Another Day, Another Driving Lesson. No Casualties

Today was pretty chilled - until the driving lesson. 

Bear is growing up.  I let him go to the local sandwich shop for a sandwich for breakfast and he was so proud to do so.  It would be considerably less expensive to have breakfast 'in house' but he is eleven and he is going to the shops by himself.  He had to get over a busy road, as well, although there was a zebra crossing.  Later on he went out for bread for DH and crossed two seriously main roads (on crossings) and bought the right bread.  Of course he's old enough and sensible enough to go to the shops for me, and I won't help him by keeping him at home, but it's still a step.  He's looking more like a teenager every day.

DH and I hung out in the afternoon while bear and his pal inhaled some food and after dinner I had my driving lesson.  It was awesome and scary and difficult and I had some scary moments due to other people's bad driving and I stalled at a complicated traffic light and I did it!  I should be ready to try for a test in September.  I'm doing well.  I'm still not ready. 

The place where I stalled was at the base of a rising series of bends that my utterly amazing driving instructor called a 'helterskelter' and he wasn't wrong.  It was effectively a spiral, which is a wonderful way to work a road going up and down a steep hill when you are dealing with ponies and pack horses, but the modern motor car has to keep a low gear and keep hugging the curves.  When I say that the road was a little like this (without the accident) but continuing with the bends, I am not exaggerating.  The driving instructor told me that they were tight, and that if I can master them, I can master anything.

Image from geography.org.uk, taken by Pauline E and used under the Creative Commons Agreement

What I said afterwards was that it was exactly like a fairground ride and while I may have stalled at the foot of this, because I wasn't going fast enough to get into second gear, I took those bends with attitude and I loved it.  It's really important that I master this.  The above pic is from the road from Pickering to Whitby.  I want to be able to drive to Whitby, and the logical way is to take the A64, from Leeds to Malton, turn up to Pickering and then take the A169 across the moors to Whitby and it includes that bend.  If I can manage that helterskelter, then I can manage the Hole of Hocum (site of meteor strike in the very distant past) and make it to Whitby.  My driving instructor thinks that I will be safe to drive this.  I realise this is old hat to experienced drivers, but to me it is amazing.  (Sheila, I am in my fifties and going for it.  My great aunt passed her test at 57 and drove like a bat out of hell.  If I can do it, anyone can do it, if they feel ready for it).  I should add, I've put up a picture of what looks like a scary bend, but it was a literal spiral and it was that tight, and I have not exaggerated.  I don't know the name of the road, but when I find out, I'll post it.  I may have said 'Wheeeeeee!' as I went up.

I want to say how grateful I am for the lovely messages about the publication of 'Tales from the White Hart'.  I really, really, really appreciate the support and encouragement that I have received, it's a wonderful  hug.  Thank you.  To get a signed copy, follow the instructions at the end of this post.  I promise I will be careful with information given.  I am currently awaiting the copies, fresh off the press, and I am getting giddy with excitement.  Thank you for the kind words.