Groucho knew best!!!

[Lady Godiva]

I'm ever so proud to report that I have swollen the ranks of Advanced Lady Drivers on PH, by passing my Advanced test with the IAM.

To say that I did not do my best is an understatement. I know I can do better, and I only wish the examiner had been with me driving there and back home, where I was much better than on the test.

I am particularly annoyed by my BGOL, as I have studied Vanhosens comments repeatedly (see his previous threads), as they are the best description of what to, and not to do, I have ever read, and up to now they have helped tremendously. Every time I turn into a side turning I picture an Arctic, and believe you me it works. Until you take the test that is, and then it all goes to pot!

However, my initial thought is a bit bizarre really. Having passed, I'm not sure I want to belong to a club that will have me as a member!!!. I realise this will sound strange, but having passed with a level that I don't think was very good, I almost feel a little disapointed. Does this make sense to anyone, and has anyone else felt this way.

Don't get me wrong, I am really pleased. I just thought I would feel more 'Advanced' than I do.

[tvrgit]

I was the same - I felt I wasn't good enough.

Then I passed Rospa and became an observer - felt exactly the same.

Then I started training observers as well as associates - still felt like a bluffer.

I think that the point is that you never stop learning - when you think you have nothing more to learn, you become complacent, and complacent isn't good.

You have the right attitude. You'll be fine.

[vonhosen]

Lady Godiva said:

I'm ever so proud to report that I have swollen the ranks of Advanced Lady Drivers on PH, by passing my Advanced test with the IAM. To say that I did not do my best is an understatement. I know I can do better, and I only wish the examiner had been with me driving there and back home, where I was much better than on the test. I am particularly annoyed by my BGOL, as I have studied Vanhosens comments repeatedly (see his previous threads), as they are the best description of what to, and not to do, I have ever read, and up to now they have helped tremendously. Every time I turn into a side turning I picture an Arctic, and believe you me it works. Until you take the test that is, and then it all goes to pot! However, my initial thought is a bit bizarre really. Having passed, I'm not sure I want to belong to a club that will have me as a member!!!. I realise this will sound strange, but having passed with a level that I don't think was very good, I almost feel a little disapointed. Does this make sense to anyone, and has anyone else felt this way. Don't get me wrong, I am really pleased. I just thought I would feel more 'Advanced' than I do.

Firstly congratulations.

Perhaps you are being a little hard on yourself. The "little extra" in your state of mind presented by a test situation may warp your reality a little & result in exaggerating what was infact a very minor mistake into a major one within your mind's eye.

I don't know how the IAM testing works, but perhaps there is also a slight element of trust when you are being tested. What I mean is that the examiner will trust your observers' judgement, in that you were up to it & performing consistantly to the required standard (or you wouldn't have been put forward). They merely account for your extra nerves a little in the testing.

Rather than looking negatively at that, look positively at it & make it a springboard for moving on to bigger & better things.

>> Edited by vonhosen on Monday 29th May 22:08

[Vaux]

Lady Godiva said:

However, my initial thought is a bit bizarre really. Having passed, I'm not sure I want to belong to a club that will have me as a member!!!. I realise this will sound strange, but having passed with a level that I don't think was very good, I almost feel a little disapointed. Does this make sense to anyone, and has anyone else felt this way. Don't get me wrong, I am really pleased. I just thought I would feel more 'Advanced' than I do.

First - congratulations!
There's hardly a day goes by when I don't think I conned IAM and RoADA examiners!

The important thing is that you can be self critical and recognize mistakes.

Maybe try RoADAR next - there's a grading system and it can seem to be a more demanding process.

[7db]

Well done. Now you can nod knowingly at the IAM badge and continue to improve your driving for the sake of it!

[TripleS]

Many congratulations Sally, I'm really pleased for you.

You've already achieved more than most people will, including me, so I hope you'll just enjoy your success and continue to keep quietly reviewing things and making steady progress with your driving. Don't worry about little slip-ups, just think about them, reason things out, and work round them for the future.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[BOF]

tvrgit said:

I was the same - I felt I wasn't good enough. Then I passed Rospa and became an observer - felt exactly the same. Then I started training observers as well as associates - still felt like a bluffer. I think that the point is that you never stop learning - when you think you have nothing more to learn, you become complacent, and complacent isn't good. You have the right attitude. You'll be fine.

TVR,

Exactly the same feelings 6 years into it...

observer.

PS - Well done Sally!

