So in this episode, we're welcoming back David, who

first came on the podcast over a year ago now to

talk to us while he was taking his driving lessons,

and then he came back just over a year ago to

let us know how things have gone when he passed his driving test.

And Neil, David, it's great to welcome you back again a year

on your year anniversary through your driving. So welcome back.

Thank you, Tracy. It's odd because I had it in my head

that August 5th, That's when I passed. And then

I shared sort of driving and then got my own car

the October 10th, something like that. So, yeah, it

feels like it's flown by Tracy, definitely. Brilliant. It's

lovely. As a driving instructor, I get to talk to people that have pass

their test and get to find out how they're finding it, was

their lessons okay, did it impact in what they do, and

what new things that you may have experience since passing your

test and driving independently. Yeah. I mean, when I

first went out, it was strange because I passed, and I had all

this sort of, enthusiasm for getting out on

the road myself, and then I thought, oh, I'd

I'd oh, I've not got my driver. He's shut to that to

I've got that safety valve. You know? What am I gonna do? But, of

course, I had my cheerleader, I call her my cheerleader,

run on to my wife, to someone that has got a lot more

experience than me, but was very, very

calm and said, look, don't be pushed into Straight

away going on the m 25 or any

busy road, you know, take it as you want. And I

think Because I did that, that has stood me in good

stead because I'm not putting myself under too much

pressure. I'm doing it how I want regardless

of friends or family bill. It's my car. It's my

license. It's my life. You know? So I'm quite

proud that I was but in a nice way, not in a nasty way

or or or anything like that, but I just wanted to do it

in my way. If I wanted to go to Tesco, if I wanted to go

to my mom's, I'll go there, and I want and all these little places

I had in my head to go to, and I almost

had a little plan. Oh, I wanna do that this week. Do

that next week. Little baby steps, definitely.

And these steps continue today.

You know, I'm surely I wouldn't say I'm a 100%

the confident driver, but I'm getting there

Because I think that you've done it

now. You don't have to prove to anyone, you know,

just go out there, And if you want to go on

the main road, or the h twelve, or or whatever, then do it,

but if you don't, you don't have to. And I, I love

that, making choices and baby steps. Yeah. I mean, it's

so important, isn't it? That, like you say, it's your car,

it's your license, sense. You do it your way.

Absolutely. Yeah. And I think that's why a lot of

people Potentially get it wrong so they pass their test

and think, that's it. I've got to do this. And we a 100% agree with

you, David. Taking it in your own ways and just

thinking about, well, this is what I wanna do. I don't wanna do that. I

wanna do this. Yeah. Absolutely.

Gradually increasing that comfort zone. So you're starting off,

like you say, with sort of, like, a trip to Tesco's, and then

You you said there about each week maybe having a bit of a plan to

go a little bit further, do something a little bit different, and

just Gradually pushing the edges of that comfort zone

now. Yeah. I I think it's it's

important because then you're in control of what you're doing

and what you wanna do. I mean, there there are many people

that can give you advice at the end of the day. I mean,

I had I remember when I first started in the

past, I had a conversation about speed.

K. Not gonna name names, but To me,

I was looking around when I was driving. When I'm going

30, just you know, which I should do for street lights,

and that They've gotta be down 40. And then I was thinking,

well, it's up to them at the end of the day. Their

choice. Their risk is. But I thought to myself,

I'm not gonna risk my driving license that I've

worked so hard for, about for so

long, not just monetary, but the time, the

effort, and everything just To prune

because someone said that I remember, oh, you won't get

anywhere if you stick to speed limits. Not good at

99 at the games. But do you know what, Kev? I thought to

myself, no. I'm not gonna be like it. I'm gonna stick

to it. If it's 20 miles an hour, 20, if it's 30,

Whatever it is, I'm gonna stick to it, you know,

because my license is too valuable. Yeah.

And it's it's so important that that you've like you said, you've

worked so hard to get it. So to have it taken away

from you would be Oh, that's like devastating, wouldn't it? Yeah.

Yeah. It would. I would be devastated, Kev. You're right. Yeah.

Absolutely. And don't forget, we've all had those moments as

well where we've had somebody who wants to go faster, we're doing the

speed limit, somebody overtakes you because they want to go faster. And and then,

of course, you end up sitting behind them at the traffic lights. So Yes. That

comment that comment about you'll never get anywhere if you stick to

the speed limit, we get that proof all the time

that, actually, yes, I do get somewhere

pretty much the same time as you, but it's to continue the

limit, and I'm saving money on fuel, and I'm

safer, and I'm maintaining my license.

Absolutely. Yeah. You're probably more relaxed as well, aren't

you? Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Do you know what?

