Back From the Dead??

Dusts self.......*cough* *cough*

I got me a new instructor. Mr Lim. I like him. Today's lesson, he actually showed me alot more things than that other person did. He gave me an introductory lesson on the car itself. He showed me how to get a feel of the car. He showed me how I should start the car.He showed me what to check for before moving off.

He also showed me how to U-turn without the pressure of being on the road itself. He gave me pointers on how to turn correctly into my lane. He explained to me what I needed to do when approaching the traffic lights. Instead of telling me to memorise which lights stopped for how long, he explained to me the differences between traffic lights on minor roads and major ones.

He also told me that it is important to understand that every car is different and that I must know the basic parts of the car. I like it that he didn't hold my steering wheel while i drove. I liked it that he gave me tips on what to do at filter lanes, at junctions and how to change lanes without fearing for your life.

But most of all, I like that he said that I can pass my practical on the first attempt. At least some one is as confident of my driving as I am. Heh.

Let me tell you why I am unhappy with my instructor. I had booked the previous lesson for the 5.30 to 7 slot. He called me at about 4 telling me that he'll come and pick me up at 5. So I told him that my slot was 5.30 and not 5. Our friend die die insisted that it was 5. Now that, pissed me off. Then he said that if I wanted 5.30, he could only teach me for an hour. That pissed me off further.

I hated the fact that he simply changed the time to his convenience and what pissed me off even more was that during the lesson, he stopped so that he could go to the loo to pee and fill up his water bottle!!! I mean, hallo! Couldn't you have done that before the lesson started? Tya was telling me that one time, during her lesson, he stopped at the petrol and on the pretext of teaching her how to fill up the petrol, filled up the car's petrol as well..... What rubbish!

I also don't like the fact that he starts the lesson 5 - 10 mins late and ends it 5-10 mins earlier. Hallo! Not free hokay!!! I paid for that time. Don't shortchange me lah.... So bloody unprofessional.

I have decided that I'm getting me a new instructor. I don't need to pay for this heart ache.

I'm calling Annie.

Another lesson in the rain today.

" Today we practise U-turns and turns ok.." Aaaaaarggghhhh. I hate doing the U-turns. I can handle the vehicle on my own now. No need for him to help me. Heh. Today, very uneventful.

" Ok, infront turn right, signal right, keep right, then signal left, filter left.." mmmm

" After the bridge, turn left, signal left, keep left..." mmmm

" Apply brake, got half naked uncle want to cross at the zebra crossing..." mmm....whaaat?

True enough. There was a half naked uncle of the really wrinkly upperbody type waiting to cross at the zebra crossing. The fella took his own bloody time! Come on, move already! I'm on the clock here!!!! As if to mock me, as he was passing me, he looked up and gave me a really cheeky wink!

" In front, keep right, make U-turn..." Aaaaaaaarrrggghhh...... The dreaded U-turn has come.... I think I may have dreaded it too much that I made a really wide turn...... Luckily not too wide lah. Heh.

So, as I said, today's lesson is as uneventful as they come. After that first wide U-turn , I decently manouvered a total of 6 U turns. Never thought there were so many....

I'm a little unhappy with my instructor. We shall leave it at that for the moment.

TOday, I had a lesson in the rain. I drove while it was raining so heavily. I know I need to try my driving in the rain, but not on my third lesson! But it happened.... of course yours truly was game!

It started at the school's foyer. Kak Jo saw me off... Heh. That unnerved me a little. But managed to drive out of the school gate without crashing the car. Or the gate for that matter. So drove away, I did. I'm quite apt in my driving on roads but have to work on my turns. Still unable to gauge my turns.

My DA brought me to Sungai Kadut where I sped in the rain! That was fun. Then we went to Bukit Batok to do my U-turns, not to shabby as well. Did my s and crank courses and the directional changes again....

Basically I was quite apt. Only at the end did I fumble. Dunno whether it was that I was on home ground, I was tired or that I really needed to crap. I could not turn in time into my carpark. then instead of hitting the brakes, I accidentally stepped on the accelerator!!! Alamak!!!!

All in all, it was ok. So till next week....

Drive safe people!

Great news! Today I parallel parked in under 4 minutes. My driving apek ( DA )told me that in the test, i'd have 3 tries in 5 mins. So, even if I say so myself, I was not too shabby. I did not langgar any of the 4 poles. How? Good kan?

Then we had a revision of the S and crank courses. I am getting better lah... I think it's very important that my DA gives me clear instructions. Like today, he lost his temper a teensy bit when I kept stopping to turn the steering wheel while manouvering a bend. So after another 3 trials, I got it. After I gauged the situation and my DA seemed to have regained his cool, I asked,

" Uncle.... you angry is it.... sorrylah.... I learning maaaa....." followed with a real senyum kambing ( read : sheepish smile )

So after that, we drove around choa chu kang, teck whye following test route 4. I think I have gotten the hang of the brake thingy ( for the life of me I just cannot remember what my DA called this brake thing ) My DA also suggested that since my driving ain't too bad, I should have lessons just once a week.

Either my DA thinks that I'm really ok, or that he just don't want me risking his life too much. Heh. Of course yours truly took it to mean the former lah.....

So, my next lesson, he says will be about U-turns. Urghh.... Not too keen on that, but hey, one's gotta do what one's gotta do. Stay tuned.

Drive safe people!

So. I actually drove today. In a real car. On real roads. Major roads. I am so pleased with myself. My instructor said I was not to shabby. ( That's my word, not his. His was, "oklah, can drive one, never asident can ledi" ) On a scale of 1 - 10, yes shamelessly I asked him to rate me, he said I was a 7. Not bad for a first lesson lah.

From Jelapang, I drove to CCK way, turned right past Mak's house. Then turned left at the mosque to CCK Dr all the way to CCK Cr, turned right past my place. Then went to some block there to learn the S and crank courses. Oh, and the directional change thing.

After that we drove to BB and went around the area lah... I forgot specifically where.

But on the way there, this car behind me started honking at me. Initially I thought I did something wrong, but when the honking went on, I got quite mad! So yours truly autoed down the window and started scolding the fella. I reckon my instructor got the shock of his life. A learner was fiighting with a qualified driver! Hahaha...

So in his very gentle apek manner, he said " Halo, not yet pass hor... Cannot like that.... just don care lor, that one sure got mental problem one..." Heh. I so like this apek.

So after driving to Bt Gombak, my lesson ended and as I walked away, I thought I saw apek heave a sigh of relief..... Maybe he's glad that his paikia learner is done for the day. Heh. Well, apek, I will see you next Tuesday.

Drive safe people!!

A little apprehensive I am today. Between 2.30 pm to 3.30pm today, I will be embarking on a new journey. Oklah, now a bit excited. Heh. Best advice I got to start this journey? "Jangan langgar pokok eh". In English, don't drive into a tree ok? Thanx Jann...