I thought I didn't need to drive – until my boyfriend snapped
'Keep the car straight, you're going to need to go up into third gear,' my instructor said.
I felt a slight panic – I had only known the comfort of first and second gear. So, I rehearsed the dance moves in my head and felt ready.
'Now, Hannah, now,' he suddenly shouted, watching the revs scream into the red. I made the shift and edged away from the driver behind, who seemed visibly annoyed that I was only doing 23mph on a national speed limit road.
Not that I cared: I felt like Evel Knievel. We could have broken the sound barrier at any minute.
Feeling triumphant, I glanced across at the passenger seat where my instructor/boyfriend was taking a deep breath, his white knuckles clutching the armrest.
We've navigated long-distance and moved countries together, but teaching me to drive at 30 was a test neither of us expected.
Growing up in a town with decent bus routes and friends who had no desire to learn to drive meant when I arrived at university, I had no inclination or spare funds to get a car. Moving to London in 2015 only reinforced that – I was now living in one of the best-connected cities in the world.
But there were moments I wished I had a licence – like the time I walked three miles through Cotswolds fields in the rain after missing the last bus. Or having to rope flatmates into helping me carry IKEA furniture back home.
It even affected my relationships – a romance I was having with a guy from Dorking fizzled out because I couldn't reach his farm without practically earning a Duke of Edinburgh along the way.
By my late twenties, embarrassment had crept in and I had ready-made excuses for anyone who asked if I had a licence, such as: 'I live in London!' or 'It's expensive!'
And it is. Lessons average £1,724, before you even think about a car, insurance or petrol.
By the time I turned 28, I had used all the excuses I could, and was determined to learn.
But then I met my current boyfriend, and before I could take any lessons, life took an unexpected turn.
We met at a salsa club in Soho in 2022 while he was visiting from Australia. We danced, flirted, exchanged numbers and after a heartfelt goodbye, we stayed in touch.
It didn't take long for us to fall in love over FaceTime, and in 2023 I quit my job and booked a one-way ticket to give love a shot.
In all our conversations, driving hadn't come up. So when, six months into our relationship, he suggested we drive from Melbourne to Sydney for Christmas, I had to break it to him: I didn't have a licence and couldn't help with the 10-hour drive.
He didn't seem too fussed at first and we got by for over a year without me driving once.
But in 2024 we decided to spend the year travelling around the UK and Ireland, after buying a cheap VW Polo from a friend.
As the sole driver, his frustration grew, and as the half-owner of the car, I realised I actually really wanted to drive it too.
I ordered L plates, applied for my provisional, got insured and got learning. Thankfully, at 30, insurance is far cheaper than at 17, where the average policy price is £2,877 a year.
Due to our nomadic lifestyle, I didn't think about hiring an instructor. Plus, my boyfriend had taught his younger brother in the past and was more than happy to step up as my teacher.
One week, I was dodging suicidal pheasants on Ilkley Moor; the next, navigating Manchester roundabouts. I'd tackled more terrain than most learners ever do. There were rows, slammed car doors, and an incident involving a bollard in a Tesco car park. We don't talk about that bollard.
But that chaos was the secret to my success.
I was test-ready in a few weeks. The only holdup was the backlog at test centres, since most had waits of up to 24 weeks.
While housesitting in North Berwick, I checked for slots morning, noon and night until eventually, it paid off. I was booked for a Thursday morning in nearby Musselburgh.
We had two days to prepare for unknown roads, but I was used to that by now.
The night before, I'd deep-cleaned the car, added a new air freshener and fitted a second mirror (a must when using your own car on a test).
On test day, I drove us to the DVLA centre, my boyfriend beside me, and Ted the cockapoo we were pet sitting in the back. I waved them off as my examiner, Rory, checked the car and gave me my first task: Reading a number plate.
We chatted the whole way round, and I couldn't believe how easy it felt. My manoeuvre was reversing three car lengths, 'show me' was turning on the wipers; and 'tell me' was measuring tyre pressure. I felt good, things were going great.
