Driving myself crazy!

Recently I had posted on my FB status - If someone asks if I drive, my very honest answer is, Yes, I just about scrape through. The car has her second scar, again on a stationary object (rolls my eyes), went and banged against someone's garden fence while turning on a narrow country road. To be honest, the green paint of the fence has come off, and it's not very noticeable, but of course I am living with the knowledge, grunt!

This happened on a Wednesday, significant as it is a school half day and I had to take Big G to a birthday party. Unlike the old place where either kids did not celebrate birthdays (which is not possible) or did not invite her (which is more likely - immigrant mentality issue), here she has been invited to a couple of birthday parties already. Well, since I completely forgot to borrow the GPS from the husband, and I doubt I would've been able to put it to good use, I researched on Google maps. There were 3 ways to get to the venue - all of 5 kms away and I chose to do a dry run via the country lane way.

Country lanes are narrow and I had a tough time keeping the car from sliding down the road, and missed the right exit. So did a U-turn, scraped the car, panicked, came home, dressed the scrape, jotted down route 2 directions and got in the car again. Kept a bottle of water with me. Was fine till very end but panicked when the venue was not in sight as per Google Map directions. Here Google maps failed to give me the correct directions. So I drove back home and checked again. It was the same route this time too. Since I had to drive fast and there were cars behind me I couldn't turn where I ought to and went straight ahead for a couple of kms, it was clear even to me that I was lost.

Parked at a place and in impeccable Dutch asked a man for the directions. One look at me - hair awry, glazed looks, skin colour, the banged up side of my car showing, must have impressed him enough to look up in his GPS and tell me to go back where I came from! Much helpful of him to help me manoeuvre  the car back on that busy street. So I went straight back and this time found the exit. But the venue remained elusive. Luckily spoke to a horse-farm worker and got the correct directions. Google Maps was off the mark by 2 kms here, not kidding. Third time lucky, as they say!

Reached the venue and luckily the mother of the birthday kid was setting up the place. Came back to that place twice later in the day - first to drop Big G and then to pick her up. It was a tiring day. I felt the husband was most unsympathetic when I told him about my adventures and he said that I sounded like I had not driven the car but pushed it back and forth. Driving on unknown roads unnerves me. Well, I did push myself to do a recce of the route before I go there with the children. And pushed myself so that Big G could attend a birthday party and me to get out of my ensconced comfort zone. Five km is not a big distance for a lot of you, so the laugh is on me:)

Comments

  1. Aarthy18 October 2013 at 11:56

    Really appreciate your perseverance. I would have given up the first time :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chatty Wren18 October 2013 at 12:18

      Thanks, this I had to do, did not want to disappoint my daughter. But you should see the expressions on people faces (they try to hide it well though) when I say I don't drive on highways :)

      Delete
  2. Uma18 October 2013 at 14:46

    I second Aarthy, I'd have given up, cursed myself and continued to be embarrassed enough not to try. Kudos to you! I say you did very well, seriously.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chatty Wren19 October 2013 at 07:50

      Thanks Uma, I was feeling miserable that I could not navigate to a place 5 kms away with 3 routes to get there! And also Big G would've been extremely disappointed!

      Delete
  3. Roshni19 October 2013 at 00:50

    Wait..you've returned to India now, right?! Since you mentioned horses and country roads, I'm guessing this is before the move!
    Yes, you're definitely very persistent! Good for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chatty Wren19 October 2013 at 07:51

      We got back from our India trip, Roshni! Thanks, I was persistent that day!

      Delete
  4. Anonymous20 October 2013 at 17:49

    I can very much see myself in your place. but you are much more honest than I am.
    I read your blog regularly and most of the things you write, highly resonate with me. Like you, I am also staying in Belgium, now I do drive on highways, but still haven't worked up the courage to drive into Brussels. But, if possible I let my husband do all the driving so that I can sit back and relax!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chatty Wren21 October 2013 at 07:34

      Thanks Anonymous! I really need to get over this highway restriction - self-imposed, for me. Yes, I know a lot of my more-accomplished-in-driving friends dread driving in Brussels - one needs to be very aggressive and careful too.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous23 October 2013 at 07:38

    I am also lost on the new roads. And I am equally bad or probably worse when I am driving a car. But love the persistence.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chatty Wren23 October 2013 at 10:35

      Thanks Jas, glad to know I am not alone in my driving woes:)

      Delete
  6. Anonymous23 October 2013 at 11:52

    I am a reluctant driver myself. Considering that I am the primary driver of the house, it doesn't auger well for me at all. Every scratch on that car speaks my name.
    Talking of scratches, it's only the first scratch that kills you (figuratively, i.e.). The others don't bother you much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chatty Wren23 October 2013 at 12:37

      It has made me feel infinitely better that some of the cars are driven by reluctant drivers! As for scratches,I can't be so blasé about any, I'm afraid I take them all too seriously:)

      Delete
  7. pankti12 November 2013 at 19:27

    You really stick to your guns, eh?! I would have called it a day and have asked hubby to drop the daughter..
    I too feel a little uncomfortable driving a car on an unknown road but if I m riding a two wheeler I feel totally comfortable and in control even on new roads..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chatty Wren13 November 2013 at 09:55

      Asking hubby not an option for me:) So I had to do it on my own!

      Delete

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