive full backs incalculable number of incredible tackles on people seemingly twice his size during his decade long career with the club.

It was great to see the Swinton Lions Hall of Fame (a room in the White Lion pub in Swinton where Swinton changed before 1900 and why Swinton are nicknamed the Lions) completely packed out to salute the man. Even though this meant it was impossible to hear the speeches that were delivered before he signed copies (while looking amazed at all the attention given to him!)

Johnson reminded me of a great story, last time he saw Lee Hudson (ex-Swinton winger) before last night, he was helping him onto his sofa while he drunkenly protested that he wasn't pissed at all! Hehe!

Anyway, a tremendous night, all in aid of someone who has given loads to rugby league in the lower divisions and not received much (financially anyway as Super League deemed him too small to play at that level) in return. Thanks for everything, Wayne English!