Back at the test centre, I braced for a twist. Surely it was too good to be true? Until Rory delivered the news – I'd passed. First time. Three minors.
For the final time, my boyfriend was more than happy to chauffeur me back to the house to celebrate. And I did soon after by driving solo to a McDonald's drive-thru for a McFlurry run, windows down, and Chappell Roan blasting through the speakers.
For anyone putting it off, it's never too late to learn.
I survived without a licence for years, but now, I couldn't live without it. More Trending
We've started a new life together in Scotland, and I do most of the driving. I tell myself it's for the practice, but really, I'm making up for lost time – and repaying the many debts of picking my boyfriend up from the pub, which he's more than happy to cash in.
Now, responsibilities are shared and our relationship feels more balanced.
Driving has given me freedom, confidence, and the chance to pull my weight on a 10-hour road trip.
Next time we're in Australia, I won't be in the passenger seat. I'll be driving us home for Christmas.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
Share your views in the comments below.
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Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
I thought I didn't need to drive – until my boyfriend snapped
'Keep the car straight, you're going to need to go up into third gear,' my instructor said. I felt a slight panic – I had only known the comfort of first and second gear. So, I rehearsed the dance moves in my head and felt ready. 'Now, Hannah, now,' he suddenly shouted, watching the revs scream into the red. I made the shift and edged away from the driver behind, who seemed visibly annoyed that I was only doing 23mph on a national speed limit road. Not that I cared: I felt like Evel Knievel. We could have broken the sound barrier at any minute. Feeling triumphant, I glanced across at the passenger seat where my instructor/boyfriend was taking a deep breath, his white knuckles clutching the armrest. We've navigated long-distance and moved countries together, but teaching me to drive at 30 was a test neither of us expected. Growing up in a town with decent bus routes and friends who had no desire to learn to drive meant when I arrived at university, I had no inclination or spare funds to get a car. Moving to London in 2015 only reinforced that – I was now living in one of the best-connected cities in the world. But there were moments I wished I had a licence – like the time I walked three miles through Cotswolds fields in the rain after missing the last bus. Or having to rope flatmates into helping me carry IKEA furniture back home. It even affected my relationships – a romance I was having with a guy from Dorking fizzled out because I couldn't reach his farm without practically earning a Duke of Edinburgh along the way. By my late twenties, embarrassment had crept in and I had ready-made excuses for anyone who asked if I had a licence, such as: 'I live in London!' or 'It's expensive!' And it is. Lessons average £1,724, before you even think about a car, insurance or petrol. By the time I turned 28, I had used all the excuses I could, and was determined to learn. But then I met my current boyfriend, and before I could take any lessons, life took an unexpected turn. We met at a salsa club in Soho in 2022 while he was visiting from Australia. We danced, flirted, exchanged numbers and after a heartfelt goodbye, we stayed in touch. It didn't take long for us to fall in love over FaceTime, and in 2023 I quit my job and booked a one-way ticket to give love a shot. In all our conversations, driving hadn't come up. So when, six months into our relationship, he suggested we drive from Melbourne to Sydney for Christmas, I had to break it to him: I didn't have a licence and couldn't help with the 10-hour drive. He didn't seem too fussed at first and we got by for over a year without me driving once. But in 2024 we decided to spend the year travelling around the UK and Ireland, after buying a cheap VW Polo from a friend. As the sole driver, his frustration grew, and as the half-owner of the car, I realised I actually really wanted to drive it too. I ordered L plates, applied for my provisional, got insured and got learning. Thankfully, at 30, insurance is far cheaper than at 17, where the average policy price is £2,877 a year. Due to our nomadic lifestyle, I didn't think about hiring an instructor. Plus, my boyfriend had taught his younger brother in the past and was more than happy to step up as my teacher. One week, I was dodging suicidal pheasants on Ilkley Moor; the next, navigating Manchester roundabouts. I'd tackled more terrain than most learners ever do. There were rows, slammed car doors, and an incident involving a bollard in a Tesco car park. We don't talk about that