That Girl from Derwent dwells on the value of religion this Christmas.
That Girl from Derwent has learned a few more things about prejudice since moving up North.
That Girl From Derwent reckons if you're going to be offensive, you should find a better reason.
That Girl from Derwent considers why it is that some words have wider implications than others.
Once, I was enthusiastic about driving. My seventeenth birthday present was a provisional driving license. I started taking lessons every week and as soon as I could get a car insured I began to practice at the weekends. It was new, exciting, and made me feel grown up.
It also made me feel hideously incapable.
I wasn't very good. I could drive, but it was because I learnt things by rote, by repeating procedures over and over and over. It wasn't natural. A friend of mine passed her test in a matter of weeks. It took me a good year of lessons before I felt ready.
No, wait, until my instructor felt I was ready. I never felt it, I just wanted to get it over with. I began to dread my lessons. I'm a nervous person and driving really didn't help that.
I was devastated when I failed my test. For driving too closely to parked cars. I still maintain that as I didn't hit any of them, it shouldn't have been a major, but I understand the risk was there. It didn't let on that I was cut up about it – I remember I went to Waterstones, sat in a coffee shop and read my new book, then went home and watched 'Treasure Planet' with my sister: I wanted to be a child again – I didn't want to have to learn to drive. I didn't feel old enough. I wasn't in control enough.
Nonetheless, I knew what was expected of me and as soon as I could I booked a new test. Preparing for this one was the hardest thing in my life. The memory of failure loomed over me. On the morning, I was shaking – never good for confident driving – then the phone rang.
It was the DSA. They had to cancel my test. They'd booked me another one. Oh, it was after I started university.
I've decided that was fate.
I've decided maybe I was never meant to drive
I booked a test for the Christmas holidays but cancelled it in November. I wasn't ready. I said I'd drive in the summer. I never did. Oh, I lie, I “parked” for my sister once at the cinema. That was it.
But when I started second year I resolved I'd give it another go. I researched driving schools; I researched quick courses. I decided I would have one lesson an see how it went, considering I haven't driven properly in over a year. But I never got round to having that lesson. There was something stopping me from picking up the phone and asking for an hour or two.
I think I may have decided driving is just not for me.
For the one thing, I don't have the time. Another, it means I will save money on both lessons, and on a car, insurance and petrol in the future. I'm saving money, saving myself a lot of stress and, by supporting public transport (however annoying it might be) I'm doing my bit for the environment (and I don't do nearly enough). I think it's a mature decision. First I didn't want to learn because it was too hard and I wasn't very good. I don't like not being very good at things. But now I reckon I'm making a sensible decision. I'm seeing the benefits of not driving full-stop, rather than just the hurdles of learning.
Although, my theory runs out in February... so there's still time for me to be persuaded otherwise!
You'll regret it when you have a real life and children and duties to do.
Everyone gets nervous, it's a fact of life. On my third test I was at the point where I could almost not control the clutch because my feet were shaking so much, but I passed and it feels good.
Nervousness, like everything in life you've got to get over it. I think if you wrote this article again after failing your twelfth test (two people I know have taken that many), then you'd have a point. You'd probably be a menace to the road and wise in your justification to quit, but after only one test deciding to put it off then not do it at all and convincing yourself it's a good decision... just sounds like plain old being a quitter to me!
Why not take an automatic as opposed to a manual test? I know someone after six or seven failed tests - also a self-proclaimed 'not natural driver' - that gave up and moved to automatic, and now they drive every day. You may not be able to drive *every* car, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter that much.
So you've decided to waste all the money you (or your parents) spent on driving lessons? Sounds daft to me, as do your arguments for quitting, like "I don't have the time". Yes, you do. My mum learned to drive with a full-time job and kids to look after, so I'm pretty sure a childless (I'm assuming) student can manage.
I don't know - surely if someone doesn't want to drive/doesn't feel confident driving, it's better for all other drivers that they stick to their instincts and don't drive? Rather than wasting even more money and putting other people at risk?
Saying that, I passed first time, but only because I knew I'd need to drive - and really wanted to.
^^ I actually think the roads would be safer with more timid drivers. The nervous drivers will always be the ones that follow the rules, brake appropriately and are super-cautious. It's the overconfident cocky ones you need to look out for 
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