I Feel a Fool

Do you remember me agonising over bear and his trousers?  I was dithering about taking his waistband in as the trousers were just hanging off him.  When I was looking inside the waistband and trying to gather my courage, I found this.

And if you put the button into the furthest loop, it looks like this

There is one each side which shaves a merciful two inches off the waistband and lets them stay up.  I cannot tell you how relieved I am.  I'm also a little embarrassed that I didn't see this before. 

I had another driving lesson today.  I'm still doing starting and stopping, I think I'm five lessons in, and today the first start was perfect.  I pulled off smoothly and evenly without any jolt and I stopped equally smoothly as well.  It felt wonderful.  All of you who are reading this and know how to drive - I am impressed.  I'm feeling good about the clutch, less so about the brake and accelerator, but that's okay.  None of the rest of the stops and starts were as good, but I managed a hill start, did several turns, both left and right (there were no other cars around), and loved every minute.  I stalled a few times and I don't think I got faster than 10 miles an hour, but it still felt good.  I've been buzzing ever since. 

I think a lot of it is that I've never heard anyone I drive with say that a mistake is okay so I was really nervous at first.  Bpm is just amazing, though.  She is calm, she is encouraging and she tells me that it's okay not to be perfect.  I'm worried about getting the lads dropped off near the school, and especially about parking.  Bpm has reassured me, just stop where it's legal and safe, do your best, let the lads get out and don't stress.  Just do what you can.  It's really made me comfortable.  I hope my formal driving instructor is as good.