>> Edited by BOF on Tuesday 30th May 09:52

[Major Bloodnok]

Congratulations from me, too. I remember expecting to fail my test because I thought I'd blown it. When the examiner started reeling off a list of my faults at the end, I was convinced. Then he told me I'd passed, and I was gobsmacked. Still, as I tell my associates, passing the test is the starting point, not the culmination. Passing means that you have shown the correct attitude and that you will continue to improve yourself. That's good enough for me - just recognising that you need to take advanced lessons puts you in a bracket above the majority of drivers.

[Kinky]

And a big congrats here too!

K

[EmmaP]

Well done Sally! That is fantastic news. I understand your feeling of being deflated. When I got my degree I sat down on the edge of my bed and felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. So, now you have the rest of your life to put all that theory, learning and new found knowledge into place. You will - hopefully - never stop striving to improve and will continue to evaluate your performance.

>> Edited by EmmaP on Tuesday 30th May 14:01

[markmullen]

Congratulations

[Lady Godiva]

Many thanks for all you kind comments. At least I'm not the only one who feels that I've bluffed it somehow!

I was very fortunate with my Examiner, as he told me I had passed BEFORE he did the briefing at the end. I'm glad he did, as if he had done the briefing first I would definitely have thought I had failed.

Anyway, thank you again for all your words of encouragement. I'm STILL having a bit of trouble with the BGOL, and it's STILL to do with me thinking about what those behind are thinking. I'm sure it will all come with practice.

Regards
Sally

[Big Fat F'er]

Lady Godiva said:

I'm sure it will all come with practice.

It will....like knitting, ironing and cooking for the Old Man.

I don't quite get your concern about what those behind think, 'cos I never mind what anyone thinks in the first place. However, well done and congratulation. Your hard work has paid off.

P.S. Please display your IAM badge on the screen, as I like advance warning of the skill level of any lady drivers around me.

BFF

[TripleS]

Big Fat F'er said:

Lady Godiva said: I'm sure it will all come with practice. It will....like knitting, ironing and cooking for the Old Man. I don't quite get your concern about what those behind think, 'cos I never mind what anyone thinks in the first place. BFF

Well BFF a little while ago you were kind enough to offer me some advice, so if I may I'll now return the favour.

Please re-consider that last statement of yours. I would suggest that giving some consideration to what other road users might be thinking could be helpful - to you and them. Perhaps it is no more than a tiny detail, but it might occasionally be worth doing.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[vonhosen]

TripleS said:

Big Fat F'er said: Lady Godiva said: I'm sure it will all come with practice. It will....like knitting, ironing and cooking for the Old Man. I don't quite get your concern about what those behind think, 'cos I never mind what anyone thinks in the first place. BFF Well BFF a little while ago you were kind enough to offer me some advice, so if I may I'll now return the favour. Please re-consider that last statement of yours. I would suggest that giving some consideration to what other road users might be thinking could be helpful - to you and them. Perhaps it is no more than a tiny detail, but it might occasionally be worth doing. Best wishes all, Dave.

I agree, you don't want your actions totally at odds with other people's reasonable expectations.

Lady G
If you wish to take a junction left or right & are worrying about brake gear overlap, don't worry. It's fine to do an overlap on the grounds of safety & compromise the system for it (ie not perform brake gear seperation)

By definition the turn you are making will be slow, so do a planned overlap to meet with their expectations. Just have the gear selected & clutch up before you start to steer. A simple rule of thumb is that if the car behind would have to brake because of you taking the junction left/right, then you can justify an overlap as part of a pre sold plan to compromise the system for safety.

>> Edited by vonhosen on Wednesday 31st May 21:21

[Big Fat F'er]

TripleS said:

Big Fat F'er said: Lady Godiva said: I'm sure it will all come with practice. It will....like knitting, ironing and cooking for the Old Man. I don't quite get your concern about what those behind think, 'cos I never mind what anyone thinks in the first place. BFF Well BFF a little while ago you were kind enough to offer me some advice, so if I may I'll now return the favour. Please re-consider that last statement of yours. I would suggest that giving some consideration to what other road users might be thinking could be helpful - to you and them. Perhaps it is no more than a tiny detail, but it might occasionally be worth doing. Best wishes all, Dave.

Dave - chill out man! I was saying it about me before anyone else did. It was my attempt at light humour. I'm sure our good lady friend realised. Don't take things too seriously.....leave that to us left wingers, it's our job.

Dear Lady G - please take note. I was only jesting (apart from the ironing and cleaning, I'm serious about that). Obviously you should be considerate at all times, and give consideration to what other road users might be thinking. Well done again.

[mph999]

Well done ...

[WildCat]

Ja well done und ist like the original driving test .. the start of even more continuous learning ... und evaluiating how your driving plan affected the other guy und how you may continue to improve skill und technique.

Ist only the beginning .. like everything else.