The Hornet's Nest

Hmm - not that old! I taught myself how to drive in a battered old Willys Jeep, took the test in it too. I was working for the Queensland Forestry at the time - in fact I only got the job because I told them I could drive, and the Jeep came with the job. I spent about two months driving in the Outback, mostly off-road, before trying it on 'proper' roads, then arranged a test at an Outback police station. For the test, I had to drive from the police station up a dirt road to the main road, do a 'u' turn, drive back and reverse park outside the local pub, then buy the copper a beer.

Most useful five minutes I ever spent!

 

I tok my test in Harrow during what seemed like a tropical rain storm. I didn't know if how to get the windscreen wipers to go at fast sped. I didn't even know if they could - the car was a Metro. S my test was taken at a sedate pace of about 15mph because visibility was so low. Still I was driving to conditions.

The best test story I know was someone who took it in a Morris 1000. The emergency stop was such a strain for the car that the passenger door fell off. The examiner got out, put the door in the back seat, and said that the test could continue if another car was found within five minutes.

For those who are interested Christchurch is still shaking. We had a 5.4 last night. I sent the Nest a message from my phone but it doesn't seem to have arrived. I am getting sick of this. Stress levels in this city are soaring.

 

NZ...really sorry to read that the city is still shaking.

Do you get any forecast about how long it could go on for?

 

I must be Belgian, zeee dutchies are soooo high on der spliffs all is cool in dutchy world at 80 klicks...........

 

That's rotten NZ - hope it all calms down before long

 

Geez thats getting ridiculous, whens the point come when they decide that the city needs moving? I remember our friends in Napier when we visited, "oh this was underwater 80 years ago" "what happens if the next quake the land sinks" "oh she be right, no worries" love the laid back attitude down there but months on end of quakes must shatter anybodies nerves. Move up North to Wangaporoa....

 

NZ I also took my test in Harrow in a rain storm , my mum was learning to drive at the same time.For the sake of marital harmony my dad decided it would be better if she had propper lessons but that he would teach me. The only professional lesson I had was a mock test with my mums instructor. As it transpired both our tests were on the same day. We both passed first time but she beat me by about 3 hours.We were in different cars but both had the same examiner

 

frenchie said in his day the way to pass the test was not to knock down the man with the red flag....

 

2RJ...stop being cheeky.

I passed my test first time in a Triumph Herald.

The car was red....nothing about a flag.

 

Just finished a 14 hr stint on top of 13hrs yesterday , and going for another liquid dinner , can some kind soul give me a precis of todays events!

 

Nope, an optional minimum of 6 hours after the test. Most don't do it, but if they do, they get a reduction on car insurance, as long as the car is insured in their name. It covers night driving, motorways, rural and town roads, all weather driving and A roads.

 

lmao! Um...have you tried anger management courses?

 

i think there is...in Italy they drive on their horn, as they do in France, in some eastern countries they don't even have to pass the test if they can bribe the examiner...i'd say they're pretty dodgy drivers

 

lol...have you improved since then?

 

Thoughts are with you mate ,hope you and your family are ok , What the hell has Christchurch done to upset the gods

 

i've been reading about it NZ..i'm really sorry it's still going on..i hope it calms down soon

 

Besides NZ mentioning the aftershocks the only other time I heard of recently is when in Oaris last week French News covered it, but we get no mention in the UK news. Or am I just missing it in the news?

 

I thought you were in Paris last week al.

Did you have a good time, or was it all work?

 

No work for me OFH, my dearly beloved was at work whilst I found my way round Paris by Metro and by foot! Thoroughly enjoyable visit, did not enjoy driving there though, but by god can they parallel park

 

I find driving there a bit of a challenge that I quite enjoy, but I know what you mean about parking. A lady I know who lives there shunts back and forth, hitting the car behind and infront until she gets into the parking space. The Metro is easier providing you know which way you are trying to go.