In other news, I failed my driving test today. My instructor was confident I’d pass, unless I got this particular tester named Harry who apparently fails good drivers and passes bad ones. Whaddyaknow, which tester did I get but the man himself. I was a huge bundle of nerves and made several mistakes, two of which cost me the test before I even got out of the circuit. Having mastered the art of parallel parking some days before this, I somehow contrived to strike the kerb not once, but twice, while trying to get the car into the lot. That earned me 20 points, and you need to get below 20 to pass the test. The tester might as well have ended the test there and then, but he made me finish the whole thing, drive back, sit down, and listen to him pay me backhanded compliments like how I handled the car skillfully, had good instinct etc. But I failed. Actually, since I sucked he should have passed me, if what my instructor claims about him is true.

I’m not too fussed about failing – I was telling K that I would have been over the moon if I’d managed to pass on the first try considering how I had only two circuit sessions and felt really unfamiliar with the circuit environment. I think my instructor knew I was a goner when he saw the tester too; he wasn’t surprised at all that I’d failed! Anyway, the next test is booked for 8 October. Here’s hoping that by then (a) I get my act together and (b) don’t get Harry as my tester again.

I leave you now with a photo of myself after I completed the 5km, before I joined the queue for the runner’s kit, which was a marathon in itself. Don’t I look like I could be a runner here?

I would have preferred the race singlet one size larger.

Here it is – my first ever race pack! I collected it this afternoon at Marina Square. Haven’t had the chance to look at what’s in the pack other than the singlet, which I ordered in Large. It’s not tight or anything, but I would have preferred a looser fit and should have gone with Extra Large. I asked K if he’s going to buy my race number in 4D. If you do, let me know if you strike!

While I was at the Shape Carnival, I also picked up a pair of 2XU Women’s 3/4 Compression Tights. K has been raving about the ones he bought when we were in Tokyo (not 2XU) so I figured I’d give them a try and see if they help with my knee issues. I’ve started the Bridge to 10K programme, so I need all the support I can get for them.

Anyway, I apologise for the paucity of updates recently. Work has been taking a lot out of me, and I’ve also been exercising a lot more. The net effect is that I come home really tired every evening, and if I’ve still got some gas in the tank I go for a run (if I didn’t get in a workout at lunchtime) and come back totally wiped out, so there’s not much of me left to blog with after the kids are tucked in and the house is quiet. I also have driving lessons, and am in a minor panic because my driving test is at the end of this month and I still can’t execute U-turns properly, plus I’ve only just learned how to park the darn car!

The good thing is, we are well into the second half of this year, and I always have always felt that things ease up as we approach Christmas so hopefully this year will be no different. I’m really looking forward to a break in December – we’ve established that we’re going to Hong Kong again because everyone’s happy when we are there, so there’s bookings to do and plans to make.

I have also been told to get myself a designated pair of driving shoes. I actually prefer driving with my heels, but Mr Yeo says I should be wearing flats because he claims that the occasional jerkiness that happens when I move off in first gear is a result of my shoes. He even offered to let me keep my driving shoes in his car so that I don’t have to bring them to every lesson. That’s all very well, but the question is, what is a good pair of driving shoes like? I went online and found the following tips:

The sole of the shoe should neither be too thick or too thin. It should not be too soft or too flexible and it should have enough grip on the pedal to avoid slipping.

It should be lightweight to enable easy movement.

It should not hinder ankle movement in working various pedals.

It should not be unnecessarily wide as to cause stepping on two pedals at the same time.

Basic trainer shoes ( not the thick soled type) or plain flat shoes are best suited for driving. Not only do these provide enough feeling on the feet, these are also hard and thick enough to help you give the exact pressure needed for braking and acceleration. – From 2pass.co.uk

It looks like sneakers might be the best thing to wear for driving, although they will clash with my outfits for sure, since I usually take lessons at night after knocking off work. I’ve tried flats before and I didn’t feel they gave me as good a grip as my heels, but since Mr Yeo insists that heels are no good, I guess I’ll try sneakers next.

What shoes (if any) do you wear when you drive?

Anyway, to cut a really long story short – I finally started driving lessons. My first lesson didn’t go so well – the instructor I had signed up with shafted me to another instructor without telling me. This other instructor was an elderly man who was naggy, impatient, and generally rubbed his own anxiety off onto me. At one point, he actually facepalmed himself. Oh, AND he insisted on speaking to me in either Mandarin or Malay.

Obviously, I refused to sign up with him for more lessons, so I went online and found another instructor recommended by some guy who passed the test on the first try. I fixed an appointment for this evening and within 10 minutes of getting into the car, presenting my provisional licence for inspection and answering questions about the different controls, found myself driving. On the road. For real. With actual traffic. Without screaming.

I gotta say, after I stopped clenching my butt cheeks, my toes and my calves trying to keep a nice even pressure on the accelerator and not throw the car into spasms by releasing the clutch too quickly, I actually had fun. This new instructor actually allowed me to drive without holding onto the wheel, which made me feel a lot more confident than when I took my very first lesson – where the instructor would not let go and instead kept pulling the wheel so that I was all confused as to how much to actually turn the damn thing to make the car go the way I wanted. At the end of the lesson, he said, “I like your driving.” Ah, sweet words.

Next lesson is next Saturday. Hopefully I will still remember everything then!

K is one of those drivers who will insist on driving on empty, making me worry about whether the car will run out of gas in between turn-offs on the expressway and leave us stranded in the emergency lane. Turns out, I should have been worrying about his penchant for driving the car into rough areas and subjecting the tyres to abuse instead.

Yesterday, we were in the Central Expressway tunnel when the rear left tyre went flat. I’m not sure if it’s because there were nails embedded in the tyre, or if K drove over something sharp in the tunnel – I think it’s likely to be nails. At any rate, we ended up going bumpety-bump all the way to the petrol station at the next turn-off, by which time the tyre had sustained too much damage to be repaired.

New tyres were definitely not on our grocery list yesterday!