I Passed My Practical Driving Test!

Well I did something amazing on Friday 25th April... I passed my Practical Driving Test on my 2nd try!
Woohoo!
I am so chuffed and pleased with myself that I feel like I've levelled up in life and am now ready to get behind the wheel and see where life goes from there.
I know that opening sentence was a bit "in your face" but I don't mean for it to come across that way! Here I want to tell you how driving has been a big step for me in my life and how it all felt and what I had to do in order to receive that Certificate!

Driving has been a real journey for me for the last 3 years. I began learning to drive a car back in September 2012, where I was learning to drive a new Ford Fiesta and my instructor was a woman and shall remain Anonymous. I learned the basics, creeped forward down the road and within a month or so, I was cruising around Horsham and later Crawley town learning the rules of the road and listening very carefully to her instructions and teachings.

Around January 2013, I decided it was time to begin learning The Highway Code and prepare myself to take the Theory Test! It wasn't so easy picking up a book that looked huge and felt heavy, when it was only like 180ish pages, full of diagrams, pictures, signs and rules. I read the thing twice and thought maybe I could do practise tests? Because I liked doing practise GCSE Maths tests back in Collyers when I re-took GCSE and got my C in the end!
So anyway, I found an App on my iPhone through her, and that little thing saved my life. It was all multiple choice tests and I could take them anytime and didn't require Wi-Fi connection! So during my lunch breaks at work or anywhere I was re-taking tests over and over again and it felt relieving because there and then I recognised past questions and soon I got the hang of it. But I realised I needed to prepare myself for the other part of the Theory Test, The Hazard Perception Test! So I found a similar App and on my phone, I tapped away on actual videos and did my best to react and notice all the hazards during those 20 videos. I just got good marks on almost all the tests through my first try and well let's face it, after seeing the video once, there's not much point in re-taking them over and over again if you already know whats coming?!
So throughout January till April, I took I think it was like 40-50 practise theory tests and after just passing half of those trys, I decided it was time to face the music and take the Theory Test!
Luckily I wasn't alone, a friend called Martin, booked the same test on the same day as me and would you believe it... we both passed on the line together! YEAH!

Now! By June 2013, I figured it was time to give the Practical Driving Test a shot. However she still thought I needed some more practise! Really? 9 months of driving safely and that's still not good enough? Dad encouraged me to take it and maybe even prove her wrong... so I did! And it's a day I can't ever forget!
It all happened at the end of June, I got to the Pease Pottage Test Centre ready to give it my all! I had asked her a few weeks before the test "would you please sit in the back seat during the test so I will feel more comfortable?" She had no problem with that, but come the day of the test, when I was asked by the Driving Examiner "Do you want your instructor with you on the test?" She looked at me with a face saying "not really feeling like it". So I had no choice but to decline. That aside, I got in the car with the Examiner, answered the Show Me and Tell Me questions and then it hit me! I didn't have the keys to the car! I ran back into the Test Centre and shouted "Where are the keys, ***?" She had them next to her as if she hadn't noticed! I felt betrayed or sabotaged and I have no idea if this was all a freak accident or planned, but after grabbing the keys, I started to cry in embarrassment as I got back in the car with my Examiner and took on the test.
As you can guess, I failed! I got loads of minors which I won't go into detail about. But to be fair, I couldn't understand the Examiner's northern accent that well and I started the test as if I had been stabbed *metaphorically speaking*.
So after the test and explaining it to my parents, I never heard and spoke to her again!

3 months later and Dad found me another instructor who was an old friend to him, Rob. A nice man who was a good teacher but it didn't really work out for me because he was hardly ever available and I only got roughly 4 lesson out of him every week and a half or 2 weeks. I did appreciate his teachings but I wanted to get back on schedule and it just didn't work out sadly.

