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Friday 4 October 2019

THE DRIVING LESSON

I first learnt to drive in my brother's bedroom,
sitting on a Meccano box planted in the middle of the rug.
"Back straight, head up!" Feet resting on Lego pedals,
I drove awkwardly: hands ok, feet twisting around each other,
as he barked out instructions like a cross Sergeant Major.
My knuckles turned white as I gripped Father's spare gear stick.
"Look ahead up the road!" I stared into the dark space
beneath his desk. What at I wondered?
He positioned himself in front of me. "Imagine I'm an oncoming car."
He swerved as I approached him in the middle
of a non-existent road. "Remember to check your mirrors."
He held them up, but I could see only the ceiling in them,
as I drove on the rug against invisible traffic
and concentrated on changing gear.
"Don't forget the clutch!" he yelled.
It was so much to remember
for a ten-year-old's constantly wandering mind.
But I persevered, all the while
dreaming of getting my PSV license next, easy,
and driving a school bus - or a coach ultimately -
further than the high street, the far side of Surrey even;
the farthest reaches of Europe...

24 comments:

  1. HaHa! This brought back memories..! :).
    I'd been driving vehicles since a young teenager,
    not on the road, as l wasn't old enough, but on
    private land, business land..
    And..so on..Land Rovers, jeeps, diggers, buses and
    so on..But! Never! Never! A car..when l turned 17..
    my Dad said, time l took my test, so off l went into
    town, and booked 6 one hour lessons, £6..Yes! £6...
    for ALL 6...But l only did two..HeHe! :).
    Mr Adams, after my first lesson decided to apply for
    a test..after my second lesson, a cancellation came
    through..so 3 weeks after my 17th birthday..I PASSED!
    First time...

    But! But! I did'nt think l had..Goodness! No!
    I could write a book on my driving test..
    I started out on the wrong foot..so to speak! :).
    He took me down the high street, at the bottom was
    a Zebra Crossing..No! No! Not a real Zebra..! :o)
    I stopped and beckoned an old lady with her dog
    across..No! No! Mustn't beckon people across a
    Zebra Crossing..!
    Then he took me down 3 intersections, give~ways,
    when l'd gone through them, he asked me if their
    was anything wrong with the clutch..l said No!
    He said.."Well get yer bloody foot off it then"..
    A habit l picked up driving heavier vehicles earlier!
    And..he hit his trilby hat on the windscreen, when l
    did the emergency stop...
    HeHe! Hang on..Hang on..bit more yet..when we got back
    to the centre..he told me l'd past..Whey~Hey..!!!
    Even before he'd asked me the 5 questions from the
    Highway Code..So..he asked them..5 questions..l got
    1 right and 4 wrong..HeHe! He said to brush up on the
    Highway code..And..let me go..! :).
    Well..l was so excited l'd passed..
    Oh! One question he asked..Who has the right of way on
    a round~about...I could'nt resist it..I said..The
    Biggest Vehicle...Boom! Boom! :o).
    I still remember him in..his trilby hat and dirty old
    raincoat..carrying a newspaper, which he slammed on the
    dashboard for the emergency stop...!
    Goodness! That was 52yrs ago..!

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  2. Haha...many thanks, Willie, for this fabulously hilarious account of your driving experience!😂
    You've certainly brightened up my day...lol

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  3. Beautiful memmories, Ygraine!
    Can you believe it - I don't know how to drive. Never learnded. Never felt like.

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  4. Oh thank you so much, Ana!😊😊
    I have to admit that, although I do have a driving licence, I really dislike driving. I would drive if I absolutely had to...but otherwise I leave the driving to those who enjoy it!

    Have a lovely weekend!

    Big Hugs ❤❤❤

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  5. Io ho imparato stando seduto dentro a una cesta e trainato dai miei fratelli piu piccoli.
    Buona serata.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you, Giancarlo...so much!😊😊

      Hugs xxx

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  6. What a beautiful memory you shared with us! I don't drive myself, but my son just got his first baby car for his first birthday and I hope he will also have beautiful memories with it☺

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    Replies
    1. Aww, such poignant memories...I remember my son's first baby car too...and now he is 27! Seems like only yesterday!
      Oh thank you so much!😊😊

      Big Hugs xxx

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  7. Add me to the non-drivers. I can (in an emergency) do so, but am unlicensed.
    Smiling at the 'helpful' brother. And remembering similar assistance.

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    Replies
    1. And there I was, thinking there was something odd about me, as I dislike driving!
      Well, you've certainly make me feel a whole lot better. Thank you so much...😊😊

      Love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. So happy you enjoyed, Anthony...and many thanks!😊😊

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  9. That brought back some fun memories. When I was a child I had a small car that I was so proud of it. I drove it with my feet, but I could actually imagine that I was on the road driving a grown up car. I grew up to be a non-driver. Oh, I got my permit in Jersey before moving to New York, but after almost driving off a cliff, I ripped it up and said never again.

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    Replies
    1. Oh Mary...I can so relate to all you've said here!
      I, too, had a little pedal car that I used to drive around the garden and pretend it was a grown up car!
      AND I was driving a hire car in Guernsey back in the 80's, when I decided to pull up on what I took to be a grassy bank to admire the view...only to almost drive off the top of an old wartime pillbox!! Lol
      Aah, such poignant memories...😊😉
      Thank you so much!

      Hugs xxx

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  10. this is so charming and cute and I loved reading it. I could see it.

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    Replies
    1. Oh I am so happy you enjoyed this, Sandy...and thank you so much!!😊😊

      Big Hugs xxx

      Delete
  11. Oh how beautiful!!
    My heartfelt thanks...😊😊

    A Hug xxx

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  12. Oh thank you so much...I so appreciate that!😊😊

    Hugs xxx

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  13. oh dear Ygraine this was so beautiful and amusing poem :)

    i so enjoyed your driving lessens from your brother and what a fun to learn from family :)
    excellently done my wonderful dear Friend!
    sending lots of love and best wishes for your lovely happy days :)

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    Replies
    1. One of my fond memories from my childhood, dearest Baili!!
      I am so happy you enjoyed...and thank you so much!😊😊

      Have a wonderful day, my beautiful friend!!

      Much love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

      Delete
  14. love the way you describe all the memories. I really enjoyed reading your posts.

    Have a nice day
    Kinza Khushboo
    Blog
    Glamorous without the Guilt
    Bloglovin | Glamorous without the Guilt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much...and I'm so happy you enjoyed!😊😊

      Have a super weekend xxx

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  15. Thank you, Rue...so much!😊😊

    Hugs xxx

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  16. Just love the story and memory you've shared.

    I am always so pleased I did learn to drive. Of course these days the roads are so much more crowded and it isn't always enjoyable, but it does get me from point A to B.
    As I've got older I'm not so keen on night driving … so most of my visits/journeys are made during the day :)

    All the best Jan

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