The There's a room that I go to, my

uncle, and it goes 30,

then it'll go 40, Then it'll go 50, then it'll

go right back down to 30. And it's almost like you

think you're, walking. You see the motorcyclists

and they'll just zoom past, and I think, okay. You're not

stuck to the speed limit. I'm going to. I

don't care if you get annoyed with me and you're you're

frustrated. I'm sorry, but that's the way it

is. Yeah. The speed limits are there for a reason.

Absolutely, Caleb. You know? And it's it's it's something we

teach in lessons, But then other people, whether it's

confidence or they've never been caught on that road, they feel it's safe, nothing's

ever happened on that road, about They just drive differently, don't they?

But great that you're making your own choices and not being pushed by others.

Yeah. And not letting that to you either. Yeah. And not

letting that keep your confidence, actually, and you sound really

confident in your choice, and that was brilliant. Yeah.

Thank you. So since you've been driving then

independently now, what things have you come across that you thought,

Oh, that was really good. I wish I'd done that in my lessons

or something different that you've not encountered before.

Have you come across anything so far? Yeah. The

other day, actually, a a real story about what I say

gridlock in terms of, you know, being stuck

behind track with it. I mean, the a 12 in their culture

system was completely shut off, 5

or 6 hours at any direction. I did

actually go to a post office, and it was only, like, a normally

a 10 minute trek. It took me over an

hour. But, again, it's something that I I put in my head that

I'm learning, You know, the patients, first of

all, patients, there's nothing I can do. I can't fly up the top of

that because, you know, I I saw people

sometime go on the pavement, but, you know, I was I I just

yeah. I just stuck there. I put

stereo on, music on, and and that's something I've not

really come across during lessons, Not to

that level anyway. Definitely not, you know, to that

delay. Mhmm. And how did you find that different to what you're used

to then? I found it because I was again, I had to

make choices. If I go here,

I might be stuck, if I go there, But they actually ended

up whichever direction I went, I was

still delayed. So, you know, because it was literally

Chelmsford, cultures there and all all in between. It it really

did have an effect. But I was very much still really,

really focused, particularly on The motorcyclists

who would sort of wave through because they came,

they've got smaller vehicles, etcetera etcetera. But I was

thinking, If that happened every day, I mean, it

wouldn't. But, of course, if you went on to a main road or

a 12 or whatever it is, you You you've gotta encounter those

sort of things. So I actually saw that as a positive. That sounds

strange because, You know, it's taken an hour,

but then there are gonna be times when I'm gonna come across these

kind of things. Yeah. And it it's I mean, I I love your

attitude to driving. It's so positive. You're saying you're still

learning, which we all are. Even people that have been driving for 30, 40

years, we're still learning. There's new situations that happen,

new things on cars. So, yeah, I just love the

attitude that you're taking with you into the car. It's great. What are things some

of the highlights, David? Some of the things that you've really appreciated

to the fact that you've got your own car and can drive. I think

it's that independent. I mean, if my mum

needs choppy and all. I ran on to a Philip needs to

go and a doctor or something like that and see my uncle. It

is that. I can just get in the car. You know? I've not gotta rely

on someone else. And, I think each time

I do a new thing, I Kinda pat myself on the back that I've

done it. I mean, I remember when I went to print today, I was not

so giddy. It was just A place that

I love, and to go there, be able to take my wife

was fantastic. Describing that feeling. You

felt giddy, and every time you think about that, you remember that

feeling. You're celebrating that sex. You've done

something different. You've patted yourself on the

back. You're proud of yourself, and

that builds confidence. That positivity helps

you to build your confidence. Mhmm. And I'm not going,

oh, I'm getting out of my comfort zone here. I don't think I can do

that. Now it's all I can I've done it. I've done

that. Let's let's do this. You know? Yeah. And it's

really nice, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. We know people that

have contacted us and, Unfortunately, they don't have the

same experiences of yourself. So what, for me,

is, like, how can you help others? And What would be the one

thing that you would say to someone that's just passed their test

looking to go out on their own? What would what would be a bit of

advice that you would give to others? I would say have a

plan. Say, for example, 10, 15 minutes,

you've got a group. You don't really know the group. Go on Google. Have a

look. You know? I mean, but I've driven, and and

I've driven the wrong way, and so what? You

know? I I remember when I went on the age 12, And I thought I

was lost. And then I saw someone, I thought, if I get a sign that's

has culture done, then I'm in the right direction. So, You

know, just to kind of plan, use a support

if you have someone that's really supportive, you know, a partner

or a friend. But make sure they are supportive and then

they don't crush you, you know, because it's important.

It's so easy to be crushed. And

don't rush into it. If you're not ready, you know, if you're

not ready to To go out of, independently.