Luckily my last instructor helped me get back in a car and regain my confidence and help me reach the end of my long journey! My mum's colleague from work, gave her a friend of the families number and by November 2013, Peter Bellamy was my new instructor!
Me and him took the lessons till January 2014 during my lunch breaks at work. It was a hard at first getting the feel and control with this slightly older Ford Fiesta, but I nailed it by December! I told Peter everything and he helped prove that I can drive safely and that it would all work out in the end. Anyway at the beginning of January 2014, we decided to move onto Saturdays doing 2 hour drives. It worked out great during those 4 months and I felt a whole lot better doing more time behind the wheel and look at me now?! A year later and I got ready to regain my confidence and get ready to go back and re-take the Practical Driving Test, I was worried like hell.
But on Friday last week, it was raining like mad (despite the whole week being cloudy sunny weather), of all days to be raining?! But I remained calm, read the Show Me, Tell Me question paper again and prepared myself for the oncoming storm. I stepped inside the Test Centre with Peter and had a new and nicer Examiner and even though the weather was awful, I took it and ended the drive calmly and was rewarded with the sentence I thought I wouldn't hear on that day "You'll be pleased to know, you have passed!"
My mouth dropped open (I was going to act professional but that plan faded away), I put on a huge grin and felt tears developing in my eyes, I must have said "Thank you" 5 times to the Examiner and he was pleased I passed too as was Peter, who by the way came into the car with me without question as I had asked him 2 weeks before the test and he agreed!

That day felt like a heavy weight had been lifted because I earned it! I was glad to have my photo taken by Peter for his Facebook Page and show I had passed as without his help I would not be in this place.
Let me tell you, when I took that photo of my Driving Certificate, I have never felt this popular on my Facebook in forever. Within 4 days my picture had received just over 120 likes and 30+ comments (which I replied to all so that makes it 60+ comments really).


It was terrifying, amazing, thrilling and tough learning to drive for me, because I am putting my skills to the test and am on the road where anything can happen. And now I have to go car hunting pretty soon, ugh it's overwhelming already figuring out what car looks good, which module to get, the insurance and worrying about independant driving for the first time. But I know all this can be conquered by taking it on and practising on my own around my neighbourhood (once I get a car in the end). My dream car would be an Audi R8, but for a first car, I like the look of an old Vauxhall Corsa or a Volkswagen Polo! But now I've been told to go for a new kind of car so that I could avoid being taxed to death, as if thing's aren't indecisive enough?!


So anyway this ends my big story on learning to drive. It's a challenge, so I hope you all take it head on too! Learn however way you feel comfortable with and don't try to rush it, take your time and understand that thing's may not go according to plan so easily (you might need more practise like I did).
But now here's comes the fun part, buying a car and learning to become a safe driver on the roads!
So that's another item ticked off my Bucket List. Now got to keep going, find love, skydive etc and whatever else I choose to do with my life (if I survive the Skydive in June that is!)

Why I Go To The Gym

Source: dcleisurecentres.co.uk

It's been a while since I had a huge talk about my inner feelings and thoughts. The "Pub and Club" turned out to be a big success. Recently I've been talking about some reviews and interests and I am now resting from a really bad flu and a slight shoulder muscle pain, speaking of which is my next topic to talk about!

Here I express my big thoughts and tell you how working out at the gym has changed my ways and beginning to make my appearance and confidence better!

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Film Review)

The World's First Avenger meets his match in this highly anticipated sequel that's full of suspense, pure action and has a plot that left me surprised thanks to the sinister conspiracy that unfolded. Captain America will have to go the distance to do what's right even if it means turning his back on S.H.I.E.L.D and confront a new enemy that could be Captain America's match. Here's why Captain America: The Winter Soldier is just awesome!

The man in the Red, White and Blue Patriot suit Steve Rogers/ Captain America "Chris Evans" (Fantastic Four, Push) is continuing his army life even after the events of Marvel Avengers Assemble and is doing what he does best along with the help of Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow "Scarlett Johansson" (The Island, We Bought A Zoo) but following S.H.I.E.L.D protocols and being kept in the dark by Nick Fury "Samuel L. Jackson" (Pulp Fiction, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy) isn't in Captain's favour. And with the arrival of a new enemy The Winter Soldier that's crippling S.H.I.E.L.D and enemies are rising up from within high places, just how can Captain America keep the peace and trust anyone.

