Students driving me round the bend – into week 4

Back from another class.  Still happy with my choice.  Not so happy with other students, or the teacher particularly.

There was one, who was also at my previous and first class who seems to know so much (being a large plant driver) that he tries to assist or teach on behalf of the instructor.  Nothing winds me up more!  I remember a student in one of my night-classes, where I was the teacher, many years ago doing the same thing.  It’s disruptive, unhelpful, takes up time and more often than not the information they are so desperate to impart is wrong!  They should just shut up!!!!

The other student who annoyed me had a problem with the wording of all the questions we had had for homework, some were ambiguous admittedly so he had a bit of a point but there does come a time to give it a rest!  He didn’t, so more time wasted.

Then the first annoying student, and the teacher, decided to tell mildly sexist and inappropriate anecdotes.   Yes, I did react, but very restrainedly to suggest that the bloke in one anecdote (who had stood laughing at his wife for 1.5 hours as she put the oil in the dipstick tester part not the proper opening)  needed to get a life and would have been on the couch for a month if he was mine!  Luckily the majority seemed to support my take on it, but how pathetic!  I pity any future students of that classmate!

But otherwise… LOADS more homework and my next session is on a Monday afternoon in about 2 weeks, luckily over Easter on the one day I am not at work (other than my elder baby’s birthday).   I am still waiting for my CRB certificate so I can get my reference number to put on my register of trainer ADIs application form so that once I am registered I can apply for my theory and hazard tests (once I am ready).  Nowhere near that stage, the course is pretty well planned to take all this time lag into account.  Think I shall buy a practise CD first…

Bride and Groom and no-one else

I am just about sick to my back teeth of people upsetting my gorgeous sister because they seem to think her and her fiance’s most important day should be hijacked for the grandstanding of their own petty little squabbles and fights.

Okay, the situation of some of these guests who are now letting them down at the last minute, is not petty.  Indeed it is highly serious.  But my sister’s wedding is her and her fiance’s long awaited, incredibly important  and extremely well planned day and is about them sharing it with those most dear and celebrating their committment to each other in the way they choose.  It is up to us, as honoured and privileged guests to accept with grace and enthusiasm and only not attend if it really is impossible.  Making pathetic excuses or threatening not to attend, and therefore not allowing others who are incredibly important to the betrothed pair attend, because a partner cannot attend (for the safety of the partner and regard to all other guests) or some other weak and frankly unbelievable excuse, is cruel, vindictive and unforgiveable.

At least now they can ask people they want to be there rather than people they had to ask.  But, be very sure about this those of you doing the letting down, it is wholly your loss and not theirs.  And if there are children not attending because of this, shame on you.

I am at a loss for words…

So quite how I am going to let my feelings out about this I don’t know.  My non-biological babies are still with their other biological parent, because the person let in to their lives by their original primary carer biological parent has now been charged.  The charges relate to all females under 16 in the family and are sexual in nature, though concern touching not the worst it could be.  I cannot understand the primary biological parent is still standing by the accused, is still convinced it is all a mistake, and is still expecting long-term friends to actively support them and the accused.  Apparently this is now all the fault of the Police, I expect the CPS will be accused next, oh, and don’t forget the beleagured social workers who never get things right…

T’aint gonna happen.  My support always has been and always will be for the innocents who made the accusations.  Surely if there is enough for the 10 charges (dating back 2 years) to be made then the head-in-sand attitude can no longer be justified?  The charges are being brought in the Crown Court, not the Magistrates, so Magistrates have decided the charges are too serious for them to deal with, and believe me they could have been.  How the hell will theoriginal primary parent ever repair their parent/child bond?  How are those kids ever going to believe in the unconditional love and support of that parent ever again?  And how dare that parent accuse anyone not actively supporting the accused of betraying them?

Thank heavens I am not in their situation but I am more positive than I should be that I would not be acting in the same way.  Should I try to contact the kids now?  I have not been, but maybe now is the time to voice my support rather than pass it on through their current guardians?  There’s no textbook for this…

I’m gonna drive you all around the bend – weeks 2&3

Bloody annoying, my original post seems to have been wiped, and I’d written loads.  Well, lets see if I can rewrite it then.

It seems I am not the driving genius I originally seemed to have been showing up as.  I am merrily failing almost all of my theory test homework questions!  This could be a disaster as I have to pass 100 questions with a minimum of 85%, but of each of the 4 sections I have to pass a minimum of 20/25.  Therefore I could, in theory, attain 94% but fail if the marks are 25/25;/25/25;/25/25; 19/25.

Am I worried?  Not a bit!  I’d be worried if all was going totally swimmingly.  At least this way I will be properly learning, and will feel justified in charging the high fees I shall be charging!  I am quite confident that the bits I am not strong on, which seem to be the driving action theories and advice for learners, I will be okay with in time.  A little bit wobbly on some of the learning and teaching theories but nothing to worry about, and in terms of practice that is the bit I am least worried about.  Did you realise ADIs now have to produce lessons plans, mini-goals with definable learning objectives each lesson?  Can you imagine the panic if you came into the industry on the basis of enjoying driving, not enjoying teaching/training?!

So, I still think I am heading in the right direction career-wise, and I cannot WAIT to be my own boss!  Next lesson is in College this Saturday morning, all my homework will be done and I will be alert and ready .