27/10 21st driving lesson... the 2nd final episode

My lesson today was fine but still quite a number of small mistakes committed. My instructor was quite strict today... maybe because my test date is coming soon... I got to buck up and correct my mistake. Hmm.. there is a construction near gate 1 so every car have to share the same lane which can be quite dangerous.

My friend just passed with 6 points yesterday. That's cool... I am confident that I can pass but provided I don't make any silly mistake. Even those small mistakes when accumulated may fail me too.
Sigh... all I can do is to try my best and let the test examiner feel safe.
I really hope the next time I blog here..... I can write the title of the post as 'the final episode'.
Hmm.. but if I fail, I shall leave the title blank....

25/10 20th driving lesson, 4th circuit

One word can describe my lesson today. FAIL.

I did 2 immediate failure mistake today. Sigh... heartbroken.... I mount kerb while moving out from my vertical parking... the corner was too sharp... I turned my steering wheel too fast and my rear wheel went up the kerb. :'(
After that, I moved off and didn't come to a complete stop when there is a white stop line in front of me.. double sigh.... I am pretty scared now... I am scared not because I am worried I can't pass. I am just afraid that I will commit this stupid mistake during my test. :( Unforgivable.... ARGHH...

I will have my warm-up at 8am next monday and it will end at 10am. :D
:( I still owe my instructor money... lol... $30 for today circuit... $80 for warm up... and $120 for borrowing his car. Total $230.

22/10 19th driving lesson

Today's lesson was fine.... Had a few excessive gas whereby my rpm went up to 4000.

Sigh... I hate my timetable.. Monday,Tuesday,Thursday and Friday starts with 9am tutorial.
Next week is my first week of school. So the good thing is that we only need to attend the lectures.
But next next week is the week where tutorial starts. Coincidentally, my tutorial on monday is 9am to 11am. Unfortunately, my driving test is on that day which clash with my tutorial. So I have to skip my tutorial but that will leave a bad impression.... sigh... I feel guilty..

My instructor told me a funny story today. He said that his student took his first driving test and he accidentally stopped in a yellow box. So the test examiner gave him an immediate failure because of that. During his second driving test, he was at a minor road whereby he came across a yellow box in front of him. There was a traffic jam so he didn't enter the yellow box as he thought that he should not enter. But in the end, he still fail... for not entering that yellow box. LOL.... he failed twice just because of that yellow box..
9 days left for my driving test. :D

18/10 18th driving lesson, 3rd circuit

Hmm... I went in circuit today. Everything was fine... my parking was good. I think I have improved. lol.
Hmm... I think I did 2 mistakes today. While turning out after my directional change, my rear wheel brushed against the kerb. :( I feel sad... I tried my best to be careful today... but I still accidentally strike kerb.


Erm... the other mistake that I did was a serious one.. but the problem is I don't know what did I do wrong...LOL
 Anyway, a double L plate private student was at the vertical parking today. So I have to give way to her. While reversing, she hit the kerb behind her car. The impact was quite big..... then I got scared.... I was imagining how will I feel if I am that girl? It feels painful to strike kerb...

Sigh... my school starts on next monday. I am anxious to see my timetable but it isn't out yet. :(

Next next monday is my practical driving test. It's getting nearer and nearer... but I won't be afraid. I will do my best to prove to the tester that my driving skill is great. :D Fight!!

13/10 17th driving lesson

Yew hup took his BTT today at 2pm. So I went to CDC at 1pm today to wait for him. He said his e-trial test was fine. He got 90% for his first set of paper and 96% for his second set of paper. I looked at his handbook and I found out that it's the 8th edition. The book that I used to study is the 7th edition. There are a couple of new stuff added to his book. He went in at 2pm and I waited for him.
I was supposed to have my lesson at 2.30pm but it got postponed to 3pm. So hup came out at the very last minute and he said he passed. :) Not only did he pass. He even scored 100% for it. :D Congrats.

My lesson today feel good and smooth. That's because my instructor repaired his car and I felt like I was driving that Honda civic that I used to drive. I encountered lots of slope today. Kept using my handbrake and lots of clutch controlling to be done.

I drove around the test routes at Ubi. I tried to U-turn twice at the main road today. It's been a long time..... I miss U-turning.... and I know U-turning will definitely be tested.
Hmm... the only mistake that I made today is called 'wide turning'. To clear my rear wheel from the kerb, I turned too late. So that alone will cost me 4 points if I do it on my test.