Don't do it. You know? When you when you're ready, you'll know

when you're ready because you build up that Confident. They'd

be, yeah. I can do that. You know? I can take a friend out,

make sure that the friend is supportive and,

gets behind you. Your cheerleader, I suppose, is,

Tracy Kevin. You know, because we all have a

we all have a cheerleader, you know, or

a Think of

your hero, and then every time you kind of

have a bit of a challenge or you think, oh, I'm not doing very well,

Kind of, look at that hero and try and imagine that

hero's in the car with you, and the hero's gonna come, David. You

can do that. Oh, I love that. Yeah. I love

that as well. Yeah. It it it reminded

me of one of the things that we have talked about in some of

our talks is What Would Batman Do? So that sort of dude,

if you're feeling nervous and anxious, what would Batman do? And, you know,

a bit more Batman. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah.

Superheroes. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. I love it.

So at at year on, what's the next plan for, like, for you

to carry on driving? What's what what's your plans now?

I'd like to go further afield. If we have a holiday,

you know, share the drive in, I might you know, I've gone

in I've gone in the a 12. I might try the undreaded,

inch 25. You know? And I I might just do

it Because I've not necessarily got somewhere to go.

So for me, it would be like a little bit

of a stepping stone. I've done it. And again,

completely stepping out of my comfort zone, but, hey, her,

I can do it. I know I can do it. Yeah.

But just by literally taking everything that you've done so far and

applying it into that next slightly

challenging goals. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Small steps again, isn't it? Small baby steps. Yeah. Absolutely. You know, it may

not happen tomorrow, but it will happen.

When I know I'm ready, I'll just like, I remember when I

first I did go out on my

own after work, and I just put the music on and just

went around a little bit Just for a drive. You know?

No. It's and I know we've we we were talking off air

just before we started the recording. How you're finding insurance

and MOTs and tax and all that now as well. That is a

bit of a minefield. This I got a quote where it's

quite a high, and I thought, oh, that's behind it. So her

when I've said to me, well, call them. You never know. They might get it

down. So they said, have you had any

more quotes? So I said, I hadn't. So we went on a

Compare market, you know, and so forth. We got a

quote that was, a lot lower, so then I started,

haggling a little bit with them. Yeah. And I got it down to

quite reasonable, you know, amount. So that was I felt

good about that. I had to get I had to get the, windscreen

repaired. Again, nothing. That's something I've never

done before. You know? So I've got that sorted out with Autograph.

There are other there are other companies. So it it

was, yeah, it was all new to me. But, again, I had

my cheerleader who was helping me along the way. You

know? The neat thing is we have to do them, don't we? And it's I

know they're in the theory about what it has attacked, how long does it last,

that sort of thing, but actually doing them yourself is is

It can be quite daunting, can't it? Yeah. Well, it's remembering it for me

anyway. Yeah. Well, I, like, I had all the sort

of dates were coming up in my phone, you know, sort of a

notepad on my phone. I thought, I know this is coming up. This

is coming up. I've got to do that. So I'm very much,

you probably know by now that I'm very much,

planning on it. I do plan, I plan my work, I plan tomorrow

And I know that plans always don't come off, but I think if

you've got a plan or you plan it,

It's more likely you don't get stressed, and it's more

likely you'll have more confidence, I would

say. Yeah. No. I agree. I agree. Because

you can see it, and if you I know some people like to write it

down, and they use sort of like lists. Some people, they draw a

mind map so it looks more visual, but a plan's a plan, and

when you see it written down, it's out of your head. You can actually look

at it With perspective, Colgate. Yeah. You can look at things

objectively and Yeah. And make sure that you're not leaving things

till the last minute because as soon as you leave something the last

minute. You're in a rush. Yeah. I mean, she watches.

Yeah. And sometimes if it's a last minute,

Tracy, I think you you can make the wrong decision and

and maybe regret it further along the line.

Yep. Absolutely. A 100%. Are you there? Well,

David, thank you so much for coming on and giving us

an update. And I'm sure that what you've said will really resonate

with other people. So people who have their test coming up and are a

little bit worried about what it's gonna be like after they've

passed, but also of other people who have recently

passed and, and knew your drivers. Mhmm. Yeah.

Yeah. And, and thanks for sharing some of those experiences because

it is some people, you know, they may feel it's It's only

them, and everyone's really got foot, and off they go, and they're driving on

motorways within 6 hours of passing their test or whatever. So it's

it's nice to hear people's real life experiences

and that you are doing fantastic. Yeah. And I think

Right. How you're doing is how the majority of people do as

well, so I think that I think there's people who do jump on the motorway

within a couple of days are in the minority. I'm all Yeah. I think so.

Yeah. To you. And we've loved hearing how you've been getting on

over the months, whether you've kept in touch with us, and it's just been

great. You have done brilliantly. Thank you.

Yeah. I I I think the final thing I'd like to say is

that just don't be don't be pressurized, You know?

Don't be pressurized in in to learn you know, how you learn.

And then when you perhaps, don't be pressurized in

what you're doing and how you're doing it. Do your own thing.

Lovely. Yeah. What great words. About a fantastic note to

end on. Thank you so much, David. No problem.

Thank you, David. No problem. You take care. Have a good

afternoon.