Firstly in the back of my mind, it is frustrating writing the sequel up right away without doing a post on the prequel first, but it sure was better than the first one and it's proven to live up to the reviews that people are calling "The best MARVEL film in ages!" I feel it did better than some sequels for our other Avengers or matched up to them in their own different ways depending on the audience taste. If you haven't seen the first film, then don't read this review without watching the prequel first! Go watch it now ha ha.

Last week, I decided to ask my good friends at work Kurt and Tommy and his girlfriend Brooke to join me for this MARVEL sequel just like the time we went to see Thor: The Dark World back in November 2013. Me and Kurt kept looking and whispering to each other throughout the film on how excited we were while the clever plot unfolded and making us question all the knowledge we know and have learned from S.H.I.E.L.D and the MARVEL: Agents of Shield TV Series. But we all enjoyed the arrival of a new hero that was soon ready to take to the skies using his metal wings Sam Wilson/ The Falcon "Anthony Mackie" (8 Mile, The Hurt Locker).

When I first saw the trailer (not the teaser) I was thinking "Why is Captain questioning so much? Why are people betraying him? He must have a lot of pressure on his shoulder." No matter, I still wanted to see this sequel and boy did it blow me away! But before the film even began, a Cineworld staff member came into the room after the trailers and just said "Welcome to the premier of Captain America The Winter Soldier! Who's excited tonight?" He only got like 1 response, we all must have been thinking "What the hell?" Brave man for doing it but why?

Before I go into detail about the film I want to tell you guys a couple things! Recently things have been good and I have been really enjoying myself, I saw Ellie Goulding at the 02 with my 2 female cousins at the beginning of March, I saw this film on the 28th March and then on March 29th I went to The Hobbit Pub in Fratton (near Southampton) again to continue a drinking competition with the people I met in Collyers Yr 1. I was going to upload a TITANFALL post onto here last week but I decided to upload it onto my mate's blog instead. Another thing I want to get out of my head is that I understand that not everyone is interested in Reviews on films/ games etc that I wish to talk about. I mean I'm not the professional review type, I just wanna talk about whats going on in my head. But I am reassuring you all and to myself that I am sticking to the Aspergers Category and talking about my feelings/ life. I just want to keep the blog mixed and fresh with some reviews that may even be to your liking because I can't list all my life up so quickly because it's like "putting all your shopping into one basket" if you catch my drift? Thank you for understanding and don't worry there are more real good topics coming up while I write more reviews on other things and include some Autistic thoughts into all of them! I can't believe the blog's now reached 1300+ views in total so far. It went from 144 last month to 1300+ this month!!! Thank you very much everyone for looking and reading at my work, it means so much!

On the other hand I had a frightening moment on the 29th March at 1.00am when I encountered a "False Widow Spider" on my sofa while I was watching Gladiator and luckily avoided being bitten! Now I can't focus or feel safe that much anymore so I'm distracting myself with positive stuff like gaming, watching shows and just trying to not feel threatened ha ha. Luckily I am starting to feel better and manning up over time. Funny way to look at it is that I missed my chance at aquiring Spider-man powers *I say awkwardly*.

Anyway back to the film, the story was just... wow. It blew me away as I witnessed links to the past and how Steve was fooled and became the victim into thinking all was well within the world and S.H.I.E.L.D too and never suspecting a homeland attack. Some of my friends who love MARVEL thought that the prequel Captain America: The First Avenger was okay, cool with action and used little CGI and was an old tale that introduced the world's first superhero. Some believed that the sequel wouldn't be much different except Captain America's performance in Avengers Assemble. As for me, I found the prequel pretty good thanks to how old it was (I feel the same way about my friends points of view too slightly) and how being a badass was easy enough without supernatural superpowers (only Steve Rogers was a super soldier). And in this sequel it was almost the same only it was more different thanks to the unexpected betrayal and the sinister secrecy of an evil cult that rose up again and have always been too big for their own boots and believe themselves to have the right to "purify" all those that will threaten the world (the no-brainer is that they kill whoever gets in their way). I also enjoyed the romance in the prequel between Steve Rogers and the pretty Peggy Carter "Hayley Atwell" (The Duchess, The Pillars Of The Earth). Wait and see what happened in the sequel, it was sad but pleasant to see something sweet again.

