I'm driving, I'm driving!

Soooo, I had only been driving into our small little town to do the shopping and little things like that.... But I wanted to go to an early morning yoga session in Carlisle which is about a 20 mile drive from Penrith. Usually I just take the train over but I had a dilemma. If I took the early train, it would get me there an hour before my session and I didn't feel like sitting around for an hour at 8 AM. The later train would have arrived 10 minutes after my session start time and with the 10 minute walk to the studio, I would have been quite late. So I opted to take my first BIG drive alone!

I nearly chickened out the morning of... Like was actually having a wee panic attack. Thought of calling and canceling my session. But then I yelled at myself and forced myself to do it scared. Honestly, it was so not bad at all. Made it to the studio and home again without incident. Felt so good about it that the next day, I drove to meet my sister in law in Low Row near Brampton which is about 30 miles away. Again, no big deal at all!

I often forget how many things are really just mind over matter. And I reminded myself that if at any point I felt uncomfortable with driving that I could pull over and take a break... or even call someone to come help me out. I also stayed on the roads and backroads and avoided the motorway. Don't think I'm quite ready for that yet... but at the rate I'm going, it won't be long. Need to get the driving test and stuff out the way already.

Putting on my UK big girl driving knickers!!!

Yay!!! I drove us to my husband's hometown Sunday. That was the biggest drive (about 45 mins). Did the drive again today but made my sister in law come with me lol. Hopefully only a few more "lessons" and I'll be a pro 😁

Look at us!   

Yay!!! I drove us to my husband's hometown Sunday. That was the biggest drive (about 45 mins). Did the drive again today but made my sister in law come with me lol. Hopefully only a few more "lessons" and I'll be a pro 😁

Look at us!   

Yay!!! That's so awesome!! Felt good, didn't it?!

I've been driving since the age of 15 and it is honestly one of the biggest freedoms there is. It's been the most difficult part of living here, not being able to just come and go as I please. I had to change that. I've always been quite independent so I don't want to lose that at this point of my life.

Here's to us for being bold!! 

The more you drive the easier it gets! I basically told myself that if I could manage jumping in a rental car at Heathrow and spending the next 2 weeks traversing the country with a GPS in 2012, I could certainly learn to drive my own car now. I just had to get over the nerves and learn to accept that there will be oncoming traffic, cars parked in the road etc and it's just part of driving here. Congrats on those first steps towards full independence in a vehicle

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The more you drive the easier it gets! I basically told myself that if I could manage jumping in a rental car at Heathrow and spending the next 2 weeks traversing the country with a GPS in 2012, I could certainly learn to drive my own car now. I just had to get over the nerves and learn to accept that there will be oncoming traffic, cars parked in the road etc and it's just part of driving here. Congrats on those first steps towards full independence in a vehicle

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Thanks, Margo! And you're so right... the more I do it, the more second nature it becomes. I just take my time and go with the flow, so to speak. It's funny how we build things up in our heads and kind of psych ourselves out sometimes. 

That's brilliant, MM!  Let that be your motivation to sit your test before the year is up, you won't want your freedom taken away again!

That's brilliant, MM!  Let that be your motivation to sit your test before the year is up, you won't want your freedom taken away again!

Thanks, Larrabee!! Yep, I'm ready to get the test out of the way already!! I just hope the weather doesn't take a turn anytime soon as I don't want to be doing lessons and tests in the ice and snow!! LOL! If I have to wait it out until spring, I will... but the sooner the better! 

Way to go MrsMagpie ... major props to you



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Really big kudos for you MrsMagpie! I've been here over five years and if I need to drive somewhere unknown it's panic time. My husband had to buy me the biggest GPS we could find. It looks ridiculous, like an iPad stuck on my windshield, but it gives me security!

To be honest my biggest issue is parking. My car is more American sized let's say, so it's difficult finding parking spaces. My British friends know this, so whenever I need to drive anywhere to meet them they know I'll be in panic mode so to calm me down they always say "we promise there will be parking big enough!". And usually there is.

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Way to go MrsMagpie ... major props to you

Thank you, my friend! It's very exciting. We're going to Carlisle later on today and I think I'm going to offer to drive us. My husband will appreciate the break! 

Really big kudos for you MrsMagpie! I've been here over five years and if I need to drive somewhere unknown it's panic time. My husband had to buy me the biggest GPS we could find. It looks ridiculous, like an iPad stuck on my windshield, but it gives me security!

To be honest my biggest issue is parking. My car is more American sized let's say, so it's difficult finding parking spaces. My British friends know this, so whenever I need to drive anywhere to meet them they know I'll be in panic mode so to calm me down they always say "we promise there will be parking big enough!". And usually there is.

Thank you!! The parking part scares me too!! On both occasions, parking was easy because one was in a multi-storey car park and the other at my sister-in-law's house. I can't imagine though if I have to park somewhere on the street or something. Yikes!!!

That's great!  The longer you leave it, the harder it gets.  Tackling it early on, and keeping that momentum up, is the best way.

That's great!  The longer you leave it, the harder it gets.  Tackling it early on, and keeping that momentum up, is the best way.

Thanks! You're absolutely right. Sometimes we just have to push our way through things, through the fear. I'm definitely building up the momentum!