Gotten my Berlingo for 2 weeks.
Happy?
Nah....
Sad?
Nah...
What's my feeling then?
Helpless...
Yes, helpless is the word to use.
I can only drive from home to work and then back from work to home.
That's it.
I can only park when there are more than 2 parking lots in a row so that I won't have to worry about hitting the other cars.
That's it.
That's what I can do with my berlingo.
I can't even differentiate the rights and the lefts of my wheels whenever I am in reverse gear. What kind of driver am I?
A lousy and helpless one.
I know, it takes time and more practice. I know. I am just venting my frustration out so that I can move on to the next stage, i.e. a lesser lousy driver.
Hahaha!
Let me recall my driving experiences since the day I've gotten my car:
20th Dec 2006 : Day 1 (Wednesday, afternoon):Took a few spins within the industrial park using gear one and two, going over those never ending humps so that I can practice my gear changing from gear one to two or from two to one. Then went out for a short spin behind the industrial park, going over the flyover using gear three and four (nope...not gear five Yet). Finally, left my berlingo outside my office overnight because I've not gotten the time to purchase my season parking.
21st December 200: Day 2 (Thursday, noon):Finally, gotten the courage to drive my berlingo to Hougang Mall area to purchase my season parking. Hmmm....my bump slightly hit the curb during my first U turn. Not a very good experience overall. Then, in the late afternoon, was trying to practice again and thus I offered to deliver one package to my client. With the guidance of my boss (who sat beside me...very brave indeed) I have had my first experience at CTE and when I was about to reach the carpark of my client's office, I missed it and nearly had a collision with a car coming up behind.
That's bad....Hmmm...of course, gotten a tongue slash from my boss who had taken over the driving seat because we have to go another one round before we can get back to the same carpark. Haiz~ then, after finishing the delivery, I was told to take the driver seat again. Then, he told me to make a three-point turn. Of course, it was a terrible experience again..and gotten another round of lecturing on HOW TO DRIVE PROPERLY!
Then, I have to experience another round of tedious driving along Geylang area! Gosh, the jam was like NEVERENDING!!!! And I have to cut past 4 lanes (Oh...did I mention it was a damn busy lane for someone who hasn't been driving for 3 years after getting her lic and then had to drive a manual car?) after exiting CTE in order to get back to my office. That was a tough journey.
During that night, my brother test drove my berlingo and I've had a lesson on parking at the top level of the multi-storey carpark.
22nd December 2006: Day 3 (Friday Morning):My first day driving my berlingo without anyone sitting beside me! Okay, managed to reach my office in one piece and drove back home in one piece and managed to park smoothly.
Oh....then, during the night, I've suggested to my sister to go for a short spin around Hougang since I thought I can manage it. However, I WAS WRONG. We set off at around 8 p.m. thinking that we can drive around for 1-1/2 hour so that I can pick my mother up after she had finished her activities.
I WAS TOTALLY WRONG!
I've had gotten cold feet the moment I've missed a turn and don't really know what to do. The feeling was terrible! Don't really know how to describe it, just TERRIBLE! All I know was that I wanted to go HOME and get back feet back on the ground! Managed to find one U turn and gotten back home around 8:15 p.m. ONLY 15 MINUTES and that's how far I could go! Having problem with parking because my mind was completely BLANK! Took around 15 minutes to park properly!
Then it started raining....so much rain during the past two weeks. So, I called my mom telling her that I couldn't fetch her (FELT SO SAD AND HELPLESS!!!!)
Then, later that night she came home with her friend. As she was only staying around the area near Serangoon MRT station, my mom asked if I can give her a lift. Well, I agreed to it because I knew it was a pretty straight route. So, together with my mother and sister, we set off to send her friend home.
It was not really a smooth ride. Now, I know the difference between being a passenger in a bus and being a driver.
Haiz~ firstly, I nearly drove my car up to the viaduct because I've taken the wrong lane in the first place. Secondly, I didn't know why I wanted to U turn when I knew it was not necessary. I can only say that my mind tends to go blank whenever I am in the driver seat.
Okay, the worst thing was only after when we reached the carpark. I wanted to park in the multi-storey carpark but my sister told me to try our luck at the car park below my house. Then we went in and expected, no parking lot. As it was a dead end, I need to make a 3-point turn in order to get out of that place.
Well, that kind of skills I was having and my '
good' judgement, I've made a wrong move!!!! Had a tedious time getting my berlingo out of that place because I am not too good with my steerling (even till today) and worst of all, I have gotten my berlingo too near to a mercede and with one fatal move, my berlingo would collide with that car. In fact, had a tiny weeny bump against that car...(opps!) but no damaged done.
It was very frustrating for the three of us (my mom, sister and I). After several attempts, they finally managed to guide my berlingo out of that 'quick sand' and I had to reverse my berlingo to another handicap lot (in which I ought to do it during the first place instead of landing myself in that hot soup) so that I can drive my berlingo out!
That was not the end. After getting two consecutive shocks within 3 hours (from 8 p.m. till 11 p.m.), my mind wasn't functioning too well. Therefore, I was having problem with the parking and it took me 20 minutes or so in order to park my car. Okay, another thing --- I was being mocked by other drivers during that tedious parking. But, I don't really mind....coz that wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was to get the car parked into that damn lot!
It was already past midnight when we've gotten home.
23rd December 2006: Day 4 (Saturday)No driving
24th December 2006: Day 5 (Sunday)No driving. Wanted to drive to Suntec, but later dropped the idea because I was still suffering from the after-shock from Friday's terribly driving experience.