bollard. But that chaos was the secret to my success. I was test-ready in a few weeks. The only holdup was the backlog at test centres, since most had waits of up to 24 weeks. While housesitting in North Berwick, I checked for slots morning, noon and night until eventually, it paid off. I was booked for a Thursday morning in nearby Musselburgh. We had two days to prepare for unknown roads, but I was used to that by now. The night before, I'd deep-cleaned the car, added a new air freshener and fitted a second mirror (a must when using your own car on a test). On test day, I drove us to the DVLA centre, my boyfriend beside me, and Ted the cockapoo we were pet sitting in the back. I waved them off as my examiner, Rory, checked the car and gave me my first task: Reading a number plate. We chatted the whole way round, and I couldn't believe how easy it felt. My manoeuvre was reversing three car lengths, 'show me' was turning on the wipers; and 'tell me' was measuring tyre pressure. I felt good, things were going great. Back at the test centre, I braced for a twist. Surely it was too good to be true? Until Rory delivered the news – I'd passed. First time. Three minors. For the final time, my boyfriend was more than happy to chauffeur me back to the house to celebrate. And I did soon after by driving solo to a McDonald's drive-thru for a McFlurry run, windows down, and Chappell Roan blasting through the speakers. For anyone putting it off, it's never too late to learn. I survived without a licence for years, but now, I couldn't live without it. More Trending We've started a new life together in Scotland, and I do most of the driving. I tell myself it's for the practice, but really, I'm making up for lost time – and repaying the many debts of picking my boyfriend up from the pub, which he's more than happy to cash in. Now, responsibilities are shared and our relationship feels more balanced. Driving has given me freedom, confidence, and the chance to pull my weight on a 10-hour road trip. Next time we're in Australia, I won't be in the passenger seat. I'll be driving us home for Christmas. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Devastated and broken, I headed to the Himalayas to heal my heartbreak MORE: I ran a sexy chat line while pregnant, it was hideously depressing MORE: I'm having sex with a woman way out of my league — but I can only last 30 seconds Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Powys County Times
29-05-2025
- Powys County Times
Delight at return of British Sidecar Championships to Powys
After a gap of nearly 15 years motorcycle sidecar trials returned to mid Wales for rounds four and five of the British Sidecar Trials Championship last weekend. The event was held at Bwlch yr Sarnau and organised by the Mid Wales Centre ACU. County councillor Geoff Morgan, vice chair of Powys County Council was on hand to flag the competitors off on their two days of competition. On Day one, Isle of Man pairing of Jack Corlett and Ealish Baxter had a superb ride losing just one mark in the expert class and were well ahead of Daryl Dale with daughter Hannah in the sidecar. However, the order was reversed on Sunday with Daryl and Hannah getting the better of the Manx pairing after suffering a mechanical problem. Last year's novice crew of South East England team of Toby Smith and Hannah Moore moved straight into the Intermediate class and completed a double win over the weekend over another Manx pairing of Corlett and Jamie Howe. In the clubman class, experienced Paul Fishlock partnered by Matt Price took a close win from Darren and Joe Lulham on Saturday, but mechanical gremlins saw Price failed to finish on Sunday leaving Saturday's third placed men Luke and Woody Reynolds to step up to win ahead of the Lulham's. The return of the national sidecar championship is another boost to the region which has developed a reputation for hosting top level motorsport events such as the Welsh Two Day Enduro based in Llandrindod Wells and the Welsh Evening Motocross Series near Rhayader.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pensioner furious after being slapped with 'ridiculous' £170 parking fine... but claims there is a big catch