I am starting to tremble in fear as my test date is approaching nearer and nearer day by day. I believe in myself... I know I can do this... it's not hard actually... but today, while waiting for hup..... I saw many people who failed.
I saw a young girl... a girl who is near my age. She walked up to level 2 with the test examiner and she was asked to sit at a chair while the test examiner went to print her result. He passed the paper to her and she failed. Her instructor came and looked at her paper. wtf... she got 20 points.. that means she just fail. 18 is the passing mark. I feel sad for her.. seriously... why can't the test examiner just close one eye and let her pass?
I understand that mistakes are mistakes... if they don't fail her, she will never change. But sometimes, a mistake may not be a mistake to us. Hmm.. nvm...
I just hope that I pass. I don't want to waste anymore time and money. Please show mercy on me. I swear I will be a good driver once you give me that licence.

I think most people start to fail when they exit the circuit. In the circuit, some common mistakes are striking kerb, failing to check blindspot, failing to confirm safety when approaching pedestrian crossing and turning the steering wheel while stationary.
Outside the circuit, that's the part where they can mark you down for doing things that feels right but it's wrong.

Hmm... let's see... inside the circuit I will turn my steering wheel while stationary for my parallel parking. So without taking the test, I know I will get that 2 points for sure. Let's imagine I am lucky on that day. No striking of kerb at all. So outside the circuit I have got a habit of changing lane abruptly. So I will get 4 points for that. Maybe I didn't confirm safety when I turn so I will get another 4 points.
I have kicked the habit of using inappropriate gear and dragging of gear so I think I won't get points for that...
Let's say I am unlucky... I checked my blindspot but test examiner say I never check... fine.. another 4 points for that... Hmm.. total that would be 14 points.. I still have 4 points to spare.
I pray hard that I will get a fair test examiner on that day... lol.

11/10 16th driving lesson, 2nd circuit.

I was sick today... I am not feeling well.. but I don't want to call my instructor to cancel the lesson today. That's because he bought the circuit tickets for me already. It can't be refunded if I skip my lesson today. So I just go for it.
Mr Heng changed a new car again. This shall be his new and final car that I will be driving for my test. Even though it's a 2nd hand car.


I got in the car and I moved off as usual. Then when I start to move off, my instructor told me not to release the clutch too much.. just a little will do. I realise that when I clutch down fully, I just have to release my clutch like 5cm and my biting point has reached... I have never driven a car with such a low biting point before. But it's useless to complain now.. all I need to do is to get used to it... I don't have much time anymore.

Today is the worst driving lesson I ever had. I dislike all the unforgivable mistakes that I made in the circuit. If today is my test date, I would have failed right at the circuit without even going out of the circuit to the main roads.
Let's see erm.. I went up the slope and everything was fine... my car didn't roll back... but just when my car is reaching the top of the slope, I suddenly released my gas. I don't really know why did I release it too. Perhaps I thought it's time to release everything to use the engine brake. So when I release it, my engine stalled. sigh..
I tried parallel parking after that. It's so cool when I found out that my car has been modified. When I engage the reverse gear, my left wing mirror will auto turn down for me to let me see the kerb and my rear wheel. When I parked into the lot, it's time for me to move out and when I engage the 1st gear, my left wing mirror will auto turn up for me. That's very useful to me. haha.
My parallel parking erm... it's considered average bah... I know how to adjust my car so that I am in the center of the lot. But I was extremely blur today.. and I can't really concentrate because I am sick. I moved off while still engaging the reverse gear. So I step my gas and it hit the rear kerb. LOL... stupidest mistake ever made.I drove forward and I strike the front kerb too.... sigh... I don't know what's wrong with me today... everything doesn't feel good.

Went on to try the vertical parking... I had 9 tries. LOL.... 3 times per lot. Hmm... my vertical parking was erm.. better than my parallel one.. I remember there was one time where I moved off... and I was told to turn full lock to the left once the kerb is in line with my shoulder. I did what he said but I hit the kerb. :(
sigh... too many mistakes that I committed today.

