Driving in my Car

[tamaranth]

(It's nothing like a Jaguar)

This week (having passed my driving test first time, back in September, and then spent a month harassing nephew to hurry up and sort the car I'd paid him for -- car needed some further work while I was away, and still has no functional stereo) I have been driving to werk. Monday morning, in fact, saw first solo drive: first motorway drive: first arrival at werk under own power: and first getting-up-in-the-dark-already-wobbly-with-jetlag.

Monday was ... challenging. I learnt not to attempt the A264 in the dark.

Tuesday was easier. I learnt not to be afraid of the M25.

Today was fab. I learnt that ladymoonray -- provider of navigation, guidance, emergency helpline and portable speakers -- is truly wonderful. No, wait, I knew that already. But the drive is much much better with music, and sunshine. And I am channelling ivory_goddess much less than yesterday.

Still takes ages to get here though.

Comments

[autopope.livejournal.com]

Tuesday was easier. I learnt not to be afraid of the M25.

Don't do that. Please.

The M25 is horrendously dangerous at times: being frightened of it is good.

[feorag.livejournal.com]

But not so frightened that you can't actually think straight.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I have no objection to being afraid of dangerous situations: I was unreasonably terrified, though, of being on any motorway at all, anywhere, anywhen. And M25, when moving, means getting home an hour earlier ...

Am still healthily nervous and have to keep reminding myself not to imagine what could happen! But I'll drive more safely if I'm not so twitchy.

[autopope.livejournal.com]

Motorways are generally safe and easy to drive on. My problem with the M25 is that it's so congested that the traffic flow frequently goes turbulent, and you get those shock-waves of brake lights where everything slows from 70mph right down to 30mph in about ten seconds -- then speeds back up again. Lose focus for just a few seconds at rush hour and you can be in a world of hurt. Of course, there's the new variable speed limit thingy which should help a lot (traffic flows more smoothly at lower speeds), but the point remains: it's not speed that kills, it's speed differentials, and the M25 is one of the worst motorways in the UK for that.

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

Wary is good.

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

And I am channelling ivory_goddess much less than yesterday.

*giggles*

*then stops giggling to prevent spousal shouting...*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yay for driving! But always be careful out there.

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

Yay for independence in driving! It has its pros and cons, I suppose, but I couldn't manage without being able to drive myself. I bet in no time you'll have the trick of it and be very pleased. :-)

Hope the jet lag gets better soon, though!

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

am channelling ivory_goddess much less than yesterday

*!!'@@?+"$£%$**!!!!!!

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

something like that. all's fair on the road, yes?

I want a little LED display that can quickly and easily deliver verdicts on my fellow travellers' sexual prowess, ancestry and IQ. If some standard phrases were pre-programmed, verbal justice could be delivered at the touch of a button.

Pursuant to above, I also want armour-plating and short-range missiles.

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

I want a little LED display that can quickly and easily deliver verdicts on my fellow travellers' sexual prowess, ancestry and IQ.

Where's the fun in that?

Do it yourself and surprise yourself with your inventiveness!

[gingersnapps.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Enjoy the independence but be careful~~we want you in one piece when you come to visit next.

[margotmetroland.livejournal.com]

Didn't know you'd passed, congratulations! Of course I now have the Fear over you being let loose on the roads. Just wait until I start driving again and the M25 will be like a large Dodgems track.

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

And if I get round to getting a full licence next year, I might be joining you.

Well, it'll help clear road congestion if nothing else.

[pecos.livejournal.com]

OMG...you driving a CAR! It's almost like you're a person or something! Now you need to start eating junk food and lose about thirty IQ points and you could pass for an American!

[jezza1956.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

Note to self - avoid roads in the South East.

Still, you'll be able to get down here and back a bit more easily when you next need a boaty fix.