Failed, failed, FAILED!

After weeks of tears sweat and pain behind the wheel, my driving test is finally upon me.

Off I totter to the Croydon test centre feeling sick to my stomach. It is no good, my nerves are in pieces.

I meet my examiner and shake hands. Looking into her eyes I hope that she will take pity on me. Into the driving seat and off I go. I try to cover my nerves by concentrating extra hard, something that has never come easy to me (unless I am shopping for clothes).

All seems to be going okay, ( apart from another learner trying to crash into me at the entrance to the test centre) I think to myself. How I wish I hadn’t. Right around the next turn is a large truck with a crane on top. Traffic is stuck all around it. Great. I manage to get by okay but am then alarmed to find that I have stalled. Fantastic. I try to take a deep breath but feel like there is no oxygen left in the car. I finally get going again but from that moment on I cannot contain my shaky hands. Or leg for that matter, why it is just the one I have no clue. My right leg is behaving nicely.

I get my first manoeuvre out of the way, but still find myself struggling to breath. This is not good. Try as I might I cannot relax and successfully manage to stall the car again. I can feel the examiner subconsciously roll her eyes at my stupidity.

Finally back at the test centre and I do a perfect reverse park. She then takes a moment to gather my fate and hit’s me with the last fatal blow.

I have FAILED.

She attempts to console me by reminding me that at least I don’t have a long journey to come and do it again. Yeah, thanks. I silently nod and contain my anger.

My instructor returns to the car and offers her condolences. Second time lucky, she reassures. I thank her and head home to smoke a packet of cigs and book a new test.

After an hour of wallowing I decide that all is not quite lost yet. I throw the empty cigarette packet in the bin and return to my sensible non smoking self.

What’s that saying?

If you don’t succeed try, try, try not to stall again?