After that I came across a T junction. I didn't know the lane I am in is only for turning right. I only remembered that my instructor said before that... in a T junction, by default, you should turn left. So I turned left and he jammed his brake. He didn't know what am I doing.... and I don't know what am I doing too. I can't focus at all. I am sorry.

sigh... heartbroken due to my performance today. I still have 19 days left to my test date. I just pray hard that I don't strike any kerb during my test. Oh... but one thing I find weird... I have never ever strike any kerb when I was doing S and crank course. The space is so small for crank course and yet I manage to survive.. The space for parking is so much bigger and yet I die. :(

Today's post shall be longer than usual... Yew hup is taking BTT this wednesday. Good luck to him...
sigh... I have been feeling so depressed lately.. I don't know why... it's like for no reason, I can think of committing suicide. Is there something wrong with my mind? I am starting to doubt myself..... why am I here? For whom am I here for? I am lost... I don't know where to go to for my next destination. I seem to have lost my ambition... and even my purpose in life. Is that what they call emptiness? I have forgotten what is happiness. I forgot how to smile and laugh too. Has anybody felt anything like this before?
I think I have lost my feelings too. What are feelings?

Family.... my friend once told me that a family is full of feelings. But wait... if a family consist of a father, a mother and some children.... then I am afraid I don't have a family. Do you like your family? How does a family feel like?

Friends.... I am starting to doubt what are friends too.... are friends here to help you or are they here to make use of you?
I don't need anyone to cheer me up... I just need time... to regain my feelings... to find back my memories.... to remember who am I.

6/10 15th driving lesson

Sigh.... time flies.... today is my 15th driving lesson. I have planned everything nicely. Before my practical test, I will have 21 driving lessons and 4 circuit. So I guess I am left with 6 more driving lessons to go and hopefully, I can get my driving licence.

My instructor didn't change his car today. He said he will be able to get his own car tomorrow so I believe I am able to drive his car on monday. Lets see erm... I started off by driving around. Stopped at a junction and coincidentally, there was an accident beside me. A motorcycle hit a car... that's what I saw. There were traffic police taking down their statement. So I was waiting for green light and my instructor quickly pulled his seat belt. So I realise that my instructor didn't put on his seat belt from the moment I drove off. Fortunately, the officer didn't see it. Phew... lucky lucky.
I roughly can feel how much to depress my gas to make it 2000rpm. But I still can't really feel my biting point. :(

I drove to a public car park to practice my vertical parking today. It was quite tough as I tried it without any kerb or wooden item to help me. My instructor told me to park in any lot based on the white marking. So I tried many times but I seem to turn too late. Judging from my car's position, I am not at the center of the lot. I am more to the right. So I tried to turn earlier than usual but the same thing happened. I was sad. But Mr Heng smiled at me... perhaps he was in a good mood today. :) It cheered me up. He taught me 2 things. When practising parking, the first turn is extremely important.
Practising more will allow me to have better judgment.

Hmm... after parking for several minutes, I still can't get the position that I wanted. I guess I still need to practice my parking using this toyota vios.
I did a stupid mistake today. Instead of scolding me, my instructor explained to me what did I not considered. He is the kindest instructor I have ever seen. :) Thank you Mr Heng.

4/10 14th driving lesson, 1st circuit

I reached there quite early today. So I sat down there and called my friend to chat with him on the phone. Just when the time is almost up, he ran out of battery. lol. So I waited at the same old place for Mr Heng and I saw Yongyou. I don't think he saw me. Anyway, I waited till 3.05pm and Mr Heng messaged me to look for a car with car plate number SXX0000X. So I was shocked when I saw his new car. He said he borrowed this car from his friend as his Honda civic spoiled. So I was like.... oh dear... I know something bad is gonna happen. Mr Heng went to the toilet and he asked me to depress the accelerator to 1500rpm and practice the biting point to familiarize them. After practicing for 5 mins, I still can't get used to it. My biting point became lower so I may over release my clutch... which is a bad sign as my engine will be easier to stall.

I went in circuit today!!!! haha... so excited as today is my first time entering the circuit. The good news is that there are so little cars inside. The bad news is because there are so little cars, it cost me $30 just to enter this circuit for 1 hour. My engine stalled once today as I am still not used to this new car. My first parallel parking at the 3 lots near the slope wasn't successful. I turned too late as the turning point to take note is different because of this new car again. So I reversed too fast and I hit the rear kerb..

I learned something today... once you finished your parallel parking, it's a good idea to turn your steering wheel while stationary to move off. Even though you will get 2 points for that, it's still better than moving off and then turn full lock. Because if you hit the front kerb, you will get 10 points for that. It's not worth to risk. So I will choose to get that 2 points instead. HAHA.