A pensioner is furious after being hit with a 'ridiculous' £170 fine for overstaying in a car park - even though he wasn't parking. Garth Burden, 80, pulled into an Esso Garage in Rickmansworth to get his car washed and waited patiently in a queue. Little did he know that there was a 15-minute limit in place, enforced by Euro Car Parks, whether parked in a space, washing your car or changing your oil. Mr Burden told MailOnline: 'I was in a queue, and there was a car in front of me and eventually once they drove off, I was able to use the car wash. 'The actual car wash itself took about 10-15 minutes, and I just accepted that would be fine.' However, Mr Burden was later slapped with Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from Euro Car Parks on their doorstep to the tune of £170. He said: 'They said I had stayed for more than 15 minutes but I replied saying "That's ridiculous, I'm going to obviously fight this.' Having been hit with the fine in the run-up to Christmas, while staying with their son in between moving homes, his wife, who owned the car 'was really, really upset' about the fine. But when he asked about the appeal process, Euro Car Parks informed him he had missed the opportunity as he was late collecting the letter containing the PCN from his former home. 'It's so stupid to pay and get done for 15 minutes in a car wash. It's just common sense says you've got to have a bit more time than 15 minutes,' he added. Despite attempting to argue for an opportunity to appeal, Mr Burden was hit with another blow - a letter from Debt Recovery Plus on behalf of Euro Car Parks demanding the sum for the alleged contravention. 'I kept saying to everyone, "I wasn't parking my car in the garage. I was going through a car wash". 'I wrote to them and said, as far as I'm concerned I'm not guilty of an offence cause I wasn't parking my car. I was in a car wash. 'If you want to pursue this with the court, tell me where you're will seek legal action, and I will come along and defend myself. 'They claim I have broken a rule about car parking, so anyone that's spending more than 15 minutes in the queue behind me for the car wash no doubt got a ticket. 'So I just thought this is just crazy.' Over the last year-and-a-half, Mr Burden has received around 20 letters from various debt recovery companies about the issue, including Debt Recovery Plus, GCTT Enforcement Agents, QDR Solicitors, ZZPS and DCBL. 'It is an ordeal because of the time involved and whenever I tell anyone I've had another letter about my car wash debacle.' Referencing Euro Car Parks, he added: 'They are trying to screw as much money out of poor motorists as possible. 'It's absolutely ludicrous,' he said: 'And they come up with all sorts of amazing warnings. You have only got to read the reviews on the notices. 'But if you've got an old lady at home or somebody who doesn't know the process of courts, the threat of enforcement agents coming to your home without any sort of court action can be frightening. 'I find it absolutely galling. It's absolutely daft,' as he dubbed the service: 'The most expensive car wash in town.' Mr Burden also claimed there was no signage on the kiosk where he paid for the car wash to suggest there was a 15-minute limit to queue and was your car, adding the only notice about a limit was high-up on a sign that's 'hardly read[able]'. However the 80-year-old is ready and determined to see the situation all the way up to small claims court, adding: 'I would love them to do it. 'I can guarantee the day before or the couple of days before, they will say "We're not going do anything further" or they will say "this is your last chance" or something like that. 'Car parking is a very, very, lucrative business for some of these companies and they really are, you know, raking in the money.' And Mr Burden isn't the only person to fall victim at the garage forecourt with single mother, Natalie Carby, hit with a £100 fine just an hour after she picked up her new car up from the garage. The mother-of-two queued for around 25 minutes for her turn before she headed home on the 15 February, 2023. She didn't give much thought about the experience until a Euro Car Parks fine landed on her doormat 12 days later. Signs at the garage do indicate that the maximum stay for the car park is 15 minutes, but the 41-year-old believes this should not apply to the car wash. With the fine, the £9 wash could now set her back £100. Ms Carby said: 'I'm just absolutely appalled. 'I think it's absolutely outrageous that they can do this. Fair enough there may be signs around for a car park, but the car wash queue is not a car park.' Ms Carby had only bought her new car an hour before she went to get it washed at at the same Esso Garage in Rickmansworth. She had planned to go to the BP garage along the road but found it was closed, forcing herself and other drivers to go to Esso. She said: 'The only reason I went there was because the car wash at the BP garage down the road was closed, which is why there were so many cars queuing in the Esso car wash that day.' She added: 'It has taken a lot of time and effort and help from family members to get this car and then within an hour I'm whacked with a £100 fine. 'I had my previous car for over ten years and I never got a parking fine. An hour of this car and I'm getting a fine for having a car wash - I'm just appalled.' MailOnline has approached Euro Car Parks, DBCL, Debt Recovery Plus, GCTT Enforcement Agents, QDR Solicitors, and ZZPS for comment.
