16 June 2010

Driving me crazy.

I'm dropping off Snoopy at my mother's tomorrow ( a mere 120-mile round trip), the neighbours are briefed to look after the cat,then I am heading up North to spend a long weekend with Kay. This will be a new experience for Snoopy as Greg always used to look after him when I had to go away from home. The reason I am going away? Kay did her last exam of the season last week and so I am going up to see her, have a wander around her new environment, and help her pack up for the summer vacation. She now has to move out of the Hall of Residence, as the rooms are for first year students only, but she cannot move into the rented house she is going to share with her medic friends next term, until September. On Sunday we shall therefore have to bring all her clothes, bedding and kitchen equipment back to London for the summer.

I may have mentioned before that I HATE motorways and will not drive on them myself . My fear comes from an accident Greg and I came upon many years ago when we were driving along a motorway one dark foggy November night in Germany at the start of our marriage. We saw a dark space ahead of us and cars stopped on all lanes far in the distance with lights flashing. What we did not realise, as we slowed down to join the queue of cars ahead, was that in the dark void between us was a dead horse minus its head. We managed to avoid it at the last minute and swerved onto the hard shoulder of the motorway. Greg then proceeded to run up the motorway the way we had come along, carrying a warning triangle and a lit torch to try to get the traffic we had long overtaken to slow down and stop. He was worried they might not see the horse in time and there would be a multiple pile-up of mangled metal and bodies. I was left in the car with the body of the headless horse close by. It was like something out of The Godfather and of course I was worried sick Greg would get run over in the dark. All ended well (apart from the poor horse)and I later discovered the horse had run out of a field after its foal who had strayed onto the motorway. We later saw the foal alive further on down the motorway, being restrained by the motorists of the cars with flashing lights. But this scene has never left me and now makes me a nervous wreck on the motorway. I hate the speed and the way lorry drivers suddenly pull out in front of you or other cars dart and weave. Even as a passenger I hate motorways. I dread going on them. I certainly would never attempt to drive on them myself. I'd sooner do a thousand-mile detour!!

Greg's sister is kindly coming up from Lincolnshire to meet us on Sunday, bring Kay's stuff back as far as Lincolnshire and then on to London the following weekend. I am so grateful to her and apologise a thousand times for being such a wimp. I did not start to drive until I was 45, so I admit defeat on this one. It is a miracle I drive at all. Thank goodness for Greg's sister though. Kay informs me she is going to take driving lessons this summer and may be able to do the drive in future. Think I am going to lie down in a dark room with some smelling salts!!!!!!

19 comments:

nuttycow said...

Motorways are scary - I always find it best that, if you're not sure, stick in the slow lane and go at your own pace. There's plenty of room for people who want to go faster to pass you.

Good luck with the moving of "stuff" (oh, I remember those days!) and hope Snoopy enjoys his holiday!

Nota Bene said...

Good luck...I'm sure Snoopy will be fine...and very happy when you return

Furtheron said...

No wonder you won't drive on mortoways after something like that. I had a big crash some years back a big head on on a small country road at over 60 mph. I very nearly never drove again at all so I had to work to get over that. But you have a plan so it'll sort out.

I know the issue though I picked up my son the other week from Wales and he has a month or so before he can get the keys to his new place so we were litterally poking the last few things through half open back windows! and the golden rule when we stopped was "don't open the doors"!!!! :-)

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

I hate motorway driving too Addy and avoid it if at all possible. The trouble is that I am becoming less confident with my driving although I know that I am capable but the motorways in particular are like racetracks and just plain scare me. Enjoy your time with Kay and have a great weekend. A x

Flowerpot said...

I absolutely hate motorways too Addy and I think you're incredibly brave to tackle driving at all considering when you started. Take care nowxx

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Ah the joys of children growing up. how proud we feel yet remembering when they were little. Enjoy it all, it goes so quickly.

aims said...

Oh Addy! You are such a pillar of strength I am surprised that you wimp out on this. I think it is mind over matter - you just have to make up your mind that you CAN do it - and do it well and believe me - every time you do get behind the wheel I'm sure there won't be headless horses on the road.

What a horrible experience to have to go through - especially in the dark and left on your own as well.

Reminds me of my nephew. Another rafting company had a doctor have a heart attack and die on the river. They brought him up to our truck and flatbed trailer and did CPR on him for an hour. Finally they put him in the vehicle with my nephew and he had to drive the body in to the nearest town. It has always affected him except in a different way. He speeds all the time - fastest driver I've ever been with. I put it down to him trying to get away from that body in his mind all the time. (I'm such a psychologist aren't I!)

Remember - say you can do it and you will be able to. Just don't ask me to touch a snake.

nappy valley girl said...

I'm not surprised you hate motorways after that experience....and I definitely don't recommend ever driving in the US, as the expressways are about 10 times more scary.

I remember my parents doing those beginning and end of term drives. Must be nearly 20 years ago now. Then I met my boyfriend (now husband) who had his own car and we did them on our own.....

Eliza said...

Oh how awful, no wonder you hate motoways. I nearly killed myself on one a couple of years ago.

Elaine Denning said...

I hate motorways and I don't drive. I saw a dead seagull on the road yesterday and I still can't get the image out of my head.

As an accommodation manager for 71 students, there is chaos at my place at the moment!

Take care, Addy. x

DogLover said...

Understandable, but statistically motorways are the safest roads in the UK! despite the driving of some of the fools who use them.

The answer to hesitation about one's own driving is to contact your local group of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Morotists) and join their driver improvement scheme. Their "System of car control" is very sensible and simple - and safe. It prepares you for the IAM test and will give you enormous confidence whether you go on to take the test or not.

Working Mum said...

I drive on the motorway every day to work with daughter in the back. I do sometimes worry about what could happen, but I know the route well (and when to change lanes), I stick to 60mph and I anticiapte everything!!

Good luck with your trip, enjoy your time with Kay.

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Anonymous said...

You are definitely no wimp. As you know I can't drive right now but when I do, I find the motorway scary too. Too many fast cars whizzing past in the fast lane for me, and far too many lorries sandwiching cars.

Have a great trip, try not to worry about the motorway.

CJ xx

Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

Have a lovely weekend and a lovely summer with Kay.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Have a great weekend with Kay Addy. If you pass by my house in Lincolnshire call in for a coffee.

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Kit Courteney said...

Oh, I do feel for you!

Not as far as motorways go, I must admit, as they are bliss to me. But having that fear - horrible.

I was a late learner too. I learnt at 32/33. I was 33 and passed my test on July 4th... it really was Independence Day for me!

I'm not keen on the STUPID tiny, windy Devon roads when I've been down there... what are they all about?! I hate them because I fear them. You CAN'T get TWO cars to pass on a stretch of road that's 8 feet wide!!

Granted, you need your wits about you on a motorway esp M25/M1 but I enjoy the WIDE and STRAIGHT roads... oh those tiny ones are &^%$!!

Here's hoping Snoopy will have fun on his 'holiday', and that you and your daughter will have some lovely times together... and thnk goodness for your sister-in-law! How lovely of her!

Very best wishes :0)

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