It's hard for me a little because with every key my fingers tap away on my keyboard proves how badly I am trying not to spoil everything because the film exceeded my expectations and proved me wrong into believing this film wouldn't do that good. I am happy to be wrong.

When I discovered who The Winter Soldier was I was yelling out loud in my head "No Way!!!". Mind you he sure was one hell of a fighter for our Steve to handle let alone hurt someone he knows too well and that this new badass baddie used Steve's shield against himself most of the time (ironic, right? I'd hate to be hurt by my own weapon!) Black Widow was hot and dangerous as ever. Nick Fury had a surprising turn out near the beginning of the film and soon I was left pondering over his condition that left out heroes at a disadvantage. And last but not least the debut appearance of The Falcon, our winged gunman who took to the skies in style during the huge crisis and performed awesome for his first time in a MARVEL film.

Steve had quite the wardrobe due to changing the Captain America costume several times, I thought his latest suit was very modern and better than his suit in Avengers Assemble since it was less colourful and more solider material. He even got some work done in casual clothes too.

The music was really heroic like the kind of music you would play when walking away from explosions or when you have the cold serious face when you are fighting for something personal. I liked it especially the trombone and drums during the credits since to me it felt like old war material (if you have seen the X-Men: First Class credits then you will understand what kind of music I mean!)

Updation on 3rd March 2014. I've been watching this a lot more and I even bought the soundtrack off iTunes, I now gotta add that I really like the music as much as I like the music in the first Iron Man. Hearing the screech like sound whenever the Winter Soldier was around was chilling and menacing whilst the music was playing and giving off a serious badass atmosphere like going for the attack because it's now personal and epic. It's really worth listening to and all of it is brilliant!

The action was dynamic with hardly that much gunfire because let's face it, Captain America can take down many people and sometimes vehicles with his ultimate shield (the elevator scene was proof of how dangerous he can be even in tight places). One of my favourite bits in the film was when The Winter Soldier caught Captain America's shield the first time using his special metal arm! Another was when The Winter Soldier stepped to the left to avoid a car crash so easily! Black Widow was just as dangerous using her acrobatic combat and female charm to defeat the baddies (I liked her new hair that was different to her other hairstyle like in Iron Man 2 and Avengers Assemble). Part of me burned with super jealousy like Kurt and Tommy when she got some lip action once with Captain while they were on the run, lucky bastard! And let's face it, Nick and Steve sure had a lot of tension between each other and didn't exactly see "eye to eye" (did you get my joke?)

I am really glad that this sequel exceeded my expectations thanks showing not only old friends returning but they were wearing the wrong uniform and not only threatened S.H.I.E.L.Ds intel but the trust between everyone especially due to the return of an evil organization that wasn't easy to discover. How would you feel if there were enemies in your company/ organization and you didn't know who to trust? For me, I would try to follow in Captain America's footsteps and try to do whats right no matter what!

I still can't take in how the plot came alive and makes me question all my MARVEL knowledge so far, it's kinda complicated and rushed so I don't know if it's good or bad?!

This film was one explosive action-packed continuation in the MARVEL Cinematic Universe that I (and my mates won't deny) enjoyed so much of along with the secret endings that were just teasing me with hints of new enemies and mysterious powers that are yet to be shared with the world.

With MARVEL's sequels all lined up for this year, how can our friendly neighbourhood web-slinger and a school of extraordinary mutants compare to this film that was jam-packed with betrayl, action and juicy secrets?

Let's wait and see guys!

PS A very important Aspergers Post is on the way that I reckon will be a big hit like my post about "Why I Feel Uneasy At The Pub Or Club"! ;)