25th December 2006: Day 6 (Monday Morning)Went to AMK for breakfast with my mother and two of her friends whom I know as well. Still feeling very insecure and for the parking, it was my mother's friend who did that for me. So, no parking experience. Then, went to Thomson to pick up a friend of mine. When reached home, I managed to park my berlingo with the guidance of my friend.
As a matter of fact, the morning drive was really wearing me off and I decided to take a bus instead of driving during the afternoon activity. But then, I was being talked into driving again by my friend.
So I DROVE.
From my house to hougang ave 3 (managed to park well) and then later in the afternoon, from hougang avenue 3 to Marina pier!
It was quite a smooth trip to Marina pier. Had gotten my first experience at the city area and also taking the tunnel.
Then from Marina pier to Chomp bang, it was my friend who did the driving. However, it was back to my turn when we've dropped her home at Thomson and from there, I went up to SLE and CTE. It was tough if you don't really know the exits, luckily I've had a 'walking road directory' beside me. Haha....but then, I've to take a longer route when we were at Yio Chu Kang because I've missed two turning after hearing wrongly about the direction. Gosh!
After dropping my two friends at the bus stop opposite serangoon jc, I was on my own again. I thought I can cope but NO....that wasn't quite the way i thought.
I was taking the wrong lane because the bus lane in front was always full of intact cars. Then I panicked because I thought there wasn't a chance for me to cut into the second lane after seeing so many cars rushing past me.
I stopped behind a taxi (call waiting) and was focusing so much on my right to catch the opportunity to cut into that lane. Neither I was aware that I was stopping so close to thetaxi that the moment I tried to move my berlingo, the side my my car had scratched the side of that taxi!!
Till today, that clashing
'Bomp! Bomp! Bomp!' sound still rings painfully in my mind whenever I think of that.
Gotten into an accident on my 2nd independent driving day!
One of my side bumpers dropped off but my colleague managed to place it back because only one lock was snapped.
As for the taxi, it was a blessing out of disguise that I've met with a driver who is not too greedy. He had asked for $50 for compensation in which I gladly accepted to pay. Although my boss told me that $50 was too much for a scratch but then, I really cannot complain much since it was my fault in the first place.
I am just considering myself lucky that it was not the other driver's taxi that I've scratched for that KPO taxi driver (I presume he was a friend to that taxi driver) wanted me to pay $150 for the compensation!
Thank God it wasn't him.
'THANK GOD' was the only two words I can say when I paid him the $50.
My mom didn't talk to me the entire night when I told her about the accident. I can understand her feeling. She was really worried about me.
Even though the drive from hougang to Marina Pier was really a good experience. But after the accident, I told myself that I shall take things step by step and not rushing.
Once on the road, you have to be responsible not only for your life but as well as others.
26th December 2006: Day 7 (Tuesday Morning)I drove my berlingo to work and for the first time, I parked my berlingo using the reseverse parking instead of head going in first....yeah!
But I didn't drive back because I've no confidence in driving it to Serangoon Garden Circus (where I work during Tuesday nights) and furthermore it was raining the entire night on that day.
So, my precious berlingo was staying overnight outside my office parking lot. Haha..that was my first good night sleep during a rainy night ever since I've gotten my berlingo all because I know I would not be driving to work the next day.
How ironic it sounded, am i right? Haiz~
27th December 2006: Day 8 (Wednesday)I took bus to work and yep, was late for work again (as usual, the bus was late). Drove my berlingo home.
28th December 2006: Day 9 (Thursday)Drove to work and back home, not feeling very well during the drive home.
29th December 2006: Day 10 (Friday)Took a bus to work and took a bus back home because I was sick.
30th December 2006: Day 11 (Saturday)Didn't drive
31st December 2006: Day 12(Sunday)Didn't drive
1st Janauary 2007: Day 13 (Monday)Didn't drive
2nd January 2007: Day 14 (Tuesday)Didn't drive
3rd January 2007: Day 15 (Wednesday)
Drove to work and back home.
4th January 2007: Day 16 (Thursday)Drove to work and back home.
5th January 2007: Day 17 (Friday Morning)The drive to work was a challenge for me because I was force to take another route when my usual route was heavily jammed due to some roadwork or accident. The other route in which I had to take was via Paya Lebar, which is a very busy road and I was worried about my road planning and lane cutting ability since when I was passenger in the bus, it was always the bus lane and when I was driving, I couldn't go into the bus lane!
I was nearly breaking down when I knew that I had to take that route. When I finally reached my office (in one piece), my legs were still shaking.
It was a good experience though.
6th January 2o07: Day 18 (Today)My brother was doing the driving the entire day.
But I've done the driving to Shell station to top up my tank with my brother during midnight because we thought there won't be too many cars. But we were wrong. That stretch of road is always fill with cars and worst, TAXIS!
The short drive was a lousy drive for me because I don't know why I tend to be more nervous when there is someone sitting beside me. Couldn't gear down properly and couldn't judge properly.
Was trying to learn parking but failed to do so because even though I am clear what I need to do, I am still having problem with seeing the side mirror due to my bad judgement.
Also, like I've mentioned earlier, once in resverse gear, I tend to mix up my left and right.
SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!
Need more practise I guess.
That's the only solution....nothing but more practising.
I CAN DO IT!!
Maybe not today, but one day, I WILL DO IT!
Wish me luck!
Good night!
