Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 August 2005 21:10:19
It happened! J was one of my first pupils who I inherited from another instructor having already booked her test, which she failed at her first attempt. This time around, I worked particularly hard on the area she failed on (Observation, particularly when reversing, which is what I'd constantly been on at her about anyway).
So, second time around, she still had this habit of not looking around properly when reversing, despite constant reminders that this was the reason she had failed previously. It only took one go for me to slam on the dual brake and shout "WATCH THAT CYCLIST!!" Of course, luckily, there wasn't a cyclist behind her, even though she hadn't checked, but it scared her sufficiently to make proper observations from that moment on.
So, the test was booked. 8.40 in the morning. That meant that I would have to pick her up at 7.10 for the hour and a half lesson before the test. I wasn't looking forward to that at all. Then, the day before the test, the DSA phoned her to say that they'd had to cancel the test due to staff shortages. The only other available date and time was this morning at 7.30. Yes, SEVEN BLOODY THIRTY! That meant picking her up at 6 AM.
So, one early start and a good drive later, we arrived at the test centre. Off she went, and I installed myself in the cafe across the road from the centre and treated myself to an enormous heart-attack-on-a-plate breakfast which was my reward for having to get up so early.
40 or so minutes later, I saw my car return. I got a bit concerned that she seemed to be making a bit of a pigs ear of parking, but as I walked slowly towards the car, I saw she was smiling. So was the examiner, which is a very rare sight indeed.
So my first success. Now, this is just the sort of thing that makes the job worthwhile.